Page 120 of Undisputed Player
Something passed between the three men—a silent communication that made the air itself thicken with menace.
Jax rocked me, his breath hot against my ear. "Never again," he whispered, and the words carried the weight of an oath written in almost blood. "I swear to god, Estelle. Never again."
I clung to him, my whole body shaking. I’d never felt fear like this, not even when Damon’s men first appeared. This was different. This was life-threatening. I could have died, Sierra could have been hurt, and the people I loved could have been taken from me in an instant.
Sierra reached over, her hand finding mine with strength. “We’re okay,” she whispered, her voice steady. “We’re okay.”
We were ushered into the luxury suite high above the arena floor. Glass walls offered a view of the boxing ring below, where staff were already preparing for tonight's fights.
Jax hadn't let go of me since we'd been rushed inside. I sat cradled in his lap on the plush leather couch, his arms wrapped around me like armor, his chin resting on top of my head. Every few seconds, his hand would run down my back, as if he needed the constant reassurance that I was still here, still breathing, still alive.
Connor had claimed the space beside us, Sierra still curled against his chest. His dark eyes swept the room constantly, cataloging every corner, every potential threat, even as he whispered something too soft for me to hear against her skin. She nodded slightly, then reached across the small space to squeeze my hand.
"You're okay," she murmured, her voice still steady. "We're safe now."
The door burst open with enough force to make me flinch, and Coach Miller stormed in, his face flushed red with exertion and barely contained panic. "What the hell happened?" he demanded, his eyes darting between Jax and the guys like he was trying to solve a puzzle. "We've got a title fight in three hours!"
Jax didn't even look at him. His gaze remained fixed on my face, his thumb gently wiping away tears I hadn't realized were still falling down my cheeks. When he spoke, his voice was flat and final. "I'm not fighting."
"What?" The coach’s face went from red to purple. "You can't just?—"
Jax finally turned to look at him, and whatever Coach Miller saw in those blue eyes made him take an involuntary step backward. The golden boy had been stripped away completely, leaving raw danger in its place.
“Someone just tried to kill her,” Connor said, his voice deadly quiet. His arms tightened around Sierra, who pressed her face into his shoulder. “Inside our perimeter. With our security.”
The coach's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. "Jesus Christ," he breathed, finally seeming to grasp the gravity of the situation. "But the championship—the network—the sponsors?—"
“Fuck the championship,” Jax snarled. “I'm not leaving her.”
My heart clenched at the raw fury in his words, at the realization of what he was willing to sacrifice for me, thrown away without hesitation. "Jax," I whispered, finding my voice at last. "Your title..."
His expression softened as he looked at me, his hand cupping my cheek. “Nothing is more important than you, princess. Nothing.”
The coach began pacing the suite like a caged animal, running his hands through his thinning hair. "This is a disaster. The network will have my head. The sponsors will pull out?—"
"We’ll stay.” Adrian’s voice cut through the coach's spiral. He'd been silent until now, carefully setting Toffee's carrier on a sidetable and opening the door to check on the cat. Toffee meowed softly, and Adrian's fingers gently stroked his fur. "In the box. During the fight."
Jax shook his head immediately. "I'm not leaving her side."
“We won't leave,” Adrian insisted, serious. “Not for a second.” He glanced at Connor, who gave a short nod. “You fight. We guard. With extra security outside.”
I watched another silent communication pass between the three men, something dark.
“I'll be here the whole time,” Adrian continued. “No one gets through that door without going through me first.”
Coach Miller looked between them, clearly realizing he was witnessing something beyond his understanding. “The fight starts in two hours,” he said quietly. “You need to warm up and focus.”
Jax ignored him completely, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. "Your call, princess," he said softly. "I'll walk away from all of it if you need me to."
I stared into his eyes, seeing the truth there. He would do it. He'd throw away his title… for me. I felt fresh tears burning behind my eyes.
But I couldn't let him do it. I couldn't let fear steal this from him. I am strong, I’ve always been strong.
“Fight,” I whispered, reaching out to touch his face. “I'll be right here. I'll watch you win.”
His expression shifted—pride, relief, and something more dangerous. The predator beneath the golden boy recognized the trust I was placing in him.
He turned to Coach Miller, his voice carrying the weight of absolute authority. "I'll fight. But they stay here, with Adrian and Connor. And I want extra security from my personal team.”
