Chapter 16
Dean
The warehouse is packedtonight. The whole place is buzzing with news about the fights. Neo is on the sidelines of the cage watching the two current fighters beat the shit out of each other. The level of excitement and enthusiasm that pours off him with each pound of flesh would be concerning if it was anyone else but him. I’m honestly surprised that he hasn't jumped in there and joined the fight himself. He’s not cheering for anyone in particular, just whoever is currently winning.
But I can tell by the way he's practically climbing the cage that if he doesn't get his fight soon, he’s gonna make one for himself with the closest person to him. Thankfully, he's up next, so we'll see if he can hold himself off for just a little bit longer.
“I still don't get why they won't put me on the card for tonight,” Axel grumbles.
"Because there are no spots open,” Cass tells him again, but Axel is too drunk to remember that he’s already asked this same question three times now.
“They let him fight.” Axel points at Neo, who is now screaming as he cheers on the person who is slamming a fist into his opponent’s face like it’s a meat cleaver.
“Because his girlfriend owns the place,” I point out, taking a sip of my bourbon.
“So, nepotism at its finest,” Axel scoffs.
“Seriously, what is your issue with Queenie? Is it that she’s a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man for anything in her life, even sex if she didn’t want it? Or is it that she calls you out on your shit, and your pride and stubbornness is so strong that you can’t let her in?” I ask, raising a brow. His face turns dark as he glares daggers at me.
“It’s because she walks around like she can do no wrong; as if her shit doesn't stink. She treated us like shit when we first came back, and you saw what she did to me just last month!”
“Well, we deserve whatever she did to us before. Hell, I think we got off pretty easy,” Cass says.
“She fucking stabbed me and beat me over the head with a cue stick! Not to mention that she shot you in the shoulder! She’s fucking crazy,” Axel growls out.
“You called her a whore, and I let a stranger suck me off when she told us not to.” I shrug, bored with his constant bitching.
I was always closer to Axel than the others. He never questioned me on my need for control, my closed-off personality, or my standoffish demeanor because he was the same in a lot of ways. Neo was too out there for me, and Cass, even though he has his moments, is overall a bright and sunny person, always trying to improve our lives for the better.
But since Harlow has come back into the picture, she's forced me to see life in a whole new way. She pushes me to be better. I still struggle with the need for control, and that may never change, but it doesn't consume every aspect of my life anymore. It’s like the fight to be in control of everything isn't as strong.
I do need to talk to her, though. When we get back, I plan on getting her alone and telling her the reason why I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life; why I had the moronic idea to send her away. I honestly had good intentions. How was I supposed to know that she would end up in much worse hands than my father? Whenever I think about the hell Harlow went through, I feel sick, ashamed of myself, and so fucking angry. But as fucked-up as it is, look at what she became; she’s a Queen. A killer. A mother. And the love of our lives.
I’ve never been one to believe that everything happens for a reason, but the more I adjust to these new changes in my life, the more I’m starting to see why people think that way.
Cass takes off to wish Neo good luck when we hear his name announced on the speaker which leaves me alone with Axel.
I turn to face him. “Talk to her. Because we’ve all had enough, Axel. We are not asking you to change who you are, but I know damn well that this jackass act you have going on with her isn't who you are. You might not be Prince Charming when it comes to women, but you’ve never treated them the way you do her. Don’t be mad at her for not being who she used to be; none of us are. Get to know Queenie, and reacquaint yourself with Harlow. I can guarantee you that once you get past her walls, life is so much better with her in it. I still have a long way to go with her, but she's worth it. I love her. She’s my everything. I need her more than I’ve ever wanted to admit, but I love you too. You’re my blood, my best friend, and seeing you put down the woman I love... that we love... hell, who you fucking love, it hurts me.”
“Fine!” he growls. “First Sam, now you guys. I’ll try, but I can't promise one of us won't end up dead.”
“Well, we all know it won't be her.” I snort. He glares at me, making me crack a smile. “Try, it's all we ask.”
Neo
MY FIST CONNECTS TOhis jaw with a right hook while the other sucker punches him in the stomach. He drops to the ground after only being in the ring with me for about three minutes. I’m kind of impressed seeing how most don't make it past the thirty-second mark. He’s got muscle and height on me, but I have pure, unfiltered insanity on my side. Crazy people always win. We have no limits, no boundaries, and we never throw in the towel.
He drops to the ground, his head recoiling off the floor. “Get up!” I shout, bouncing back and forth, my eyes wild and my heart having its own rave inside my body.
“Neo, he’s down and out,” Cass says, stepping into the ring. He’s the only person who can get in here with me that I don't see as a threat. He leans down and checks the man’s pulse. “That was a close one, man. You’re done.”
“NO! One more.” I growl, Beast riding the wave with me. He wanted to be released, but I love pulverizing the shit out of these fuckers just as much as he does. Who knows when I’ll get to come back here. No way I’m gonna miss out on this, so we agreed to both be in control.
“Neo,” Cass tries to reason while dragging the man to the door of the cage. Once he reaches it, two men pull him to safety.
“One more!” I demand.
Cass sighs in defeat, realizing that fighting with me while I’m like this is useless. He leaves the cage and heads over to a guy. They huddle together, discussing something, and a second later, the guy looks at me before giving Cass a reluctant nod.