Page 86 of Unlucky You

I felt Saniya’s eyes on me but kept mine on the road. “He asked if you had been fighting for me. Said if you were and I refused to tell him, he would cause problems I didn’t want, but if I handed over any proof that you were, he would go away.”

I ground my teeth, fuming. I knew exactly who the fuck was asking about me. Aleah’s father knew my history with underground fighting. He probably sought out every venue in town trying to find something he could use to send me backto prison for parole violation. Fighting illegally would be a fast track right back into a gotdamn cell.

“And you told him what?”

“That I didn’t fucking know you.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me. I wasn’t protecting you. I’m not a gotdamn fool. If he’s trying to make trouble for you, by default that trouble lands in my lap. Fix this shit and make sure he stops showing up here. Also, you’re done. I will let everyone know you’re bad for business.”

I hadn’t planned on stepping foot in his place or anyone else’s so that didn’t fucking matter to me. He could tell whatever to whoever he wanted.

Rix ended the call and I dropped the phone in my lap.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“We don’t work if you lie to me.” She glared and I dragged my teeth across my lip, considering whether or not I wanted to tell her. The last thing she needed was a reason to rethink being in my life but fuck it. This was who I was. This was what she was dealing with.

“Aleah’s father went to Rix asking if I was fighting there.”

“But you're not, right? Not anymore.”

“No.”

“Did he tell him you were?”

“No, but only because he feels like it will come back to him.”

“Then it’s fine right?”

“He’s gonna keep fucking with me….”

“And you’ll keep doing what you’re doing, which is being a good father and minding your business. There won’t be anything he can do to touch you.”

“In a perfect world that would be easy enough but he’s not trying to give me any fucking grace. He’s going to keep pushing.”

“We’ll push back. I know people too. If I have to call in every favor I own to make his life miserable, I will.”

She was amped as fuck and it brought a smile to my face. When I only stared at her pretty ass, she frowned. “What?”

“You’re so fucking beautiful right now.”

She rolled her eyes, fighting hard not to smile. “Thank you.”

“You trying to go to war for me?”

“Yes. Fuck him.”

I laughed lightly. “He’s not your problem, Saniya. I’ll figure it out.”

“We’llfigure it out. All in, right.”

“Yeah baby, all in.” I grabbed her hand, linked our fingers, and kissed the inside of her wrist. I probably didn’t deserve her but I was damn sure holding on as tightly as I could to keep her.

TWENTY

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