Seth tapped out and it was all over.
I yelled so hard my throat felt raw. Calix had won. His dream would continue and I knew he'd be happy as hell about that.
"I'm leaving," I called to my brothers.
"Be safe," Amadeo called. "We're still on high alert."
"I know!" I called back before I reigned in my excitement and cleared my throat. "I know," I said again, my voice calmer than before.
Once I turned around, I nodded my head and men moved from the sides of the rooms to follow me. The other guards stayed back, waiting for us to leave. On the way back to the locker room, I passed more of our men and even inside of the room itself, men were posted up watching and waiting. It was the only way that I felt comfortable allowing Calix out of my sight.
Calix stood talking to his coach and someone that looked like they were from the mania. I brushed past all of them and pulled Calix into my arms. My lips found his before he could protest and he kissed me as eagerly as I kissed him. Calix's tongue danced inside my mouth and he smiled when we finally pulled back.
"Hey," Calix panted. "Couldn't wait, huh?"
"Shut up," I muttered.
"What?" he teased. "Did you miss me?"
"I'll kick your ass."
Someone cleared their throat and I looked around. Mel raised a brow at us and I held up a finger. "He'll be back with you in a moment." I turned back to Calix and ignored everyone else. "You did a good job, Tesoro. I'm proud of you."
Calix beamed. "Yeah? Promise?"
"I promise," I answered. "Now get your ass showered and back to me in five minutes or I'm going to lose my patience."
"Think you can wait for ten?" Calix asked.
"No."
He shook his head, a smile on his lips. "Five minutes then. I'll be right back."
I watched him walk off. His coach glanced back at me and trailed him before the media guy did the same. But while they were trying to talk, Calix was getting his shit together to go.
Fuck. I really love that man.
***
"You didn't have to wear a tie," I told Calix as he fiddled with it in the car.
"This goddamn thing," he grumbled. "It's so stupid." His phone rang and he picked it up. "Hi! Yeah, I'm okay Mrs. Lopez. We're going to dinner. No, I haven't, um, left him."
I rolled my eyes. She called him every damn day and always asked if he had come to his senses about me. Thank God he hadn't. I couldn't even be pissed at the old woman the way I wanted to because she was right to caution him against someone like me.
But I still wanted to kill her. She just has to put doubt in his head. What if he actually listens and pulls away from me? My hands tightened on the wheel and I only gazed at Cal every once in a while as he fought his tie.
I pulled through the gates of my mother's house and climbed out before I rounded the car. Calix climbed out, his eyebrows knitted together. With a sigh, I knocked his hands away and started fixing it for him as his gaze bore into me.
"Everything's going to be fine," I said as I gazed back at him. "You've already met my insane brothers and cousins. The rest of my family isn't so bad."
"Says you," Calix muttered.
I smiled and pushed my fingers through his hair, gathering up the flyaways before I redid his bun. Once it was in place I kissed him and let my lips linger. Calix held onto me and I wanted to avoid the dinner altogether, go back, and fuck him until he begged me for more.
"Gabe, are you coming in?"
I sighed as a familiar voice called my name. My mother stood in the doorway, a smile on her face. No matter what was going on in the world, she was the beacon of light that made it all okay.