The Assassin.
“Well, I don’t assume a fucking thing,” Danny said. “I want to know the goddamn truth in it all. I blame you for this, Wes. You brought this to our doorstep.”
“Fuck you,” I growled. “Fuck you.”
“Yeah, tough guy. Aton had a fight scheduled and it’s going to happen.”
“So why are you calling me about it?”
“You’re the one on the card, Wes. The only one on the card.”
~
It didn’t make sense, but what was I supposed to do? Aton had the fight scheduled. There was money thrown at it. People were expecting to see some action. If I didn’t show, it was a forfeit and a loss on my record. Not that my record actually mattered, but a loss would fuck Aton. And considering he was in a hospital bed, out cold, machines keeping him alive, he wouldn’t be able to pay up or talk his way out of anything.
Danny insisted Aton’s situation be kept silent. That if anyone at the fight asked, Aton was in the back working on something else. Which was normally true for the fights. Danny and Tommy were the ones who scoured the floor and the circle, taking last second bets, keeping the peace when needed, and keeping the crowd excited for the next fight.
But a single fight?
Just me?
Fighting some guy?
That didn’t make sense at all.
I stood in the doorway and watched as Rose had a sheet wrapped around her body.
“I have to go fight,” I said.
“What?”
“I got a call. They’re trying to keep Aton under wraps. So I have to do this.”
“Wes, no. You can’t leave here.”
“I have to.”
“I’m going with you then.”
“Fuck no, sweetie.”
“Yes. I can’t be here alone. What if that guy comes back? What if someone else comes? What if…”
I growled and shook my head. “Fuck. I don’t like this.”
“I don’t like any of it either,” Rose said. “I can’t stay here alone. I’ll go with you. Be near you. I’ll watch the fight and then we leave. Right?”
“No,” I said. “No. You’re going to stay here. I’ll take care of everything so you don’t have a worry. Just hide out, keep a gun close, and wait for me.”
Rose stepped toward me and dropped the sheet. She was still naked. Her left leg bent a little and came just an inch in front of her right leg. The seam it created, cutting between her legs, was enough to make a dead man’s heart explode. She gently caressed her perfect hips and then grinned.
“Wes…”
Was she really trying to seduce me into getting what she wanted?
I moved at her and grabbed her by the waist. I pulled her close, putting our noses together.
“You can’t come like this, sweetie. You have to keep attention away.”
“So I’m allowed to go?”
“Fuck me for doing this… but, yeah. Fine. You come with me. It’s probably safer for me to be able to see you. So I can focus and fucking win this thing.”
Rose touched my face. “I’m kind of turned on right now. I get to see you fight.”
“It’s not fucking glamorous, sweetie. Now get fucking dressed.”
I turned and left the bedroom.
I left a naked and willing woman in a bedroom alone.
Christ, talk about getting fired up for a fight.
I felt bad for whoever the fuck I had to go fight.
~
Danny stood with his cell in his hand. He kept his phone close in case something happened with Aton. I lingered in the back and stayed near Rose. She looked nervous to be there and maybe rightfully so. For all we knew, Luke could be there, waiting. If this fight had been scheduled for some time, he’d know about it. If he wanted revenge…
“You’re going to be fine,” I said.
Rose nodded. “I feel like I’m distracting you. This isn’t fair.”
“It’s fine. I can handle myself when I get out there. The second it’s time to fight, that’s what I’ll do. I’m a first round knock out kind of guy. And I have good reason this time. I can’t get you out of my fucking head.”
Rose started to blush. “That’s sweet.”
“Just keep your distance. If anything goes wrong, just scream. I hear one scream from you and I’ll dart out of the circle and come get you. I’ll take the dq and move on.”
“Thank you, Wes. This is way too much for you to do for me.”
“It’s not just for you,” I said. “It’s for both of us. We’re in this together.”
And I like it.
I kissed Rose’s forehead and turned to face the circle.
This was a small building and a small floor. I hadn’t fought in here before. Nothing about the place seemed right. But there was probably fifty people there. All to see me fight. When someone saw me, they started yelling my name. It was the closest to fame I’d ever experience.
Then Danny took to the middle of the floor. “Are you ready for this?”
Everyone cheered.