Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
From the corner of my eye, I saw Lotto stiffen. On my other side, River exhaled and shook his head like he wasn’t surprised at all. Troy’s eyes pierced me like a million bullets. God, I wanted to smack that self-satisfied smirk off his face, but we were, once again, at his damn mercy.
“So, you’re Sport n’ Beauty’s sponsor?” I asked.
“Main investor.” Troy leaned forward and grabbed the golden nameplate that read Selena Choi, CEO. “Her products are decent. Just needed some extra money to get started.” His smile was full of snake oil. “And seeing you all here, begging for my help, makes every penny worth it.”
“You set this entire thing up.” River laughed incredulously. “Right from the very beginning.”
“The Circuit was taking my competitors. I wasn’t going to let them get away with that.”
“And Lucien?” Lotto asked.
Troy’s smile somehow grew. “What about him?”
“His father’s business.”
“Point Seasons was already under investigation. A whistleblower happened to come forward with concrete evidence.”
“After Lucien stole us away from you?” I demanded. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together to form the final picture: the three marionettes and the puppet master across the table. “You probably paid the whistleblower to get that evidence.”
“If you have proof of that, I’d love to see it.” Troy settled back into the velvet chair, his smarmy smirk all the proof I needed.
“Lucien must have really pissed you off.” River’s laugh was bitter. Cold. I’d never seen him look so pissed, even in the ring. “They teach kids how to share in kindergarten, Troy. Did you miss that lesson?”
“I don’t share with brats who don’t know their place.”
“Which is why you paid off everyone but Pinstripe to keep us from getting a good third?” Lotto asked.
Troy gestured to his suit. “Are you unhappy with your choice?”
“It’s the only one we had because of you,” I hissed.
“I gave you more of a choice, didn’t I?”
His gaze narrowed on me. If a look could kill, I’d be dead on the spot. It was hard not to sink into my black velvet chair when all I wanted was the world to swallow me whole.
“You are one vindictive motherfucker,” Bones growled. “Mad because we stopped sucking your dick?”
Troy didn’t even bat an eye. “The Perks are doing great without you.”
Lotto laughed loud and clear. “They sure as fuck aren’t. We might not be in the scene right now, but trust me, I get updates.” He leaned forward, his button-up shirt tight against his muscles. “I don’t know how you have the money to fuck us over when half your investors switched to the Circuit.”
“That’s none of your damn business,” Troy snapped.
I whistled. “Did we hit a sore spot, Troy?”
“After this season, the Circuit won’t be a problem. Look how badly it’s already going.”
I couldn’t argue. The Circuit had a decent crowd. It was growing with each match, but it couldn’t compare to Heathens Hollow. Not by a long shot. And half the alternative sponsors already needed to be used, with us looking for a fourth. This was starting to look more and more like a busted venture, but I would never admit that out loud. Especially not to Troy fucking Godwin.
“There’s still a month left. Plenty of time to turn things around,” I answered.
“Sure. How’s Bones’ hand? Will he be ready in time to ‘turn things around’?” Troy chuckled and eyed Lotto. “Or will I be seeing him back in the cages? Or begging for sponsors another way? Since he’s so good at putting on a show at my club.” He met my gaze. “All of you are.”
My body flushed hot; my cheeks burned with embarrassment. I had to cling to the arms of the chair to keep from punching his lights out.
River chortled. “No, dick, you’ll be seeing me.” He leaned forward and smiled. “And I’ll whoop Jace’s ass so bad, you won’t have a fighter or investors left for your little exhibition at Heathens Hollow anyway.”
“Are you sure about that?” Troy lifted an eyebrow. “How’s your sister doing? That’s a nice house she moved into. I wouldn’t want it repossessed for being bought with dirty—”
River was fast in the ring but somehow even faster here. He leaped from his chair and sprang over the desk. I jumped after him and held him back with arms around his waist. Objects fell to my feet as River fought me off. Selena’s nameplate bumped against the top of my foot, and I hissed with pain. Lotto was right behind me, grabbing the collar of River’s dress shirt and pulling him back.
Not once did Troy even flinch. He only smiled and rose from his chair, brushing off his Beetlejuice-copied suit.
“I’m afraid Sport n’ Beauty will have to decline to sponsor your gym. Good luck with the other sponsors. Maybe you can ask for a dildo to fuck yourself with? You already do it every time you step into the ring anyway. See yourselves out before security does.”