Fighter Daddy: A Bad Boy Secret Baby MMA Sports Romance (13 page)

Someone to fight for.

T
he last thing
I remember is Susan calling my name and Lee holding me.

I wake up to something so horribly different that I gag. It might also be the fact I'm feeling like shit and my left side hurts. Right,
right
. I got shot!

I dearly wish this was a drug-induced hallucination, because it can't be real.

I am lying in a bed somewhere under Ricky's club. I know that for sure because I hear distant music. The torture rooms down here are soundproof, but the others aren't. The realization is enough to make me cry. My body is wracked with despairing sobs.

I am back,
again
. I've escaped and escaped and escaped and one more time I find myself back in Ricky's cage. How did this happen? Wasn't I at Lee's apartment?

Lee... The baby...

I sit up so quickly it hurts. Where is Lee, what happened to him? Oh God, is he dead? He can't be dead, he
can't be
. I don't think I could live without him. I want him. Everything that he is.
My beloved monster and me, we go everywhere together
. I want my monster.

And what about my baby? Did my baby live? If something happened to my child, I will destroy them.

"Raina?" Susan asks.

I look at her and new tears find their way down my cheeks. How did everything get so fucked up so fast? Not only am I back here in Ricky's prison, but Susan is here too. She's sitting on a chair next to my bed, looking tired and sad.

Dark lines mark the trails where her mascara has run along with her tears. There is a cannula in her arm, leading into a bag filled with blood. Another cannula leads the fluid out of the bag and into my arm.

"Susan," I whisper, my voice broken. "Susan, I'm so sorry, I don't know what to say—"

"Oh Raina," Susan says, coming to sit by my bedside and hugging me. "I was so worried about you! They kept talking about a bullet wound and here I was, imagining your head being blown off! But when they rolled you in and told me it was going to be fine, I calmed down. But you still slept so long, sweetheart! And you were so pale, I started to worry if something went wrong with your operation after all..."

"I'm fine, I'm fine," I whisper to her, not believing one word of it.

I want to ask about the baby so badly, but I don't know who could be listening. I bite my tongue hard enough to draw blood and keep my silence. Aunt Susan might tell Ricky is she thinks it would help me. It most certainly wouldn't. The fact that I'm still alive tells me Ricky doesn't know, yet. Or he does and waits to kill me in some horrible way.

Yeah, "fine" is not the word I should be using.

At that moment, I don't care. I need to lie to myself a little bit to be able to carry on. Too much horror has befallen me in the past few days. I don't even know what day it is. I don't even know if it's daytime. Judging by the music, it's not.

"Aunt Susan," I begin again. "I am so sorry."

To my surprise, Susan shakes her head and pinches my cheek gently, trying to put on a happy smile. She fails, but at least she's not being tortured. Images of Ed's hands still appear before my eyes every time I think of how Ricky deals with people he doesn't care about.

"I know, sweetheart, I know," Susan tells me. "Lee came by and told me everything."

He what?!

Being upset with Lee for telling Susan and Philip about the mess we're in takes a firm second place in my heart. The first and prevailing emotion is utter, mind-blowing relief. Lee is alive. At least he was at some point. And he was here? How could he be here? I need answers, fast.

"What did Lee tell you?" I demand. "Tell me everything."

Susan pets my hair gently, trying to keep smiling.

"Sweetheart, if you had money issues, you should have come to me. I know I don't have much, but we would have figured it out. Taken a loan, maybe. If I had thought you'd borrow from a man like that..."

Money. Is that what Lee told her? My head hurts along with my body, but I have to keep a clear mind not to fuck everything up.

"I didn't want alms from you."

"
Alms
. Raina, you're practically my daughter! I would have gladly given you my savings to start up a business. Now you're in this horrible debt and Lee has to fight this guy..."

What?

Damn it, I need answers. From Lee, not Susan. It seems she doesn't know about me and Ricky or else I'd never hear the end of it, dying or not. One more thing, though.

