Corner Page 8

  “What’s going on?” Josiah demanded.

  “We’re not talking about it.” Samuel sent one last glare at Caleb before he climbed in behind the wheel of his truck beside Delilah. “Let’s go home. I need some sleep.” The engine roared to life and he sped down the streets. The taillights faded into the night.

  Josiah turned to Caleb. The rest of the brothers, Eve, Meg, Littlefoot, and his nephews were already in their vehicles. “Want to explain to me what the fuck that was about?”

  “You heard him. We’re not talking about it.” Caleb slid into the driver’s seat. He missed a couple of club goers by inches as he, too, took off down the road.

  Micah slowed his Jeep next to Josiah. It was then that he realized he was still standing in the middle of the street. That was normal outside this bar. Most of the time the party spilled out into the street, especially on weigh-in night.

  “Want to caravan home?” Micah asked. “Or are you going to Sarah’s?”

  Josiah sighed. His responsibilities to his family were finished for the night. Hell, most of them were on the highway heading home. The urge that drew him to his mate clawed at his soul. It was about time to give in. “Sarah’s.”

  “See you tomorrow then.” Micah shifted into gear and drove away. The loud noise of the crowd caught Josiah’s attention. A bunch of women, most of them hardly wearing anything, caught sight of him. Their gaze was hungry as they scrambled over each other to get to him. Did any of them have fangs? Was Ezekiel right in asking his question? Did vampires bite werewolves?

  He wasn’t about to find out. He sprinted to his truck, jumped in, and fired on the ignition. After he checked the street quickly to assure himself he was the last Hallow there, he slammed his foot against the gas pedal. The truck flew down the road, away from the women before they could cross the street.

  The streets of Bemidji were vacant when he pulled up to Sarah’s apartment a little before midnight. The raging erection the entire trip drove him insane. He was thankful for the mountain-sized pile of fast food napkins that accumulated in his truck. He ripped open his jeans on the outskirts of Duluth and then stroked himself the entire trip. He came twice and was still rock hard.

  He climbed the stairs to Sarah’s apartment. He didn’t care what time it was. He knocked loudly on the door. He frowned when there was no answer. He gripped the doorknob and twisted it until the door opened a crack. The chain lock prevented it from going farther.

  “Sarah?” he called into the apartment. At first, there was silence. Then he heard a soft groan.

  “Sarah,” he shouted as he rammed the door open with his entire body. The doorframe rattled as the lock shattered. He ran down the hall to her bedroom. She was curled up in the middle of her rumpled sheets dressed in a sports bra and a pair of sweatpants. She hugged herself tight as she whimpered.

  He crawled onto the mattress and brushed the strings of hair from her face. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

  She looked up at him. Her gaze was weak. “I’ve thrown up three times. I think it’s the stomach flu. You should really go. I don’t want you to get this.”

  He stretched out on the bed and laid down beside her. He gathered her to him and held her tight. “You forget, I can’t get shitty human viruses and diseases. That includes the intestinal crap.”

  She let go a laugh. “Because you’re a werewolf.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Or at least you believe you are one.”

  “I am one.”

  “Whatever.”

  He chuckled. “When was the last time you vomited?”

  “An hour or so ago. I’m feeling a little better. My stomach still hurts a little.”

  “Does me holding you make it worse?”

  She snuggled closer and nuzzled her face to his chest. “No, it makes it better.”

  He smoothed her hair from her face. “Good.”

  She lifted her head enough to check out his clothes. “You’re dressed awful nice. How was your brother’s weigh-in?”

  “It went fine. He made weight. Tomorrow he’ll kick ass.”

  “That’s good.” She laid her head on his chest again. “Do you fight?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Why not?”

  “I got into the cage with a couple douchebags. I got my bell rung too hard a couple of times. One time it took four days for me to come to my senses. My dad put me in charge of Momma and my brothers when he passed. I love to fight. But I can’t protect them if I’m a vegetable. So I coach them. I corner them during their fights. I protect them by making sure they know what the hell they’re doing in the cage.”

  “They’re lucky to have you.”

