Page 41 of Clinch'd

I don’t want to have to explain why I can’t ride with her to the airport.

As soon as I’m out the door and in the car, I dial Hudson. He answers on the first ring and says, “Change of plans. Meet me at the bar in the airport. Gate 15.”

He hangs up before I can respond, and I blow through the doors and wait in the security line anxiously before finding the fucking gate and spotting my brother at the bar.

Luckily, he looks more like our dad while I take after our mother because it would be suspicious for anyone to see us together and make the connection.

Sidling up to the bar, I give the blonde beside me a pretty smile when he says, “Something weird is going on.”

“Like what?” I ask, as the blonde purrs and presses her tits against my arm, blinking up at me all seductive like.

Something about the pretense turns me cold and with a silent sigh, I force my thoughts away from Minnie and say, “How do you know?”

“The fucker’s suddenly focused on Wyld.”

“Wyld?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Okay,” I say. “Do you think it has something to do with Monroe?”

With a shake of his head, Hudson pays for his beer before taking a sip. Fuck me but I haven’t had a beer in so long my mouth actually waters.

“I don't know. I haven’t heard nor seen anything to make me think it’s her. What if it has something to do with you?”

“Why would it? I’ve never been on his radar before?” I say, pulling my lips into a smile aimed at the woman whose eyes widen in confusion.

Beside me, Hudson shrugs and says, “Watch your back, bro.”

As soon as he’s gone, I pay for the woman’s drink and leave with my thoughts all over the place.

Why would Castinetti care about me? I’ve purposely stayed far away from him. Unless this isn’t about me, but…Hudson. In which case, it’s not me who should be watching his back.

Chapter 15

Minnie

The next stop is Los Angeles. Beast greets me in the lobby, and we ride together to the airport. He’s more grumpy than usual so I lean my head against the seat and doze. I’m exhausted from the escapades with Cooper and the emotional rollercoaster. Not only that but I’m worried about being away from work for so long and how I’m going to have to dip into my savings again.

Maybe I am still young, but Lorri doesn’t understand that we’re both adults with responsibilities. Once this is over, I need to have a conversation with her about her life because I’m tired of cleaning up her messes. I’m tired in general.

I’ve been upgraded to first class and we’re waiting in the exclusive lounge. While I glance around with interest, Beast collapses in the seat beside me and closes his eyes.

His manager sits a few rows over, glaring at his phone.

I recognize a few other fighters including Cross who makes eye contact from where he’s sitting and smiles. I can’t help the lift of my lips because he’s charming. He takes it as encouragement though and ambles over, sitting next to me.

Beast appears to be sleeping from my other side as Cross says with a glittering smile, “Hey, pretty lady.”

“Hey,” I say, glancing up when a shadow appears above us.

I may have gasped I don’t know, but the man standing there is so fucking beautiful I can only blink. Shit. Cooper exudes raw sexuality and is handsome, but this guy is a real life adonis. He’s physical perfection—like angels created his face.

The bluest eyes I’ve ever seen shine out of thick black lashes. He has high cheekbones, thin lips, a sexy cleft in his chin and thick dark brows.

He sits down across from us with a cool smile and Cross says in an amused tone, “Rafe.”

“Cross.”

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