Choosing Hearts - The Fighter's Passion (Gritty, Explicit Romance Novel) (A Lusty Stand Alone Story) (8 page)

“Rogan, the
fighting Irishman.” O’Malley grinned. “Sixteen fights, all won under two
minutes.”

“And over three
hundred grand earned.” Vance added. “You’ve got the bigwigs taking notice, my
man.”

“Yeah, way to move
on up, Rogan.” O’Malley was all smiles. “You’ve been promoted to the big
league.”

“Haven’t I made
enough to go to Ireland and search for Kirk Falls yet?” Rogan said through
gritted teeth.

“Well, technically
yes, but you don’t have any legal documents.” O’Malley offered, in matter-of-
fact manner. “So that’s going to cost a lot more to get you home.”

“But don’t beat
yourself up over it… we’re in the top tier of underground fighting now, Irish.”
Vance pumped his fist in the air. “What we’ve earned these last two weeks,
we’re going to make in each fight from now on.”

“How many more
fights do I have to win before I can have the required wealth to leave this
place?” Rogan sighed, scratching the stubble on his chin.

“I’d say a dozen
more, at a hundred grand a piece.” Vance thoughtfully crunched the numbers. “A
cool million would get you far - far and away from here.”

“Then let’s get on
with this.” The warrior knight said impatiently.

“All in good time,
my highland friend.” The fat fight promoter laughed and picked up the phone.
“Tonight, we’ll have you up against an interstate champion. The guy’s trained
in all forms of martial arts… but for you, he’ll be easy meat.”

“I honor all my
opponents with a swift death, and in this case, defeat.” Rogan gave the fat man
a cold glare as he dialed on his phone.

“That’s mighty
fine of you, Rogan.” O’Malley stepped in, trying to calm the huge warrior down.
“Tonight, we’re going to Blaine Towers, where the big money fights are on every
Saturday night.”

“I am ever ready”
Rogan exhaled deeply, taking the amulet in his hand and staring at it sadly.

“We’re all set.”
Vance hung up the phone. “Ten tonight; and Lenora Devine is going to be there.”

“
The
Lenora
Devine?” O’Malley’s blue eyes lit up. “We’ve got it made, Rogan.”

“Who is this
Lenora Devine?” Rogan growled, picking up a pastrami sandwich.

“Well, in a way
that you would understand, Highlander.” O’Malley smirked. “She’s the Queen; she
controls everything that we do here.”

“And she will
preside over this fight?” The warrior knight raised an eyebrow.

“She always does
at Blaine Tower.” Vance nodded. “That’s where the big money flows and we’ve
been invited to come get some. And Rogan, maybe you’d like to wear down your
opponents a little. You know, put on a show. Make it look like they have a fair
chance before you utterly destroy them.”

“I do not take
pleasure in toying with my opponents.” Rogan replied coldly.

“Maybe you should
consider doing it here, the money’s not just in the winning but more so in the
show…”  Vance pressed. “And the charismatic appeal of the fight.”

“Doing so will get
me more wealth?” Rogan looked skeptical.

“Yes, it will.”
O’Malley joined in. “Beating your opponents faster than the bets come in does
make it harder for the spectators to enjoy the fight. After all, that’s what
they are paying for.”

“I might then
consider it, starting tonight.” The flame haired fighter looked pensive.

“Well said.Now,
let’s get a move on. It’s an hour’s drive to Blaine.” O’Malley smiled broadly.

~ ~ ~

The slender
fighter’s eyes narrowed in frustration. His snake-like body, whip-lean and
tight, moved with practiced ease and yet, he found it hard to match the larger
man’s speed. Hector Arroyo was a master of seven deadly styles of martial art,
but he found it near impossible to get a bead on his huge flame haired
opponent. Rogan the fighting Irishman was unlike anyone he had ever fought
before. For more than ten minutes, he ducked and weaved around the larger man,
unable to land a blow. And to his frustrated surprise, Rogan kept holding back,
never taunting, never teasing, just being an aggravating elusive target.