  Josiah gave a half-hearted laugh. “If they were lucky, they wouldn’t be in there. We’d be living quiet lives. And Dad would still be with us.”

  Sarah was quiet for a moment. “What killed him?”

  Josiah shrugged. “We don’t know. He just got really sick. We suspect cancer. We can’t get shitty diseases from humans, but Dad used to hunt along the farmland west of the woods when we were little before we could go with him. We suspect that he ate the game that fed on the fertilized fields and over time, the chemicals brought on the cancer. Just like that game, and humans for that matter, we’re not made to ingest that shit. Now me and my brothers hunt in the woods only.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  He hugged her close. “Don’t be. It’s all in the past. I’m just looking to the future from here.”

  She cuddled closer to him as he caressed her hair. He sighed as he watched her. His life was royally fucked up. It had been since day one. But the first time in his miserable existence, everything felt perfect. He was going to do everything in his power to keep it that way.

  »»•««

  The crowd in the stands overhead roared so loudly it shook the corridor walls beneath them. Josiah paced the dark, damp hallway. As soon as they arrived at the arena, Samuel hid in the locker room and forbade anyone to join him, including his mates. There had been tension between him and Caleb all day. When Josiah pressed Caleb to find out why, the younger Hallow told him to fuck off and stomped away.

  Granted, it was late morning when Josiah returned to the camp. He didn’t get his alarm set on his cell before he fell asleep with Sarah in his arms. He woke up not to his phone but to her lips wrapped around his cock. He came before he could warn her. For supposedly being her first time, she took it like a pro. Seeing her wipe a drop from her lip then sucking it off her finger drove him crazy. He laid her back and drove into her until she screamed his name so many times he lost track. The perpetual erection was working in his favor.

  She was anxious to get him out of the apartment, though. She almost kicked him out. She acted jittery and asked over and over when he would leave. Her behavior set him on edge, but he didn’t have time to dig into it deeper. He had to corner Sam to a win. He had to figure out whatever the hell was wrong between Sam and Cay. He had to keep his mother, brothers, and the mates safe from Cort, Rock, and their undead friends. Oh, and he was pretty sure the fate of the world was on his shoulders, too. At least that was the way the wind was blowing at the moment.

  Josiah looked up to see Micah heading toward him. “Intermission. Halfway through.”

  Josiah nodded. “Sam’s had enough time. He needs to warm up.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Josiah scooped up the bucket he left against the concrete brick wall. He dodged the fighters that wandered the halls. He twisted the knob to the door and quietly pushed it open.

  Samuel sat on the long, wooden bench in the middle of the slate painted room. His eyes were closed, and his hands rested upward on his knees. His breaths were slow and steady. Josiah chuckled as he watched his brother for a moment. The loud, foul-mouthed Samuel was meditating.

  He crossed the room and then laid a hand on his shoulder and shook him firmly. Samuel nearly jumped out of his skin.

  “Hey, champ,” Josiah greeted. He picked up a
roll of athletic tape and a pair of scissors and showed them to Samuel. “You’re still several fights out, but I thought we’d get your hands wrapped so you could warm up.”

  Samuel nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Josiah set the bucket on the floor and glanced around. He grabbed the back of the closest folding chair to him. He turned it around and then straddled it. He settled onto it backward. He gripped his younger brother’s wrist and set in on the narrow metal frame. Then he peeled the tape away from the roll and got to work wrapping it. They sat in silence as he wrapped Samuel’s first hand. He massaged the limb as he stuck the wrap to it.

  As Josiah laid the first line of tape on Samuel’s second hand, Samuel broke the quiet. “Henry is the Heka.” He sighed. “Delilah and Eve did a genealogy search. They traced Henry all the way to the son of a bitch. And according to what they found, the Heka’s spirit is passed down from generation to generation.”

  Josiah looked up at him. “Is that so?”

  Samuel frowned. “That’s all you have to say? You wanted to kick him out of camp before.”

