Fight Men Not Love

Chapter Fifteen

When the adrenaline simmered down, I felt the pain kick in and I groaned quietly, settling down in the backseat of Nico's car.

I was too drunk to care though. I was still excited about what went down in there. I ended up doing three fights and I won all of them.

Roxy didn't last a minute. I might have knocked her unconscious. Or dead. Not sure. The second one put up quite a fight and socked me a couple of times. I don't even remember their names. The third one, I dragged but it would have taken a minute like Roxy. She wasn't as tough as she claimed to be.

I remember the power that coursed through my veins, when those people cheered for me. I remember they eyed me like I was insane, getting in that ring, considering my tiny body.

I proved them wrong.

The thing is, it wasn't as exciting as I wanted it to be, considering my opponent weren't putting up the fight I wanted. I needed more. I decided I'd take a day off and head back.

Nico drove back to the house and I laid down and let the pain consume me. I know I'd feel the full effect tomorrow, when the alcohol is gone.

I had Dominic to face and explain the situation, but I honestly wasn't in the mood.

When we got to the house, I got out and groaned. "I really think you should reconsider your...hobby, Miss Benedict. This isn't safe," Nico tells me quietly as we walk in.

Once I was in and the door was closed, I turned to him. "And I really think you should consider our deal. You know, the one whereby you protect and not dictate," I said with a smile. "It has been working all along,"

"What's going on?" Dominic inquired immediately. I turned to see him and his usual minions hovered around the countertop. Damn, it's like they don't have homes.

Dominic's eyes roamed down my body and was immediately by my side, concern written all over his face. "What happened Evelyn?"

"Nothing that concerns you," I said and walked past him to the kitchen. I filled the bottle with water to drink. I can still feel the effect of alcohol.

"Nico, what happened to her?" I heard Dominic ask.

"I can only protect her from everything else...but herself. And it's not my place to tell you, sir," he said.

Wise guy. I like him already.

"Excuse me," he walked out after handing me my bag.

"Evelyn-"

"I'm going to my room," I said, walking past him. He gripped my wrist, stopping me.

"What's going on with you?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why would you do this to yourself?" His voice was low, almost begging.

"Because I want to," I said yanking my wrist from his grip. "And don't touch me," I looked into his eyes. His eyes were looking at the scars and bruises on my face.

"Are you drunk, Evelyn?" I took a little bow, and almost lost balance.

"Bingo. Took you long enough," I said. "How about we cut this little chitchat so I can go, yeah?" I said. "Have a goodnight," I walked out the kitchen. "Oh and," I turned to look at the six pair of eyes briefly before focusing on Dominic. "The deal that your mother threw in my face, I'll do it," his eyes widened at that. "I don't know how it'll work out with Inez, because once it's off, I'm leaving. Not that you ever thought about how this was going to affect her," I shrugged. "I'm doing this for her. And anyway, I owe you my life, isn't it?" I mustered up a smile and walked away. "You can count me out for dinner," I yelled on my way out.

"Evelyn..." oh God. He never gives up.

●

I whimpered when I woke up the next morning. Ugh, everything hurts like hell. I trudged to the bathroom to take a look at myself. Despite the throbbing sensation, my face wasn't all bruised up like I suspected it would be. Just a small cut on my cheek and a busted lip. Nothing I couldn't handle.

My body on the other hand, has more bruises than I can count. For the first time in forever, I welcomed them wholeheartedly and didn't fear them. These were caused by me. I can live with that.

They weren't enough to convince me to quit the fight club though. I'm still going there. Maybe not tomorrow. Eventually.

I showered quickly and wore loose sweatpants and a hoodie to hide all my scars. I wouldn't want Dominic to interrogate me any further.

I grabbed my phone and walked out. As always, Killian was already here.

"Lyn!!" Inez yelled happily. I smiled at her, sitting down right beside her.

