“You know how Onyx is ex-MMA? Well, they train with a whole group of people—you saw some of them downstairs. Some are pro, some are semi-pro, and some make more money fighting illegally than professionally. One of Onyx’s contacts heard my name come up. They called Onyx because they knew Onyx works for us, and now …” Colin puffs out a quick exhale. “Sorry we haven’t been in contact. We’ve been madly working to try and convince Carson to let this go and I’d never speak about it again.”

“And you couldn’t have let me know? Not even a quick hey, I’m alive?”

He shakes his head. “It was supposed to be over quickly. I didn’t think it would take this long, and I didn’t want to drag you into this mess. Onyx had everyone on high alert to make sure that your name didn’t come up too.”

I don’t even know what to make of this. I hunch forward over my knees, fingers buried in my hair.

“I just wanted them to leave us alone,” Colin whispers.

Me too, but now, thanks to him, I don’t think that’s something we can count on. “You should have asked for help,” I point out to him, but when his face falls, I can’t hold on to the annoyance for long. Look at me. Between him and Perry, I’m a total pushover. “You have us too now. And we’re going to figure this thing out.”

He takes my hand, and at first, I think it’s in support, but then he speaks. “Are you aware you’re missing an ear?”

Even though he’s being totally serious, I laugh. “Yeah. That’s a really long story. And it starts and ends with a guy named Perry …”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

PERRY

The second we get to Tommy, lurking at the bottom of a set of metal stairs, I draw back my fist and swing. It hits his face with a satisfying whack and a very unsatisfying sting that shoots through my hand.

“Ouch!”

“I’ll say!” Tommy stands, hand covering his cheek. “What the hell, Perry?”

I give him my most menacing stare, ignoring the way I’m cradling my hand in front of my chest like a kicked puppy. “Don’t ever pull that shit with my boyfriend again.”

“Your boyfriend?”

“Well … not … officially, but it’s going to happen. So consider yourself warned.”

Instead of looking scared, I’m pretty sure he’s going to laugh at me. “Okay, okay, I’m warned.”