Theirs to Keep

C H A P T E R T E N

ELLE’S STOMACH WAS FULL OF butterflies as she sat in the locker room where Merrick was preparing for his bout. Cade and Dallas were in the next room where Merrick was in the final leg of his routine when he mentally got set for the task ahead. Charlie sat next to her, along with a number of people Elle didn’t know.

They were all involved with Merrick. His camp, as Charlie called them. Oh they’d been introduced, but their names and faces had all been a blur to her. Quite frankly, she was terrified to be away from the place she considered her refuge.

Las Vegas was a glittery city, the likes of which she’d never experienced. She had no way to know if it was true or not, but she fully believed she was a small-town girl at heart.

Cade and Merrick had insisted that she accompany them for Merrick’s bout, and it wasn’t that she truly wanted to remain behind by herself, but the idea of being so…public…scared the holy hell out of her.

It had been a concern for Merrick and Cade as well. With the media coverage of the event and all eyes on his fight to see whether he’d be granted a shot at the title, the very last thing they wanted was for her to show up on television or in a photo that circulated the Internet and media outlets.

They’d been extremely careful. She touched the ends of the blond wig she wore and wondered if it was truly enough to alter her appearance. She wore dark sunglasses, even inside the arena, and Dallas stuck to her like glue to give the impression that she was with him.

Cade and Merrick largely ignored Elle when anyone else was present, but she could feel their gazes on her. Knew they watched closely.

“Nervous?” Charlie asked in a low voice.

She glanced sideways and then quickly looked in the direction of the other occupants of the small room.

“A little,” she admitted.

She’d watched Merrick train for a month. She’d even watched fights on television, but she’d never seen a live fight. She’d watched Merrick’s opponent when the guys had watched footage from previous matches over and over to monitor strengths and weaknesses.

The guy Merrick was fighting was the other leading contender for the heavyweight belt, and she knew from listening to the others that his style was ground and pound, whatever that meant.

All Elle knew was that Merrick was willingly walking into a ring with a man who wanted nothing more than to kick his ass.

Charlie reached for her hand and squeezed. “Don’t be. Merrick is ready for this. He’s focused. He’s confident. He’s going to win.”

“I just want him not to get hurt,” she blurted.

Charlie smiled. “Now, I don’t want you to get all freaked out over blood, cuts and bruises. That’s what happens when two grown men go all out in the ring. Merrick’s smart, though, and he’s fast for such a big man.”

Just then Merrick’s trainer, Dakota Trayburn, walked over and touched Charlie on the shoulder.

“We’re ready if you and Elle want to go on out. I’ll have two men go with you. Dallas and Cade will be along in a minute. They’re going to walk out with Merrick.”

Adrenaline lurched through Elle’s veins, and just as quickly, fear tracked close behind. She licked her lips and squared her shoulders, determined not to show these people that she was some kind of wimp.

Two broad-shouldered men with no necks and bulging biceps walked over to where she and Charlie sat.

“Ma’am,” one said politely. “We’ll escort you to your seats if you’re ready.”

Curling her fingers tightly around her bag, she stood. Charlie put his hand to her back in a reassuring manner, and they followed boulder number one out the door and into the arena.

The noise was deafening. The previous bout had finished, and the victor was circling the ring, pumping his fists into the air. All around them, people bumped and pushed. The two men escorting them positioned their bodies between her and Charlie and the crowd and pushed their way down the aisle, their arms out to keep everyone at bay.

There was a row of empty chairs ringside, and one of the men gestured for her and Charlie to take a seat on the end. As she eased down, she turned her head in all directions, taking in the enormous crowd crammed into the event center of the casino.

She jumped when the arena darkened. Camera flashes went wild, and ominous music began to play. On the opposite side, Merrick’s opponent began to make his way to the ring. Elle watched in fascination as he worked the crowd and was introduced to a mixture of cheers and boos.

When it was Merrick’s turn to enter the arena, her head turned automatically to search him out. It was like looking at a different person. Someone she didn’t know. A celebrity who was going to walk right by her.

It hadn’t registered with her, even during the weeks of training, that Merrick was this larger-than-life person. He just seemed so…normal. Nice. But the man making his way toward the ring looked anything but nice. He was someone who would scare the ever-loving shit out of her if she met him elsewhere.

