CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Kyle—

My father strolls over as I wrap my hand.

"What the hell did you do?" he snaps.

"Nothing." I'm standing in the room the club uses as a dressing room. I'm already stripped to just my long, black, kickboxing shorts, my chest and feet bare.

He knocks my hands aside and wraps them like a pro. "I don't like this."

"Why not? I've seen enough of you guys settle stuff in the cage."

"You and your brother have always been so close. I don't like this—the damn cage, beating the shit out of each other."

"Maybe it's overdue," I say.

"Shit hasn't been right between the two of you for a while. What's that about?"

"Dad—"

"Is it Sutton?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me. Did you and Sutton hookup behind your brother's back?"

"No, Dad."

"You spent all that time together out of town."

"Doesn't mean I fucked her."

"Then what's this about?"

"This has been building for a long time."

He lifts his chin, his eyes narrowing on me. "Since the shooting."

"Yeah, since the shooting."

"You're a good brother, and he knows it. He takes advantage of that, of the fact that you always back down and let him have his way. I should have put a stop to it." He finishes wrapping my hands.

"Well, he wants a fight. He'll get one." I hear the crowd of brothers in the warehouse. "Who are they betting on?"

"Hell, I don't know. I don't care. And you shouldn't either."

I go to open the door, but his voice stops me.

"Son."

I turn back. "Yeah?"

"The MC knows you're the better fighter. But they're all wondering if you'll knuckle under and throw the match."

My jaw tightens.

"If he wins, he has to earn it. Don't go easy on him. Don't punk out and let him win."

I jerk the door open and stalk toward the cage, fire burning in me. Is that what I always do? Let him win. Well, not fucking tonight, brother.

I see Rafe in the cage, dancing around and punching the air, getting warmed up.

Hopping up to the mat, I scan the crowd, but there's only one face I'm looking for, and I don't see her. It's crowded and the lights are on the cage, making the crowd dim shadows. I can't help wondering if Sutton is here, if she's going to watch us fight.

Red Dog is referee tonight, and he motions us together to bump fists. "Okay, boys. Defend yourself. I'll enforce the agreed-upon rules of this competition, but you are responsible for your own safety." Then he grins. "And no nut shots."

He moves away, and Green rings the bell, and it's on.

Rafe taunts me with a grin. "You ready to get your clock cleaned, bro?" He sends a scorching blow that knocks me off balance.

I return his grin. "Glad to see you've decided to show up this time." Then I dig down and charge him, holding nothing back.

Sutton—

I stand behind the crowd of cheering men. If the cage wasn't elevated, I wouldn't be able to see. As it is, I can barely see the shoulders and heads of the two men in the cage: Rafe and Kyle, bouncing around and taking jabs and kicks at each other.

The crowd is loud and echoes in the warehouse. I glance around. Melissa and Gigi are watching me.

They must realize I want to be alone, because they don't approach.

I pray it ends quickly and neither gets hurt, but a part of me hopes Kyle doesn't cave to the immense guilt I know he feels—guilt that always makes him let Rafe win.

Not this time, Kyle. Make him earn it.

I can hear the slap of skin on skin, kicks making connections, even though I can't see them. I stand on tip-toe, but I'm not sure I really want to see and pop back down. I chew on a finger, more worried with the sound of each hit that lands.

Green informed me there are three five-minute rounds. There's a digital clock on the wall, the numbers lit in red. The seconds tick down, but it seems like an eternity.

By the third round, they both look tired. Kyle never hits a blow to Rafe's head, and I'm sure it's because he's being careful. All his shots are to the body and legs.

He spins and does a roundhouse kick, hitting Rafe's hip and making him stagger against the cage. The chain links rattle and shake.

I glance at the clock. There's only about three minutes left, and I'm terrified for both of them. I can't bear the thought of them truly hurting each other. I hope this heals the rift that's grown between them.

When the fight is over, I know what I plan to do—sneak out. But I can't possibly do that until I know how this ends. Until I know that these two brothers who have loved each other their entire lives are finally able to work out their issues. I want them to be happy, and I know I can't stay and come between them.

I glance around the crowd who are like a big family, all watching out for each other. I'll miss them. Every single one of them. I can't believe how quickly they've wormed their way into my heart.

I fade into the shadows and find a box to stand on next to an iron I-beam. It gives me a good view.

Rafe looks tired, but Kyle is still fighting strong.

The crowd is cheering, and the sound is deafening, like a Roman coliseum.

Kyle lunges and drives Rafe into the chain link. He gets a hold and takes Rafe to the mat, pinning him. Seconds tick by as the two men grapple, and Kyle gets his brother in a headlock until finally Rafe taps out.

The crowd roars. Green throws his hands in the air, like he just won a bunch of money, and the two brothers break apart.

Red Dog tugs Rafe to his feet, then lifts Kyle's hand in the air in victory.

The crowd roars again.

When I see Rafe is okay, I slip out the door and down the hall to the main clubhouse. Hurrying past the bar, I see a prospect wiping glasses.

"You okay, ma'am?"

I slip out the door and spot Crystal's car idling in the parking lot. I climb into the front seat. "Thanks for coming."

"No problem. Who won?"

"Kyle."

"You sure about this?" she asks.

I nod, and she pulls out.

"My sons are both headstrong, and sometimes they're stubborn as hell. They make mistakes, I won't deny it. But they'd never mean to hurt you, Sutton."

I swivel my head. "It's not me I'm worried about. I can't bear to tear them apart. Things haven't turned out the way I thought they would with Rafe. I thought in time, we'd grow closer, our relationship would deepen. But that just hasn't happened."

"And Kyle? Do you have feelings for him?"

I swallow. "That's why I have to go."

"What if he has feelings for you?"

"Don't you see? It'll always be a thing between them. It won't work."

She drives me to Rafe's, where I pack my bags and leave him a note. Then she takes me to the Diridon Transit Center. I can catch a train to Stockton or a bus to Santa Cruz. I'm not sure which way I'll go yet.

"I hate leaving you like this," Crystal says. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Yes. Thanks for everything."

"Will you at least let them know where you're going?"

"I left Rafe a note," I say.

"I can't help feeling you're making a mistake," she replies, her eyes sad.

"I can't come between them. I don't want to be responsible for that."

"All right. I can respect that." She reaches into her handbag and passes me an envelope. "My number's in there, plus a little cash for the road."

"I can't take that."

"I insist." Then she reaches across and hugs me. "It's never too late to change your mind. You're always welcome."

"Thank you." I slip out of the car and carry my bag into the station. My eyes blur, and I blink away the tears.