I squeeze Anna in my arms. “This is great news. Now you can be in my corner every match and get paid for it.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Really? That’s a dream job.”
I sigh. “It is, until they want you to do something physical. That’s where I’m going to draw the line, beautiful. I won’t have you getting hurt on my watch. If they ask you to do that, I want you to quit.”
She nods. “Okay, but I’ll still be able to come with you backstage, right?”
“Of course, but you won’t be able to go ringside any longer.”
“Seems fair.”
I can’t believe, for the first time in my life, things are actually working out in my favor. I have a career I love, and the woman I adore at my side. Life can’t get any fucking sweeter.
Anna and I walk into the hotel holding hands. I like that we are always touching. It’s nice to feel so connected to her.
A small crowd of about ten people loiter in the lobby. No matter where we go, fans are tipped off as to where we’re staying, Not that I’m complaining. Fans coming to shows and buying shirts with my face on them go toward my paycheck, so I have no problem giving them a few minutes of my day.
The crowd swarms us instantly, and I begin posing for pictures and signing autographs. Anna steps back and allows the fans to have their moment with me. A small boy around the age of ten sits in a wheelchair, wearing a baseball cap with my stage name across it.
I kneel down beside him and take the poster and marker he’s holding. “What’s your name, little man?”
“Xavier!” he giggles. “Just like you.”
The short, curvy brunette wearing glasses nudges his arm. “It is not, Johnny.” Her eyes flick to mine. “Sorry. You’re his hero, and he always wants to be just like you.”
I smile and wink at the kid. “Johnny’s a pretty awesome name too.”
“You think so?” Johnny’s eyes gleam with excited.
“I do. Here you go.” I hand him back his things with my autograph.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Cold. This will mean so much to him. Ever since his mother died, he’s really locked himself into a shell. The only time he’s happy is when he’s watching you on TV,” the woman with him tells me.
My lips pull into a tight line. I wish I had some encouraging words to tell the kid, like the pain gets easier with time, but then I’d be a fucking liar and I don’t want to do that. So I give a very generic response.
“Happy to help.” I wave to the rest of the crowd. “I have to get going. Nice to meet you all.”
Panic sets in when I don’t spot Anna right away. My eyes scan the lobby for her, and I quickly spot her talking to an older Latino man in the corner of the room.
I flex my fingers as I stalk toward them. I don’t allow anyone to bother Anna.
She doesn’t see me when I step up behind her, but the man glowers over her shoulder at me. Pops better pipe down and wipe that expression off his face, before I do it for him.
“Is he why you ran away from home?” The man’s lip curls up. “This is so unlike you, Anna.”
Oh shit. This is her father—the father who she says hates her.
My entire body stiffens. Father or not, I won’t allow him to lay a finger on her again.
Anna glances back at me then returns her gaze to her father. “You don’t know anything about me, or what I want.”
“You’re my daughter, I know what’s best for you.” He grabs her elbow. “Jorge said he’ll take you back. When we get back you can fix things between the two of you.”
Without thinking, I shove his hand off her.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” I growl. “I saw what you did when you laid your hands on her last time. You will not put another goddamn bruise on her again.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “I don’t like your tone, or what you’re implying. I’ll have you know I’m a Christian man. I only inflict physical punishment when necessary. It’s my right as her father.”
My nostrils flair, and my blood boils beneath my skin. “That’s fucking bullshit. Going to church does not justify beating another person. You’ll never get another chance to touch Anna, I fucking promise you that.”
Her father has the same look in his eye that most men do when I threaten them.
Fear.
I lift my chin and stare down at him, letting him know he’s not taking her anywhere.
Her father shakes his head and points at me. “This? You left your entire family for him? This tattooed punk.”
His words don’t bother me. I’ve been called far worse in my life.
“Don’t talk about him like that,” Anna fires back.
“The man’s a low-life. He will do nothing but destroy your life.” He grabs her arm again and rage fills me.
Before I can shove him off her again, Anna yanks her arm away. “I love him, and I’m not leaving with you.”
My breath catches at the same time as her father drops his mouth in shock.
She loves me? How is that fucking possible? The only person I ever loved in my life—the person I would have done anything for—used my love against me.
I can’t go through that again.
I won’t go through that again.
It’s wrong for her to love me. I don’t deserve it. She doesn’t deserve what loving someone like me will do to her.
Her father’s right. I will destroy her.