Page 63 of Claiming Veronica
Granted, I’d been to a high society party event once or twice for Maxim, but nothing quite like this. An intense, electric energy buzzed through the room, mingling with the smoke and the low thrum of the music. I recognized a few of the Brotherhood MC members doing security at the front, asking for some virtual code that must have been sent in advance. I made a note to ask Eli about it later because it was pretty slick. They were checking bags and frisking people, but we were waved through.
People crowded around the large makeshift cage in the center, their faces hidden in shadows and the occasional flash of neon lights that cut through the darkness.
This was exclusive—the people who knew how to make things happen in dark corners and back rooms. The crowd dressed accordingly: designer suits, gold chains, and luxury watches sparkled in the dim light. Money exchanged hands inwhispers, eager glances locking on the ring. Hanging on one wall were screens, as you’d see at a stock exchange, with all sorts of numbers moving at a lightning pace, along with live video monitors of what looked like locker rooms in the back.
“What do those mean?” Reed asked. She looked beautiful in a flowing emerald green organza that shimmered when it caught the light. It was fitted around the bodice with delicate straps and an off-the-shoulder neckline that allowed glimpses of skin beneath the semi-translucent fabric. Natasha had us go through her closet earlier, and Reed had fallen in love with it. Thank goodness for a sister who loved high fashion.
Natasha leaned forward to listen. She had dressed in a pantsuit I wished I could pull off, which looked elegant, with towering heels and her hair braided and pinned up. She was Pike’s perfect counterpoint, who I had already clocked against the far wall.
“Those are bets coming in from around the world,” Eli answered from behind us, his hand settling on the small of my back. He looked devasting tonight, dressed in an actual suit. “Those are the fighters in the back. The bettors can see them and bet accordingly throughout the matches. Let me show you ladies to your seats.”
Steering us through the crowd, he pivoted towards a section close enough to see the cage but far enough to protect us against one of the walls. We settled into the couches arranged there, and Eli directed the men assigned to us, his voice too low for me to hear.
“You look beautiful,” Eli whispered. “Like a dream. I know Luther wants to come over and meet you sometime tonight. He’s been giving me all sorts of shit about it.”
“You look great too.” I winked and then said saucily, “Good enough to eat.” He leaned forward to steal a kiss.
“You have your inhaler?” He looked worriedly around the room. I knew he was clocking the crowd, the noise, and the smoke.
“Yeah, I patted my purse.” We’d had this discussion at length with my sister and Maxim already. Being around smoke wasn’t great for my lungs, and it put me at risk for an attack, but I felt strongly about coming. Experiences didn’t come along very often, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunities I could.
“I’ve set up HEPA filters over here for you to see if they’ll help, and I’ve restricted smoking to those sections over there.” His face had creased withworry, and I reached up to smooth the lines from his face.
“Don’t worry so much. Thank you for thinking of me. I’ll be okay. I’ve got Natty and Reed here to help me, and I’ve got my inhaler. If it’s too much, I’ll go home,” I promised, and I meant it. “Tiny is watching over me too.” I indicated the big man behind me, who grinned back and gave me a little salute. Dimitri had assigned him to me for the evening. I’m sure he had very strict orders.
“Okay. Be good.” Then, louder, he said, “Ladies, I’m sure it has been mentioned, but these people aren’t exactly on the right side of the law. You aren’t to go anywhere—even the bathroom—without the bodyguard assigned. No exceptions. I’ll be back in a bit and send a waitress over to take drink orders. The fights will start soon.”
After giving him one last kiss, I sent him on his way, watching as he moved around the room, stopping to speak to each person. The other man with Eli seemed to animate the space—Luther Booth. Handsome in a tuxedo, he had everyone clapping his back and giving him wide grins. He made me think of a politician—one of those people who spoke in loud voices and gave fake smiles.
“Who’s that?” Natasha asked, indicating Lutherwith her chin. He had circled so close to our table that I could see the pattern of his pocket square.
“Pretty positive that’s Luther. He grew up with Eli on the streets. Him, Eli, and Victor,” I added, watching Luther as he laughed raucously at something a woman in a tight pink dress said to him as she pushed her boobs toward him.
"This is unreal," Reed said, looking around wide-eyed. "I thought I’d seen high-stakes poker in Vegas, but this..."
I nodded. "Different crowd, different stakes. This is where people get off betting for blood, not chips. Some of these people aren’t just here for the fights. It’s networking … business.”
I knew Luther was in on this with Eli, setting up this venue with a critical eye for detail. Eli had the fight scene running like a finely-tuned machine, with high-rollers gambling enough to buy small islands if they lost and bouncers from both the Iron Brotherhood and the Cobra MC keeping a close eye on every move.
Shouts erupted as the lights flickered and lit up the red carpet, running to the cage as the first round began. We watched, riveted, as the fighters came into sight with their hoods up, music soaring over the crowd. Each of them pumped their fists in mock punches as theyjogged down the red carpets that led to the cage and then shrugged off their robes as they climbed in.
“No gloves?” Reed asked breathlessly next to me.
I shook my head. I didn’t see any gloves. Their hands were taped up, but it looked like this was bare knuckle. Luther was announcing the names, The Hammer and The Butcher, who made faces at each other from their corners before they squared off, muscles rippling and eyes hard with focus.
The bell sounded, and the fight began, with the fighters moving forward. The crowd’s roar rose like a tidal wave. The Hammer’s movements were sharp and controlled, his eyes never leaving his opponent. Each punch and dodge was precisely calculated as if he’d planned it all out in advance. It was easy to see right away that he was going to win. His blows were vicious, and his body-wielding power seemed greater than the other fighter, who was already breathing harder, their punches and kicks going wide. It didn’t seem like there was a referee or any rounds. The fighters just went at it. We watched in fascination.
“That was a haymaker.” Luther sat beside me, slinging an arm casually over the back of the sofa, startling me. Tiny shifted behind me, but Ilifted a hand to indicate I was okay. “See that fighter there.” He pointed to The Butcher, who was struggling but had blood streaming down his face from an open cut and had stumbled back. “He’s about to lose big. “Watch.” His lips were parted with excitement.
Natasha glanced at me, sensing my discomfort, and then returned to the fight, but she knew I was uncomfortable.
The Hammer delivered a set of lightning-fast jabs to the other fighter’s abdomen and followed up with an uppercut that sent his body up into the air and down to the mat. People around us rose to their feet and then crowed, yelling and clapping as they celebrated the knockout.
“See,” Luther said, satisfied as he turned his attention to me. “So you’re the girl that has Havoc in knots.”
“I guess you’re Luther. He’s talked about you.” My eyes drifted over his face, the angles of it. He was handsome in a predatory way, but he looked cruel. I looked for Eli in the crowd, seeking him out — my safety net. He was standing over by a group of men on the far side. Seeing me with Luther, he raised a hand and smiled, but I could see that it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Hmm,” he murmured non-committedly, eyeing me like I was nothing more than a smear on his shoe. “He’s never been interested in anyone before. Maybe we’ll all go out later.” Luther didn’t seem very impressed by me or very interested in going out later, so I wasn’t sure why he bothered.