  Josiah thoughts filled with images of his mate. He chuckled. “Yeah. Then Sarah came into my life. I couldn’t kick her out if I tried. The pull that possesses us won’t allow it and neither will my heart and soul. We need to keep up the research between the amulet and the Heka. We need to figure out why the vampires want it. Until then, there’s no reason to send him off. How are things going with you guys? I saw the ring earlier.”

  “Couldn’t be happier. Seriously.”

  “Are you expecting like Cay and Meg?”

  Samuel cringed at Caleb’s name. Josiah dropped his hand and continued. “What’s wrong, Sam?”

  Samuel sucked in a breath. “Rock cornered…”

  The bang of the metal locker room door slamming open cut Samuel off. Joshua slumped against it, breathless. “Joe, you need to come out here. Now.”

  “Why?” Josiah asked.

  “Just come on.”

  Both Josiah and Samuel leaped to their feet. They followed Joshua out of the locker room and through the dark corridors. The other four brothers stood at the mouth of the tunnel watching the fight happening in the cage. They all gave Josiah an uneasy look as he joined them. He focused his attention on the cage in the middle of the arena. Inside the chain link structure, two women traded wicked punches. Josiah blinked hard and then stared in disbelief. His mate, his Sarah, the woman whose body and bed he shared every night, the woman who shared his mark mating them for eternity, just popped her opponent with a cross. He felt his temper flare. His heart burned. She had meetings, huh? It was all a bullshit lie.

  “Did you know?” Samuel asked.

  Josiah’s gaze was locked on the cage. “That Sarah fought? No. I didn’t. I just knew she was a school teacher. She told me she had meetings every evening. She lied to me.”

  “You didn’t see her at the weigh-in?”

  “I was busy with you and trying not to get sick.”

  Josiah’s heart dropped to his belly as the entire crowd gasped. Sarah’s opponent tagged Sarah with a cross on the chin. Even from the distance between the tunnel and the cage, he could see her eyes flutter shut. Her body went limp as she crumpled to the ground. Instinct took over, one he wasn’t used to. It wasn’t the insatiable need for sex. It was the desire to protect the woman he loved. He sprinted to the cage without a word, dodging drunks and women gossiping that loitered in the walkway to the center of the arena. He didn’t stop to check in with anybody. He flashed his badge on his lanyard as he hurried in with the officials. He was Josiah fucking Hallow, the head of the infamous Hallow brothers. No one questioned where he should be.

  He hovered over Sarah as the doctors tended to her. Her eyes were slits as she peered out, confused.

  “Sarah,” he shouted over the noise. He kneeled by her head to brush the stray strand of hair from her face.

  She frowned. “Joe?”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  Josiah looked up to find two large, angry men dressed in jeans and black polos with a red logo embroidered on them by Sarah’s feet. “Josiah Hallow. Who the fuck are you?”

  “We coach Sarah. We belong here. You don’t.” The smaller of the two took a step forward, nearly landing on Sarah. He motioned to someone behind Josiah. A moment later, Josiah was hauled to his feet. He struggled against the grip of the security guards, but no matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t get loose. They didn’t let go until they were well out of the cage. He spun at them to take them on once they let him go. Instead, he caught the scene in the octagon. Sarah hung her head in shame as her opponent’s hand was raised in victory.

  He crossed his arms and huffed angrily as he stormed down the corridors of the arena. His mind screamed at him to get to Samuel. His little brother was his number one priority. But his heart, his soul, directed his feet elsewhere. He studied each locker room door until he found Sarah’s. Then he stepped back into the shadows, letting the dark envelop him. He didn’t need the ability to stalk his prey in human form. He’d hunted in the darkness since he was a child. The skill came naturally now. He waited in silence until she and her coaches shuffled down the hall to the room and closed the door behind them. There was yelling. Quite a bit of it. It flamed the fury burning in Josiah. He watched the coaches leave. After he waited a few minutes, he strode across the hall, opened the door, and slipped inside.

  Sarah never heard him walk in. She sniffled as she picked at the tape on her hands. Her head snapped up when he spoke.

  “You lied,” he accused. He tried not to shout. He did anyway.

  Her voice was weak. “Joe, not now.”

