The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 304

Finally, I relented, and we slipped inside through a side entrance. The warehouse was packed with people, all of them crowded around a makeshift ring in the center. Two fighters were going at it, not that I could really see anything other than the occasional arm flying. The sounds of grunting and cheering and fists hitting skin filled the air.

My heart was pounding. This was illegal. Dangerous. Completely reckless.

Right away, I loved it.

“Want to place a bet?” Zane asked, shouting over the noise.

“I don’t have any money on me.”

He pulled out a wad of cash and handed me half. “Consider it a loan.”

I stared at the bills in my hand, then stood on my tiptoes to look at the fighters in the ring. One of them was huge and covered in tattoos. The other was smaller but faster, and he had a nasty-looking scar across his cheek.

“Twenty on the small guy,” I said.

Zane raised his eyebrows. “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

We placed our bets and watched. The fight was brutal, blood spraying everywhere. But the small guy was good. Really good. He waited for the big guy to tire himself out, then went in for the kill.

In the end, he won.

Zane whooped and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the payout table. We collected our winnings and left before anyone could ask questions.

“See?” Zane said as we walked back to his car. “Told you it would be fun.”

I laughed, and the sound took even me my surprise. “Okay, fine. That was actually pretty great.”

“Want to keep going?”

“Where?”

He pointed down the street. “There’s a carnival a few blocks away. We could hit that up.” He waved his cash in my face. “Spend all this dough we just made.”

The carnival was smaller than I expected, just a few rides and game booths set up in a parking lot. But it was bright and loud and exactly what I needed.

Zane dragged me to a ring toss game and proceeded to win three times in a row, earning a giant stuffed bear that he handed to me with a mock bow.

“For you, my lady.” He made the teddy bear kiss my cheek.

We kept wandering through the carnival, playing games and eating overpriced fried food. At some point, Zane bought us both hot chocolate, and we sat on a bench near the ferris wheel.

“So,” he said, blowing on his cup. “You want to talk about why you texted me tonight?”

I sipped my hot chocolate. It was too sweet, but tasty nonetheless. “Mia blocked my number.”

“Shit. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. Me too.” I stared at the ferris wheel, watching it spin. “I just wish she’d let me explain. And I don’t wanna do it over text.”

“She’ll come around.”

“I hope so,” I muttered.

“Haha! Callum, you’re so funny!”

Zane and I both looked up at the sound of the familiar voice, and my stomach sank. Callum and Bianca were walking by. Bianca was holding the same bear I was, and Callum had his arm around her waist.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I whispered under my breath.