Ruin Me (69 page)

I follow his gaze and panic grips my chest as Pike pulls a metal shiv from his shorts and hides it inside his thick palm.

“You know, Claire,” Rick continues. “If I were a better man, I’d tell you to look away, but… I
really
want you to watch this.” He holds my neck tighter, forcing me to keep my eyes forward.

“No!”
I scream. I jump forward, but Rick pulls me closer to him and wraps his arm around my throat. He pushes his knife further into my side, scratching deep enough to draw my blood.

Pike stands up, spins on his heels, and lunges for Tobias.

Tobias is ready for him and easily knocks him back against the cage. But still, Pike smiles wide and rushes Tobias, this time wrapping his arm about his neck to draw him in. He pulls the shiv back and plunges it into Tobias’ side.

I cry out as his body tumbles to the floor.

Chapter 15

The Untouchable

“Tobias!”

I wipe the tears from my eyes to fight my blurring vision.

The crowd boos, instantly turning on
Pike the Punisher
. Judging by the look on his face, he doesn’t give a shit. He holds up his hands in personal victory and walks circles around Tobias’ limp form.

“Get up!” I scream.

Rick gives my hair a firm yank. “This is all your fault, Claire,” he growls.
“Remember that.”

I twist in his arms, trying to break free, but I cry out in pain as his knife slices me a little deeper.

My breath catches in my throat as Tobias moves on the mat, shifting his hands beneath him to push himself up. Pike notices and walks back over to bend down and slam his fist against Tobias’ face.

Untouchable.

“Stop it!” I shout.

Several in the crowd approach the cage to try and climb inside to stop the fight, but Pike easily knocks them back out. The rest of them cower away as soon as they catch sight of the blood lust in Pike’s eyes. He barks and laughs at them while Tobias attempts to pull himself up again.

The screams of the crowd draw Pike’s attentions back on Tobias. He watches with wide eyes as Tobias grips the shiv and pulls it out of his side. Blood spills out of the wound, staining his white skin as it falls down to his feet.

I look at his face, at his tragic and black eyes, and know that there’s nothing holding him back this time.

Tobias is going to kill him.

“Pike only had one condition,” Rick whispers in my ear, his lips curling. “He’d take Tobias down for me if he got ten minutes alone with you.” My body shakes with rage as his chuckle fills my head. “I promised him twenty.”

I raise my foot and slam it down on his as hard as I can. The blow shakes him off balance and he drops his arm, allowing me to spin around. I curl my fingers into fists and raise them up to my face. He looks at me in shock as I shift my feet and twist into a fighting stance.

“You bitch!” he growls.

I draw back my fist and aim it for his nose. It connects with him, hard. Blood immediately shoots from his nostrils. I ignore the pain firing down my wrist and snap back to deliver a second, harder blow to his eye.

Rick tumbles backward and falls under the feet of the screaming crowd.

I spin back to the arena. “Tobias!” I shout.

Tobias charges forward and strikes Pike’s surprised face with fierce punches. I push forward, shoving my way closer to the cage, fighting to get there before it’s too late.

“Tobias!” I scream his name, praying that he can hear me, but his eyes never stray from his target.

Pike falls to his knees. Tobias grabs his head and digs his nails into Pike’s shaggy hair to hold his limp body up and expose his neck. He readies the shiv and lays it against Pike’s throat.

“Tobias!”

I reach the cage and grab it to pull myself up, screaming as loud as I can.

“Tobias, stop!”

He blinks and finally looks up at me. His eyes beg me to look away, to avert my gaze from what he has to do, but I shake my head.

“Don’t…” I cry. A sob chokes in my throat, taking my voice away from me.

If you kill him, I’ll lose you forever.

Tobias closes his eyes. His fingers twitch, just an inch away from his revenge.

I fill my lungs with burning air. “Tobias, I love you.”

He opens his eyes and his grief shines through them. I see his pain. I see every bit of regret he’s carried on his shoulders since all of this first began. I grip the cage and let the rusted metal dig into my skin as I pull myself closer to him. I can’t imagine the torture he’s feeling, but there’s no way I’m going to let him carry it alone anymore.

Finally, he looks back at me and nods.

I sigh with relief as Tobias lets go of Pike and his body falls to his feet. He walks away from him, tossing the bloody shiv away as he goes. I jump off the cage and rush to be by his side as he limps off the stage. I throw my arms around him and I feel him wince with pain, but it doesn’t stop him from holding me even tighter.

The crowd sits in awe and silence, their eyes wide with confusion over what just happened. A few of them climb into the ring to check on Pike and confirm that he’s still breathing.

I reach for Tobias’ side and my hands immediately turn red with his blood. “Come on,” I say, sniffing through tears. I position myself beneath his arm. “We have to get you some help…”

“I’ll be all right,” he grunts.

“Don’t you dare say you’ve had worse—”

I look up as Rick steps in front of us. Blood pours down his nose and his vengeful eyes show pink and bloodshot. “Claire…” he mutters through his teeth.

“Rick, leave now and don’t come back,” I tell him.

“I’m not—”

“I won’t stop him next time.”
I hold Tobias a little tighter and I stare back at Rick with anger.