"Hello Inez," I feel like I haven't seen her in so long. She frowned at my face and reached out to touch the small cut on my cheek. "What happened here?" She asked softly.

"It's nothing. I fell in the bathroom," I lied. It's best she doesn't know. She hummed.

"You should be more careful next time," she lectured me and I couldn't help smiling.

"I will," I could feel Killian and Dominic looking at me, but I chose to ignore them. Instead, I busied myself with Inez. She was playing another game and it seemed to be difficult for her. It included numbers. "Maybe you should add these three numbers and see what you get, yeah?" She nodded and went on with counting with her small fingers. When she had the answer, she looked down at the available options and squealed.

"Look, it's this one," she said.

"Yeah," I smiled, loving how bubbly she gets over small things. I'm way past that stage and what makes me happy is either not here or it hurts me. "Good job,"

I heard the door clicking behind us and turned to see Beckett walking in. He wasn't his cheerful self and I knew it had to with me. He didn't look up until he was close.

"Morning," he mumbled.

"Good morning, Beckett," Dominic greeted him. Beckett let out a hot breath and looked up at me.

"Are you mad at me?" He mumbled like a small child, pouting slightly. I couldn't help laughing at him. "You really said some things yesterday and they got me thinking. Maybe I've been an ass-"

"Maybe?" He rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I'm trying to apologize here," he said. "You were right. I never thought I was forcing you to do the photoshoots. I thought we were having fun and well, you looked like you were having fun, so I had not idea," he went on. "I'm sorry," he sighed. "And I told them you weren't going to sign the contract, so..." he said. "Please tell me you're not mad at me, because this sucks," he mumbled, leaning into me. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not mad, Becky," I said. His face lit up, but then it faltered. "I'm not bluffing. I'm being serious. I'm sorry too. I said some mean things to you,"

"It doesn't matter," he said before throwing his arms around me and squeezing the life out of me.

"Ow, Becky, you're hurting me," I almost whimpered when he pressed on my sore spots.

"Are you going to tell me what happened to you?" He asked when he pulled back to finally look at my face.

"Ran into a pole," I lied.

"You said you fell," Inez interjected. "In the bathroom,"

"Yeah," I said, turning to her. "After running into the pole, in the bathroom,"

"Daddy, do we have poles in the bathrooms? Because it's dangerous," Inez said and I fought back a laugh, while Beckett snickered.

"I don't know baby, I never noticed," Dominic said eyeing me. I heard Inez hop down the chair and sprint away.

"You got into a fight," Beckett pointed out as soon as Inez was out of earshot.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Becky," I said quietly, sipping on the juice on the countertop.

"Evelyn, you promised you'd stop doing this," Beckett sighed.

"And I still don't know what you're talking about." I eyed him.

"Can you quit it out?" He said. "How long are you going to do this? Until you almost die. Again,"

"That's a low blow, friend,"

"You know your father wouldn't want you to do this, right?"

"Oh, we're bringing up the dead now, huh? Sweet,"

"Is this about him?" Beckett inquired. "You're rebelling again, because of him,"

"I'm rebelling?" My eyebrows shot up. "That's sweet,"

"What it is that you're looking for anyway? Cause we already know who killed your father,"

"Yeah, I'm right here," I pointed at myself.

"Evelyn..."

"I'm kidding, geez," I pushed him off a little. "You do realize that's what the police know, right? That I killed my father,"

"What?!" Both Dominic and Killian exclaimed loudly.

"No, that's not true. Evelyn is being an i***t, right now." Beckett hissed at me. I laughed at him. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing. You're the one that brought this up," I whispered back to him, eyeing Dominic. He had a frown on his face.

"Right. Do you...perhaps want me to set up an appointment...for you?" He asked hesitantly.

"Took you long enough to set me up with a shrink," I said knowingly. "Tell me when and I'll be there," I smiled at him. He gave me a look. "What? I'm not fighting it, am I?"

"This is for your own good," he murmured softly.

"I know,"

●

UNEDITED