Advancing ((Advance Industries #2)) (14 page)

The people are all dressed simply. There are no women here parading around in high heels or short dresses. As we make our way through the shoppers, women start walking up to Jonah and kissing him, on his head, his lips, his hands, wherever they can find space, he’s lavished with kisses. Women are now surrounding him and we all back away and watch the scene. His eyes are huge.

We keep walking until we reach the arena, it’s more like a circular ruin. This part was started and not finished, the walls are high and tree branches hang over the open top where a roof should be but isn’t. Charlotte thought that being pelted by rain during a fight would make things more interesting, more slippery, and dirtier as the ground is mud. They literally started building this with blocks and shaped it in an igloo style but left out a base. It was built on the woodland ground and inside is seating in a semi-circle straight ahead, the seats are layered, so each row is higher than the one in front all made out of wood from the trees they chopped down and to the right is where she sits, sometimes alone but mostly with her honoured guests.

On this level where we walk into the fighting area, there is two tunnels to the preparation rooms. The fighters have the chance to meet beforehand in a room, size each other up or freak one another out. Then we are left alone to prepare, to change, and to work out tactics. When announced we exit to this area through the tunnels. I start walking through the first tunnel to the right, the men follow and as we go I can hear her. I’ve always thought of her voice as shrill, the guys think I have rocks in my ears, though.

We’re halfway through the tunnel when she spins around to face us. “Finally! My runner informed me of your visit twenty minutes ago.” She spots me and a smile creeps across her face “Were you not so eager to see me this time, Darling?”

She walks towards me and holds my upper arms as she kisses first one cheek, then the other. “I am surprised to see you back so soon. Couldn’t stay away?” She arches a brow.

“You were so hospitable last time; how could we resist?”

She throws her head back and cackles when she’s finished she asks, “Are you here to stay this time?”

“No.”

“Why do you need to disappoint me? It’s hurtful.” She pouts.

“I thought you didn’t do feeling Charlotte, have you been playing me all along?”

“Quite right. I forgot myself there for a moment.” She claps her hands “This is a pleasure. What do you need from me and more importantly what will I get from you in return for it?”

“Phasers, new Comm-recs...”

“What did you do with the others I gave to you?”

“Does it matter? They’re gone, we need new.”

She huffs like a spoilt rich kid. “Yes it matters, how could you be so careless? I don’t have enough to give away if they’re going to be discarded so easily. These items are needed. I entrusted you last time as I believed eventually you’d join me and the items would go towards the collective. I don’t have an endless supply, contrary to what you believe.”

I had practically the same speech last time about her not having many to spare and blah, blah, blah, it’s all a ruse so that she can ask me to do what she really wants. The bigger the pay-out the higher her reward.

“I’m willing to fight.”

“Oh willing this time, should I be grateful?”

“Do you want to see it or not? If I’m wasting my time we’ll go.” I stand firm even though she’s irritating the fuck out of me. We both know how this ends, why all the prelude?

“You remember the rule?”

“Yes.”

“Good, I’m bored with you now. Sebastian will lead the way. Let me see my boys.” She pushes me aside and air kisses each of the men, some even get hugs. When she reaches Jonah she stares at his face and whispers in his ear. He pins me with a ferocious look before she links her arm through his and leads them back through the tunnel, the way we entered.

Guess she told him what was written:

Kiss me for luc
k
.

I’m walking along with a weed of a man. I’m on tenterhooks. She-with-no-name brought me to a giant concrete structure housed by guards, they just kept staring at me and she took pity on me and stood on tiptoes to whisper to the guard. As he bent to hear her she kneed him in the groin. Even I winced. His face turned red and he clutched his balls through his clothing before falling to his knees. The gates were opened and I was confused.

And now I’m here, in a strange place after meeting with someone important. I knew this person would be important before we even met because I had to wait in a two storey home while all the other buildings were one storey. I also knew it would be a woman; subtle feminine touches caught my eye. I expected this all important leader to be a man. How sexist am I?

She with no name has disappeared and I’m left wringing my hands as I continue my walk to who knows where.

The woman I met was striking. If I had to guess I’d put her in her fifties, her hair was the colour of dark chocolate, coiffed to perfection on top of her head. She was wearing some kind of floor length black leather dress with slits up either leg, a chunky studded belt that matched her beautiful shoes. Her face was made up, smoky eyes, a hint of blush on her cheeks and nude lips. I couldn’t stop staring at her. I felt plain next to her. I know I’m not beautiful but I’ve never felt so... vulgar before. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but Kye doesn’t behold me anymore. Our meeting was brief. She talked and I listened, she explained and still I listened. She had an air of dominance surrounding her, the way she held herself and through her beauty, I could see this woman was a fighter, her arms were toned, muscular even. She owned the room and I knew she was a ‘take no shit’ kind of woman. She had a hard set to her eyes, eyes that I couldn’t look away from, they held my attention completely. Her unwavering authority reminded me of someone else I know; someone I was trying hard not to think about. She clearly and concisely stated her terms and even though I had information to trade for I was told that isn’t how it always works. Apparently happy with my responses and willingness to do whatever is needed she dismissed me with a wave of her hand and now I’m being led to my fate.