Rick’s eyes move back and forth between us. His expression shifts from amusement, to annoyance, and finally, defeat. He turns around and disappears into the crowd without saying another word.

“Did you do that?” Tobias asks me, pointing at his face.

“Yeah,” I answer.

“Damn…” he chuckles, wincing in pain. “Not bad...”

“Don’t talk. Save your strength.” I reach into my pocket for my phone as I pull him towards the exit.

***

“No hospitals.”

I sigh once more, my eyes falling to Tobias’ wound. “That’s not up to you.” I put more pressure on it with my rolled up jacket and he cringes from the pain.

“I’m barely bleeding. It’s just a scratch, Claire.”

“Stand up and say that,” I challenge him.

He glares at me from his leaning position against his bike seat, but quickly shifts his weight to stand on his feet. He stumbles as he moves, but eventually rights himself and drops his hands to his sides. Pain fills his face, but he takes a deep breath and cracks a forced smile.
“It’s just a scratch,”
he wheezes quickly and then immediately sits back down.

The parking lot is still packed with cars, but the excitement has dwindled since the minutes following the fight. Tobias wanted to leave immediately, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting him ride his bike in this condition and I don’t know the first thing about riding a motorbike myself. He’s also half-naked, clad in just his black shorts and a thick layer of blood and sweat — not the best attire for a late night ride down the highway.

“Oh, good. You two are still here.”

I turn around to find Amy walking towards us. She holds up a small bundle of clothing and passes it to me. “I acquired your clothes…” she says to Tobias.

“Thanks, Amy,” I tell her. I unfold his jeans and turn to him to help him get dressed, but he quickly snatches them from me. “Tobias—”

“I got it.” He moves slowly and bends down to start sliding into them one leg at a time, wincing from the pain the entire time.

“Oh, yeah. It’s
just a scratch
. No worries,” I bite back with sarcasm.

He stands himself upright and zips them up with a smug look on his face.

“Also…” Amy continues, pulling her eyes away from Tobias’ sweaty body, “the Dames and I have voted —
unanimously
— that
Pike the Punisher
is banned for life from all future Alpha tournaments. We’ve made contact with other leagues as well. He’ll be blacklisted in twelve states by morning — another twenty by Monday.”

“He should be in jail,” I argue.

“I would report him myself for… you know,
stabbing
you
, but that would draw some very unwanted attention to our operation,” she says to Tobias. “You understand.”

“I do,” he says.

“Lastly… I’ve come to deliver this.” She reaches into her jacket and withdraws a large stack of money, several inches thick, crudely wrapped together with a rubber band. “I’d say you earned it, Tobias.”

He leans back against the bike. “I don’t want it,” he says, looking away.

I hold out my hand and Amy drops the stack of bills into my palm. “He’ll take it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she grins. “Anyway, I’ve got to get back inside. The Dames are brainstorming the details for next year’s fights.” She looks at Tobias. “You in, Toby?”

“I think I’ll sit the next one out, actually,” he mutters.

“Boo,” Amy says. “
Maybe
I can pencil in a surprise appearance from this year’s reigning Alpha…?” she teases. He glares back at her silently and she sighs.
“Fine.”

“Guess you’ll have to find another local to earn next year’s bonus,” I joke.

“Shouldn’t be too hard,” she considers with a raised brow. “We should have lunch. You’re going back to Chicago soon, right?”

“Umm…” I say. “There’s been a little change in plans.”

A light shines behind her eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah, I’m sticking around here for a little while longer.” She stares back at me and a devious smile crosses her red lips. “What?”

“Well…” She crosses her arms about her chest. “Lillian was so impressed with the
talent
this year, she wants to expand our search, establish a few new branches in our area—”

“Amy, what are you doing?” Tobias interrupts with a cautious tone.

“I’m recruiting your kissing cousin, Toby,” she answers bluntly.

“What?” I ask.

“No, you’re not,” he argues.

“Yes, I am.” Amy smiles at me. “What do you say, Claire?”

“What do I say to what?” I ask, my eyes bouncing between them.

Tobias pushes himself off the bike and grabs my hand. “Say
no
, Claire.”

“Say no to
what
?” I ask again.

“To becoming an Alpha Dame,” Amy says, “like me.”

“Me?” I shake my head. “Why me?”

“I saw the way you handled yourself with Rick,” she answers. “Lillian did, too.”

“I was just protecting myself…”

“And that kind of
finesse
is exactly what she looks for.”

“Claire…” Tobias squeezes my fingers.
“No.”

“Alpha Dames are the most respected women in the sport, Tobias,” Amy says to him. “Why wouldn’t you want that for her?”

He exhales, but says nothing to argue with her further.

She reaches into her bra and pulls out a black business card. “Give me a call if you want to talk it over, Claire,” she says, easily slipping the card between my fingers.

“Okay…” I say.

Amy presses her fingers to her red lips and blows us a quick kiss. “Goodnight, y’all.”

“Goodnight…” I stare at the card as her heels tap away into the parking lot. A bright red font spells out Amy’s name in cursive writing, along with the Midwest Alphas logo shining next to it. I glide my fingers across it to feel the embossed lettering tickle my fingertips as a switch flicks on in my head.