Ultimate Prize (6 page)

obviously funding this orphanage with his winnings. If ever there was a justification to prize fighting, this

was it.

Her gaze drifted a bit lower to the ticket taped to the bottom of the picture’s back. Yoli swallowed hard

as she realized this was one of those moments she’d look back on some day with the utmost satisfaction or

the deepest regret. It struck her quite suddenly there wasn’t really a decision to be made.

Ripping the ticket off the back of the picture, Yoli spun toward the concierge. He met her frantic gaze

with an expectant expression. “Shall I call the car back?”

“Yes.” Her heart beat so quickly she wondered if she was about to have a heart attack. She had to get

there. She had to see Zel, to let him know that she loved him. “Please,” she begged, “make it quick!”

The concierge smiled knowingly. “Mel’s still outside.”

Any other time, Yoli would have been upset by the feeling of being played by the staff, but tonight she

was grateful for their nosiness. Over the years, Yoli had learned the very best hotels always anticipated the

needs of their guests. Typically they achieved that by snooping and prying into the private lives of said

guests. Well, kudos to them, Yoli decided. This crew had just earned themselves a big fat tip.

She rushed outside and practically dove into the backseat. Mel scurried around to the driver’s seat and

lowered the privacy wall between them. “You just sit tight, Miss Rubens. I’ve got friends working security.

We’ll get you right in there.”

“I hope so,” she whispered, desperation overtaking her body.

The next twenty-some-odd minutes were the longest of her life. Mel wove in and out of the heavy

traffic. Yoli’s eyes bugged out at some of his maneuvers. Once, they barely cleared another car’s side by

mere centimeters, but so long as Jack kept the car moving forward, she didn’t care.

Antsy, Yoli fidgeted with her skirt’s hem and wondered what the hell she was going to say when she

saw Zel. Somehow “I was wrong” just didn’t seem to cut it. But it was the best she had. It would have to

do.

When they neared the arena, Mel took a side street that led them to a back entrance with loading docks

for vendors. The moment the limo stopped, Yoli bailed from the backseat and dashed toward a pair of

security guards. Mel followed at her heels. She flashed her ticket in hopes they’d understand just how dire

her need to get into the arena was.

“Mel!” The burlier of the two guards lit up with recognition. “You here to sneak into the fight?”

Mel shook his head. “This lady needs to get in there as quickly as possible. Can you help us out?”

The guard gave her the once-over and nodded. “Yeah. I think so.” He flicked his fingers and she

handed over the ticket. He studied it for a second. “Follow me. I’ll get you to your seat.”

Bubbling with excitement and relief, Yoli threw her arms around Mel’s neck. “Thank you so much!

You have no idea what this means to me.”

Blushing bright red, Mel awkwardly patted her back. “All part of the service, Miss Rubens.” He cleared

his throat and stepped back. “I’ll just wait back here.”

Nodding, Yoli smiled and hurried after the guard. They traversed a series of labyrinthine hallways and

stairwells. Employees rushed along the same corridors, often shoving her out of the way in their haste to get

to their destinations. Yoli didn’t care. She just needed to see Zel. If that meant being elbowed and slammed

into concrete walls, so be it.

As they neared the arena floor, the deafening cacophony took Yoli by surprise. She’d never been to any

kind of fight in her life and had no idea what to expect. The guard paused at an entryway onto the lowest—

and seemingly most expensive—deck of seats to converse with another set of guards and an attendant of

some sort. Her ticket was inspected and she was waved through. A woman in a red vest and black slacks

escorted Yoli down a small set of stairs to an aisle seat.

There was no point in sitting down since the entire crowd of thousands was on its feet. Pulse racing,

Yoli finally looked toward the menacing black cage in the center of the floor. Her stomach dropped at the

sight of Zel and Mace grappling on the mat. Bloodstains marred the blue floor and its various logos. For the

briefest moment she caught a glimpse of Zel’s face. His left eye was swollen and a gash split his left temple.

“Sweet Jesus,” Yoli whispered as Zel pounded Mace with his fists. Mace threw back his elbow,

narrowly missing Zel’s nose. When Zel leapt back, Mace clambered to his feet. They circled one another,

bobbing and weaving as they waited for the next opening.

Yoli glanced around helplessly. She didn’t know how to read the scoreboard. Was Zel winning? How

many rounds were left? How much longer would this go on? Judging by the low energy of the two fighters

and the intensity of the crowd, Yoli guessed the fight was in its final minutes. She closed her eyes and

prayed silently.
Please let Zel win.

A shocked gasp rocked the crowd. Yoli’s eyes flew open just in time to see Mace land a vicious kick to

the side of Zel’s head. He teetered on his feet before falling forward in what seemed to be a jaw-rattling

landing. Yoli nearly puked at the sight of Zel’s lolling head and the blood dribbling down his mouth. The

smirk on Mace’s face filled her with fury.

