Dare to Dance: The Maxwell Series (25 page)

“Kross,” Jay shouted.

He could fire me now or after I killed Trent Baker. I dove at him, landing my gloved fist into his bulbous nose. The impact didn’t have the same effect as it would if I’d had bare knuckles. Before I could launch another blow, hands were pulling me away, while Kade was holding Ruby securely to him.

“You bastard,” she screamed at Trent. “Where is my daughter?”

Trent held onto his jaw with a smug expression on his face.

I tried to jerk out of Kody’s hands, but my brother was strong. “You have the nerve to show up here?” I asked with venom gushing out of me.

Trent held up his hands as a small amount of blood oozed out of his nose. “I was invited.”

I tossed a look over my shoulder at Jay. If he so much as let this bastard in here, then he and I were finished.

Jay pushed through the crowd. “I don’t have time to hear what’s going on. Kross, get your ass in the ring. Now,” he said through clenched teeth.

“I want to know who let him in here.” I wasn’t getting in any ring until I knew. Even then, I wasn’t sure I would fight.

Trent nodded his head at the ring.

I glanced over my shoulder. “Reggie did?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Reggie was friends with Kade’s enemy, Greg Sullivan, who reminded me a lot of Trent, dirty and sleazy.

Trent held out his invitation. “No trouble. I’m here to protect my investment.” He flashed Reggie a smile.

I couldn’t tell if what he meant by his investment was Reggie or our deal.

Gail joined us. “Is there a problem?” Her voice was light but firm. “I don’t have all night.”

Jay pinned a glare on me. I knew I was ruining my shot at a boxing career, but I couldn’t ruin his. He had connections in the industry and was well-liked and respected. He’d jumped through hoops to get an audience with Gail. Not only that, if Reggie was in cahoots with Trent, then this fight would be all the more interesting. I knew where to punch to make sure the blow would hurt without knocking him out.

“I’m cool,” I lied.

“What?” Ruby all but shouted.

“Jay and Gail, one minute, please.” I softened my expression the best I could.

“All right, everyone.” Jay corralled the group around us. “Back to your seats.”

I stepped closer to Trent with Kody close by me, ready to intervene. “Where is my daughter?”

He glanced around before he answered. “You stick to the deal.” Then he casually sauntered off to find a seat next to Reggie’s friends.

A primal instinct to beat the man until he couldn’t breathe warred with the need to stick to the plan for Raven’s sake. I briefly shut my eyes before I turned to face Ruby. I thought about having her call Detective Rayburn to tell him Trent was there, but he’d said the cops were keeping an eye on Trent.

She wriggled, trying to get out of Kade’s hold. “Well, what did he say? Does he have Raven?”

“He isn’t going to tell me.” But the smug look he’d given me before striding off led me to believe he was responsible for Raven’s disappearance.

Ruby stopped trying to get away from Kade as I ran into the ring.

I
should have been marveling
at the man I loved, whose ripped abs and bulging biceps were a huge turn-on. Yet I couldn’t concentrate on anything except wondering where in the world my daughter was. She had to be scared out of her mind. I couldn’t believe that Trent had the nerve to show up here. Maybe it was good that he was at the fight. That way, when the fight ended, I could tie him down until he told us the truth. I whipped out Kross’s phone and held it in one of my hands as though it was my lifeline. Detective Rayburn had advised Kross to go through with the fight. I couldn’t have said I disagreed. I was reminded of all those cop shows I’d watched, where the bad guys held someone for ransom, and the cops always recommended that the parents follow the kidnapper’s orders. None of that made me feel any better, though.

Kade and Kody flanked me on each side as I bounced my knee faster than a car moving at a hundred miles per hour.

Kade gently placed his large hand on my knee. “Ruby, I know this is hard. I feel your frustration, pain, and every other emotion that is gripping the fuck out of you. But I promise you, Trent will get what’s coming to him.”

I peered up at Kade. Empathy and sympathy swam in his copper eyes. He’d been through something similar with his girlfriend, and for that, I felt connected to him. I covered my hand over his warm and strong one. He adjusted his so that he was holding mine.