The weedy guard stops before a wooden door; he opens it and pushes me inside. As it closes behind me, I turn to memorise my exit route. When I turn back around to see what I’m faced with my steps falter and my heart leaps out of my chest, I can feel it stretching out towards him.

A most gorgeous sight stands before me, his back facing me as he stares through a small window. I drink in the sight of him. Is he an apparition? Yeah, my mind must be playing tricks, imagining things. He couldn’t possibly be here. I’m going crazy. I sigh at the realisation and the sound causes him to pivot my way. Our eyes lock and for a second he looks as though he imagined me too. His face lights up momentarily before it drops. His fists bunch at his sides and a scowl crosses that gorgeous face. He starts pacing and my heart sinks, he’s not happy to see me. In fact, he looks raging mad. He still hasn’t forgiven me. I still haven’t forgiven myself. I can’t process why he’s here? Did he come after me? If so why here, how could he know? I don’t want to look at him, I don’t want to succumb to the spell he always places on me. I left him for a reason and regardless of how much I miss him, it was the right reason. Why did he come? I would’ve made headway in getting over him... Sooner or later. But now seeing him all thoughts of forgetting him and being alone fly out the window. I want to go to him but I’m frozen in place. He looks at me again as though he expected I’d have disappeared and there it is, that pain in his eyes. One look at me and he dissolves into a madman.

He slams his hand against a bench. “Fuck!” He turns to me. “Why are you here?!” He demands through gritted teeth.

My eyes fill with warm tears burning me as I strive to hold them in. He didn’t come for me. I’m fooling myself. He was pleased I left and I’ve just turned his feelings upside down as well.

“Faith.” This time my name is a gravelly caress on his lips. I look at him unsure what he’s playing at and see he’s still filled with tension, every cord of his body strained.

“Faith,” He says again. “She can’t know what we mean to each other. She can’t know we even know one another.” He drops his head and I can see he wants to come to me but something is stopping him.

I take a wary step closer knowing he’s hurting; my first reaction is to comfort him whether he wants me or not.

“Baby you need to get out of here. You can’t watch this. Find the team, stick close to... Trask.” I see his Adams apple bob as he says my friend’s name. “He’ll keep you safe,” he practically whispers as his eyes flutter closed and he bows his head.
Baby,
he called me baby. Maybe he’s not as immune to me as I thought.

“Kye?”

“Yes.”

“I have to fight you?” It was supposed to be a statement but as the words left my mouth it turned into a question. A question of disbelief, he’s my opponent?

His head snaps up and his face completely transforms. He’s scary, intimidating and hot as hell. Penetrating eyes meet mine.

“What did she tell you?”

“That I have to fight and lose.”

He starts pacing again, eating up the floor space with his quick march. “Motherfucking bitch!” He grinds out, “Fuck!”

I take another step closer. “Kye what’s going on?”

“You need to leave.”

“No, I need her help.”

“Faith get the fuck away from here. I mean it. Go!”

“No!”

He steams towards me and I take a step back. Fury and some other emotion sweep over his face but before I can retreat any further he’s hauling me against him. His eyes are ablaze and I don’t know if it’s from want and a hunger for me or if he’s still mad as hell.

His lips claim mine in a scorching kiss, my arms automatically wrap around his neck and I curl my fingers in his hair. I’m lost, swept away in his intensity. I didn’t let myself believe I’d ever be able to kiss him again and I pour everything I have to give into it. I left him so quickly before, with no contact except our words. I just want to feel him before I go back to being alone.

He pulls back, his eyes closed as he speaks against my lips, “I love you, baby. I can’t let you do this.” His eyes open and flick to my stomach. “You’re my weakness, Sweetheart. If she finds out it’ll be a whole other ball game.”

He releases me and puts distance between us. Let’s keep this in the here and now otherwise I’ll hope for a future with him I can’t have.
He loves me
? Still? “Were you told to win?” I ask.

“No,” he murmurs. “There’s always a winner and a loser. I don’t know what she’s playing at telling us both to lose.”

“What happens if we refuse to fight?”

“Usually nothing. No fight, no help, that’s it. But she was different today. I think she’s upped the ante.”

“So we fight. It’ll be like training.”

“It’ll be nothing like training. That crowd want blood.” He walks over to me and stoop to look at me, I stare at his soulful eyes. “You think I can stand out there and strike you? Hard. Punch you?” He runs a finger down my cheek and over my lips. I try not to tremble. “You think I can bruise your perfect skin? They want a show Faith. It’s expected.” He backs up and his shoulders slump. “I won’t lay a finger on you. I won’t let any other fucker either.” It’s a promise.

The door bangs and, “five minutes,” is shouted from outside.

“Fuck!” He yells.

He turns to me and pointing at the bench he orders, “Sit.”