"Where is Philip?" I ask. "Is he okay?"

"Yes, yes," Susan says. "We are okay. Lee explained that too. Philip was furious, of course. They have no right to keep us here. This is kidnapping, but I see they're dangerous people. I tell Philip that too, but he doesn't want to listen. We all need to be patient and wait and everything will be fine. Lee will win the fight and pay your debts and we are all free to go."

There are a lot of blanks in her story, but I think I get the general gist of it. I wish I could share Susan's enthusiasm and belief in a happy ending. But I don't. I hear Ed screaming in my head, see him sliding off the chair with his arm a bloody stump.

"Can I see Lee?" I ask.

Susan hesitates.

"I don't know, sweetheart, I'll ask the man outside your door," she says. "No one is allowed in here but me. Even Philip can't come, but he sends you his love and wishes you a quick recovery!"

"Ask, please," I tell her.

Susan goes off to see if Lee's on my guest list, carefully removing the cannula from her hand. I assume she's done this before.

I'm guessing there is no chance that I could meet Lee, but I have to try. To my surprise, Susan returns with Victor. She waves to me from the door and disappears.

"Why do you want to see Lee Mason?" he demands.

After that night in the club, I'm more afraid of him than ever, but I make myself be brave.

"I want to ask him what happened. And who he is fighting."

"He is fighting an undefeated champion," Victor says with a sadistic grin.

"I want to see him," I repeat stubbornly.

Victor glares at me, but to my continued surprise, doesn't argue. He stomps off to check if it's okay for me to have visitors. I am left to sit there alone, wondering how I managed to mess my life up that badly. I run my fingers over the scar on my stomach gently, my hands shaking.

Is the baby still there? I would give anything to know, to have some sort of proof of life. Right now I'm left with nothing but hope, hugging myself.

Seeing Lee walk in is like sun peeking out between the clouds. He smiles, but stops a few feet away from the bed. I frown, reaching out my hand to touch him, hug him,
kiss him
. Lee shakes his head, nodding at something behind him. I notice he left the door open and that Victor is keeping a stern eye on us.

"What's going on?" I ask. "Susan keeps telling me about a fight. How are you alive? Why am I here?"

What happened in the apartment? Am I still pregnant? Does Ricky know?

Lee holds up a hand to stop my questions from pouring out of me.

"Are you okay?" he asks first.

I force a smile on my face.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I say. "As well as I can be."

"Good," Lee says. "Susan kept me up to date with your progress."

"And you?" I demand. "What is up with you? What happened back at your apartment?"

Lee sighs.

"A lot of things. Long story."

I glare at him. How could he think I wouldn't want to know everything?

"Well, I have all the time in the world. Start explaining."

"Long story short?" he asks, sighing. "You were dying, so Ricky and I made a deal."

"What kind of a deal?" I demand, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine. "That doesn't sound good. How can you deal with him? He's a psychopath."

"I know," Lee says, grinning darkly. "That's why he decided he could use me in this match. It's a big fight, because the guy's a real piece of work. I'm guessing Ricky hopes he'll knock me out dead."

No. I can't lose you too.

My mouth drops open and I stretch my hand toward him again. He still stands out of my reach.

"Do
you
think he will?"

"No," Lee says. "But he is dangerous. That's why the money is so good. If I win, your debt to Ricky is settled."

I can't believe what he's saying. That he'll risk his life for the stupid debt I owe Ricky.

"Susan buys that, but I don't," I press. "What's really going on, Lee?"

He gives me a reprimanding look.

"What do you think, Raina?" he asks, all cheeriness gone from his voice. "He has hostages and a legal contract that would put you into debt slavery for the rest of your life. I'll do the fight. I'll win."

"And then what?" I demand. "We all waltz off into the sunset?"

"No," Lee corrects me. "The hostages walk free and so do I, but you are to stay with Ricky."

I gasp for air. If he's telling me what I think he is, I'm going to kick his ass, bullet wound or not. Does he really mean to abandon me?

