Page 23 of Facing the Music

“I’m not?”

I look between the both of them, trying to understand. Why would someone study something and then not use it? “He’s not?” I echo.

Tia shakes her head, guiding me into the kitchen and sitting me down on the stool. “No, because Cairo can’t sit still and his father’s a bastard. No way am I letting him get sucked into that world.” My gaze narrows as I catch onto the true meaning of Tia’s words. That look in Cairo’s eyes came from his father. A man who should be protecting him rather than hurting him.

Tia chews on her bottom lip, waiting for my reaction as Cairo stiffens. I know what Iwantto do but violence in this situation wouldn’t help and neither of them would be happy with me. So, I choose to state a fact instead. “Both of your parents are douchebags.”

They burst out laughing, Tia pressing a soft kiss to my head as she runs her fingers through my hair. “You’re not wrong, babe. How are you feeling after everything?” I know she meansmy head but I can’t help but smile when Cairo’s cheeks pink. He swallows and then cracks a smile, Tia shaking her head in amusement. “You both are adorable. There’s going to be a lot more of that in the future. In the meantime, I know for a fact you didn’t eat anything because Cairo doesn’t keep his fridge stocked. So, breakfast is the priority and then we get to talk about the fact that the main road from the campus is closed down.”

My heart drops into my stomach, all the playfulness from a few seconds ago gone. “What?”

Cairo nods as he returns to the fridge, producing things that don’t qualify as breakfast but will satisfy hunger. “Seems someone hit one of the water lines so there’s no going into the city. Not that I had anywhere to go this weekend. Besides, the twins texted me and said that you’ve got another bet for tonight.”

I try not to react, Tia’s hand in my hair coming to a halt. “Why would they tell you? For how much?”

“2K,” Cairo mentions, shrugging as he takes another package from the fridge, sniffs it, and then chucks it into the trash. “I asked the twins who it was and it’s another newbie. No idea how they got that kind of cash but Aidan told me it was already wired.”

Tia’s hand continues its massage through my hair but this time it’s rough, her emotions filtering into her touch. I don’t like it. “I don’t believe in coincidences and all of this shit happening at the same fucking time is impossible.” Her top lip pulls up in a snarl before she leaves us and disappears into the bedroom down the hall. I stare after her, wondering if I’m supposed to follow or stay put.

“Someone’s influencing your outcome, isn’t there? Paval, no new fighter shows up three nights in a row. And no one bets $2K on them unless they know them or there’s something else nefarious going on. Just tell me the truth, it’s Ada, isn’t it?”Cairo sets down the last of whatever he pulled from the fridge and moves to stand beside me. “God, Paval, you can’t protect her from everything.”

“I don’t have a fucking choice, Cairo.” He opens his mouth just as I slap a hand across his face to muffle his words. His eyes darken with desire, his nostrils flaring at the position we’re suddenly in. I’ll have to remember this for later. “If I fight, she stays away from our woman and before you bring up the police, I called them. They’re here but they aren’t the police. They’re her men. Don’t ask me how I know. I just do. There’s nothing in our favor here and now we can’t get off of campus? It’s all bullshit, Cairo.Bullshit.”

I slowly let go of his face, his blue eyes frantically searching my face for lies. “Call your fathers.”

“Not an option. She knows where they live and now I can’t even go over there. They’re safe from Ada but we aren’t and anything my fathers try to do… they can’t do anything from there. We’re stuck.” I thought I felt helpless before but this feeling bubbling up in my chest and taking over my lips is keeping me from being able to think.

Even breathing becomes difficult as I stare down at my hands, wondering how we’re supposed to get out of a trap Ada has so perfectly crafted. Tia still doesn’t know how much danger she’s in. Ada wants her daughter back but after that… then what? What will she do to my woman after that?

“Paval,” a large hand cups my cheek, drawing my attention back to Cairo. “You’re going to get hurt playing this game. You’re not going to win.”

“I’m not supposed to,” I mutter. “That’s what she wants. I need to lose. Tia will be able to pay for the rest of next semester if I lose. But if I do, I won’t be able to protect her. Or you. As long as you both are okay, it won’t matter but I don’t see how this works out.”

Cairo sighs, leaning forward to kiss me before speaking again. “You don’t think you’re worth it, too? Why can’t you see that we care about you and getting hurt would hurt us? I know it’s an impossible choice but you keep doing everything for our safety.”

His words mean everything and yet, change nothing. I stare down the hallway, anxious that Tia hasn’t yet returned. The water hasn’t turned on and there’s no screaming which means I have absolutely no idea what she’s doing. I do know one thing—she needs me. Both of us.

“Let’s take care of our woman today. Show her that she has us both and that whatever comes our way, we’ll be right there. And then after that, if you truly feel that you have to do this to protect her, do it. I’ll make sure she’s safe. However, you should really call your fathers. If I had the support system you did, I would be leaning on them every chance I got.” Cairo kisses me again and this time, I hold him there, digging my fingers into his shirt and curling them around the fabric.

I’ll do it because Cairo is promising me that Tia will be okay, that I won’t have to worry about the aftermath and that’s all that matters. When I release Cairo, I shoot my fathers a lengthy text, knowing very well they will be on high alert until that water main break is fixed. They’ll tell me not to do anything stupid but I won’t agree to that.

I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Tia and Cairo are safe.

And if that means standing there, letting some poor bastard hit me in the face until I crumple, I will.

Chapter twenty-three

TIA

I keep getting messages, everyone excited for this ‘high profile’ fight. People have heard about the two thousand dollar wager put on this fightif Paval loseswhile I’m stuffed between the two men who have my heart. I’m not even sure what we are—lovers? Are they my boyfriends? Aretheyboyfriends? It doesn’t even matter that Cairo was able to put something resembling pasta together once we finally got settled. It’s pretty dang good but my appetite is gone.

The increasing texts from my mother also aren’t helping my anxiety because it means she’s here while all the help isout there.Cairo throws on a movie but I can’t focus on that either, running through the message board we keep updated with the current fight. It’s supposed to be on the down low but basically everyone knows about it at this point. I’m not even sure how it’s been kept a secret this long—unless of course the administrationhas a hand in it and that’s just… a very weird but not shocking thing to think about.

The guy fighting Paval is fucking huge. My bet's on him.

Have you seen Paval fight? Crazy ass. He’s going to bring the claws out.

Kolas kid, absolutely.

---