Page 3 of Rematch
Audrey opened her mouth to speak, but another voice cut her off before she could get her words out.
“Sorry about that, babe,” a man said. His arm snaked over her shoulders as he spoke. “I ran into some friends on the way out.”
I raised a brow as I followed the arm over Audrey’s shoulders. To my surprise, the man standing beside her wasn’t a complete stranger. I was unwillingly familiar with his smug face and sly eyes.
Carter Lawson was one of Elias Blackwell’s boys. Elias was one of the top dealers in Los Angeles - and a close associate of my father’s. His control over his territory and ability to push our product made him a valuable ally. Like most nowadays, he had his own collection of legitimate businesses as facades to clean his money and organize his drugs. But just because my father liked him doesn’t mean I did. There was something off-putting about Elias and everyone who ran with them. I didn’t trust any of them farther than I could throw them.
At the sight of the glare forming on my face, he grinned. “What’s up, Guerra?”
Out of respect for Audrey, I didn’t bust him in his jaw and gave him a firm nod. “Lawson.”
Audrey looked between us with a crease between her brows. “You two know each other?” She asked.
“Yeah, we run in the same MMA circles,” Carter said.
It wasn’t a complete lie. My father had his hands in all types of illegal shit: drugs, weapons, gambling and of course: an underground fight ring. Most of the crews around the city put their best fighters in, hoping for recognition, bragging rights, or a personal invitation onto my father’s payroll. Since he owned Los Angeles, and damn near the rest of California, it was in their best interest to be in his good graces. I’ve seen Carter fight quite a few times, back when he used to be one of Elias’s main contenders. He was good, but he wasn’t a pro.
From the slow nod Audrey gave, I assumed he bought her here under the guise he did this shit professionally. He wished he could be on the level of the men on these rosters - me included.
”You two seem well acquainted,” Carter commented as he pulled Audrey closer to him. “Y’all know each other too or something?”
“Yeah,” Audrey said. “We’re old friends.”
My gaze snapped to her. What the hell was she talking about, calling me an “old friend?” Sure, it’s been a while, but friend wasn’t the right title for what we were. What we’ve always been.
Audrey met my eyes. A frown tugged at her lips as she noticed the shock and hurt within them. She only held it for a moment before she was looking elsewhere again.
”Friends, huh?” Carter mused, glancing between us again. “Guess it really is a small world after all.”
“Too small,” I muttered.
”Well, we should get going,” Audrey said, breaking the awkward silence before it began. She offered me a weary smile. “It was nice seeing you, Max.”
I didn’t want to let her walk away. Especially not with Carter’s arm over her shoulders and words still left unsaid. But, I have money to deliver and a father not to piss off.
Feigning a smile, I said, “Yeah, you too, Audrey.”
Carter’s arm tightened around her as he started towing Audrey away.
Audrey looked over her shoulder at me, taking me in as if she was trying to commit my new image to memory. She probably thought this would be the last time she’d see me for a while.
Little did she know that wasn’t happening.
The love of my life was back. And I’d be damned if I let her get away from me again.
Chapter 3
Audrey
“So, how do you know Guerra?” The dreaded question arose.
Carter and I have been dancing around the elephant in the room up until now, filling the uncomfortable silence with talk about the matches we saw tonight and Carter’s own experiences within the ring.
One of the things that captivated me on the night we met in the bar was his extensive knowledge and genuine interest in mixed martial arts. Unlike the other men in the vicinity, he didn’t approach me with pick-up lines or compliments. Instead, he sat next to me, followed my gaze to the UFC match playing on the television, and asked, “Who’s your money on?”
My answer sparked a light-hearted debate between us since he didn’t agree. We chatted throughout the entire match, and I jokingly said, “You owe me ten bucks,” when my choice won.
“How about I take you out on a real date, instead?” He’d replied.
