Fighting Back (Harrow #2) (18 page)

Levering up, Dax crunched his abdominals. ‘I—‘ Ivy slapped her open palm across his cheek, and his words became silence. ‘What the fuck?’ He seized her wrist, but she wasn’t going to hit him again.

‘I’m more likely to be the one physically hurting you,’ she said. ‘Don’t you dare compare yourself to him again, do you hear me? You are ten times the man that he is, and you would hurt yourself long before you would lift your hands to me in anger. You love me, and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that my safety wasn’t paramount to you.’

‘And you had to hit me to tell me that?’

‘I had to hit you to remind you that I am capable of fighting for myself. I would fight back, and that would be one battle you’d be incapable of winning.’ Lurching forward, Ivy kissed the cheek she’d hit and nuzzled against it with her open lips. ‘You couldn’t hurt me when it was Mauri’s greatest wish for you to do it. I’m never safer than when I’m right here.’

Bringing his arms around her, she rearranged their legs so that she was straddling his hips and rising up, Ivy sank down to bring him into her body again, their eyes locked as she rode him. Watching him doubt himself broke her heart, but she had conviction enough for both of them.

This relationship was his priority and he’d proven that by walking away from his life for her. Being back here brought back his hesitancy because he was reminded of what he was before, just one of Mauri’s henchmen, doing what he was told and prioritising Mauri’s wishes above his own.

Bruno was a beast, selfish and callous, he acted in sadistic malice. She knew what it was to be beaten by him, she’d endured his cruelty and knew that Dax was incapable of such hostility. Bruno’s anger came from a place of blackness that resided in his every cell.

Dax had chosen her and had been willing to protect her with his life. He wasn’t evil, as Bruno was, she would never doubt him and any time he needed reminding she planned to be available to do just that.

Dax had stopped counting the number of fights he participated in years ago. The buzz of the room was intoxicating, and it was difficult to keep his mind on why he was here. As soon as he walked in, it felt like everyone in the place was looking at him or wanted to talk to him, but that was nothing new. Except this time something was new for him, instead of languishing in the atmosphere, he was scanning the crowd trying to pick out anyone whose interest wasn’t on him but on what he might have brought with him: his wife.

There was no danger to him here, this might be a very public arena, but Dax knew most of the faces, they were the same ones who’d come to these kind of fights for years. More importantly, the spectators knew him. No one would dare touch him, he could take down anyone who wanted to fight, and his supporters would start a brawl with anyone who might try to tackle him. His wife’s safety wasn’t as assured.

He’d struck gold with Ivy. She wasn’t happy that he was leaving her alone in their sheets, but she didn’t whine or give him shit. She accepted that he was doing what he had to and let him go without giving him the guilt trip as other women might have.

Thinking about their afternoon in bed wasn’t productive, and here in this crowded bar basement, Dax had to focus on trying to find the person who was threatening his peace. Too many faces blended together, some men just wanted to shake his hand while others wanted to talk about how he could make them some money. They tried to either tempt him into fighting on their premises or to throw a fight and make them a fortune.

Dax had fought in this bar before so he knew where to go to get away from the clutching mass of people. Heading for the corner room he went into the disused cloakroom and sat on the bench that ran along the back wall. Serg was going to meet him here, he’d already texted his associate to let him know where to find him.

Unless someone approached him about Ivy, it would be on him to initiate a conversation without creating a fight outside the ring. Serg would have to keep an eye on things while Dax fought in the ring because he had to concentrate in there, and it wouldn’t do anyone any good if he was handed his ass because he wasn’t paying attention. As Ivy had said, she wouldn’t be there tonight to patch up any injuries that he might sustain.

She always seemed kind of offended when he refused to bring her to a fight, but this was exactly why he wouldn’t, she was a distraction. Ivy wasn’t even present, and she was all that filled his head. Before Ivy, he could come into a place like this and eat up every opponent thrown at him, and he could do it without breaking much of a sweat. All that mattered to him was the fight, taking down whoever stood opposite him, and collecting his money.

But it wasn’t like that anymore. The money was unimportant. He didn’t even care much about the win anymore, it didn’t give him the same high. Now that high came from screwing his wife until she screamed like she had that afternoon. She stoked his kindling to a flame when she laughed or gave him that little half smile that told him she was thinking about something kinky.

