Chapter 24

McKenzie

Phoenix guides us back through the locker room. He checks in with Felix one more time, who gives him a thumbs up and continues taking bets. "How much do you make on these fights?" I ask as we weave through the crowd. There's a ring in the middle of the room and there are already a couple of guys in it preparing for their fight. Rex and Jason are already up front waiting for us. I'm assuming there are other guys around us following us as we make our way to our seats.

Phoenix sits and pulls me into his lap. "I charge a thirty-dollar entry fee. And I get ten percent of the winnings. And people bet crazy amounts at these fights." I'm not sure how to reply. What's a crazy amount? Guess I'll find out tonight. "Felix will bring me the numbers soon. We cut off betting five minutes before the first fight." He glances at his watch. "Which starts in fifteen minutes."

"Is everything done in cash?" I wrap my arm around his neck to get comfortable.

"Yes, the fights are illegal. So, we then take the money and put it into the businesses around the city." Before I can ask anymore questions, Felix slides in and shows Phoenix the numbers. I don't pay attention, not really caring about that part of all this. Instead, I look around trying to take everything in. This is a lot more organized than I was expecting. I don't know why, everything Nix does, he does it to the best of his abilities.

At the same time, the excitement and anticipation are thick in the air, making it feel a bit chaotic. There's shouting, laughter, people pretending to fight, and there are women weaving in and out of the crowd that have a different air about them. They're here working, waiting for the excitement and energy to turn into desire and lust.

I think about Shay, this faceless woman Nix and I rescued. It doesn't make sense that we would rescue her and she still wound up doing this. I guess here she gets to choose who she has sex with. The announcer gets into the ring and announces the names of the men fighting and the winning pot of the bet for the two of them.

I try my best to focus on the fight, but I can't stop thinking about Shay. Felix said it's been three or four months since she's been here. Did something happen to her?

"Nix?" I talk directly into his ear so he can hear me. He tilts his head to let me know he's paying attention. "What if something happened to Shay? Do you send guys to check on these women if they don't show for a while?"

His muscles tense beneath me, obviously not having thought of that. He twists his head so he can talk into my ear. "I've been preoccupied. I haven't thought about it," he admits. He's been preoccupied with me. Guilt swirls in my stomach even though I know it's not my fault what happened to me.

"We can talk about it later," I tell him. "Maybe get Rex or one of the other guys to look into it." Nix nods in agreement. He grips the back of my head and pulls me in for a hard kiss. He releases me before I'm ready, but I don't pout like I did earlier. He promised he'd take care of me, so at least I have something to look forward to.

There are four fights. The winner of each fight spars the next guy on the docket, and whoever wins the third fight gets to go into the ring with Bill. It hardly seems fair. The guy that gets in the ring with Bill is sweaty, bloody, and obviously a little tired. But he sits in his corner waiting for Bill to be announced.

Nix leans up and presses his lips to my ear. "Dr. Chamberland will be with Bill," he says, and I stiffen. My heart beats faster and I feel a little nauseous. Nix rubs his hand up and down my spine as he feels my discomfort. He points just as the doors in the back open.

"Why is Dr. Chamberland with him?"

"Dr. Chamberland told Bill about the fights. He was struggling financially and a good fighter. So, he came in one night and has been the guy to beat for almost a year." I nod slightly as I try to swallow so I can dampen my dry mouth. The hair on the back of my neck lifts as I watch the corner of the warehouse.

Although my attention is glued to the corner of the warehouse, trying to get a glimpse of this mysterious Bill. I have this feeling someone is watching me. I turn to look over my shoulder, glancing through the aisles and rows of people. It's hard to see anyone since we're seated and the majority of everyone else is standing and cheering for their guy.

I inhale sharply through my nose, trying to calm my racing heart. It's so hot in here with all these people. When I don't see anyone watching me, I turn back around just in time to see Dr. Chamberland stand at the corner of the ring and hold up the ropes to let Bill climb in. My heart stops beating when Bill stands and raises his hands over his head.

I sit forward and grip one of Nix's thighs as I study Bill's features. My ears ring and I can feel my pulse throughout my body. "Kenz?" Nix's voice sounds like it's coming from far away. He shakes me slightly to get my attention, but I can't take my eyes off Bill. "McKenzie!"

I'm being pushed off his lap, and he places me on the seat as he kneels in front of me, cradling my cheeks. I can't focus though, his face is blurry, and it occurs to me it's because I'm crying. I squeeze my eyes shut as memories assault me.

"No! I swear when Phoenix finds out he's going to fucking kill you!"

I shake my head, trying to stop them. I don't want to remember.

His arm on my chest, trying to hold me still as I fight him off. His rough hands as he pushes my panties down my legs. Dr. Chamberland walking out with a shake of his head. Phoenix's mother standing in the corner laughing.

"McKenzie, please!" Nix is gripping my biceps gently, but I can't see him. I can only see William above me, a gleam in his eye as he gets off on hurting me, but now he's called Bill.

"He…" I trail off, unable to speak because my breathing is so erratic. A bottle of cold water is pushed into my hand.

"What's wrong with her boss?" I think Felix is asking, but Nix doesn't respond. Instead, he takes the top of the water bottle and helps me drink a few sips.

"Come on, love. Please talk to me," Nix begs.

"Should I get a doctor?" Rex asks.

Nix lifts me in his arms, cradling me to his chest as he walks out of the warehouse. I close my eyes and let my head fall against his shoulder. It's so loud in here, everyone shouting Bill's name. There's a loud crunch from the ring and people cheer, but I squeeze my eyes shut, refusing to look up there. We finally get out of the main arena and into a hallway.

There's still some laughter and talking, but it's not as loud or as suffocating. "Breathe, love," Nix whispers. "Did you have a memory?"

The lump in my throat grows larger. Why is he here? Why did Dr. Chamberland bring him here? I finally open my eyes and look over Nix's shoulder and there she is with a hateful smirk on her blood-red lips. I should say something. Tell Phoenix. But I can't. My heart is beating so hard it's painful.

She lifts her hand and gives a little wave before turning and walking away. Her fake red hair swinging as she saunters off. Nix walks us through the locker room back to his office and he places me gently on the edge of his desk. Holding me so I don't fall over. He cups one side of my face and stares at me, his eyes beseeching and begging for me to say something.

I lick my lips and look around the room quickly, making sure Felix didn't follow us back here. It's only Rex and I see Jason through the small window in the door standing there, guarding. I finally look back at Nix. This is going to break his heart.

"Bill…" I suck in a breath and Nix's eyebrows lower and the creases around his eyes become so pronounced I want to touch them to try to ease the blow I'm about to bring. "He raped me."