The look in his eyes says no. I see him signal me, looking quickly at Victor and back. I understand, I do. He's saying we're being overheard and he can't say that he has no intention of leaving me here, but I am terrified. If we can't even talk freely, how does he expect to get us out of this? Not to mention there are two more hostages this time.

I want to believe that he intends to free me too, I really do. I think back, trying to focus on the image I had of him back in the apartment. Strong, capable, ready to fight for me. I still see that. The fight has just gotten considerably more difficult.

"I have to go," Lee says, sending a painful tinge of sadness through me. "I'll be back to see you if I can. Rest. Don't worry about a thing."

Is he kidding me?
Don't worry?

For the third time, I reach out to touch him, but he merely smiles sadly and turns to go. I am left waving after him like a fool, aching for his touch more than ever. Not merely out of desire for him as a man like before. That is still there too. He looks as gorgeous as ever and I want him with the same fervor as I always did.

But now another emotion has joined that. Lee's company is soothing on its own. I want him near me, because I simply enjoy spending time with him. I even miss the jokes he makes or the times when he teases me. I feel like someone took a part of me away.

I need him, now more than ever as I'm still in the dark about our child. I want to ask someone so badly, but I don't dare. The lives of everyone around me depend on it, depend on Ricky not hearing a goddamned thing. I've seen enough of his jealousy.

That's why Lee's absence is hurting so deeply.

I assume he can't touch me, least of all with Victor watching us like a hawk. But I am left aching without it, desperate to bury myself into his solid, warm embrace and leave all the problems of the world behind me.

As empty and sad as Lee's departure leaves me, it's nothing compared to the unpleasant surprise that's in store for me. I have a third guest, the person I want to see the least in the world.

Unlike Lee, Ricky closes the door behind him. I shiver in fear, trying to hide that from him. He gives me a quick kiss, making me wince in surprise. Ricky grins.

"How are you feeling?" he asks. "I trust Dr. Morris did a good job."

"Yes," I say. "He was your doctor?"

"My best," Ricky assures me. "When I heard one of my own employees had accidentally shot you, I sent him at once. He was able to reach you in time."

I suddenly think of the guy who shot me, and the look of sheer horror on his face.

"You told them not to hurt me?"

"Yes. I assure you the guy who shot you has been... dealt with."

I imagine bloody hands again, except all over his body. I feel slightly bad for him, but not for long. He was trying to kill Lee.

I don't know what else to say. I have no idea what Ricky really wants with me. Ever since I left, there haven't been many moment where we've been alone.

"What do you plan to do to Susan and Philip?" I ask angrily as I remember that their fate hangs in the balance as much as mine.

Ricky shrugs as if he barely has anything to do with their kidnapping.

"You could say I'm keeping them for insurance," he says. "For now. They'll be free to go after Lee's match."

"Is that a real promise?" I demand. "Or another one like when you promised you'd let Ed go?"

Ricky doesn't answer. Cold dread settles into my stomach, making it turn as well as ache.

He stands instead, bending to give me another kiss. A longer, lingering one this time. I want to resist, but I'm afraid for my life. I let him kiss me, barely answering.

"You rest up now," Ricky says, smiling his fake smirk. "I'll make sure you have everything you need."

He lets his hands wander over my body. Once I even enjoyed his touch, but now it repulses me. I have to control myself not to push him away with every ounce of strength I have left. Ricky smiles again.

"Oh yes," he says. "I can't wait to continue our relationship from where we left off."

His hand stops on my stomach. I nearly jump away in disgust.

"As soon as you're feeling better, I want to start a family with you. You'll be a great mother."

This is not happening. Fuck, fuck. If he tells Dr. Morris to check me up, I'm dead. We're all dead.

He kisses me again on unmoving lips and leaves.

I wait until I'm sure he's gone far enough before I allow myself to break down, but the tears don't come anymore. I've cried a lot because of Ricky, but it seems I'm done. There is no more pain he can inflict on me.