The crowd roared, and she curiously looked around, seeing the approval of the fans. He was the favorite, judging by the crowd’s response. It fascinated her that there were so many people rooting for him. These people knew who he was. They followed his career and his success. They were invested in him.

To her, he was just Merrick Sullivan. The man who made her feel…safe.

As Merrick and his entourage walked by, Merrick reached down and brushed his hand down her arm. It was brief. It could have been considered accidental. Only, she knew better. Even utterly focused, he’d sent her a message.

Dallas and Cade stepped up to the ring while Merrick was being introduced. Merrick stripped off his hoody and tossed it toward Cade. Elle swallowed hard as she looked at the heavily muscled warrior in front of her.

All he wore was a pair of trunks and the gloves that were a great deal smaller than a boxer’s. He danced in place, keeping loose and limber as his bare feet glided over the mat.

Dallas took a seat on the other side of Elle, but Cade remained ringside with two other members of Merrick’s team.

“He’s looking good,” Dallas said in her ear. “He’s focused and confident. He’s going to win.”

Dallas’s words sent a thrill through her chest. She held her breath as she watched the two fighters face off as the referee outlined the rules.

She’d never seen Merrick so…fierce. She couldn’t wrap her head around the difference in this man, the fighter, and the man who’d held her and comforted her so many times.

As the two men parted and the bell rang, signaling the start, Elle surged forward in her seat. Other than the light touch to her arm, Merrick hadn’t acknowledged her in any way. She hadn’t expected him to. He had to be focused. A distraction could cost him the match and could cause him serious injury.

Beside her, Dallas shot to his feet as Merrick and his opponent exchanged a flurry of punches. Dallas was yelling. Charlie was on his feet hollering something Elle couldn’t decipher.

When Merrick took a shot to the head and stumbled back, Elle flew to her feet, her hand over her mouth.

“Don’t look like that,” Dallas yelled in her ear. “Suck it up. If he looks this way, the last thing he needs to see is you looking like you’re going to puke.”

His rebuke jarred her from her horror, and she schooled her features. But inside her chest, her heart was about to explode as she watched the flurry of action in the ring.

The first round lasted an eternity. The few minutes stretched into what seemed like an hour as the two men traded punches and wrestling holds. When the bell rang and Merrick returned to his corner, she stared hard, looking for any sign of injury.

He sat, looking calm and completely focused. At peace, which seemed ridiculous given he’d spent the last several minutes getting pounded by a man as big as he was.

But there was no blood, and his face looked untouched. The other guy hadn’t been as fortunate. His eye was swollen, and a cut had opened up on his cheek.

“He won that one!” Charlie yelled over the crowd.

“Hell yeah he did,” Dallas said.

“He won?” she asked in bewilderment. “It’s over?”

“He won the round,” Dallas said in a patient voice. “Points. If there isn’t a knockout, the match is determined by points. Merrick won that round.”

“Yes!” she hollered.

Charlie and Dallas both grinned at her, and Charlie pounded her on the back.

“That’s the way to get into it, girl!”

She remained standing when the two fighters came out of their corners for the second round. Now that she knew Merrick had won the first round, it made sense to her why his opponent came out more aggressive.

“He’s being careless!” Dallas said in a whoop. “Merrick will nail his ass to the wall. There isn’t going to be another round. I guarantee it!”

Elle surged forward in the excitement, her fingers curled into tight balls as her nails dug into her palms. Her heart was pounding, and her gaze was glued to the two fighters.

Merrick’s opponent lashed out with a high kick, but Merrick reared his head back, caught the guy’s leg and then drove him to the mat.

“Damn it, I can’t see!” Elle yelled in frustration.

Dallas turned, presenting his back to her. “Hop up.”

She stared blankly at him, and he looked back over his shoulder.

“Come on, or you’re going to miss it!”

She tossed her purse at Charlie and put her hands on Dallas’s shoulders. As she jumped, he reached back, grasped the backs of her legs and hoisted her upward.

Elevated above Charlie and Dallas, she could now clearly see the action in the ring. Merrick was atop his opponent and was landing punches to his head. She winced but was grateful it wasn’t Merrick getting his ass handed to him.

She knew from watching Merrick’s training that just as much of the match was fought on the ground as it was standing upright and boxing. She’d read up on jiu-jitsu to familiarize herself with the holds and maneuvers so she wasn’t completely ignorant of something that was obviously extremely important not only to Merrick but to Cade, Dallas and Charlie as well.

