UNBROKEN: A Bad Boy MMA Romance (Midwest Alphas) (Book 2) (22 page)

Lillian Tombs stands before us with her arms crossed, leaning back against her desk. The dark rings around her eyes prove she’s hardly slept in days, no doubt lying awake all hours of the night, scared of what the darkness might bring her. She looks around the room at each of us as she speaks, glancing in the eyes of the last members of her inner circle she feels she can trust. There’s Tobias and myself, along with the other Dames minus Kimi and Lisa, who have been tasked with working the doors.

“I’ve brought in some extra security,” Lillian says. “You’ve no doubt noticed the crowd out there…”

“You should have just canceled this whole damn thing…” Veronica speaks with a shaking voice.

“I can’t do that,” Lillian says.

“Why not?” Veronica looks around the room, her eyes wild with fear. “They’ve already taken over half the state. It’s only a matter of time until they take St. Louis as well. This was great while it lasted, Lillian, but we’re done. It’s over.”

“I
will not
bow down to these animals and neither will any of you,” Lillian says, her voice firm and steady. “This is
our
sport. This is
our
state. These are
our
fighters and they’re loyal to us.”

“Are you sure about that?” Heather asks.

Lillian’s eyes fall on Tobias. “Show them a bit of strength and they’ll follow. Yes, I’m sure.”

Veronica scoffs. “A bit of strength?” She takes a quick step towards him, her heel clicking loudly against the floor. “He’s already lost
once
to this guy. What makes you think he can beat him now?”

Tobias stays silent, but I see his jaw flexing beneath his skin. There’s hesitation on Lillian’s lips before she pushes herself off her desk and walks over to Tobias. “Can you do this?” she asks him.

I watch his eyes, so sure and confident. “Yes,” he answers.

Lillian takes a deep breath. “Take him down,” she says, her eyes locked on his. “We’ll take care of the rest.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I quiver as a wave of nausea strikes my gut.

Lillian pulls the office door open and gestures for everyone to follow her outside. I linger behind Tobias’ shoulder, waiting for them to travel out of earshot. “What if he sees this coming?” I ask him.

He looks at me with steady eyes. “He probably has,” he answers.

“That doesn’t seem to bother you as much as it bothers me…” I note.

Lillian pauses in the doorway and glances back at the two of us. “No matter how many of
them
are out there right now…” she says to me, “we have more.”

“What makes you so sure?” I ask.

Her lips curl with a knowing smile. “I just am,” she says. She turns to leave, but Tobias reaches out and grabs her wrist.

“Just so you know—” He looks into her surprised eyes. “After tonight, we’re done.”

Lillian’s eyes bounce between us as a subtle look of understanding fills them. “Your mother probably would have been pissed I let you into the Alphas in the first place,” she shrugs, gently pulling her hand free of his grasp. “Help me reclaim my territory and I’ll never bother you again.”

“My father, too.”

“Of course.” She blinks softly and she looks at me. “I suppose this includes you as well?”

“Yes.” Tobias answers for me, giving Lillian’s face a glint of amusement as she gages my silent reaction.

“I’ll let you two work that one out,” she says. “Whatever you decide, I’ll abide.” She clears her throat and glides off without another word, leaving the two of us alone in her office.

I look to the floor and close my eyes. I fill my mind with all sorts of fantasies, anything that will pull me out of this moment. My mother and I sit at a coffee shop in downtown Chicago. I lie awake in the loft with a book in my hands and headphones in my ears. I dig my nails in Tobias’ back as he thrusts me just a little bit harder.

“Claire, look at me.”

I curse the sound of his voice as the images melt from my mind. His face fills my vision, even more perfect and flawless than its ever been. “I’m so sorry, Tobias,” I whisper.

“For what?” he asks.

“Everything,” I shrug. “If it weren’t for me, this wouldn’t be happening.”

“You give yourself too much credit,” he says. “This feud goes back fifteen years. The Kings would have tried to overthrow the Alphas whether you were involved or not.”

“But Rick—”

“Rick is a pawn, Claire,” he says. “Sent in to do a coward’s dirty work.”

“He probably wouldn’t have been so willing to do it if I—”

“Claire, stop,” he interrupts me. “He made his choice.”

“Do you still think he deserves to die for that choice?” I ask him.

“He hurt you,” Tobias answers. “He deserves worse.”

I bite my lip, torn in two by my own feelings. “You should get going—”

“Claire—” He grabs my wrist to keep me from leaving. “I need you to do something for me.”

“What?” I ask.

Tobias loosens his grip and shifts his hands to my cheeks. “Kiss me,” he whispers.

He pulls me closer and I feel his warm lips on mine. I kiss him back, hoping to somehow freeze time and stay like this forever with him. “I love you, Tobias,” I whisper, fighting the tears from spilling down my cheeks.

“Tobias…” We turn to see Amy standing at end of the hall. “They’re ready for you.”

He looks down at me and lays his forehead against mine. “I love you, Claire,” he replies, his voice so low I can barely even hear him. “You’re my strength, you know that, right?”

“I know,” I say.

“Stay close to Amy,” he says. “If something happens, I’ll find you.”

I kiss him one more time. “Go,” I nod. “Go before I don’t let you go at all.”

He smiles and stands up tall. “You know, I really like bossy Claire…”

I watch him leave. I can feel each step he takes in my chest, every single one of them a painful stab to the heart. “Tobias—” He pauses at the door. “Kick his ass.”

He smiles again before pushing the door open and a loud cacophony of shouts and whistles greets him as he enters the arena.

Chapter 14

The Unbreakable

“Ladies and gentlemen!”