Fighting was a thrill, and it gave him a rush, he needed it to get rid of negativity that he had always carried on his shoulders. But since he’d surrendered to his feelings for Ivy that negativity wasn’t as heavy as it used to be, maybe it was the way that she looked at him, but he didn’t feel like the same lowlife that he had back then.

Putting her out of his mind he thought about what lay ahead that evening. He got changed and went through his usual warm-up routine. When he was done with the fight, he would ask some leading questions and see what he could come up with. Ivy’s wellbeing depended on him.

Winning the fight was quicker and easier than he’d anticipated, but just what he needed for the night. Serg had showed up just before he went in and had done his job. No one had anything to say about Ivy or the bounty though and as frustrating as it was, Dax wasn’t surprised.

‘What now?’ Serg asked.

They were outside the bar, keeping to the shadows, and they used this seclusion to pounce on anyone who came out from underground. Being that it was the end of the night, most people were gone now, but the bookies were still down there settling up as security removed all traces that the fight had taken place.

‘I want to talk to Robbo,’ Dax said, dropping his sports bag onto the asphalt between him and the building at his back.

Robbo was a bookie at the forefront of all the fights, there wasn’t one taking place in this city that Robbo wasn’t a part of.

‘Do you think he’ll know something?’

‘Maybe,’ Dax said. ‘But he knew The Greyhound, they were tight for a while. If something went down at The Greyhound’s apartment today, then Robbo will know.’

‘Want me to go in there and pull him out?’ Serg asked. Patience wasn’t his strong suit, but that came from his bulk and reputation. Few people would make a guy of Serg’s size and build wait when he wanted something. At the very least people were eager to have him off their premises.

‘We’ll wait,’ Dax said. ‘But if you want to head home you can. I’m confident I can take the guy if I have to.’

‘Yeah, but who’ll keep lookout while you dig the grave,’ Serg said. They shared the joke then Serg leaned back on the wall. ‘I thought Ivy might persuade you to stay home.’

‘She doesn’t try,’ Dax said. ‘She knows this is part of who I am.’

‘A woman who doesn’t try to change you? Where do I sign up?’

The back door of the bar was still closed, no one was coming out at the moment, so Dax turned to Serg. ‘That’s the second time today you’ve asked me about her.’

‘So?’

‘So why the interest?’ Dax asked.

‘You think I’ve got something to hide? If I wanted to off your wife I would’ve done it this morning when I came to pick you up,’ Serg said. ‘The money might be a nice treat, but I wouldn’t get to enjoy it for long if I had you and Mauri on my ass, would I?’

‘So why the interest?’ Dax asked again. ‘You want to make friends with her?’

‘Nah, I’m just… you never took much interest in women, no more than the rest of us. You fucked around, I don’t remember you being tied to one brawd for more than a couple of weeks.’

‘Ivy’s not like the chicks we screwed back in the day,’ Dax said, watching the bar door, waiting for it to open.

‘I get that now,’ Serg said.

The door opened, and the tall, slender figure of Robbo came out with a couple of other guys. All members of the group were laughing as they came right their way. Dax slipped out of the shadows, and all of the men stopped moving and laughing, none relaxed until Dax held up both hands.

‘Got a minute, Rob?’ Dax asked him.

That posse must be carrying some amount of cash between them, so someone lying in wait probably made them fear for their wad. But Dax didn’t need their money. The men said their goodbyes, then Robbo came to him.

‘I thought you left,’ Robbo said.

‘You used to do a lot of work with The Greyhound, you heard from him today?’

‘Not today,’ Robbo said, his eyes drifted to the street. ‘Cops found him this afternoon, run through, they say he died before he hit the deck.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Dax said. Serg came out of the darkness to join them, which made Robbo tense.

‘What is it you want, Ravager?’

‘You know who had business with him?’ Dax asked.

‘What’s it to you? Did he owe Stark money?’

‘No,’ Dax said, though he hadn’t asked Mauri that. ‘I didn’t know he had a habit.’

‘Poker was it,’ Robbo shook his head.

