Page 95 of Fight Me Daddy

"Yeah, that you won't be fighting."

I scoffed and turned to him. "I am fighting."

Gabriele frowned. "No, you're not."

My nostrils flared. "We're not going to have this discussion. I've already told him I'll be going and I will."

He stepped toward me, his jaw ticking. "Let me try this again. You're not going anywhere, anytime soon."

"Yes, I am," I said as I clenched my fists. "If I miss a match I look like a flake and owe a fee. So, starting tonight I'll be working out, eating everything, and getting my ass in gear to make this weigh-in."

"No, you won't."

I stared at Gabriele. He wasn't backing down, but neither was I. He took a step toward me and I didn't move away.

"In case you've forgotten, there are Russians coming for your head. And mine. And everyone else's."

"Yeah and we're going to fucking dinner tonight."

"With the family and protection," he countered. "No one's stupid enough to make a move on us when we're together. If you haven't noticed, things have been quiet here and that's for a reason. There's safety in numbers."

"Then I guess everyone better join me for my match," I said as I turned back around. "Because I'm going."

"No, you're not," he growled.

"And who's going to stop me?" I snapped as I wheeled back around.

Gabriele moved so quickly that I barely saw him. He gripped the front of my shirt and shoved me backward. But I forced myself against him and growled right back.

"I'm doing it. Do you understand me? This is the last thing I have left!"

Gabriele swept my ankle and dropped me onto the bed. "And I'm sorry about that, I really am, baby, but I'm not willing to put you in any more danger. You're on lockdown."

I scoffed. "Lockdown? Things are bad enough and you think you can lock me up and throw away the key?"

"I'm taking you out tonight, right?" He pressed. "It's not like I'm shoving you into a closet or a basement or something."

"Not that you haven't thought about it."

Gabriele didn't flinch and I blinked up at him in shock. He had thought about it. Not that it should surprise me. He's fucking batshit insane.

"You've already drugged me," I growled. "And I forgave that."

"That was for your own good," he said. "If I hadn't you would have gotten yourself hurt or worse."

I growled. "That doesn't justify you drugging me!"

"Here we go with this shit again," he snapped. "You're not going to a damn fight and that's the end of the discussion."

No, the hell it isn't.

I listened to Gabriele when it made sense, but now it didn't. No matter what I did or where I went someone was always going to be after me. That was my life now.

"I'm not going to cower in a corner and not have a life, Gabriele. So if that's what you're asking of me, fuck it and fuck you. I'm going."

I shoved him off of me and grabbed my stuff. Gabriele could have a temper tantrum on his own. I wanted to live what little bit of a life I had left.

"You're gonna have to forgive me all over again."

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