Page 14 of Stone

I’ve never been to a fight before, and suddenly, I want nothing more than to be there and see Stone in action.

“I’m coming with you,” I declare, and her jaw drops.

“Sienna, no.” She shakes her head furiously.

Determination sets in my veins. Maybe I need closure too. “Yes.” I raise my chin.

She drops her head back to look at the ceiling, then slowly brings it down. “We’re going to be in so much fucking trouble,” she says with a smirk.

Excitement vibrates through me as adrenaline whips up my spine at the prospect of a night of freedom. “Not if we don’t get caught.” I wink with feigned confidence.

Chapter Nine

Sienna

After quickly changing into one of Evelyn’s dresses and applying a layer of lip gloss, I walked with her out of the house under strict instructions to follow her lead. She smiled at one of the security guards and gave him a wave, then took my hand in hers as we teetered on high heels toward her car. His eyes never left my ass to survey my face, and Evelyn reassured me that the darkness would blanket my identity.

Apparently, this is something she’s done before, and I wonder where the hell the meek and mild girl I thought I knew has been hiding this version of herself.

We drive toward the venue in a comfortable silence, listening to Rhianna as she follows the satnav. Her car is old and not something I’ve ever been in before, but I’ve never felt so comfortable and free at the same time.

No security, no control. Just us and the open road. I close my eyes and relish the breeze coming through the window and smile as I imagine Stone and me driving like this, without a care in the world and no threats of violence.

The constraints of our lives severed, bringing with it a future together. In this moment, I allow myself to believe it’s a possibility. My body thrums with happiness, and I indulge in the feeling of freedom.

“This is it.” My eyes snap open, and I take in the building as her car comes to a spluttering halt. Not quite what I expected, so I scrunch up my nose at the dilapidated warehouse.

“Is it safe?”

Evelyn scoffs a laugh. “You’re seriously asking me if it’s safe?”

She’s right. I live in the Mafia. Nothing is safe.

Before I second-guess myself, she’s hopping out the car. “Come on.”

The floor vibrates with the roar of the crowd as my eyes remain locked on the man in the cage. His scarred back flexes with each calculated swing of his arm as sweat drips from him and blood pours from his opponent, who wobbles with the impact of each punch.

“Jesus, he’s a machine!” Evelyn gasps from beside me as we’re transfixed on Stone’s match.

He’s fierce, raw, confident, and assertive, moving with ease around his opponent. Like a lion circling its prey, he’s in complete control, and I wonder if he’s just as commanding in the bedroom. I shift from foot to foot as my panties become slick, and the ache between my legs intensifies.

As if there’s an invisible force, his head snaps to the side and his gaze locks with mine. Time and my heart stop as his eyes narrow before awareness crosses over his face, and his opponent uses the opportunity to hit him in the jaw, and ourgazes disconnect. The sound of the punch resonates through my bones, and I whimper on his behalf as he stumbles slightly, and guilt rushes through me.

“Oh, shit.” Evelyn jolts, and I follow her focus, where dark eyes glare in our direction, then Czar jumps to his feet and storms toward us. He’s never appeared so furious as he is right now, and for the first time in my life, my brother’s anger terrifies me.

“M-maybe we should leave?” Evelyn grabs her purse from the floor, and I nod.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have fucking come!” he booms. Just how the hell did he get through the crowd so quickly?

Fury burns on each one of his handsome features. His face is red as he glares at Evelyn and me. Then he jerks us by our arms, and my jaw drops at his roughness.

The crowd parts as if on his command, and he marches us toward a door, but my feet struggle to keep up with his powerful strides.

“I can’t fucking believe this. Do you realize how much money you just cost me because that son of a bitch got a hit in?” he sneers.

“I’m sure I can’t begin to imagine.” Evelyn rolls her eyes, and my eyes bug out at her words. Nobody speaks to Czar like this. Nobody.

“Keep that smart mouth of yours shut!” he snaps as he leads us down a dark corridor with a group of his men following swiftly behind us.

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