Page 62 of Craving the Fight (Gloves Off: Next Generation)

EMMA

Reagan and Brooks decided to stay with me at Carter’s house while the rest of the guys were gone. The only thing we knew was that they had to watch a fight, and luckily, it didn’t involve Carter. It was a relief, even if it was temporary. Carter will have to fight to the death eventually; it was just a matter of when.

Standing by the window, I peered out and my pulse raced every time a car drove by. I kept hoping it would be Carter and the others. Reagan was lying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling while Brooks was in the kitchen, pacing the floor holding a tumbler of whiskey. We were all on edge. What I hated more than anything was how I could feel Carter slipping away from me. I knew he was strong and that he’d win the fights at any cost, but at what price?

Headlights beamed down the street, and I gasped as three cars headed toward the house. It’s them. “They’re here!” I shouted.

Reagan jumped off the couch, and Brooks opened the door wide while we stood behind him. Carter marched up the walkway first, and I breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t covered in blood, nor was he hurt. However, the haunted expression on his face made my stomach drop.

The second he walked into the house, I jumped in his arms. “Thank God you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” he said in low voice as he wrapped his arms around me.

My brother, Braden, and Ripp walked in, followed by Kase and Hunter. I hadn’t seen them in so long, but they both had the same blond hair and were built as if they were brothers. Guess it shouldn’t surprise me since they were cousins. Letting Carter go, I hugged Hunter first and then Kase.

“I’m so sorry this is happening,” I said to them.

Kase stared down at me with his silvery-gray eyes. “It’s not your fault.”

“So, what happened?” Brooks asked.

Ethan and Braden started to explain, but Carter grabbed my hand, his tone urgent. “We need to talk.”

He pulled me down the hallway to his bedroom and shut the door. Fear spread like ice through my stomach as I waited for him to speak. When he opened his mouth, I didn’t know what to expect, but it surely wasn’t the words he said.

“Scar’s dead.”

The breath hitched in my lungs, and a surge of relief took away the fear, but then it came right back when I saw the worry in Carter’s eyes. “Some would say that’s a good thing,” I mentioned hesitantly.

Carter shook his head. “Not this time.”

Swallowing hard, I shivered as goosebumps spread over my skin. “Who killed him?”

He let out a slow breath. “Nikolai. He put a bullet in his skull.”

“Oh my God,” I gasped, clasping a hand over my mouth. “Why?”

Carter’s jaw turned rigid. “Not sure. Honestly, I don’t care. He’s gone which is good, but now we have Nikolai and everyone else involved with him to deal with.” He turned his back on me and gripped his hair, the air around him turning electric. “Nikolai wants me dead, Emma. He sees me as a threat.”

Bands tightened across my chest, and I could feel the bile rise in my throat. “What did he say?”

The muscles in Carter’s back tensed. “Doesn’t matter. All I know is that I have to get you away from here before my fight next Friday.” He jerked around, and I could see the desperation on his face. “Please, Emma. I don’t know what will happen at the fight, but I do know I don’t want you anywhere near Nikolai.”

There was no way in hell I would leave him to face whatever he had to face alone. “No, I’m not going anywhere,” I fired back.

Carter huffed, his voice gruff and angry. “Dammit, Emma, this is serious. I watched Nikolai kill two men tonight. One he shot through the head, and the other he smashed their skull into the ground. His people don’t care who they hurt. They’re dangerous and I know Nikolai will come for you.”

He wanted to protect me. I understood that because I would do anything for him. What Carter failed to realize was that no amount of running or hiding would help.

I grabbed his arms and looked right into his feral greenish-amber eyes. “Running will only make it more exciting for him. If Nikolai wants to find me, he will. I’m not afraid.” I cupped his cheeks. “Do you want to know why?”

Carter closed his eyes and opened them slowly, his resolve barely hanging on by a thread. “Why?”

Ever so gently, I kissed him. “Because we’re stronger together. No matter where you try to send me to keep me safe, it’s not going to work. I’ll leave and come right back to you.”

Bowing his head, Carter blew out a frustrated breath. “You’re going to drive me in-fucking-sane. You know that?”

Sliding my hands soothingly up and down his arms, I waited for him to look at me before kissing him again. His body relaxed slightly, and he pulled me in closer, his warmth seeping into my skin. “We’re going to get through this together,” I promised.

There was no room for doubt.

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