Page 132 of Repairing the Wreckage

“Then why are you telling me?”

“Why wouldn’t I tell you? It’s a lot of money. It would be shitty to lie to you about something like that.”

“What if we hadn’t gotten back together?”

“We were always getting back together.” He tilts his head and stares at me. “We were never ‘apart’ as far as I’m concerned.” His steady gaze never wavers, as if he’s daring me to deny it.

“I’m serious.”

He runs his fingers through his hair, messing it up in the most irresistible way.

Focus. Don’t get distracted.

“One of the producers probably would’ve contacted you directly and asked you to come on the show.” He lifts one shoulder. “Hell, maybe they’d offer even more money.”

“This feels so unfair. They know we’re broke. All those fighters in the house needed a way to support their families in one way or another and these sick freaks are basically dangling bananas in front of us and cooing ‘dance monkey dance.’ It’s insulting.”

He blinks. “That’s nothing new. Rich men have exploited lower classes for blood sports since Roman times.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re not low class.”

“You know what I mean.” He sighs. “You don’t have to do it.”

I sense there’s something he’s holding back. “Do you want me to?”

“I don’t want you around those people. I don’t want to expose you to any more of this. Not after what you’ve already been through.”

There’s a catch or hesitation in his denials. “I sense a but.”

He lets out another sigh and rubs his hand over my arm. “I want you with me,” he admits in a voice almost too low to hear.

“You do?”

“Yeah, I do.” His eyes meet mine. “I really do. And I know that’s selfish as fuck.”

“Why?” My voice wobbles but I force the question out.

“Because. They tried to break us, and I want to show them we’re unbreakable.”

I love him so much for saying that.

But we both know it’s a lie.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Griff

I finally have my girl back in my arms.

And I told her about the reunion show.

While she said she wants to come with me, sadness lingers in her expression. It hadn’t been there when I woke up and found her staring at me. No, I put it there, by bringing up the damn show again. Worse, I practically guilted her into going.

“Molly, you really don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” Fuck, that sounds hollow after I all but whined that I want her with me.

“I thought you wanted me by your side?” Hurt bleeds into her voice.

“I do. But I’m worried.” I roll my eyes. “Except for Venom, Woolly, and Bear Trap, and maybe Hammer Fists and Thunder, the rest of the guys are real assholes. Immature, sloppy drunks and dirty fighters.”

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