Page 119 of Wreck Me

I’d been concerned at Bastian and Caleb hanging around me out in public, but Caleb had informed me that no Luxe students were here, and we were just dealing with those on the periphery of society, those who had nothing to do with social media or the media in general. In fact, they hated all that shit, they were a different breed. And they respected the whole rule of not publicizing anything that happened at the fight club, knowing if they did, it would compromise it and ruin it for everyone.

When I’d asked Caleb and Bastian why no Luxe students had shown up, considering how into it they’d been last time, they’d just flashed me those devilish smirks of theirs. That had told me enough. They’d obviously done something to keep them away.

Although I’d wanted to know what that something was, I’d let it go, and focused on the awesome fact that we could actually be around each other in public. It transcended all the rest.

Including my nerves about entering the ring again and engaging in a brutal bout of violence.

“You’ve got this,” Caleb said, interpreting my disposition well as he stood behind me rubbing my shoulders, while Bastian was wrapping my hands. It was strange. I’d never had anyone do it for me before. I didn’t really know what to make of it. It was nice and sent a warmth through me, but there was also that part of me that worried I’d start to not just like it, but start to need it. Not just the wrapping thing, but everything else too. I’d already gotten close to both of them and it was only getting more intense as time went on.

In the few days since we’d fucked in the den, I’d seen them every day. Caleb had joined us on one of our picnics between classes, Bastian had met me with his Lexus on one of my motorcycle rides through the backroads, and then I’d spent one night at their mansion where we’d fooled around, and then actually done the whole dinner-and-a-movie thing, wherein the three of us had then fallen asleep together in each other’s arms.

And now, here they were supporting me with my upcoming fight.

I was slated to fight a guy who’d trained in MMA, very close to my own training. According to the details Damien had relayed to me through a text to Bastian, my opponent was smaller than my last one, just under six-foot and more definition than mass. But he was fast and apparently a biter too. His moniker was Viper. Lovely. The guys hadn’t taken well to that, but I’d shrugged it off. I’d already agreed to the fight and I wasn’t about to back out over something like that. Over anything, really. I was amped for this and I needed it. I had to test myself where all that darkness was concerned. I needed to know I could control it fully.

The guys pulled away from me all of a sudden and a moment later, I looked to see Damien walking into the venue.

He wasn’t wearing his pride-and-joy white and gold hoodie this time.

Instead, he was sporting a pair of crimson shorts and a black metallic t-shirt that was partially sheer.

“Fuck, I thought he said he wasn’t coming,” Bastian groused.

Caleb fired up a smoke and took a harsh drag. “That’s what he texted me.”

“Well, obviously it was bullshit,” Bastian bit back at him.

I frowned. It wasn’t the first time he’d bit Caleb’s head off in the last few days. There’d definitely been some tension between them, but when I’d asked, they’d each brushed me off telling me it would pass, and that it wasn’t a big deal.

Damien smirked at Bastian and Caleb who were now a good few feet from me.

And then he came over to me. “Looking forward to this, Bluebell?”

I nodded. “It should be a good one.”

“Guaranteed.”

His eyes darted behind me and he smirked again, then grabbed my right hand.

When I went to pull it away, he held fast. “Relax, this one is just a little loose,” he said, gesturing at the wrap that Bastian hadn’t been able to tie off before he’d had to scatter with Damien suddenly showing up. The last thing we needed was to give him any more ammunition, let alone confirmation of us truly being together. Like Bastian had said, he didn’t have concrete proof, so we’d make sure it stayed that way. As much of a bitch that it was to fake it, especially tonight when it was supposed to have been okay to be around each other.

He finished tying it, then kissed it, making me shudder.

That just made him smile.

And then he turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.

I snuck a look at Bastian and Caleb and to say they didn’t look happy was an understatement. They were both fuming, particularly Bastian, because his brother had touched me again.

Thankfully, the call for the start of my fight sounded, and then I was making my way toward the ring.

The ref from last time in a velour suit made some room so I could slip inside the ring.

As I took position on the far side, I looked out to see Bastian and Caleb amongst the crowd. They’d pushed themselves right to the front near my end. I smiled as Bastian winked at me and Caleb gave me a thumbs-up.

I turned back, awaiting my opponent, and entering that combat headspace, clearing my mind of everything else.

It didn’t take as long as last time for him to arrive, because this one didn’t do a couple of showy laps around.

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