I hoped his girlfriend would be okay with him holding my hand. I needed something to keep me from acting on my motherly instinct to hurt Trent Baker. “Please don’t let go,” I said to Kade.

He squeezed my hand. “I never let go of family.”

I held back a burst of tears. The Maxwells were too real to be true.

Norma massaged my shoulders from behind me. “We all got you,” she said.

I couldn’t keep the tears at bay any longer, especially as Kody covered my other hand with his. As one, then two, then three tears found their way out and down my cheek, I focused on the fight. The noise level was low, at least for me. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears.

“Come on, Kross,” Vickie shouted from behind me. “You can do better than that.”

Reggie was punching Kross in a right, left, right sequence. Kross took a hit, ducked, then took another hit. When Reggie and Kross were locked together, the referee untangled them. Kross danced as he jabbed at Reggie. Reggie bobbed and weaved, taking a punch every now and then. For a boxing match, it seemed boring until Kross glanced at Trent. Then Pandora’s box opened. One side of Kross’s mouth turned upward.

“Rattlesnake,” the crowd chanted.

No. No. No.
He wasn’t supposed to knock out Reggie.

Kross lunged at Reggie, punching him in the jaw, ribs, and stomach. Then in one smooth motion, Kross wielded an uppercut that sent Reggie backward. He fell with a thud.

I tried to jump out of my seat to protest, but as though Kade and Kody knew what Kross was doing, they both held me down.

“He needs to show he’s at least fighting,” Kade whispered with his hand glued to mine.

“Kross knows what he’s doing,” Kody said with surety on my right.

No matter how confident Kross’s brothers were, I couldn’t jump on their train.
Get up. Get up. Get up,
I silently repeated. The referee was counting. I stole a look at Trent. He had his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was riveted on the fighters with that I-own-the-world look. Then I checked on Kross. A death beam shone from his eyes as he focused on Reggie, while the referee counted.

On each count, I swallowed the fear invading my body. When the referee reached six, Reggie stirred. As if in slow motion, he climbed to his feet, shaking his head. The ref scrutinized his eyes. “You okay?”

“Never better,” Reggie snapped as he retreated to his corner where an old man gave him water.

I swung my attention back to Kross as my body deflated in the chair. He raised his gloved hands, his forearms in front of his face as he shifted from one foot to the other, raring to go at Reggie again.

I pinched my eyebrows at him, but he wasn’t looking at me, or he refused to look at me. A rustling noise drew my attention away. I tossed a look over my shoulder. Dillon fidgeted in his seat as he nodded at me with a deadpan expression. On the other hand, Kelton was gnawing on a fingernail, his eyes glued to his brother in the ring. I reached over and touched his knee. I wasn’t exactly sure why I did that. Maybe because he was the only one of the Maxwell brothers that seemed to be feeling what I was feeling, scared and nervous. Kross had mentioned that Raven took to Kelton instantly. Of course, that might have had something to do with Kelton bringing a lizard with him to meet Raven.

His blue eyes regarded me before he gave me a rueful grin. Suddenly, I wanted to hug him and tell him that everything would be okay, that he would be able to give Raven all the lizards he wanted. But I couldn’t tell him that if I wasn’t sure I would ever see her again. Kross believed we would be a family. Kade had a moral code of family, and he was at my side, comforting me. And Kody believed Kross knew what he was doing. Even though Kelton didn’t give me the same vibe that Kody and Kade had, his emotional turmoil, or whatever he was struggling with, was enough to kick me in the ass and remind me that I wasn’t alone. Family surrounded me. Kross, Raven, and I would be together, and for that, I had to roll back my shoulders, stick out my chin, buck up, and show Kross I could be strong.

The bell dinged at the same time the phone in my right hand vibrated. I flipped it over to find Mark Rayburn’s name on the screen. I showed Kade before I excused myself to find a quiet spot near the main entrance.

“Detective Rayburn, Trent is here at the gym.”

“I know. We have a tail on him. Look, tell Kross not to throw the fight. I’ll be there in two minutes.”

