Page 72 of Wilder
Royal wasn’t supposedto fucking fight Duke Valentine. He has a completely different fighting style than Bear does. I don’t know what the fuck is going on. I huff out a nervous breath.
And the hell of it is Royal isn’t in the mental space to be in the ring tonight. Things had gone to hell the minute Davis walked in on Echo with his Sin Keeper card in her hand. Learning that Davis let Royal take the fall for Alicia’s death made for an explosive situation we hadn’t seen coming.
I glance behind me at Beckham and Echo, whose faces are drawn and nervous as they watch the fight from the bench. Echo definitely hasn’t recovered. I’ve seen her upset before, but the way she’d laid into Davis was something else. We had to step in and pull her off him. I’m anxious as fuck for her, because she’s been horribly quiet since she learned the truth. Her parents protected her asshole brother—to her detriment. Poor Echo already had a few misgivings about her parents after what was said at the fight last week, but now?Shit.The Maddens were not good people. Not by a long shot. I feel it in my bones.
Wincing as I watch Duke take Royal’s back, I see the end coming. He gets Royal’s arms wedged under him, and that’s all it takes. Goddammit. I grit my teeth as Duke manages to raiseRoyal’s head so he can hook his elbow under his chin. My fingers grip the metal cage.
I’ve been right here the entire fight, trying to talk Royal through it. They’d gone to the mat way too fast for my liking. I haven’t seen Duke fight often, but if I was right about Bear being injured, then it makes sense. My eyes flick to Derek Pierce and Tristan Valentine once again, who look no happier this week than they had at the other fight. Fuckers. They probably had it set up to rake in more winnings, assuming Bear would falter again.
The ref calls the fight, and after Duke gets up, Royal scrambles to his feet, too. He exhales heavily, glaring at Duke before he glances back at me, wiping sweat from his brow. He knows it was a fair fight. I hope he’s okay. Shooting him an apologetic smile, I hand him his water bottle in exchange for his mouth guard.
A moment later, the ref calls both fighters back to the center of the cage, and Royal accepts his defeat. With that done, we help him from the cage, where he slumps on the bench, head in his hands.
Echo’s overly emotional, fighting back tears. “It’s okay, Royal. If anyone knew what you’ve been through today, they’d understand why your head wasn’t in it.” She kisses his shoulder, then glares at Ireland, who makes one last attempt to approach “her” fighter like she had earlier when she tried to chat up Royal before the match. The girl’s already used up the last of Echo’s patience, and I wouldn’t put it past our girl to lose it on her.
Royal rubs a hand over his face. “I want to go again. Find someone else for me to fight.”
I press my lips into a tight line. “I don’t think Mr. Pierce would allow that. Let’s get you to the dressing room.”
Royal shakes his head, heavy breaths gusting from him. “I’m sorry. I’m all messed up tonight.”
“It’s okay, man. We’ve got you.” Beckham nods to me, and between the two of us, we help him up, slinging an arm around each of our shoulders. Echo walks beside us, quieter than usual. We weave our way through the remaining crowd and down the back hallway to his dressing room.
Beckham opens the door, and the four of us file inside.
I rub a hand over the nape of my neck. “What can we do? What do you need?”
Sweat slicks down Royal’s chest. “Just lemme shower, and we can get the fuck outta here. Maybe drop by SIN for clothes?”
Echo nods, giving him a reassuring smile. “That sounds good.”
Royal swallows. “Do you think Davis stayed at your house?”
She grits her teeth. “You know, I’m not sure. I can text Kara. Lemme find out.” Her head bowed over her phone, she taps out a quick message. A moment later, she confirms what I was thinking. “He’s still there. Sleeping on the couch in the den.”
Beckham tips his head to the side. “Maybe we’d better stay at SIN tonight, anyway. Give everyone a breather. Head back in the morning?”
“I bet Kara’s had her hands full.” She hadn’t shown up until well after we were done with Davis. I shrug because it makes no difference to me. I’ll deal with the ass if he decides to open his fucking mouth again. I tip Echo’s chin up with a few fingers, so I can get a read on her true feelings. “What do you think? What do you want to do?”
She exhales harshly, rubbing her temples with her fingers. “I feel bad for me. And Chase.” Her face is so pale and drawn, it hurts my heart. “But I’m so fucking upset for Royal and everything he went through. He went to jail for nothing. Missed my pregnancy, the birth of our child. The first years of his life.” Her hands shake as she drops them to her side. “And all because my brother—his best friend—lied to save his own skin. And myparents… they were involved in it. I’m so disgusted right now, and I don’t know how to deal with any of it. My brother doesn’t hardly seem sorry. My parents are dead… but he claims they told him to keep us apart.” She lets out a shuddery exhale. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel.”
I pull her to my chest and throw an arm around Beckham for good measure. “I think you’re allowed time to process all of it. You need to tell us if there’s something you need because I don’t know what to do except be here for both of you and try to help you through it.”
Beckham nods. “Agreed. This whole day has been fuckin’ devastating for you. And for Royal.”
A tremulous smile reaches Echo’s lips. “Thanks for standing by us through it, though. I was really upset earlier. Still am.”
“Your reaction is justified.” Beckham presses his lips to my temple. “Your brother should be terrified—but I’m unsure who’s scarier, you or Royal.”
Steam pours from the bathroom as Royal exits, tugging a pair of joggers over his ass. He shoots us a grim smile. “I have the answer to that. The mother bear is always scarier.” He joins us, lips twitching as Echo’s mouth drops open.
She shrugs. “Well, you’re not wrong.”
Royal throws his arms around us. “We’ll get through this.”
I nod swiftly, catching his eye. “Together.”
Back at SIN,we make the unanimous decision that all four of us will stay in Royal’s room, as it's the farthest from the bad memories in Beckham’s. I hadn’t had a particularly easy time ofit when Beckham and I slept here the other night. We’d stayed in my room, and all night long, all I could think of was what we’d seen in the bed across the hall and how I’d reacted that night. Can’t fucking let that happen again. I need to be strong, protect them from whatever else comes our way. I rake a hand through my hair. “I’m going to grab a few things. Be right back.” The other three nod, already stripping out of clothes, ready to put this motherfucker of a day behind us.
