Page 67 of Saving Blood

Diesel falls into step with me. “Where you goin’, Maxie?”

“The ladies’ room.” I narrow my eyes, daring him to follow me. “And I’m going in alone.”

“Ahhh, yeah, I guess that’s alright.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “I’ll be right out here when you’re done.”

“I’m sure you will,” I say around a laugh.

The ladies’ locker room consists of two rows of metal lockers on one side, and showers, changing rooms, and toilets on the other. Apparently, the Bastards renovated the whole gym last year when they took over and just added this side a few months ago when they put women on their fight roster.

I peel off the Velcro wrist strap on my practice gloves, and a shadow falls over the floor.

“All ready for your big fight tonight?’

I startle, then check myself, giving Hector a sharp nod.

He moves closer, and the scent of his heavy cologne suffocates me. “Nothing obvious. You get in some good shots, dance around a bit, then you leave yourself open, take a few hits, falter and tap out. It’s important you make it look real.”

I squeeze the gloves in my hand. “I understand.” I keep my face expressionless while my brain screams how I would do the exact opposite.

“I know you’ve been sharing that biker’s bed, and of course it’s part of the setup, but I hope it hasn’t changed your decision in any way.”

Once again, Hector crawls into my subconscious.

“You have nothing to worry about.”

“Good.” He pinches my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Because if this fight doesn’t go exactly as I expect, it will be very unhealthy for you.”

He removes his hand, and I rotate my neck. “I understand.”

“Your biker buddies even asked me to join them tonight in their front row seats. They seem to think keeping an eye on me is necessary, but if you have any ideas about deviating from my plan, there will be casualties.”

“I’ve conned him into thinking I’ll be the big winner. He has no idea what you have planned.” Huge lie, but I have to find out what Hector means by casualties.

“Just a little insurance on my part, to assure you don’t let any twisted feelings for Blood get in your way.”

“You want the money to take his club down, so why single him out?”

“It’s an old code of outlaws. In order for you to obey and get the job done, I’ve put a price on someone you care about to make my point.”

“But I don’t care about Blood. I’ve told you he’s just a means to an end.”

“Then it shouldn’t matter what I do to him. It will be about business. A way to send a message and prove a point.” Hector shrugs. “Same reason I had to get rid of that stupid kid.”

“What?” A cold sweat creeps around my neck.

“Killing Javi showed Blood exactly what I’m capable of doing.”

Hearing the truth flow so casually out of Hector's mouth cramps my gut.

“Another thing you might want to consider if you’re having second thoughts—Blood would never want you after he knew you were mine first.”

“I was never yours,” I whisper, my heart pounding in my throat.

“It wouldn’t matter. I can be very descriptive, and I’ll make sure Blood knows every gory detail before I put a bullet in his brain. Not only would he know you betrayed him, but he’d die also knowing you were my whore—I think I’ve made your decision very easy, don’t you?”

My stomach rolls and twists as a deep pain settles between my ribs.

Hector turns on his heel and weaves his way to the back door of the locker room.

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