Rogan yawned and
glanced to his right. Vance and O’Malley nodded their approval of his
restrained fighting style that evening. It made the crowd’s anticipation
increase and the betting more alive. But he had had enough of this playing
around. With a sudden explosive lunge, he speared into his opponent, lifting
him off his feet and dashing him down hard on the ground. Hector gasped as the
wind was knocked out of him. Flat on his back the last thing he saw was Rogan’s
ham sized fist accelerating towards his face before darkness took him.

“Hurrah, for the
fighting Irishman.” O’Malley yelled, stepping into the ring and encouraging the
crowd to cheer.

Vance followed the
shorter man in, staring apprehensively at the bloodied champion fighter lying
unconscious in the corner of the elevated platform. Rogan had proved himself
once again and they were all a few hundred grand richer.

“It is done.”
Rogan said softly. “I have done my part as promised. Now let us depart.”

“This is only the
beginning, fella.” Vance spoke up. “The first step on a ladder leading straight
up.”

“To a life of fame
and fortune.” O’Malley smiled, patting the huge warrior on the small of his
back.

“Eddie Vance.” A
sharp voice called out, making the three men turn around.

“Ah, Angelo… so
good to see you again.” Vance’s thin lips curled into a wider smile on his fat
face. “How is Miss Lenora Devine?”

“She is fine,
Vance.” Angelo replied tersely. “And she has accepted your offer.”

“We had no doubts
about that.” O’Malley piped up.

“Yes, but before
we go any further, she requests to meet with your fighter… in private.” The
slender young man in at the tight maroon suit nodded with an air of arrogance.

“Lead the way,
kind sir.” Rogan eyed the man coldly. The man reminded Rogan of a reptile, the
kind he would like to crush underfoot.

Angelo nodded and
set off briskly with Rogan following him. Vance had a big grin on his face, but
O’Malley sported a clouded look.

“We’ve got it
made, Rippy.” The fat promoter clapped his hands. “And so has he, by the sound
of it.”

“I’m not too sure
about this, Ed.” O’Malley nervously licked his lips. “Our boy’s not exactly
shown his need for the finer things in life… and you know what Lenora wants out
of this.”

“Don’t sweat it,
short-stuff.” Vance laughed and turned to head for the bookies to collect.
“He’ll do want she wants.”

O’Malley said
nothing more, silently watching the huge fighter walking away with Lenora
Devine’s assistant. They turned the corner and stepped into her private
elevator, moving out of his line of sight.

“So where are you
from?” Angelo punched the elevator button and asked the brooding giant. “Not
from around here, I can tell.”

“Ireland.” Rogan
replied impassively. “What does this Lenora Devine wish of me?”

“Miss Devine.”
Angelo stressed. “Always likes to inspect her investment first hand. You know
she has paid near to a million for you.”

“Aye, but I am yet
to see some of that wealth.” Rogan glared at the other man’s reflection in the
full length mirrored walls of the elevator.

“Oh, you will, you
will.” The slender man stepped out of the elevator on the desired floor. “And
more - much more.”

Rogan followed him
silently as they walked over a red carpeted floor. Angelo opened a large highly
polished wooden door and led him into a lavishly decorated office. He looked
around in awe.Even Duke Edenton was not in possession of such opulence.

“Angelo darling,
what have you got for me?” A rich, lilting voice drew his attention to the
large table in the center of the room.  The view of the big city lit up at
night through the great window behind the speaker was spectacular.

“Ah, Miss Devine.”
Angelo fawned. “I have here with me, Rogan the fighting Irishman.”

“Milady.” Rogan
bowed low with one hand on his chest.

“Oh, how
delightfully chivalrous.” The woman rising up from the chair laughed a shrill
silver-bell like chime.

Rogan stood up
straight as she stepped up to him. She was older than him, but knew well to
conceal her age and appear younger. She wore a body fitting white dress lined
with silver and pearls, cut low in front to reveal the lush outer curves of her
full, rounded breasts. Her face was pleasant to behold, probably once naturally
beautiful, yet now relying on other means to retain that charm. Long slits down
the sides of her flowing gown revealed powerful shapely legs and wide flaring
hips. She had one of those a lit tobacco sticks in her slender fingers called
cigarettes and eyed him as if he were a hunk of beef at the butcher’s.