“Do you have evidence?”

“Just tell him, Ruby.” The phone went dead.

I darted my gaze at Kross and Reggie, who were jabbing and circling each other while the crowd tittered with chants of “get him, Reggie” or “knock him out, Rattlesnake.” Just as I lifted my foot to take a step, the door to the main entrance opened. A gush of cold air swept in along with Alex, who was holding Raven’s hand.

“Raven!” I screamed as I ran to her, scanning her body for any signs of bruises. Thank God I didn’t see any.

She jumped into my arms. “Mommy.” My heart faltered as her little hands locked around my neck.

I peppered kisses all over her as I held her tightly to me, tears rushing out. I inhaled her baby scent and suddenly, my pulse slowed. No sooner had my heartbeat quieted than it ramped up again when I glanced at the ring. As if in slow motion, Reggie’s fist connected with Kross’s face. Kross fell backward.

Nooo!

The ref began counting.

I whipped my attention to Alex, wanting to unleash all my rage on her, but I just sneered. I didn’t want to scare Raven anymore than she already was.

“She’s not hurt,” Alex said, sounding sorrowful. “I had no choice.” Her long hair was a mess, and her cheeks were flushed as though she’d been running.

“Everyone has a choice.” I had to get Raven away from her.

I was about to check on Kross when Trent stalked toward us. He had a scowl on his face as he fixated on Alex. He couldn’t leave. Detective Rayburn had said he would be here. I wanted to stop Trent, but I had Raven in my arms. Well, I wanted to do more than stop him. Trent deserved to feel physical pain.

He pushed Alex out of the way. “Nothing but trash,” he said to her. “Now you’ll never know what happened to your sister.”

The ref was still counting.

I started for the door when it burst open. Detective Rayburn stormed in with men in blue. Trent backpedaled, looking for another way out.

Detective Rayburn pointed at Alex. “Cuff her.” A buff cop grabbed Alex’s arm as her eyes pooled with tears.

The noise level died.

Detective Rayburn and two cops surrounded Trent. “Trent Baker, you’re under arrest for the kidnapping of Raven Lewis.”

The audience gasped.

With Raven in my arms, I rushed to see Kross. When my gaze landed on the ring, the referee was holding up Reggie’s arm, while Liam was waving something under Kross’s nose. Kross stirred, and Liam helped him to his feet. He blinked several times before zeroing in on Detective Rayburn.

Kross visibly slouched when his eyes landed on Raven and me.

“Take him,” Detective Rayburn said to the two cops, his voice booming in the quiet gym.

The cops cuffed Trent.

“I still got my money,” Trent said with an air of arrogance. “Thank you.” His gaze landed on Kross then me.

Suddenly, the joy I had dulled. The asshole still got what he wanted.
Yeah, but the money won’t go far in jail.

Detective Rayburn walked up to me. “Is she okay?”

Raven lifted her head from my shoulder and smiled.

He smiled back at Raven. “I guess so. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“I want to talk to Alex,” I said. I had to find out why she’d kidnapped my daughter.

“As soon as I’m done with her.” Detective Rayburn strode off.

Then as if nothing had happened, the referee said, “The winner is Reggie Stockman.”

My heart plummeted. Kross’s career was probably ruined. But at the same time, my heart soared. Raven was safe and in my arms. Suddenly, my legs trembled. I found my seat next to Kade, Kody, and the rest of my new family. Immediately, Raven waved at Kelton. Then in a flash, she was on his lap. For the first time in a very long time, I laughed.

D
izziness consumed
me as I stood in the ring, staring at Ruby and Raven—the best fucking picture of my life. How Raven had gotten there? No clue, although I suspected Alex. With the bright lights of the ring, I could barely see past the chairs to the main entrance.

So Trent believed he had won. Maybe he’d gotten his money, but I got my family.

Blood comes first.

The crowd was thinning out and heading for the exit. Gail was immersed in her phone. The ref was talking to Reggie, while Liam was trying to guide me to the stool in the corner.

“I’m cool,” I said to the kid. Although when I set my eyes on Jay, cool went out the window.