Instead of sorrow and rage, I feel emptied of emotions. I'm alone in the dark, not knowing what happened to my baby or what the future holds. All I have is my faith in Lee.

He is the only miracle I can hope for. My last chance to escape before I'm locked into the cage forever.

T
he walls
of my room are closing in.

I can barely breathe, sitting under the roaring, dancing, thumping Ricky's. Upstairs, I can hear people having fun, living without concerns that can't be put on hold for one wild night.

And here I am, right in the middle of a spider's web that I helped to create.

My problems
aren't the kind that go away when you add a few tequila shots into the mix. To begin with, I can't drink. Let me count the ways in which I'm completely and utterly fucked in all the ways but the one I want.

I have a healing bullet wound in my stomach. My doctor, the hired brain for my ex the mob boss, is telling me it's mending nicely. That's problem number one.

Right at its heels is problem number two.

I'm pregnant. I know this for sure now, although I can't imagine how the baby survived the wound. And I can't have anyone know, so I've been avoiding any check-ups like the plague, but my excuses are running out. Dr. Morris isn't a guy I can bullshit for long. I think he has a
bit
of sympathy for me, so he hasn't told his boss anything yet, but it won't last.

Ricky Gerrard, the owner of the building I'm in and all the people in it, is the center of my problems. The ex that won't take
no
for an answer, all the more dangerous because he's got more than one gun aimed at me. The baby is
not
his.

I've been sitting here in the basement of his club for weeks now, cut off from the outside world, but he has dropped by to see me. Every time his words chill me to the bone, quickly going from bad to worse.

I knew he had no intention of letting me go. Now it's obvious to me just how deep his obsession goes. I guess guys who wield small armies of thugs don't have to second-guess their sanity too much. Basically his last brilliant idea is to put a baby inside me as soon as I recover enough.

Not only does that idea repulse me beyond belief, but there's already a life growing in me. That's going to be a problem, but Ricky has a very straight-forward way of dealing with those.

So far, he keeps away because I managed to convince him my health is worse than it actually is.

Dr. Morris has been explaining things about the wound to me. It was a lucky shot, it didn't hit anything vital and it went straight through me. It's only a small puncture hole over my hip now, but it doesn't make it okay yet. I need tons of antibiotics and care, but I'm long out of the woods. My life is not in danger.

W
hat else
? Oh yeah, I'm neck-high in debt, courtesy of my captor. And somewhere he has my Aunt Susan and Lee's father essentially in prison to keep us playing nice.

The short version is, I have a lot of reasons to be upset right now.

None of those are the reason I'm sitting frozen right now, the screen of the laptop the only illumination in the room.

They tried to keep the name from me as long as they could. Ricky and Lee both. It is so uncanny to have them agree on anything.

Weeks, as I said. For weeks the only information I've received is what they tell me. I never saw Susan again after waking up in the aftermath of the shooting. Ricky, in his infinite
mercy
, let me see her and her me. We confirmed we were both still alive, for the time being. Then he relocated her and Philip somewhere. I don't know where they are and neither does Lee.

He has dropped by to see me every once in a while, under the strictest chaperoning. Victor, Ricky's right-hand man, is always nearby when Lee comes around. I was disappointed not to be able to touch him at first, but it only got worse from there. It's terribly lonely here and the future is looking mighty dark.

The only light in my life was when I determined I was still pregnant, but it's so dangerous right now. I need his comfort, his strength, but he can't give it to me. He's as much a prisoner as I am, only Lee's cage is bigger. He's free to leave Ricky's
when he wishes, but he keeps coming back. I know it's for me and I feel equally shitty and glad about it.

We tried our best, but Ricky isn't a man you escape from.

Now Lee has gotten himself killed because of me. Oh, he's still drawing breath, but not for long. The man I love is a dead man walking.

A
s I said
, they tried to keep the name from me as best they could.