“That will be all,
Angelo.” She purred, moving even closer to the tall warrior knight.

The slender
assistant nodded and swiftly left without a backward glance. Rogan watched him
leave and turned his gaze back to her. She was almost a hair’s breath away from
him and he could feel the hot air as she blew smoke out of her lips and
nostrils.

“You’re a big one,
aren’t you?” she said huskily.

“So I’ve been
told.” He nodded, well aware that her intentions were at par with so many of
the fairer sex back in Kirk Falls and the other regions in his time.

“Irish, they also
say… and with that sexy accent,” She traced a slender well manicured finger
along the underside of his dense pectoral muscle. “I like big men who know to
fight. And you are the best fighter I have ever seen in my ten years in this
shitty business.”

“I am honored,
milady.” He nodded slowly.

“Call me Lena and
you can knock off the act.” She smiled, heading back to her desk, swaying her
full hips as she walked. “I’ve heard about this amnesia thing that’s been going
around about you and I don’t buy it. You’ve got a past to hide and I couldn’t
care less.”

“I was told that
you are a queen, Lena?” Rogan asked skeptically.

“A queen?” She
laughed that silvery chime again as she walked back to him with a slender glass
of bubbling drink. “Yes, I might as well be one. With the kind of power I have
now, I can get anything I want.”

Rogan was
confused, but didn’t show it. This was a strange world he found himself in and
playing along was the best chance he had. But it was clear that this Lenore
Devine was interested in more than his fighting skills and he didn’t want
anything to hinder his chance of finding his way back home - back to his
beloved Alicia. He accepted the strange drink she offered him and took a sip of
the mild liquid. It made his throat even dryer than it had been.

“Strong silent
type, I see.” Lenore went on as she circled around him, her hands now freely
roaming over his broad shoulders and thick arms. “I love a man of action. Talkers
easily bore me.”

“Fighting is all I
know.” Rogan said, narrowing his bright green eyes.

“And you’re a
master at it.” She touched the little amulet on his chest. “That’s why you’re
here with me. I can take you to places you could have never been to with Vance
and those little rabble rousers.  I’ve grown rich promoting men like you and I
can make you richer than you have ever dreamt of.”

“When is the next
fight?” Rogan began to feel her proximity getting a bit uncomfortable.

“Not for a while.”
She slipped her hands down his back and rested them on his granite like
buttocks, sighing at the sensation. “Right now, I have something else in mind
for you.”

“I understand your
need, woman.” Rogan steeled himself. “Yet I am not one to fill it.”

“What do you
mean?” She sounded genuinely perplexed.

“I have not the
need for what you offer right now.” His voice was as cold as ice.

“I know you want
me. I can feel it.” She slid her hands across his hips and grasped at his
crotch. “Man, you’re really big.”

Rogan flinched,
pushing her away. “I beseech you, Lena. I have not the intent for this.”

“For crying out
loud, no man has ever pushed me away.” She cried in astonishment. “Are you gay,
Irishman?”

“Gaiety has no
claim on me.” The big man shook his head slowly. “But I cannot say more other
than I have no requirement for the pleasures of the flesh. I only seek my way
back home.”

“Well, this is
kind of a deal breaker.” Devine fumed and grabbed her mink coat off the back of
the chair, donning it swiftly. “I’ve never been so humiliated, coming across as
a bitch in heat to a man I barely know.”

“I was not made
aware of this bargain, milady.” Rogan raised his hand in apology. “I must take
my leave now.”

“Yes, you need
to.” The flustered woman grabbed her phone. “It seems you and I have both been
given a raw deal and Eddie Vance will now know the risk of toying with this
hellcat.”

Rogan swiftly
bowed and turned to leave. He didn’t wait to see what she was doing with the
strange communication device she was holding to her ear and pressing her
fingers down on another device on the desk. His head began to hurt; he needed a
quiet place to let his thoughts settle. Somewhere serene and peaceful where he
could dream of his Alicia and find a way back to her.

“Get me
Commissioner Holloway.” He heard the irate woman bark into the  device she held
over her mouth and ear before he closed the door and raced down the stairway.

~ ~
~