Chapter 29

twenty-nine

. . .

Romeo

Everyone was on edge.We’d gotten to Las Vegas a day later than planned since I’d waited at the hospital until Peyton let me know that Demi was cleared on all her tests. She’d be released within a few hours, and Lincoln had the plane ready to go.

Joey and Butch were losing their shit that we needed to get our asses there. The weigh-in was in a few hours, and we’d just gotten to the hotel. I was exhausted because I’d barely slept the last two nights, as I’d spent them in a chair in the waiting room of the hospital.

It wasn’t the way I planned to go into this fight, but if I were being honest, nothing was going as expected anymore.

The fight was not at the forefront of my thoughts.

I was struggling to manage my anger toward Leo Burns. We’d been able to keep what happened out of the press. It surprised me that he’d not made any of it public. He was still just running his mouth about me going down in round one. But he’d have to cut off my limbs if he thought he’d take me down in round one now. It wasn’t happening. I was going to ruin that motherfucker so he’d never fight again.

He’d come for me and ended up hurting my girl.

He’d need a fucking truck to run me over right now if he hoped to take me down that quickly.

I was assuming his piece-of-shit friends who’d jumped me had reported back and let him know they’d hit a fucking woman.

It haunted me that I hadn’t gone after them, but Demi had needed me, and I hadn’t had a choice at the time. But five minutes alone in an alley now—it would be a different story.

The first time they jumped me, I had not wanted to get hurt before the fight.

Now, I didn’t give a fuck about the fight. I wanted to break every bone in their bodies. One by one. Drop them to their knees and make them apologize to her for what they’d done.

Kingston opened the duffle bag and handed me the black tracksuit that I’d be wearing to the weigh-in.

All the guys were wearing black joggers and hoodies that said Team Golden Boy on the back.

They’d wear something similar tomorrow, as well.

We’d had fun picking this shit out weeks ago, but now, none of it mattered.

I checked my phone and saw a text from my sister-in-law.

Brinkley

Hey, just wanted to let you know that I just picked up Tia from the hangar, and we’re on our way to the hospital. I’ll text you as soon as she’s released.

You won’t leave until she’s out of there, right?

Brinkley

You have my word. But you may cost me my job if I miss that fight.

If she doesn’t get released by the time of the fight, I won’t be fighting. That means something is wrong.

Brinkley

I’ll keep you posted. Get your head in the game, Romeo. Leo’s a loose cannon. Look what he’s already done. You need to be safe and focus on the fight. Tia and I will be with Demi.

I’ve got it covered.

I slipped my phone into my back pocket as Lincoln came to stand in front of me.

“You all right? Let’s get changed and get this weigh-in over with.”

River, Kingston, Hayes, and Nash were all there, grabbing their clothing and getting changed.

“Yeah. I just talked to Brinks. She’s in Magnolia Falls with Tia. They’re heading to the hospital.”

“Dude, you know how hospitals are. They’re just slow about this shit. It always takes longer than they say. Peyton told you that her tests all came back fine. This is probably her dad dragging his feet to keep her from coming to this fight.”

“She isn’t coming anywhere near this fight or Leo fucking Burns.” I tugged my jacket off and reached for the fight tee that I was wearing to the weigh-in.

“Agreed. Brinkley is there, brother. She will make sure everything is okay and get to you as soon as she can. But right now, your fucking head needs to get right. This fight is happening tomorrow. And you’ve worked your ass off for months. It’s time to focus.”

I nodded. I knew he was right, but I struggled to shake this off. This anger toward Leo. This anger toward Demi’s father, who’d called security at the hospital.

And they hadn’t done a fucking thing.

Because I was allowed to be there just as much as he was.

The difference between me and him was that my priority was her. I wasn’t going into her room and causing another scene like we’d done the night before. She deserved better. So, I’d stayed in that waiting room—hell, I’d slept there the last two nights, just to be there if anything went wrong. I pulled the note that the nurse had slipped to me yesterday morning out of the pocket of my jeans, and I unfolded it.

Go kick Leo’s ass. I love you, Romeo. Nothing will change that. Xx, Beans

That was exactly what I intended to do.

We all got changed and made our way down to the main floor where the weigh-in was taking place in a large arena. There was already a crowd there, and we were taken by security through the back door.

Joey and Butch walked in front of me. Lincoln and River were on each side of me, and Hayes, Nash, and Kingston took up the rear.

We were all quiet. It was game time.

Or what you’d call game time before the real game time. But I was about to be face-to-face with Leo for the first time since all of this started.

Joey glanced over his shoulder just as the doors opened for us to step inside. “You keep your cool. He wants to provoke you. That’s why he did what he did. In twenty-four hours, you can unleash all that anger. You’ve worked too hard to blow it now.”

I nodded.

When we stepped inside the room, the crowd went wild. Leo was already there with his team, and they were all wearing bright pink tracksuits.

“I thought you might not show, young Romeo!” Leo shouted from the other side of the stage.

“Your lack of response is driving him fucking crazy. Stay the course,” River said, leaning close to my ear.

He was right.

But it was getting more challenging to keep my mouth shut. Especially after what happened to Demi. My hands fisted as the announcer took the microphone and introduced us. I tuned out all the noise and stripped off my hoodie as I stepped onto the scale, ignoring the voice of my enemy, who was relentlessly trying to engage me.

He stepped onto the scale next, throwing his hands in the air like the pathetic showman he was.

He didn’t look like the big, bad fighter I’d envisioned.

He looked like a scared little bitch who had done a lot more talking than training.

My jaw ticked as I watched him step off the scale and wink at me.

And then we walked toward one another, standing shoulder to shoulder for photos.

