The back door swings open so hard it bangs against the wall, calling the attention of everyone in the room. It’s too cramped and crowded for me to see who did it.
“What I learned was that after fighting for a year in London, I’m not ready—”
“Killian, no!”
My eyes dart to the cluster of reporters who’re being shoved aside to clear a path.
“Ax?”
She bursts through the crowd, breathing like she ran here, only to get stopped by a rope that holds the media a healthy distance back. “Don’t go, okay?” Her big blue eyes are glued to mine, as if we’re the only people in the room. “Please, just…don’t go.”
“Axelle, honey?” Layla’s standing off to the side, her eyes as wide as mine.
Ax doesn’t acknowledge her mom. “Killian, I thought by letting you go I was doing what was best for you, but I was thinking about everything we’ve been through, and I’m so sick of fighting this pull between us. I’m sick of trying to do the right thing when the right thing feels so wrong.”
“Ax, baby—”
“Because that’s what a life apart from you is, Kill. It’s wrong. We were on to something those few days before you left, and I thought sending you away was the right thing. I’ve spent the last five years searching for something, and all this time you’ve been right in front of me. You were my bright light, Kill. I didn’t realize how bright until you were gone and the darkness was so thick I thought I’d never be free of it. But I got out, I did it, and doing it on my own didn’t make me miss you any less.”
“What’re you saying?”
“It’s like that story you told me, the one about the woman who jumped from the Eiffel Tower?” She laughs as a single tear rolls down her cheek. “I’ve jumped. I’m free falling, and I’m so scared you’re not going to be there to catch me.”
The room erupts in flash bulbs and whispers, but none of it matters.
My girl, my woman, Axelle…she wants me. She interrupted an international press conference to stop me from leaving. I would’ve settled for a text.
Without a coherent thought beyond getting closer to her, I hurdle the table and cross to her. I stop just shy of her, and my arms tense at my sides. “I’ll always catch you, Ax.”
She lunges at me with the force of a girl falling, and I easily lift her into my arms.
“Baby, I—”
Her lips crash against mine with an eagerness I’ve never felt from her before and one that matches my own. Cameras pop all around us along with whispers that remind me we’re far from alone.
I kiss along her jaw to her neck. “We’ll have to finish this later.”
Her cheeks pink and she nods. I place her feet back to the ground and grip her hand, pulling her back to my seat with me.
“Killian, does this mean you’re staying in Vegas?”
“Are you taking her with you to London?”
“Calm the hell down,” Cam growls into the microphone. “Let the guy get to his seat, and I’m sure he’ll answer your questions.”
I step around the table, dragging Axelle behind me, and earn smiles of approval from everyone on my team, even Fleur. When I’m back to my spot, I drop down and pull Axelle into my lap. “Right, so as I was saying, I wanted to come back to Vegas to get some perspective, and what I learned was”—I lock eyes with Axelle and she shifts on my lap, her gaze unsure—“I’m not going anywhere.”
Gasps are followed by murmurs and then questions, but I ignore them all and continue.
“I would never be where I am today if it weren’t for my team here in Vegas.” I shift my eyes around the room and find Jonah, his arms crossed over his chest and a knowing grin on his face. “Jonah believed in me before anyone else even knew I existed, and I mean anyone. I owe everything I have to him”—I squeeze Axelle tight and turn back to her—“and this woman right here. I loved my time in London, and I’m not saying I’ll never go back, but my family is in Vegas, and this is where I’m staying.”
A reporter stands. “Are you afraid the choice to stay will hurt your career?”
“Have you seen the kid fight?” Cam’s eyes narrow at the guy. “He could be fighting in Timbuktu and dominate.” He nods to another reporter.
“Killian, can you give us the name of this woman you’re staying for?”
Cam growls into the mic. “Let’s keep the questions to fighting—”
“Cam, it’s okay.” I stare at Axelle, who seems more than a little uncomfortable with all the eyes on her. “Can we make it official?”
Her face breaks into a brilliant smile and she nods. “Yes.”
I lean close to the mic to make sure I’m heard. “This is Axelle Daniels, daughter of Blake and Layla Daniels. I’m gonna ask politely that you leave her alone. Any questions you have I’ll be happy to answer, but she’s off limits to—”
“You don’t need to protect me, Kill.” Her lips are at my ear. “I can handle a lot more than you give me credit for.”
“I know you can, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Fight me all you want, but you can’t fight the inevitable.”
“Quick Kill! Can you tell us who you’re fighting next?”
“Is it true you’re going to fight T-Rex?”