But as weeks ticked by and I slowly started to lose my mind,
someone
—I suspect Dr. Morris—convinced Ricky to let me have a laptop. So far I had my phone, but it is only to check up on Susan and Philip. Victor dials for me and stands guard as I talk. They can't have me notifying the cops, can they?

Susan tells me she and Philip have been forced to make their friends and colleagues believe they're traveling. A long road trip or something. They took their vacation days, bought tickets to Italy that no one used and are now... wherever they are.

I knew Lee had agreed to fight someone. Ricky offered him a deal to settle my debt and whatever went on between those two. Lee accepted.

It didn't sound so bad at first. As much as I've gathered, Lee's an expert MMA fighter, well able to hold his own. But as days went by and my questions about his opponent went unanswered, I began to suspect it wasn't a regular fight.

I should have expected as much from Ricky. I just didn't think Lee would serve his own head up on a platter like that.

Sam Unbroken, they call him.

It was the first thing I Googled when Dr. Morris brought me the laptop. With Victor hovering somewhere nearby, making sure I'm not sending e-mails, I read. A fight like that would have advertising, tickets, promos. Finding out about it wasn't exactly rocket science.

The poster was intimidating enough, but then I made the mistake of Googling Sam too.

His measurements took time to comprehend. Seven foot one, weighing three hundred fifty pounds, a true monster of a man. They called him Andre the Giant reborn, despite the fact the famous wrestler was even bigger.
That
was the only thing to make me feel slightly better. Bigger men have been beaten, not in MMA, but still. It isn't completely impossible.

But then came the stories, the news, the outrageous results, and the court cases.

Sam Unbroken, the internet said, was a murderer walking free. The way his matches ended would often leave the opponents wishing to be dead. Paralyzed, comatose, broken beyond repair. Sam has more career-ending fights under his belt than anyone else.

And that is the guy Lee is scheduled to fight. I see now what Ricky is trying to do. I can't believe Lee is letting him. I suppose he has no choice, but... God. Sam Unbroken hasn't had a match in more than half a year, because men willingly admit they're terrified of him.

I go deeper, although I know I shouldn't.

I find an article about the upcoming fight. Apparently it has sold out in a matter of hours. And there are comments.

"
Lee Mason is going to die, wtf. Why would he agree to this? Is he that broke?
"

"
Fuck, man, Lee's toast. I saw him struggle against Carson, Sam's gonna fuck him up
."

"
Lee might be one of the few fighters who could stand a chance. If he's quick enough and if he gets some good kicks in early on, he might win
."

"
If. Might. Lee needs a fucking miracle
."

I stop reading soon after. All the comments agree Sam is the favorite. Not merely a favorite. The most positive outcome the comments predict for Lee is emerging from the fight without any major injuries. No more.

I feel sick. It's pretty clear to me. All the comments with proper grammar and good arguments say Lee's in mortal danger. The few that boast he'll win are clearly die-hard fans who use twenty exclamation marks to emphasize their faith in their idol.

I don't think any amount of exclamation marks can save Lee.

Fuck, what am I going to do? I've never felt this helpless. I was out of options before, now I can barely move. This is a man's world and I don't think there's anything I can do to convince Ricky to stop this. I mean, why would he? He's getting rid of his rival without dirtying his hands. What does that leave me with?

I have to do something. I won't let Lee die for me.

"
Y
ou shouldn't be up
," Dr. Morris says.

"Maybe," I allow.

The first few steps out of the bed were pretty rough, I'll have to admit. Two weeks in bed with no motion does wonders to one's legs. I walk with a cane, supporting myself on the walls, but I'm moving.

People take too many things for granted. Mobility is definitely one of them. I feel like senior citizens don't get enough credit for still going on walks.

My doctor observes me critically over his glasses. He's a tall, thin man. There is something endearing about him, but I can't put my finger on it. It's most assuredly not the fact he's willing to work for Ricky. But I keep my judgments to myself. I don't know his story. Maybe he's the same as I am. Perhaps his hand is forced.

