Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I didn’t need anyone else anyway.
Smiley’s and our promise of forever was all I fucking needed.
Chapter 27
Frankie
Icould see practically everything from Troy’s personal VIP room.
I stared at the still-full ring while the douche himself poured me and Lotto whiskey into crystalline glasses.
We had spent months in preparation for tonight. Practicing, fighting, being torn apart and patched back together. I didn’t see the Perks or River in the dancing crowd. The bass of hard music thumped so long, it shook the thick glass keeping Troy’s world separate from ours. Because that was what this was: we were the entertainment, and Troy was the ringleader.
At least being the entertainment paid extremely well.
Sucked that it was at the hand of Seattle’s biggest motherfucker, though.
“Drink up, coach,” Troy joked and pushed one of the glasses my way.
He sat on the edge of his mahogany desk and took a sip of his liquor. This office was somehow even more douchey than his office in downtown Seattle. There was brown everywhere I could see, with expensive gold knick knacks lining the walls. He had a large leather sofa close to the window and based on the two girls giggling and making out in the middle, more entertainment than simply a cage match.
Goddamn, I’d rather be fighting for my life back in the ring than stuck here right now.
Lotto passed me my drink, but I didn’t take a sip just yet.
Troy eyed me. “Do you think I poisoned it or something?”
“No. Just not up to drinking.”
“You should celebrate.”
“Drinking with you, I mean. We’re busy, so get to the point.”
One of the bodyguards in the back took a step out of the shadows.
Troy held up a hand and chuckled. “We’re all friends here. Isn’t that right?” Troy eyed me then Lotto.
Lotto took a swig of his liquor and frowned. “I don’t consider us friends.”
“Business partners then. Your gym just made me a shit ton of money. Smiley’s won’t be hurting for a long time, either.”
“And our money?” I asked.
“You’ll get it soon enough. Or do you want your ten percent cut now?”
Troy clicked his fingers, and the other bodyguard strode away from the wall, picked up a duffle bag from the ground and set it on top of the desk next to my full drink. When he unzipped the zipper, he revealed stacks upon stacks that filled the bag. Way more than the original offer. I tried not to let my surprise show. Even split between the five of us, we’d be set for a long time.
“And this isn’t even your bets.” Troy chuckled and gestured at Lotto with his drink. “This guy sure knows how to get his money's worth.”
“It’s called believing in your team,” Lotto answered. “That’s all I did. Are we free to go?”
“Sure, sure. Take the bag and go.”
I stepped forward to grab the handle of the bag, but Troy leaned a hand on it, cutting me off. I frowned. I should have known it was too easy.
“Unless you’re looking to make way more than this?” he asked.
What was this asshole talking about? There was a strange tilt to his lips that spelled danger for us. Fuck it. I grabbed my offered drink and downed half of it in two gulps. I was going to need to wade through more of Troy’s shitty offers.
“Another deal?” Lotto leaned against the back of the couch.
Troy pushed around me. “Ladies, if you could?” The giggling girls parted with playful frowns, and Troy winked at them. “I’ll catch up with you soon. Why don’t you go down to the club, and I’ll meet you there? Maybe these dashing men will join me.”
The women murmured their agreement and scurried from the room. Troy barked a laugh at the annoyed look on my face.
“Lighten up, Freakshow. Isn’t that why you’re here? To enjoy my club like you did last time?”
Ugh. I did not want Troy to know what the fuck we did at his sex club last Heathens Hollow. And I certainly didn’t want to know what he did down below either.
“Can we get back to the deal?” Lotto asked.
Troy finished his drink and set his glass next to our bag of cash.
“Tonight’s event was such a success that I’m thinking about having a headlining event more often. Say, once a month? And every headlining event needs headliners.”
The douche stared at us, saying everything without saying anything.
He wanted Smiley’s to be the official headliners at Heathens Hollow.
I puffed out my cheeks and ran a hand over my jaw. This was an insane offer.
Which meant it was coming with insane strings.
“River and Ari just put huge targets on their backs.” Troy chuckled and played with his watch, an amused smile on his face. “If you even let her step back into the ring.”
“Hell no,” I said immediately.
“That’s too bad. She’s a natural. The only regret from tonight is that she didn’t rip Misty’s top completely. I’m sure that would have encouraged a few more bets to slide my way.”