Page 114 of Back in Black

She licked her lips. “I’d want to lobby for extra precautions in all the fight clubs.”

“The SBC already uses every precaution,” Drew said. “But you should feel free to harangue other organizations.”

She glanced between the men. “I’d want every effort made to keep the athletes safe, too.”

“Guaranteed,” Drew told her. “So if we get down to it, it’s the personal attacks and distortion of facts that we agree are wrong, right?”

“Definitely.”

Drew nodded. “Not a problem. With Gillian’s help—”

Gillian looked startled.“What?”

“—I’ll check things on my end.” He hugged Gillian when she started to protest. “So what about you, Audrey? Can you get WAVS to stick to the facts?”

Brett brought her attention to him. “If you walk away now, you allow the group to stand as is, and that makes you no different from them.”

Brows raised at Brett’s vehemence, Drew nodded at him. “What he said.”

“I’ll do my best,” Audrey promised.

“I know just how to get things started,” Gillian said, jumping in to lighten the mood. “Join us on another press conference.”

Since Drew wanted to take Gillian back to Vegas, not instigate more business, he wasn’t keen on that idea. “Right now?”

She flapped a hand at him. “It’s easy for you and you know it. You have incredible influence.”

Drew smiled. “I’ve created a PR monster.”

Gillian put her hand over his mouth. A bold move, but then, Drew liked it when she was bold.

“It’s the easiest, most efficient way to convey accurate data,” Gillian stated. “With Drew’s connections, you could reach a lot of people, Audrey, including followers of your group, which will make it easier to reorganize. State your case with our blessing. We’ll make it clear that we want to take your group’s concerns into consideration and work with you on resolving them.”

“We will?” Drew asked around her fingers.

He was ignored.

“All right. I’d like that.” Audrey looked at Brett. “Because of my brother, this will always be an issue with me.”

“I know. I get that.” He smoothed back her hair. “Standing up for your convictions is an important part of you, Audrey, a part that I love.”

Love? Damn, now both of Drew’s brows shot up. So Brett was in love with the girl? He hadn’t quite seen that one coming. The fighters rarely wanted for female attention. Most who were Brett’s age cared more about playing the field.

But from the beginning, he’d known that Brett was different. More focused.

Audrey still stood there staring at Brett with enormous eyes and parted lips.

Drew leaned in toward Brett and said sotto voce, “I don’t think she quite got it.”

Brett grinned. “Then I guess I should be more blunt.” He cupped her face. “I’m falling in love with you, Audrey.”

She blinked hard and threw herself against him. “I’m already in love with you.”

Drew nudged Gillian, but she made a point of studying her nails. Knowing she was never obtuse, he scowled.

Audrey said, “I’m so sorry, Brett. I had a lot of misconceptions on the sport, and the athletes.”

He lifted her off her feet in a tighter hug. “We’re all part and parcel with our backgrounds, honey. There’s no separating it. There’s only dealing with it.”

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