Merrick had an amazing support network, and now so did she. It hit her, standing right there in the middle of the crowded arena. She was a part of this. She had no explanation for how. Or why she was so fortunate to have ended up with men like Cade and Merrick and their extended group. Charlie, Dallas. Even Merrick’s team.

She was a fixture at the gym and at the training sessions. They often had dinner together after training. She even rode in the back of the truck when Merrick went for his runs and his trainer timed him.

Staring in awe as the crowd roared, she scanned the flashing lights, the people thrusting their fists in the air, and then her gaze returned to the ring just in time to see Merrick execute a rear naked choke hold.

It was a submission move.

She strained upward, holding her breath as she watched Merrick lock it in. The wait seemed interminable. Adrenaline bolted through her body like a shock, and she found herself yelling until she was hoarse.

And then finally, Merrick’s opponent tapped three times. The referee stepped in, waving his arms, and then he pushed in to separate the two fighters.

Merrick rose, arms held up, and then Cade was running into the ring to hoist him up. Charlie surged forward, climbing the steps to the ring. Dallas let her slide down his back, and then he threw his arms around her, hugging her until she couldn’t breathe.

“He did it!” Dallas yelled. “He did it!”

He started for the ring as Charlie had, but then he hesitated, looking back at Elle as if he remembered he was supposed to watch out for her.

“Go,” Elle mouthed.

Dallas shook his head.

“Go,” she said again, loudly this time. “I’ll be right here. There’s nowhere to go. Merrick will want you there. You should be there.”

Dallas grimaced. “He wants you there too.”

“And I will be,” she said. “Afterward. Go and be there for him. He’ll want to share this moment with you.”

Dallas put his hands out. “Don’t move from this spot. I’ll be back for you.”

She shooed him away, and he bolted for the ring, joining in the mad celebration. She stood back, watching as the men she’d grown so close to whooped and yelled. In that moment, she felt incredibly alone and isolated. She wished she could be right up there with the others. But she had no idea of the possible evil lurking out there, and she couldn’t take such a risk.

Two burly men stepped up beside her, boxing her in on both sides. One leaned in so she could hear.

“You’re to come with us, ma’am. Mr. Sullivan wants you back in the dressing room to wait for him there.”

Panic screeched through her veins. Dallas had told her to stay put. He hadn’t said anything about someone else escorting her away.

She shook her head, trying not to freak out on the spot. She shrank back until her legs hit the chair she’d been sitting in.

Instead of pressing the issue, the two men simply stood there, hovering protectively as more of the crowd surged forward chanting Merrick’s name.

In the ring, the announcer was making the official declaration of Merrick’s victory. He held Merrick’s arm up, and the crowd erupted once more.

And then Merrick looked directly at her. He smiled. It lit up the entire arena. He pointed at her and then balled his fist doing a pump in the air.

She grinned back and blew him a kiss.

Dallas squeezed in and cupped her elbow. “They’re okay, Elle,” he said, dipping his head toward the two men standing guard over her. “Merrick sent them to escort you back before things get too crazy. I’ll go with you.”

Relieved that Dallas was here, she allowed the two men to escort her and Dallas back to the dressing room. When they burst in, it was already chaotic with celebration, and Merrick hadn’t even made it back yet.

Champagne bottles were being opened, and a glass was shoved into her hand. Just a few moments later, Merrick burst into the locker room flanked by Cade and Charlie. His trainer came in close behind him, and the other members of his team, as well as several other fighters who’d come to support Merrick, crowded around, fists in the air as they shouted their congratulations to Merrick.

It was hard for her not to go to him. But she was supposed to be here with Dallas. His girl.

Their gazes connected through the crowd. Both Cade and Merrick sought her out, their stares probing, the question clear in their eyes.

“I’m fine,” she mouthed. “You did awesome,” she said to Merrick.

He winked at her and then turned his attention to his well-wishers.

Elle retreated to a far corner so she could observe the festivities at a distance. It was on the edge of her mind to think how different her life was now, but how could she know that when she had no idea what her life had been before?

She’d been swept into a different world. But this wasn’t her life. It was Cade and Merrick’s life. And she had no idea how or if she fit into it.