Page 49 of Wilder
He smirks, eyeing her up and down. “I think you got the gist of it, pretty thing.”
My blood leaps to a boil in a split second because this time, Ididhear him. I shout into his face, “What thefuckdid you just say to her?” This is not the time or place to get into it with one of the most powerful men in this town, but I will defend Echo to the ends of this earth.
He ignores me, instead aiming his beady, lust-filled gaze at Echo. “Pretty thing, where do you think your daddy’s incomeactually came from?” He huffs out a disturbing chuckle, his broad chest bouncing. “Certainly not that piece of shit company he ran as a cover.” Derek’s brow raises as fury radiates from Echo’s shaking body.
“I’m sorry,sir, but what the fuck do you know about my father?”
My chest is absolutely heaving with the need to punch him in his curled lip.A company ran as a cover? What the fuck?
Standing, Derek towers over Echo as his lecherous eyes roam over her once again. He’s a big fucker, just like his son. He shoots her a secret smile. “More than you do, sweetheart, more than you.”
I see red, but I’m also scrambling to understand what the hell is happening. I grit my teeth. I’m inches from lunging at him when Echo whirls around and throws herself against me. Her body language says she’s angry enough to spit nails. Eyes boring into mine, she gives a vehement shake of her head. “No, Royal, don’t. It’s what he wants.”
“Smart little bitch you’ve got there, Royal.” He walks off, leaving us with our mouths hanging open.
She turns to me, shock and disgust and confusion coating her features, but I move her away from the area, as that skeevy asshole Tristan remains in his seat, watching our reactions like we’re part of some reality TV show.
By the time we get to Wilder’s bench, my face is hot with undiffused anger. Echo’s tucked against my side, and I feel every tremble of her body, every disturbed twitch and quake. Each breath she takes is ragged, I can tell by her unfocused gaze that she’s deep in her head, thinking about every word Derek said to her. Fuck. I wish I had heard the first bit because I can’t tell which was worse, that or the shit he seemed to know about her dead father. Beckham and Wilder reach us only a moment later, take one look, and pull the four of us into a tight huddle.
“What happened?” Wilder spits. “I see it all over your faces.”
I glance at Echo who gathers herself enough to shoot me a silent plea not to say anything. I work my jaw for a second, but nod. Fucked if I’m going to let this affect the fight. “We’re fine. It’s nothing that can’t wait. You just fucking fight, you hear me?” I reach for Wilder, gripping the back of his neck in my hand, my eyes piercing his. “You can beat him.” I give his neck a squeeze before releasing him, my breath coming fast and shallow.
“Fuck yes you can,” Beckham affirms, glancing over his shoulder at Bear. “He’s a big bastard but even the biggest, scariest ones have weaknesses. Find it and exploit it. Do what you have to do.” He reaches up, palming the back of Wilder’s head, giving him a rough shake meant to get him riled.
Echo’s eyes have strayed over to the sleazy men across the ring, but she tears them away to focus on Wilder. “Get ready to kick some ass.” She huffs out a breath, then she steps closer, her hands shooting out to lock around his neck and tug his mouth down to hers. She presses a hard kiss there. “You’ve got this. Do it for River.”
Wilder exhales heavily as she releases him, his dark eyes moving toward the cage. With his jaw clenched, he nods, baring his teeth, and puffs out his broad chest and hulking shoulders. I nod, recognizing his cage fighter persona has taken over. This guy is mean. Devious. Deadly. And has every chance at coming out on top tonight, given the rage lighting his eyes.
The crowd only gets louder as the signal comes for the challenging fighter to enter the cage. I drag in a deep breath, eyeing Bear, who is waiting his turn down by the ref. His presence is intimidating, but as I shift to watch my friend, I recognize the ruthlessness in Wilder tonight, which I think is going to play in his favor… because there’s something a little off with Bear. Something about the way he’s warming up, watching Wilder with an apprehensive eye. I can’t recall everseeing that in him before. My brow furrows, and I work my jaw to the side, glancing toward his crew—Duke and Mason—as they slowly make their way through the crowd with a tall blonde between them. She’s got Bear’s and Duke’s fathers’ attention, that’s for certain, and the way their eyes rove over her makes my stomach curl uncomfortably. I don’t care how important or rich or powerful Derek Pierce and Tristan Valentine are, they’re bad fucking news.
Just then, the rambunctious cheering goes from loud to louder, and I tear my eyes away to watch as the announcer of the fight enters the ring. He does a slow circle, nodding to both contenders before he brings the mic to his mouth. His deep, thunderous voice fills the entire warehouse with excitement. “For our featured fight tonight, we have a special treat for you!” With a wink, he pauses, and the audience goes nuts, jumping out of their seats and punching their arms into the air. “Our challenger is none other than the one and only Wilder ‘Wild Man’ Emory from Sigma Iota Nu! Please give him a warm welcome.” The announcer turns, flourishing his hand toward Wilder.
We rise from the bench in a show of support, and Beckham cups his hands around his mouth. “Let’s go, Wild!”
Between us, Echo follows Wilder with anxious eyes as he puts both arms in the air and jogs around the ring. He makes a running jump at the side of the cage and climbs to the top where he throws a fist up, riling the brothers of SIN. He lets out a booming, savage roar, like a motherfucking lion. I chuckle to myself.Show off.The fight-goers react exactly as expected, on their feet to cheer him on as he feeds into the raw sparks of energy in the room.
As a direct result of the chaos, Echo has visibly tensed. Her hands are folded together and tucked under her chin, her gaze now focused somewhere on the other side of the ring. Sure asfuck, that entitled prick Derek is staring right at her. Almost like he’s taunting her. I draw in a ragged breath, my knuckles turning white as my hands clench into fists. I shoot the asshole a lethal stare.
Just then, Wilder jumps down, and I’m forced to focus on him. Beckham and I immediately step up to the cage, as it’s our habit to give a last-minute pep talk.
I jut my chin at him, raising my brows. “You feel good? Mind clear?”
He nods and gives us a feral grin. “I’m good. Take care of Echo. Something’s bothering her.” His eyes flick toward our girl, who is standing a few paces behind us.
“I know,” I grit out, scowling as I find Derek in the crowd again, sipping an amber-colored beverage in a glass tumbler. His hand is firmly planted on Bear’s cage girl’s ass, his eyes twinkling at me.
Beckham follows the path of my gaze. His voice low, he murmurs, “I saw the two of you talking to Derek Pierce. You looked like you were going to jump him until Echo stopped you.”
“Yeah. And I only heard part of what was said. Whatever I missed, Echo didn’t. And she’s fucking upset about it.” I huff in frustration, gripping the back of my neck and tugging. “Sorry, Wilder. I didn’t want to say anything. It happened right as you were coming out. But maybe this will give you some extra incentive.”
He glances back over his shoulder. “Those bastards are nothing but trouble. Make her tell you what he said.”
I work my jaw to the side. “I’m on it. You just focus on the fight.” I reach for his gloved hand where he grips the cage, grasping it in mine from this side through the metal wire. My eyes pierce his. “I believe in your ability to fuck some shit up tonight.”
Beckham thumps my back as we turn to sit on the bench, then at the last second, turns back and aims his fiery blues at Wilder. “Show them who the better fighter is.”
I narrow my eyes on Derek, and the dick has the nerve to shoot a dirty smile at me. I turn, moving rapidly to Echo, and pull her close to me. “You’re gonna tell me what he said.Now.He doesn’t get to play games with your head.” I edge back far enough to see her face, and note her cheeks flaming red, her eyes awash with disgust.
