“Hayes is here as well. He’s been working with Metro police so even if I don’t win, Lane is leaving in cuffs,” I state.
“Don’t lose this one,” Dante snarls and I take a step back. Sometimes he can be a scary guy.
“Wasn’t planning on it. Hayes says he has a good case for stalking and vandalism. Lane won’t go away for long but it’s enough to get him off the street for a while.”
“Keep your head in the game,” Dante pats my shoulder, “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“We’ll be there, too,” mom kisses my cheek and goes with Uncle Dante.
“Get ready. Meet downstairs in two.”
I go back to the room to check on Briar. I watch as Aiden and her have a quiet conversation. For the first time, I see a genuine smile so good to see that.
“Scoot over,” I slide in behind her and we all cuddle like that until it’s time. I’m glad Aiden came and we will be talking about him selling his house after this.
About an hour later, there is a knock on the door.
“Who’s here?” Briar asks.
“I don’t know. How about you get ready and Aiden and I will check it out,” I say.
“Oh, do I have to?” Aiden winks at her.
“Come on, asshole,” we trudge to the front door which is thrown open by Thorn. He’s with Tristan and they both looked pissed.
“Lane gave an interview this morning. He said you were accusing him of sexual assault but that it’s you that’s keeping Briar prisoner and brainwashed. He told reporters that she’s too scared to leave you,” Tristan states, the more level-headed of the two.
“He would try to pull this shit,” I say.
“Kingston, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Briar, but maybe we should leave,” Thorn says, looking sad and angry all at the same time.
“No one is going anywhere,” Hayes says as he enters the suite. I need to stop giving out keys.
“Time to fill in everyone on what is going to happen, win or lose,” I say, “Tristan, get everyone up here so we’re all on the same page.”
“On it.”
“Hayes, would you like some coffee?”
“Yep, you’re going to serve it to me?” he teases me.
“Fuck off,” I laugh as I hand him a cup of coffee.
We wait until everyone, even mom and Dante are settled in the living room.
“I want everyone to be on the same page. You know that Briar and I are engaged, it was a quick engagement, but that’s for another time. I don’t think all of you know how we met or what led to this. If you do then this is just so those that don’t are filled in. I met Briar at the diner she worked at when Lane and I went there to eat after one of his illegal fights. That fight is where we met Thorn. Lane went easy on him, and told him to show up at the gym. We went to eat and Briar was our waitress. We found out that she was Thorn’s sister. He told us to go easy on Briar, that she had a hard life and they did.That’s not my story to tell. Lane was a dick that day. I could tell at first that Briar was interested in Lane at first, but she didn’t throw herself at him, maybe that pissed him off. I don’t know. I asked Thorn if I could ask her out, Thorn is very protective of his sister. All he said was to not hurt her. And I haven’t, nor will I. Thorn and Briar are just as much my family as all of you. Lane couldn’t stand the fact that I was with her, as juvenile as it sounds. When he wants something, he will do whatever it takes to get it.
He took this to a whole new level. He broke into her apartment. He destroyed my house and the gym. He set her car on fire. He’s harassed me and Tristan with phone calls. He choked her at the Christmas party and then he sexually assaulted her. No matter how hard any of us try, he slips through our fingers. I know Hayes has been working hard on trying to get him. He doesn’t stay in one place long enough. I came out of retirement with the idea to take what he cares most about, his title.
We all know I’ve been out of the game for a while. I’m good, Lane is better. I should know, I was his coach. I’m going to go out with a fight if I go. Win or lose, he will get cuffs slammed on him today. Hayes has assured that will happen. I want to thank all of you for looking out for her.”
I can see various looks on everyone’s faces from anger to sadness. This whole ordeal has taken a lot from all of us, more so Briar. We all want it over with today.
“I’ve been working with Metro. All exits are covered, but I don’t think they will be needed. Once the cage door opens, I’m in there and cuffing him,” Hayes says.
“He thinks he can get away with it,” Thorn says.
“He can think that. He’s way too cocky to think that I will be waiting. I’ll smile as I cuff him and shove him into a cop car to go downtown,” Hayes grins.