Lillian’s voice calls above the fray. She stands in the center of the ring with her hands on her hips and a fake smile on her face, unlike every other time I’ve seen her speak to her adoring public. The last few days have taken quite the toll on Lillian Tombs. I glance around the crowd, noticing the hushed whispers from the regulars. They see it, too. They know there’s something wrong.

“Welcome to the fight you’ve
all
be dying to see!”

A roaring applause fills our ears as Tobias and Rick take the stage behind Lillian. I look at Amy next to me as her own eyes scan the room, on alert for anything out of the ordinary.

“Last year’s Alpha is back to reclaim his title,” she continues. “This will be
Tobias the Untouchable’s
final battle in the Midwest Alphas.” A series of boos interrupts her voice and she pauses to let the sound sink in, no doubt hoping it will change Tobias’ mind. He stares straight ahead without flinching. His mind will never be changed, but I give her credit for trying. “But first…” Lillian pauses. “Let’s talk about
Rick the Unbreakable
.”

The audience erupts, waving their arms and chanting Rick’s name as his lips twitch with delight. Lillian raises a finger to her bright, red lips and the voices quickly settle down. “He is a fierce fighter. A memorable opponent.” She pauses in front of him with her chin held high. “But he does not deserve the title he holds,” she says, staring him down. He stares back at her with a smug expression, not the least bit jarred by the accusation.

I turn to Amy and she stares back at me with the same confusion. “What is she doing?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” she replies.

“Most of you have heard of the Double Ex Kings.” Lillian turns away from him and speaks to the silent room. “Some of you might even be loyal to them.”

“More than some.”

Amy and I twist around to find Ryan lingering behind our shoulders. Her mouth drops. “Ryan, what—”

“Shh!” he urges, his eyes shifting around us behind his hooded sweater. “Turn back around. Don’t look at me.”

We do as we’re told and look back to the cage. I look to Tobias, but he’s too busy staring at Lillian to notice who’s behind us. I bite my lip in fear, instantly picturing a knife at my back again.

“Ryan, what’s going on?” Amy asks, facing forward.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says. “But there are a lot of people here that will.”

“How many are we talking here?” I ask.

“Too many.”

Lillian raises her voice. “I’m not going to ask you all to leave,” she says. “Because I want all of you, Kings and Alphas alike, to witness this fight. I want you all to see what happens when you mess with the Midwest Alphas.” She spins back around and faces Rick. Her lips move. The faint sound of her voice fills the space between them, but it’s far too low to hear what she’s saying.

“I have to get you two out of here,” Ryan says. “Now.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I say, watching Tobias’ face. “Especially not with you.”

“Look, Claire,” he says, “I totally get where you’re coming from and all, but we don’t really have time to chit chat about it.”

“You’re a
King
,” Amy spits, clearly not caring who hears her. “What makes you think we’d trust you?”

“Because it was Lillian that sent me to get you out of here.”

I turn around, ignoring his command not to. “What did you just say?”

“Not a whole lot of time to explain that either, Claire,” he says. “I just need you to trust me on this one.”

I look at Tobias again and I shake my head. “No,” I say. “I’m not leaving with you.”

Ryan sighs. “Yeah, she told me you’d probably say that. Look around you right now. Do you see any other Dames anywhere?”

I glance around, searching the crowd for Veronica and Heather, but neither of them are in sight. Even Lisa and Kimi have disappeared from their stations by the doors. I look at Amy and she shakes her head.

“Where are they?” she asks him.

“Like I said…
Lillian sent me to get you all out.
”

“Why you?” I ask.

He signs again, rolling his eyes. “It’s a long story, but obviously, I’m not a very good Double Ex King…” he mutters quietly through his teeth. “Now, if you don’t mind… it’s time to go.”

“Where are we going?” Amy asks.

“Someplace safe.”

I look at the ring as Lillian brings her metal whistle to her lips. Tobias and Rick stand in opposite corners, each of them in their fighting stances. “No,” I say. “I’m staying here.”

“How about I come back for you then? Okay?” Ryan says with a defeated tone as he grips Amy’s arm. “Come on, Amy.”

“Claire…”

“It’s all right, Amy. You go,” I nod.

“Just keep your head down,” Ryan warns me. “The Kings know your face.” He guides Amy away, leaving me alone in the pulsing crowd as the whistle calls.

I step closer to the ring, sliding between shoulders as I go. Tobias holds his fists in front of his face, just like he always taught me to do. He told me he protected his face because Charlie would notice the bruises if he didn’t. I suppose he doesn’t have to worry about that anymore now that his father knows everything.

My pulse quickens in my chest as I look down his body. Even in a moment like this, I find him completely irresistible in those tight, black shorts. His chest glistens with a thin layer of nervous sweat covering his bruised, inked skin. Deep scabs line his side where the cage sliced him open two weeks ago, healing slower than they should. I feel a smile hidden beneath my lips, just barely reaching the surface of me, squashed down by the dark dread plaguing my guts.

Rick darts forward and throws the first punch at Tobias’ face, an easily countered jab that does little to rattle him. He pushes Rick away, but he quickly doubles back for a second punch. It’s a glancing blow, just barely grazing Tobias’ ear as he jerks his head out of the way. Tobias raises his foot and kicks Rick backward into the metal cage.

The crowd screams with delight, but I’m not as easily swayed. It’s painfully obvious that Rick isn’t even trying. He’s killing time, drawing out the fight with slow hooks and jabs, but for what?

I look around me, searching for anything out of the ordinary. My eyes fall on others in the sea of men, their rugged, expressionless features a dead giveaway of their intentions. Ryan said there were others. As I count them and the number climbs higher in my head, the threat finally sinks in.