A look of disappointment slashed his features, causing pain to constrict my chest. The last thing I’d wanted was to ruin my relationship with him. I wanted more than anything to run to Ruby and Raven, hold them, kiss them, and tell them how much I loved them. But Ruby and Raven were surrounded my brothers, Norma, and Dillon. Considering they were safe, I needed to apologize to Jay. I prayed he would understand. Then again, I actually didn’t throw the fight like Trent thought I had. I’d been buying my time, hoping Detective Rayburn would come through. If he hadn’t, then I would have thrown it. But when Ruby had screamed Raven’s name as if someone was committing bloody murder, I took my eyes off my opponent for a split second, giving him the upper hand, and he’d taken it. I didn’t blame him. I would’ve done the same if the roles had been reversed.

I made way over to Jay, replaying the conversation we’d had before Thanksgiving in which he’d reprimanded me.
“I know every underground fighting circuit in this city. If I catch you or get wind that you’re at one again, we’re through. You can find another coach.”
Granted, I hadn’t been at an underground fight since then, but the fact that I’d been dealing with someone like Trent Baker was the same in my book.

“I’m sorry for everything. I’ll clean out my locker.” It was futile to grovel. When Jay gave anyone a warning, he always stuck to his guns.

Jay diverted his gaze to Gail, who was watching us. She nodded at Jay or me. I couldn’t tell which. I also couldn’t decipher what was going through her head.

“Get your ass in my office,” Jay said in a brusque tone.

“But—”

“Kross, I don’t have any patience with you.” He pinched the bridge of his hooknose.

I held up my hands. “I’m going.”

“Oh, and don’t stop to talk to anyone,” he said. “Liam, make sure Kross goes straight to my office. Also, if you cover for him again, you will not have a shot at boxing for me.”

Liam’s brown eyes went wide. “Yes, sir.”

Liam and I hopped out of the ring on the backside. Jay’s office was behind the bleachers, completely opposite from where Ruby and Raven were.

On our way, Penelope swaggered toward us with a huge smile plastered on her face.

Liam swatted my arm. “You’re not supposed to talk to anyone.”

I didn’t want to be rude to her. I also didn’t want to jeopardize Liam’s chances with Jay.

Penelope settled in front of us, losing her smile. “I’m sorry about your daughter. I’m also sorry about that night in the gym. I don’t usually do coke, and with the two drinks I had, the combination did a number on me.”

“Come on, man,” Liam said rather nervously.

“No need to apologize,” I said. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”

Her red lips split into a smile. “Always the gentleman, worrying about everyone. Anyway, my dad will be pleased to hear that Trent Baker got arrested.”

“I’m sure he will. Look, I’ve got to run. I’ll see you next week for training, right?” I wasn’t so sure I would be training her anymore, especially if Jay fired my ass.

“Sure,” she said then made her way to the exit.

Once in Jay’s meticulous office, Liam whipped out a towel from his back pocket then threw it at me. “You have blood on your lip.”

I had blood on my eyebrow, and pain seared my jaw. I didn’t mind. In fact, adrenaline had helped me grow accustomed to the pain. Still, over-the-counter pain meds were essential after a fight. “You didn’t have to cover for me with Jay before the fight.” I dried the sweat and blood from my face.

He folded his young body into a metal chair. “I wanted to. So I overheard your brothers telling Dillon that you were going to throw the fight. Why?”

“Actually, I didn’t. I’d planned on it, but I got distracted before I could follow through. In any case, to answer your question, family was the reason.”

He swiped a hand over his brown hair. “That’s your little girl out there. She looks just like you.”

All I could do was smile. “She looks more like my mom than me.”

“She’s going to be a knockout. I pity her boyfriends when she gets older.”

I did too, but I didn’t want to think that far ahead. I could only think as far as the paternity test at the moment. Even that thought sizzled out when the door flung open. Jay, Gail, and Detective Rayburn ambled in.

I should have said that Jay stomped in. “Liam, out.”

Liam scurried out as if someone was chasing him.