So far, he's been friendlier to me than the rest of them.

"Well," he says. "I suppose it's good you're making an effort to bring strength back into your legs. It shows you're feeling better."

It shows I'm desperate
.

"May I ask where you're going, Miss Feston?"

"I want to see Lee."

I see them both wince. Dr. Morris and Victor, my annoying shadow. Life must be pretty boring here if Victor doesn't have a better use than to guard me.

"That's not wise," Victor growls.

I don't care, I'm beyond caring about that. If they want to tackle me, they're welcome to. I'm sure they'll be
thrilled
to explain that to Ricky.

"I want to talk to him about Sam," I say.

Dr. Morris sighs. Maybe I'm imagining it, but he sounds compassionate.

"Oh," he murmurs. "You found out."

"Oh yeah," I say, my tone bitter as I keep stumbling on.

He comes to my aid, offering me a hand. I hesitate, thinking he'll pull me back toward my room, but instead he walks with me, slowly.

"So you'll excuse me for wanting to say goodbye while I still can."

Even Victor doesn't protest. They also agree that Lee's as good as dead. I'm apparently on a very masochistic streak, so I ask:

"Dr. Morris. Any chance Lee would win?"

He can't come up with a plausible lie fast enough. There's my answer.

"All right," I go on. "Any chance Lee will live?"

"That depends," Dr. Morris says. "His opponent is known for inflicting serious injuries, but they're damaging his reputation. This is the first match he's had in a while. I don't think he wants to kill Mr. Mason. He wants a definitive win."

Okay. I don't know how true that is, but I'll take it. Any little encouragement is good enough.

This only confirms my suspicion, though. They're setting Lee up. Ricky lured him into a show match against a guy who has
never
lost a fight. And I don't doubt for a single second that there is something dark at play behind the curtains. The deal Lee told me about... it doesn't sound like Ricky.

Forgiving isn't in his nature. He wouldn't make a deal like that if there was a slightest possibility that he'd have to follow through. Why is Lee letting this happen?

He would risk his life for me, I know that for a fact now, but not like this. I don't want him to die trying to save me. Anything is better than that.

I am nearing the training area. Ricky enjoys MMA fights, he's a patron to quite a few of them. Carson, the guy Lee beat, was one of his. That much I knew. I've been down here before, but I always left the ringside quickly. I didn't enjoy watching something so violent.

Dr. Morris leads me in. Even from afar, I can hear grunts of pain and shouts. Cursing, too. I recognize Lee's voice, but I'm surprised to see he's fighting Carson.

It figures. Ricky would make sure he's got opponents to practice with.

Both guys turn when they hear someone come in. Lee's eyes go wide at the sight of me and as for myself, I can't stop the smile. It comes naturally when I'm with him. I watch him standing there in the cage, sweaty and panting, licking his lips. I know the look in his eyes. It's desire, pure and simple.

I watch him, but maybe for the first time as a fighter. Lee is strong and magnificently built; his muscles flex at the slightest movement. I like his wide shoulders and his powerful legs, and the naked pride with which he holds himself.

Then I compare him to Sam in my mind and I almost shudder in fear. Dr. Morris thinks it's a fever and urges me to go back to my room. I insist on staying and watching Lee fight Carson. After a grunt from Victor, Dr. Morris says it's okay for a short while. Lee says nothing and they go on.

I watch, trying to learn something. I don't know anything about MMA, but I'm going to have to learn. It's silly of me to think I can discover something Lee doesn't already know, but I feel so helpless right now. It would give me something to do at least.

I'm willing to play Ricky's game for now. If there is even the smallest chance Lee could win, we're going to have to find it.

As I sit there and watch the father of my child preparing for a fight he can't possibly win, sadness washes over me again. The despair, the longing, the love I didn't realize was there until I stand on the verge of losing it. I need Lee.

He will fight Sam Unbroken, I don't think I can stop that. But maybe, if we're very lucky, he will be able to stop Sam.