Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
“Good thing you were here to block them, then.” I slap my brother’s chest.
“Get over here.” Remy pulls Griff in for a hug. “Fuckin’ proud of you, brother. That was…incredible. You owned the ring.”
“I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
Eraser joins us and pats Griff’s back. “Team Royal for life.”
“Castle Crew for life,” Griff corrects, opening his arms wide and pulling them in.
Even though I’m sure dozens of cameras will capture the moment, I scoot back, pull out my phone and take a few pictures of my own.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Molly
Griff had time to take a shower, change, get checked by a doctor, and then haul his butt down to the press conference about his win.
Shelby and I are in the front row. The rest of our crew’s sitting in various spots around the conference room. We seem to have grown in numbers since leaving the arena. Woolly, Venom, Diane, and friends of Dawson’s have all joined our group.
“Griffin, over here. Brett from Tridant True Media.”
Griff turns his head, his eyes scanning the crowd until they land on the reporter. He picks up his microphone and nods.
“You were the underdog in this fight. This was a stunning victory—”
“I wasn’t stunned,” Griff says.
Everyone in the room chuckles.
Griff lazily points in our direction. “None of my crew was surprised that I won, either.”
“Fuck yeah!” Jigsaw jumps out of his chair and throws both fists in the air. The rest of us whistle and shout in agreement.
Griff grins at the reporter and lifts his eyebrows. “Anything else?”
Clearly embarrassed, the guy ducks his head and taps his silver pen against his small white notebook. “Well, actually yes. Since you won, will you be proposing to your girlfriend this weekend?”
My heart stutters. Why would anyone ask that at a press conference about Griff’s monumental victory? It was dumb enough when the other reporter asked me outside the ring. The two so-called journalists must not have compared notes.
Griff blinks a few times as if he also doesn’t see the connection. “My personal life is personal. Let’s keep the questions fight-related.”
“Why’s everyone so nosy?” I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Their lil’ pea brains can’t come up with anything else.” Shelby wiggles the fingers of her left hand at me, her pretty moonstone and diamond ring glittering under the sharp conference room lights. “Logan and I are engaged and I still get nosy reporters asking when we’re tyin’ the knot. As if I’d send one of ’em an invite,” she scoffs.
At least that makes me feel better. “Thanks.”
“You all right, chickadee?” Rooster towers above us, his gaze focused on Shelby.
“Just lettin’ Molly know those dumb engagement questions will probably keep on comin’.”
“I’m nineteen. Marriage really isn’t on my radar.” I lift my chin toward the table where one of the other fighters is answering questions. Griff nods at me. “They should be focused on Griff’s win. All these people underestimated him. He should make them grovel before answering their questions.”
Rooster rumbles with laughter. “Griff’s lucky to have you, Molly.”
I beam up at him. “I know.” My smile flattens. “I’m lucky too, though.”
After the press conference finally ends, Dawson takes the entire group out to dinner.
The longer the night goes on, the quieter Griff gets.
By the time we’re finally able to go up to our room a few hours later, he can barely keep his eyes open. I have so many things I want to tell him, but we’re surrounded by my brother and our friends in the elevator.
The ride seems to take forever, but finally dings on our floor. Everyone steps out of the elevator, but only Remy, Eraser, Ella, and Venom walk us to our door.
“You guys take this bodyguard thing seriously,” I tease my brother.
“Magic’s boys were pissed that he lost,” Venom says. “We can’t be too careful.”
“That’s so stupid,” I scoff. “It’s a fight. Someone’s going to win and someone’s going to lose.”
“Yeah, but Griff made it look so fucking easy.” Eraser chortles with laughter.
“And fast,” Remy adds. “Damn, Griff.”
We stop at the door to our suite and I produce the key card from my purse. Our whole group files into the common area. The large space shrinking fast.
“Please, we made it to round three,” Griff says. “My plan was to submit him in round one.”
Venom studies Griff’s face. “I’m just happy it wasn’t another bloodbath. God damn, he barely touched you.”
“Stitches hurt. I wasn’t doing that again,” Griff jokes, then lightly rubs his hand over his abdomen. “He landed a few shots. I’ll be feelin’ it every time I take a breath for a few days.” A wild grin stretches across his face. “Then I’ll remember the shock in his eyes when I clocked him.”
The guys explode with laughter and another round of rehashing the fight.
“You sure you don’t want to come explore the Strip with us?” Eraser asks Griff again. “The club Dawson wants to take us to sounds like fun.”