When the door closed with a thud, I set my gaze on Gail. She had her hands in her coatdress pockets, her expression unreadable.

“I was distracted, and it cost me the fight,” I said. There was no sense in delaying the inevitable. “However, I really appreciate the opportunity you gave me. I’m sorry that I disappointed you.”

“Detective Rayburn”—she pointed a red nail at him—“filled us in on why you were distracted.”

“Jay, I’ve been a member here a long time,” Detective Rayburn said. “You know I wouldn’t screw you on anything. As I said on the way here, Kross wanted to cancel the fight, but we had a little girl’s life at stake. He was operating on my orders.”

“I’m more pissed that you couldn’t share any of this with me.” Jay glared at me. “You’re practically my son for God’s sake.” Hurt flared in his dark eyes.

“I’m sorry.” I berated myself for being a schmuck. I should’ve come clean with Jay from the very beginning when I’d found out about Ruby and Raven. He was right. He reminded me a lot of my old man. He’d given me advice, not only on boxing and the industry, but on how to be patient in and out of the ring. Boy, had I struck out with Ruby early on when it came to that bit of advice. “I couldn’t risk you canceling the fight.”

“Okay,” Gail interjected. “Most of what I saw in that ring from you, Kross, I didn’t like. I want to sign someone who will give me one hundred and twenty percent. I front a ton of money to back a fight. I can’t sign someone who will throw my money away.”

Jay sat down in his chair behind his desk as though he wasn’t ready to hear the rest of Gail’s speech. Detective Rayburn leaned against the arm of the couch. As for me, I stood facing Gail, ready to take the hit.

She scrutinized me as she angled her head. “With that said, I also didn’t like that Reggie was easily persuaded to jump into Mr. Baker’s corner. Your reasons as to why you did what you did far outweigh the reasons for Reggie aligning with a criminal. I empathize with you, Kross. I have children of my own. If anyone ever kidnapped them, I probably would’ve done the same as you.”

I held my breath.

“I did like how skillful you were in knocking Reggie out. I don’t see footwork like yours, and I certainly haven’t seen the hunger you displayed earlier in quite sometime. Don’t get me wrong. Reggie has a better record than you, but his cocksure attitude is not what I’m looking for. On the other hand, you take responsibility for your actions. You’ve apologized to Jay and me. That says a lot about you as a person. I also want to work with someone who has a quiet intensity about him. Therefore, I would like to sign you to a five-year contract.”

I grabbed onto to the back of my head and recited a quick prayer. Then I blew out a breath. “Thank you.”

“I’ll have the contract sent over early next week,” Gail said to Coach.

He nodded. Me, I couldn’t move.

Gail extended her hand. “Welcome aboard.”

I would have hugged her, but I was sweaty, so I shook her hand.

“We’ll be in touch.” Then she walked out.

I hung my head as the knot in my stomach loosened. To say I was elated would be an understatement. I wanted to run out and find Ruby and tell her the good news. Hell, I wanted to tell everyone, including my dad. I could now comfortably support my family, and that alone would make my dad proud.

Detective Rayburn clapped a hand on my back. “I’m sure you have questions about Baker’s arrest and what we found. I’ll be out there with your family when you’re ready.” He eyed Coach. “Sorry about the fight. I thought I could get to Kross before anything happened.”

“By the way, I didn’t throw it,” I said. “Ruby screamed. Then I went down.”

“I think we were all distracted when we heard her,” Jay added.

“See you out there,” Detective Rayburn said as he left.

“Jay,” I started. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“I get it, Kross. I’m hurt you didn’t confide in me. If we’re going to work together, we have to have open communication. For fuck’s sake, I have a daughter. I would’ve understood.” He plastered on a smile. “You look like shit. Shower before you see your girls.”

I flew out of his office and into the locker room. All I could think about while I showered were my girls. Ruby and Raven were mine. I kept repeating that while the hot water beat down on my tight muscles. I had a family—two beautiful girls that I couldn’t wait to start a life with. But first, I had to get through lawyers, a paternity test, and a judge. Regardless of all that, I dressed then strutted out into the gym with a huge fucking grin on my face.