I do immediately; he’s clearly not in the mood for my stubbornness. He sits beside me and takes my hand, stroking my palm.

“Baby I need you to listen. I need you to trust me. Tell me you still trust me?” He begs.

Do I? We’re running out of time so I nod. It’s myself I don’t trust. He releases a breath.

“Listen. Don’t interrupt, okay?”

“Okay,” I tell him.

“Faith I didn’t want to do it this way but I have no choice. You need to know and they’re gonna take you in a minute. Baby... What I said before you left was true.” He holds his hand up to silence me when I start protesting. “It’s not a cruel joke, I wouldn’t do that to you. It’s not a lie. Saunders ran your blood; you were carrying twins, Sweetheart. You’re still pregnant, baby.”

His finger starts making small circles on my wrist, trying to soothe me. I snatch my hand away and jump up. I turn my back to him.

“Faith I know it’s huge and I wish I hadn’t dumped it on you like this, but you need to understand why I can’t let you fight.”

The door bangs open and weedy guy is standing there. “Time’s up,” he says.

I look at Kye, regardless of what he’s told me I want to hold him again before we’re separated. I’m greedy and prolonging the inevitable but I can’t stop what the heart wants. He reads me and shakes his head ever so slightly before flicking his eyes to the guard. Oh right, they can’t know we know each other. So I’m supposed to walk out of here without a backwards glance, without finding out more? Without telling him how much I love him and have missed him? I’ve traded one sick city for another. I’ve had enough.

I walk to the guard and when I reach him I stop and double over. I hear Kye leap to his feet but he doesn’t move towards me. The guard takes my arm and asks, “Are you okay?”

As soon as he’s close enough I whip out Trask’s knife and hold it to his throat.

“No, I’m not,” I tell him. “Get the door,” I tell Kye.

He walks over but stops at my side; he pries the knife from my fingers and takes hold of the guard. “You get the door,” he says.

I close the door and look at him holding the guard, he raises his brows as if to say ‘what next?’ but I don’t know, that was impulse. I just knew I wasn’t ready to leave this room, to leave Kye. I didn’t think beyond that.

“Make the call,” he tells the guard.

All this time worrying about finding her and my girl finds me. The shock I felt at seeing her standing there was like a million volts of current running through me. I was torn between holding her and never letting go and keeping my distance for her own safety. Palpitations started ricocheting in my chest and I reacted angrily instead of falling to my knees and begging forgiveness.

She has no idea what she’s walked into and I have no idea how to get her out of it. Keeping her at arm’s length is torture but they can’t know. They can’t know she’s my whole world.

Weakness.

I shouldn’t have even kissed her but I guess Charlotte’s right – I’m a weak man. What am I going to do with her? Threatening that guard was a total balls-up. I’d never tell her that, though. She’s made this ten times worse but I won’t let her take the fall. I can see the desperation she was toying with; how could she leave after what I told her. I knew I should have stayed quiet but I needed her to see the risk. If she left this room without knowing, then I know she would have been intent on fighting. My fingers are itching to reach out to her, to comfort her, to let her know I’m here for her and we’ll be okay. I can’t though, I can’t and it’s destroying me.

She’s sat on the bench her head in her hands, she’s deathly white. The guard has had his hands tied but his mouth is still working fine and Charlotte is on her way. I wish I could Comm my men.

The door opens and in she walks followed by two men.

“Just you,” I warn her

She dismisses them with a wave of her hand and walks in looking thoroughly bored. She closes the door behind her, assessing the situation. Before she speaks to me she looks over at Sebastian and scolds him, “You failed miserably, look at you, you’re pathetic.” He drops his head and I know he’s in for a harsh punishment. She finally addresses me, “Kye why do you do this? Why are you always so determined to disrupt proceedings?” She looks over at Faith. “Have you taken a shine to this one?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you Charlotte? It’s bad enough to pit me against a woman but...”

“Women are more than capable of fighting, you know this. In battle, women will fight alongside you men. Why wouldn’t I allow this?”

“Because fighting pregnant women isn’t my thing. I refuse to do it.”

“Pregnant?” She questions. She walks over to Faith and stands towering over her. “Is this true?”

Faith nods.

“Why did you not mention it?”

“Because I was warned any weakness was a no-go. I’m prepared to do what I have to; to get what I need.”

In that moment I’m so proud of her, she’s playing the game beautifully.

“Hmm.” Charlotte thinks that over. She looks at her Comm and sighs. “We’re late and the crowd awaits, it’s been announced already. The crowd wants what it wants and if she is prepared to continue then I won’t stop it.”

“I will. I won’t fight someone in her condition.”

“Why? You know the rule so all you need to do is stand there and take it. You won’t have to touch her.”

“Un-fucking-believable!”

“When war comes do you think those in power will care if they hurt the pregnant, disabled or children? They won’t. Wake up Kye. You’re going soft; I saw it the moment you returned. Life is tough, lessons are tougher but they have to be taught.”