Page 38 of Ruthless Legacy

Chapter Eleven

The underground fighting ring is in a derelict old mill a few towns over in a quiet industrial park. I’m amazed at how busy this place is and surprised that no one knows it’s here.

“Is it always this busy?” I ask as I climb out of Archer’s car and the others pile out of the back.

“Yes. Fight night is popular. Besides, the main event is on tonight. Archer is fighting Luca Silver.”

I look over the bonnet at Savage. “Why?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Because fighting and fucking are my favourite past times, Scarlet,” he says with a wicked grin. Seeing Archer smile is a rare thing, but I have to say I like it and I have seen it twice in one night, tonight. It’s a little disarming for my poor heart.

“I didn’t know you knew how to smile,” I tell him as I meet him around the front of the car.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me Scarlet, and trust me, you don’t want to.” He holds out his hand and I automatically slip mine into his. I do it without thinking and I have no idea why. The guy on the door clearly knows all the guys as he greets them all with a fist bump and Archer congratulates him on the birth of his new baby boy. Seeing Archer smiling at people and being sociable is an unfamiliar experience. Maybe tonight I will see a whole other side to him.

Inside, the place is heaving, but we don’t have to push our way through the crowds. They part for us instantly; everyone greets Archer and the boys with respect and makes room for them.

“Well, well, here he is our main event.” A tall Indian guy jumps down from a podium and grinning grips Archer in a hug. “And you brought a girl,” he says, eyeing me like I’m some kind of illusion. “Don’t tell me you finally got trapped by some pussy, Archer.”

I pull my hand from Archer’s and cock a brow at the guy. “For the record, I’m not his and I’m here to fight.”

“Are you now?” The guy says with a wide grin. “And who might you be?”

“She’s the Red Raven.” I look behind me to see Silver walking up to us.

“Eliza, meet Dev.” He glares at Archer and then smiles warmly at me. “You ready for it?”

“I was born ready,” I tell him with a playful wink as I feel two hands land on my hips from behind me and I don’t need to turn to know who they belong to.

Silver’s eyes rest on the hands. “So, you’ve claimed her, huh? Not trying to run her out of town anymore?”

“What I do is none of your concern, Silver. You stick to your side of the Bay, and we’ll stick to ours.”

Silver chuckles and nods his head. “Yeah, but which side of the bay does princess belong on, huh? Because I got to say, she looked much more comfortable and at home on my side.”

I fake a yawn. “Okay, enough with the ego competition. Is there somewhere I can go get ready?”

Silver laughs and beckons me over to him. “Come on, I’ll show you the way?”

Before I can take a step in his direction, I’m pulled back against Archer’s chest. “Rafe will stay with you tonight. It’s not safe for an Ace female to be on her own in here,” he whispers into my ear.

“No one here will know who I am.”

Archer chuckles in my ear, and it sends shivers down my spine. I like it when I make him laugh. “You really believe that. Look around you. Everyone knows about the new Alderman heir with the filthy lips and scarlet hair.”

I do as he says and look around at the crowd and sure enough, people are looking over and whispering. “So much for a quiet life,” I reply with a sigh as I step away from Archer and head over to Silver.

Half hour later, I step into the ring to raucous cheers and excitement. The place is buzzing, and everyone seems to have gathered around to watch me fight, even though there are other fights going on.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have a treat for you tonight!” Dev announces into the mic. “We have fresh blood in Westview. Tonight, a new fighter, the Red Raven, will face the formidable Hell Cat!”

The crowd cheers and starts chanting Hell Cats name as my opponent steps up into the ring.

“Well, look who we have here?” she says, grinning as she circles me. “It’s the little rich girl. Are you lost, honey? Are you sure you want me to rearrange that pretty face of yours?”

I grin as I look into the eyes of the girl from Silver’s party the other night who’d asked Silver’s brother why we were there. She was as hostile then as she is now.

“What’s up? Scared you’re finally up against some real competition?” I ask her with a confident smirk.

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