“GET UP, ZEL!” Yoli shouted manically, as if he could hear her over the din. “GET UP!”

Mace approached Zel with a predatory grin. Yoli realized he meant to land the final blow. Her insides

nearly turned themselves inside out as he pulled back his leg in preparation for a nasty kick. She could see

the muscles flexing in his bulging thighs as Mace drew back and whipped his leg forward.

“NO!”

At the very last second, Zel leaned just far enough to the left to avoid the deadly blow. In a flash, he

grabbed Mace’s ankle and jerked the man off balance. Mace slammed into the mat so hard his head

bounced twice. Zel was behind him in an instant, his forearm locked around Mace’s head in a viselike

squeeze. Mace flailed and clawed at Zel’s forearm but to no avail.

Zel popped him once in the temple—and Mace was out.

The arena exploded as Zel gently lowered Mace to the mat and staggered to his feet. Yoli’s knees gave

out and she crumbled into her seat. Tears of relief flooded her face. With trembling fingers, she shielded

her face. It was over. Zel won. Zel was safe.

By the time she regained the use of her limbs, Zel had cleared the cage. With a sickening thud, Yoli

realized he hadn’t seen her. She looked out over the sea of moving patrons. It would take quite a bit of

finagling and elbowing to get to the locker rooms. She’d come this far. There was no failing now.

* * * * *

Forehead against the tile, Zel let the hot, pounding pressure of the shower ease the tension in his

shoulders and neck. He felt as if he’d been hit by a semi. Every muscle in his body ached. The slightest

movement made his stomach churn. His med check had ruled out any severe injury, and while that

knowledge pacified his usual post-fight anxiety, it didn’t do much to reduce the soreness. Only the sweet

taste of victory lessened the pain.

And what a victory it was! Zel couldn’t have asked for a better retirement fight. He could walk away

from this life satisfied he’d made his mark on the world of mixed martial arts and done his very best. Mace

had rung his bell in those final seconds, but somehow Zel had managed to summon forth the last remnants

of that primal energy deep within him to win it all. From this moment forward, he’d hold his head high.

He switched off the shower and cautiously crossed the wet tiles. Zel snatched a towel from the bench

and wound it around his waist. Grabbing another, he used it to dry his hair and wick away the moisture

clinging to his upper body, his bare feet leaving heat marks on the concrete floor as he walked to his locker.

As he applied deodorant, Zel heard the door behind him open.

Jack’s voice boomed inside the cavernous locker room. “Feeling okay?”

Zel cringed. “I’d be better if you weren’t shouting at me.”

Jack laughed softly. “This is my last chance so I figure I may as well get it all out while I can.”

Zel glanced over his shoulder at his longtime trainer and confidante. “Just because I’m not going to fight

for you anymore doesn’t mean you can’t call me up to yell at me every now and then.”

Grinning, Jack nodded. “I just might have to take you up on that.”

Chuckling, Zel turned back to his locker and returned his deodorant to its shelf. “You need something?”

“There’s a woman out there, says she knows you and is causing quite a ruckus. Gorgeous face. A bit

thick for my taste…”

Zel didn’t hear anything else Jack said. The bottom fell out of his stomach as he realized Yoli was out

there. “Send her in.”

“If you’re sure…”

“I’m sure.” Zel gulped as anxiety invaded his belly. At the sound of the door opening and the

unmistakable clack of heels against the concrete, Zel slowly turned. Like that first night, she took his breath

away. The sight of her puffy red eyes made his chest tighten. She’d been crying. For him?

Yoli’s lower lip trembled. “Your face.”

Zel barely heard her distressed whisper. He self-consciously touched his swollen left eye. “It’s fine.

You’ll see.” She didn’t look convinced. He fought for the right words. “You came.”

Tears dripped down her cheeks. “Yes.” Yoli stepped forward. “I’m so sorry, Zel. You were right. I was

lying when I said this was just a fling. It started that way but—”

Zel quickly crossed the distance between them. He gently cupped her face and kissed her more

passionately than he ever had. “I don’t care,” he murmured against her lips. “You’re here now. That’s all

that matters.”

Yoli’s shoulders sagged with relief as he tightly hugged her to his chest. For a long time they simply

embraced, content with just being together again. Eventually Yoli pulled back and looked up at him. “Come

with me?”

He wasn’t quite sure what she was asking. “Where?”

“Everywhere,” Yoli said. “I don’t have a home right now and I’ve got shows lined up for the next five

weeks before I take my three-month vacation. Come with me?”

Zel had never seen her look quite so vulnerable. His heart swelled with love for her.

Smiling, he interlaced their fingers and touched his forehead to hers. “I’m right beside you.”

About the Author

While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and

Anne Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled

them away in the most likely of places—under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds

both writers created.

As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating

naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her

small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college.

Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers

and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance

and submitted her first novella. The rest is history.

Lo lives in Texas with her family and beloved Great Dane, Bosley.

The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and e-mail address on her

author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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