Alex sat in a chair next to the ring with her hands cuffed behind her back. Detective Rayburn leaned against the ropes across from her, texting on his phone, and Ruby was walking out of the daycare room. When she saw me, she ran and hopped into my arms like an expert Olympic jumper.

Before I could say anything, her tongue was in my mouth. I couldn’t help but return the kiss until Detective Rayburn cleared his throat. She slid down my body, her breasts brushing against me, sending jolts of pleasure to my groin. My dick had a mind of its own.
Not now,
I shouted in my head.

“Is Raven inside the daycare room?” I asked.

“Your brothers, Norma, and Dillon are playing LEGOs with her,” Ruby said.

“I need to get Alex down to the precinct,” Detective Rayburn said. “Let’s make this quick.”

Alex’s face was pale, and red colored the whites of her dark eyes.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I only have one question. Why? Why would you get involved with kidnapping? Dillon told me that you were looking for answers on who killed your sister. Did taking my daughter get you those answers?” My voice was even.

Tears slid down Alex’s cheeks. “Trent promised me if I did this one last task, he would give me the answers I’d been searching for on the death of my sister. I’m sorry. I’m not asking you to forgive me. What I did was awful and low and so out of my league. I’d always prided myself on helping people. That’s why I helped Ruby and Norma. I couldn’t bear to see them living on the streets like my sister. It was just a matter of time before they ended up like her.” She glanced at Ruby. “I tried to keep you both shielded from Trent. If only you’d stuck to waitressing and not fighting.”

Red spots colored Ruby’s neck. “Are you saying it’s my fault?”

Alex shook her head. “God, no. Look, I’m not a bad person. When I heard your message, something in me snapped. I realized that the mission to find who killed my sister wasn’t worth hurting others in the process.”

Ruby narrowed her eyes at Alex. “I appreciate you giving Norma and me a place to stay. From the first time I met you, I knew you were a kind person. I get your need for closure with your sister, but you put a little girl’s life in jeopardy. You frightened my little girl. She might have nightmares over all this.”

I draped an arm over Ruby. Granted, Raven wasn’t physically harmed, but Ruby had a point. Raven’s emotional stability could have been compromised. Regardless of her motives, Alex needed to pay for what she’d done.

I turned to Detective Rayburn. Lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. “Can you shed some light on what evidence you had to arrest Trent?”

Ruby planted a hand on my stomach.

“We were about to serve a warrant to Trent when I got a call from Pete, the bartender at Firefly.”

Ruby and I exchanged what-the-hell looks.

“Apparently, after you left Firefly, Trent showed up. Tommy confronted Trent about the kidnapping. Then they got into a heated argument. Trent said no homeless woman was going to screw him out of money, and that she would get her kid when he got his money. So Pete called his cop buddy, Roy, and filled him in. Now I have Pete and Alex to testify in court against Trent.”

I barked out a laugh. “You are talking about that bruiser, Pete?”

“Yeah, dude. The same guy that beat your ass that night at Firefly.” Rayburn smirked. “Roy told me what happened.”

“Oh my God. I punched Pete in the throat.” Ruby’s voice was strangled. “I need to apologize.”

We both did. Then I needed to thank him.

Rayburn walked over to Alex and gripped her arm. “Let’s go.”

She rose, trepidation written all over her ghostly face. “Again, I am truly sorry.”

I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her actions. Ruby clung to me, not saying a word.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Rayburn said. “I got a call before you came out from the locker room. A Ms. Waters is on her way here to pick up Raven. Before you go ballistic, Raven is legally a ward of the state until you get your court case worked out.”

No sooner had he said her name than Ms. Waters clicked her heels against the floor, the sound grating on me. Ruby’s heartbeat ramped up, pounding against my side. Or maybe it was my own. I didn’t want Raven to be taken away again.

“We’ll be in touch,” Rayburn said as he ushered Alex out of the building.

It was time for the next battle. Ruby and I met Ms. Waters near the daycare room. Her face was clear of makeup. Her smile was as tight as the bun twisted on top of her head.