‘So who wanted him dead?’

‘Other than his nutso ex-wife I don’t know,’ Robbo said. ‘He lost big on poker.’

‘To Winlow?’

‘No,’ Robbo said. ‘Winlow’s shot, his nerves have gone to shit since he offed his old lady. What do you care?’

‘He didn’t lose to Benny,’ Dax said. Benny had no poker face, and he only went to events like that if there was liquor involved, which only made him more likely to lose.

‘Doubt it,’ Robbo said. ‘But they weren’t the only two there.’

Except Winlow had said they were. ‘Who else was—‘

‘I don’t know,’ Robbo said, backing away a step. ‘Look, Ravager, I’m sorry I can’t help you out. I would if I could, you know, but I wasn’t fucking there. You want to know more go to Winlow or Benny, I’ve got to go.’

Robbo retreated and turned to hasten down the sidewalk. ‘Should I…?’ Serg asked, moving forward, but Dax lifted a hand to prevent him.

‘No, just leave him.’

Winlow hadn’t told the truth and Dax had been dumb enough to believe the bastard and then tell him to split town. He just had to hope that his advice hadn’t been taken, but something told him that his luck was wearing thin.

They’d stopped at Winlow’s place, but it had been cleared out. There was no sign of him or the pretty brunette. It was too late in the night now to try and hunt the bastard down, so Dax went back to the apartment and showered before he iced his hands.

It hadn’t occurred to him to check his phone for a while. When he kicked his jeans aside to get into bed his foot made contact with the device, so he leaned off the bed to pick it up. Ivy had sent him a text.

Win big for me, tough guy? Miss you.

Dax had never bothered texting other women, but he liked that Ivy had thought of him, so he responded.

Always, babygirl. Send me a pic.

The message that she had sent was timestamped more than two hours ago, so he doubted that she would still be awake to respond. He pulled the sheet over himself and closed his eyes; less than thirty seconds later the phone began to ring. Fumbling on the nightstand for the handset, he pressed receive and brought it to his ear.

‘Yeah?’

‘I’m not sending you naked pictures,’ she said, and the smile in her voice made him smile.

‘I’ll have to take some myself next time you’re asleep beside me.’

‘Don’t even think about it. If you want what I’ve got to offer, then you get your ass here and take it.’

‘Don’t goad me tonight, Minx,’ he said, moving onto his back with a groan.

He might just drag himself out of here and take her up on that. Except he had to be up early in the morning to chase down Winlow and if that didn’t work out, he’d go after Benny. The rats were scurrying for cover, word was out that he was hunting down the threat, and his reputation was such that no one wanted to face him when he was in any kind of rage.

‘You sound tired,’ she said. ‘Tough fight?’

‘No, it was over in a flash. But I found out that the guy I chased down today bullshitted me, and that pisses me off.’

‘How?’

‘I believed him when he was lying.’

‘What did he lie about?’ she asked.

‘That there were only three of them at a poker game when there were more players.’

‘Oh,’ she said. ‘I would think that was good news.’

His eyes opened though all he could see was darkness. ‘How could that be good news? He lied to me and I bought it.’

‘Except he lied for a reason. So maybe the other person at the poker table is the one who put out the bounty. You’re closer than you thought, tough guy. All you have to do is push that button one more time and you’ve got your answer.’

She did have a way of looking at things that made him feel better. ‘But the guy has split. I don’t know where he is.’

‘You’ll find him, or one of the other guys from the game, I have faith. You win every fight because you don’t give up, you’re smart and play your opponents by staying several moves ahead. You can do this, Dax, don’t feel sorry for yourself now. You’re close to the prize.’

‘And what’s the prize?’ he asked.

‘Me and my freedom, I’ll be a very grateful woman if you can swing that.’

‘Naked picture grateful?’

‘Maybe,’ she laughed. ‘Go to sleep. You need to rest. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’

‘Ok.’

‘Love you.’

‘I love you too, Minx. Be good.’

Hanging up with her after such a short call, Dax rested the cell phone on his chest under his hands. Ivy had managed to turn around his thinking, and suddenly he was optimistic about the day ahead. He would get this guy, he was closer than ever.