  “Meetings, huh? Was there ever a meeting?”

  She was quiet for a moment. “No. I was training.”

  “And why did you hide that from me? What else are you lying about?”

  She stood up and crossed the room to him. Her glare was icy. “Because would you want me if I was a fighter?”

  “I don’t have a choice.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Get out.”

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  She near shouted at him. “No choice? Is that what you think of me?”

  “Sarah, please don’t start…”

  She pointed at the door. “I said get out.”

  “Fine.” He was out the door before she could say another word. He was certain that he heard her sob as he slammed it shut. He sighed. He wanted to comfort her. But he couldn’t tolerate her lying to him. He heard the crowd roar overhead. His main priority right now had to be Sam. He felt his heart crumble in his chest as he made his way through the fighters lounging in the hall. He found the rest of his brothers already with Samuel in the locker room.

  Samuel’s mates kissed him goodbye before Micah motioned them out the door. Josiah caught Sam’s cold glare at Caleb before he turned to the oldest Hallow.

  “How’s Sarah?” Samuel questioned.

  “Shook up,” Josiah answered. “We argued. She’s pissed at me even though I’m not the one who lied. I can’t worry about it now. We’ve got work to do.”

  Chapter Seven

  Josiah flanked Samuel’s left side as the fighter led the brothers through the corridors to the arena. Micah was already standing there waiting for them. The dull thud of a loud heavy metal song shook the entire building. Samuel stood stone still with his eyes closed. Josiah’s mind whirled with strategies and worst-case scenarios. His brothers told him over and over that being the corner was nothing compared to getting hit in the face.

  They had no idea how wrong they were. They listened to his commands and executed them to the best of their ability. In this game, they were the pawn, and he was the chess master. And it was his full responsibility to get them out of that structure alive.

  An upbeat funk rock song filled the place. Samuel stormed into the arena. Josiah motioned for the other five to follow him. Josiah studied his brother. Usually, he had a shit-eating grin on h
is face as he headed toward the cage. This time he looked concerned. Worried, even. For the first time ever, it seemed like he had something to lose, and that made Josiah uneasy.

  Samuel stopped short at the steps to the cage and then turned and gave Josiah a bear hug. He did the same to Micah. However, when he got to Caleb, it was an awkward squeeze. Josiah slipped on a pair of rubber gloves and then opened the container of petroleum jelly. As he smoothed it on Samuel’s face, he barked out last minute instructions. Samuel hugged him again tightly and then turned to the official waiting for him. After a pat down, he popped his mouth guard out for the official to see. Once Samuel was motioned inside, he ascended the steps to the cage.

  Josiah shot a look at Caleb. “What the fuck is going on between you two?”

  Caleb shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.”

  The announcer held the microphone up to his mouth as he stood in the middle of the mat. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the main event for the number one contender position. The winner will face Felix Ross for the Heavyweight championship. In the red corner, from Saint Cloud, Minnesota, Bowser McNamara. In the blue corner, from northern Minnesota, Samuel Hallow.”

  Josiah led the other two to their places on the other side of the cage from Samuel’s corner. The crowd almost deafened him. The ref motioned Samuel and Bowser to the center of the mat and gave instructions Josiah couldn’t hear. The two men man returned to their corners without shaking hands and waited for the ref to call out. “Fight!”

  Samuel and Bowser circled each other a couple of times as they studied each other. Bowser sprung across the cage, throwing his punches erratically. Samuel ducked each of them and then countered with his own combo. His cross caught Bowser on the chin.

  Despite Josiah’s instructions to get Bowser on the ground, the big man wouldn’t fall. A wild punch caught Samuel on the cheek and opened him up. A thin trail of blood dripped down his face and onto the floor. The horn announcing the end of round one blared shortly thereafter.

  Josiah scooped up the stool beneath him on the ground and then he, Micah, and Caleb hurried up the steps into the cage. He set the stool on the mat moments before Samuel sunk onto it. He laid his head back against the fence and closed his eyes. Micah dabbed at the gash on his cheek with petroleum jelly while Caleb pressed a bag of ice against Samuel’s chest.