“You’re awfully quiet, Romeo,” he said. We weren’t mic’d, so no one who wasn’t standing beside us could hear our conversation, which included Joey and Leo’s coach, Tito, and a very large bodyguard hired by the fight promoters to make sure nothing went down today.

“I’ll save my talking for tomorrow,” I said, as we turned to face one another.

“One round and you’re going down,” he said, his tone cocky and unapologetic.

I leaned forward, keeping my voice low. “Not happening. And aren’t you used to knocking down girls? Using other people to do your dirty work? Be ready because I’m not going down after what you did to Demi. You’re going to have to take the last breath from my lungs before that happens.”

He pulled back, glanced at the audience, and smirked, but there was confusion in his gaze as he looked at me, leaning forward for my ears only. “Not sure why you’re bringing your girl into the mix. I’ve always had my sights set on you. But if she’s looking for an upgrade after I put you in the hospital, I’ll be waiting.”

I could feel myself on the verge of going completely batshit crazy on this fucker. Joey’s hand clasped my shoulder, and I looked up, eyes locked with Leo’s. “Good luck with that.”

I turned and walked away before things got worse.

“Stay calm. It’s getting to him.” Joey led me back to our group, and we got our stuff together so we could get ready to go eat, and then I planned on getting some much-needed sleep.

“Hey!” someone shouted as we walked down the back hallway with security. I turned around to see Tito.

I narrowed my gaze, and we all came to a stop.

“What the fuck does he want?” River asked.

“Can I talk to you, Romeo?” Tito said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was around.

What were they up to now?

“Not without me,” Joey said.

Lincoln and River were right behind me and Joey, but I held up my hand. Leo wasn’t going to send his coach to jump me when I was with a group of guys.

“It’s fine,” I said, as I moved closer, and he met me halfway.

Joey kept one shoulder right in front of me as if he were ready to dive in if needed. “If he sent you to harass my boy, you better turn around and walk away. You’ve put him through enough, but he’s still here, isn’t he? I’m wondering if that was the plan. Make it so he couldn’t show?”

Tito’s brows cinched. He was a large man in his mid-forties, and he’d been by Leo’s side since the beginning. “Leo is a showman. He has hyped this fight for months. I don’t always agree with how he does things, but he’s brought in a lot of money and a lot of attention to this fight. And you’ve played your part, Romeo. Staying quiet. Taking the high road. I respect it. But there was something different today, and Leo felt it, too. He doesn’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about with hitting girls and bringing your girl into it. That’s not his style. He’s all about the verbal sparring and then going at it in the ring when it’s time. So whatever beef you have with him over your girl, he isn’t aware of it.”

“Maybe he didn’t tell you what he did,” I said, my hands fisting every time I thought about Demi on the ground. About the way she cried in pain. “But it went too far this time.”

“Romeo, he doesn’t make a move without me. Check your facts before you go there. It’s not his style.”

“Maybe you need to check your facts, Tito,” Joey said, moving forward. “Because his girlfriend is as good as they come. You don’t see her here, do you? Ask your boy where she is.”

Tito threw his hands in the air. “No idea what you’re talking about. You got proof?”

“Aside from them saying they had a message from Leo? No. That’s all the proof I needed.”

Tito’s gaze searched mine as he walked backward toward the door. “Come on, now. Why would he tell you it was a message from him?”

“Why would he do half the shit he’s done?” River growled from behind me. “The shit he’s done to this guy—I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

“There’s one thing he wouldn’t do, and that’s what you’re accusing him of. He wouldn’t put his hands on a girl. He has three daughters. I’m telling you, you’re off base on this one.” He held up a hand. “Let’s have a good fight out there tomorrow, all right?”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. I didn’t have the energy for any of this. “Planning on it.”

He went through the door, and we turned and walked back toward the elevators.

My brain raced because none of it added up to me, if I were being honest. Why would a guy who begged to fight me have me jumped a few days before the fight? Although, the guys he sent weren’t fighters, so maybe it was just a scare tactic. I doubted Demi was part of the plan, but she’d ended up there, hadn’t she?

And that shit was unforgivable.

“You think he’s covering for him, or do you think Tito really doesn’t know how dirty his boy plays?” Butch asked.

“I don’t have a fucking clue,” I said, as we stepped onto the elevators and made our way to our floor.

“Hey,” Lincoln called out when we stepped off the elevators. “Brinkley and Tia are there with Demi. They said all her tests were fine. Her dad is causing the holdup and keeps asking for more tests and making things difficult.”

“And they’re sure that she’s okay?”

“She said Demi’s aggravated that she hasn’t been released. They just ordered takeout, and she’s feeling good. Her dad is wielding his power. Probably trying to keep her from showing up here.” My brother paused in front of his hotel room door.

“Tell Brinkley to make sure Demi stays home. I don’t want her near Leo or any of this drama.”

Lincoln nodded. “She knows that. Tia is going to stay with her to watch the fight with your mom and grandmother. Brinkley will catch a flight here tomorrow after Demi gets released, so she can cover the fight for the magazine.”

“All right. Thank you.”

“Of course,” he said.

“That sounds like a good plan. You can figure everything out when you get back home. Now we know your girl is fine. And you’ve got a fight tomorrow, so let’s get our heads in the motherfucking game!” Joey shouted, and everyone cheered.

At the end of the day, I was the reason Demi had been hurt, and I couldn’t get past that. That hit was meant for me. And she and I would have to deal with that when I got home.

Loving someone as fiercely as I loved her was one thing.

Hell, I’d fucking kill for that girl. Give my life without hesitation if it meant protecting her.

But that didn’t mean that I was right for her.

Demi Crawford deserved better than me.

But right now, I wasn’t going to think about it.

I was going to get my head right so I could show up tomorrow and hopefully put my fist through the face of the man who’d hurt her.

That was one thing that was in my control.

Game on, Leo Burns.