Maya Banks - Theirs to Keep

She was a fixture at the gym and at the training sessions. They often had dinner together after training. She even rode in the back of the truck when Merrick went for his runs and his trainer timed him.

Staring in awe as the crowd roared, she scanned the flashing lights, the people thrusting their fists in the air, and then her gaze returned to the ring just in time to see Merrick execute a rear naked choke hold.

It was a submission move.

She strained upward, holding her breath as she watched Merrick lock it in. The wait seemed interminable. Adrenaline bolted through her body like a shock, and she found herself yelling until she was hoarse.

And then finally, Merrick’s opponent tapped three times. The referee stepped in, waving his arms, and then he pushed in to separate the two fighters.

Merrick rose, arms held up, and then Cade was running into the ring to hoist him up. Charlie surged forward, climbing the steps to the ring. Dallas let her slide down his back, and then he threw his arms around her, hugging her until she couldn’t breathe.

“He did it!” Dallas yelled. “He did it!”

He started for the ring as Charlie had, but then he hesitated, looking back at Elle as if he remembered he was supposed to watch out for her.

“Go,” Elle mouthed.

Dallas shook his head.

“Go,” she said again, loudly this time. “I’ll be right here. There’s nowhere to go. Merrick will want you there. You should be there.”

Dallas grimaced. “He wants you there too.”

“And I will be,” she said. “Afterward. Go and be there for him. He’ll want to share this moment with you.”

Dallas put his hands out. “Don’t move from this spot. I’ll be back for you.”

She shooed him away, and he bolted for the ring, joining in the mad celebration. She stood back, watching as the men she’d grown so close to whooped and yelled. In that moment, she felt incredibly alone and isolated. She wished she could be right up there with the others. But she had no idea of the possible evil lurking out there, and she couldn’t take such a risk.

Two burly men stepped up beside her, boxing her in on both sides. One leaned in so she could hear.

“You’re to come with us, ma’am. Mr. Sullivan wants you back in the dressing room to wait for him there.”

Panic screeched through her veins. Dallas had told her to stay put. He hadn’t said anything about someone else escorting her away.

She shook her head, trying not to freak out on the spot. She shrank back until her legs hit the chair she’d been sitting in.

Instead of pressing the issue, the two men simply stood there, hovering protectively as more of the crowd surged forward chanting Merrick’s name.

In the ring, the announcer was making the official declaration of Merrick’s victory. He held Merrick’s arm up, and the crowd erupted once more.

And then Merrick looked directly at her. He smiled. It lit up the entire arena. He pointed at her and then balled his fist doing a pump in the air.

She grinned back and blew him a kiss.

Dallas squeezed in and cupped her elbow. “They’re okay, Elle,” he said, dipping his head toward the two men standing guard over her. “Merrick sent them to escort you back before things get too crazy. I’ll go with you.”

Relieved that Dallas was here, she allowed the two men to escort her and Dallas back to the dressing room. When they burst in, it was already chaotic with celebration, and Merrick hadn’t even made it back yet.

Champagne bottles were being opened, and a glass was shoved into her hand. Just a few moments later, Merrick burst into the locker room flanked by Cade and Charlie. His trainer came in close behind him, and the other members of his team, as well as several other fighters who’d come to support Merrick, crowded around, fists in the air as they shouted their congratulations to Merrick.

It was hard for her not to go to him. But she was supposed to be here with Dallas. His girl.

Their gazes connected through the crowd. Both Cade and Merrick sought her out, their stares probing, the question clear in their eyes.

“I’m fine,” she mouthed. “You did awesome,” she said to Merrick.

He winked at her and then turned his attention to his well-wishers.

Elle retreated to a far corner so she could observe the festivities at a distance. It was on the edge of her mind to think how different her life was now, but how could she know that when she had no idea what her life had been before?

She’d been swept into a different world. But this wasn’t her life. It was Cade and Merrick’s life. And she had no idea how or if she fit into it.

“HEY, YOU GOING TO THE after party?” Dakota asked Merrick.

Merrick hesitated and then glanced across the room to where Elle was curled in a chair in the corner sound asleep.

“I don’t think so, man. I’m tired. I could use a little peace and quiet right now.”

Dakota followed Merrick’s gaze to Elle. “Your fans are going to want to see you. This is an important lead-up to the championship fight. Did you see that Lash was at the fight? Second row. He left in a hurry after you submitted Carew.”

Merrick shook his head. “I didn’t see.” And he didn’t care. Lash was the champion, and Merrick wanted the belt. It didn’t matter who it was. It wasn’t personal.

“I think it’s a good idea for you to at least make an appearance,” Dakota persisted.

Merrick sighed and glanced over at Cade. In the past, he and Cade and Dallas would have gone to the after party and partied hard through the night. Now all he wanted to do was go back to his hotel room so he could spend some quiet time with Elle and find out what the hell she’d thought about all this.

“I’ll send a car with two bodyguards with Elle back to the hotel,” Dakota said, his tone persuasive. “They’ll stand outside her room. No one will get near her. When you’re done, you can head back. Spend an hour. I’ll make sure no one bothers you after that.”

Cade, who’d been listening in, looked torn as well. He glanced at Elle and then back at Merrick. Then finally he put his hand on Merrick’s shoulder.

“This is your night, man. It’s your call. I’ll go with you to the party if you want to go. Dakota’s probably right. It’s probably a good idea for you to show up, at least for a little while. You had a ton of people come out for you tonight.”

Dallas pushed in next to Cade. “You guys want me to go back to the hotel with Elle?”

“No,” Merrick clipped out.

He trusted Dallas implicitly, but even the charade of Dallas being with Elle grated on him. He didn’t want to see them leave together even if he knew the entire thing was a fabrication meant to make sure Elle wasn’t thrust into the spotlight. It was utterly ridiculous, but jealousy was eating at him at the mere appearance that Elle was with another man.

He turned to his trainer, his lips tight. “You make damn sure she gets to the hotel safely and that the bodyguards don’t leave her side until she’s inside. I’ll relieve them when I get back to the hotel. I’m holding you personally responsible for her safety.”

Dakota nodded. “Get showered and changed, and I’ll arrange transportation to the bar we’ve rented out for the night. While you’re doing that, I’ll have Catherine take care of Elle.”

It took everything Merrick had to walk away from her and not go to her, leaving her sleeping in the chair. Goddamn but he hated this.

He shook his head and jabbed his finger at Dakota. “You take care of it personally. Catherine’s a wonderful woman, but I’d rather you see to Elle’s protection.”

“Whatever you want, Merrick. Now go. I’ll take care of things.”

Elle was gently shaken awake by Catherine, Dakota’s wife. Dakota was in his forties, and Catherine was likely in her late thirties, but she didn’t look a day over twenty-five. And it wasn’t because of artificial means. The woman was just beautiful and vibrant, and she had a smile that could light up an entire city block.

She was smart too. She was often involved in the business aspect of Merrick’s career. Elle knew from just the short time she’d been associated with the guys that Dakota depended on Catherine a lot for advice and her opinions. She had the respect of all the men around her, and Elle admired her for that.

“Hey, you feeling okay?” Catherine asked.

Elle nodded and sat up quickly, embarrassed that she’d fallen asleep during Merrick’s locker room celebration. A quick glance around told her that things were dying down and people were starting to clear out of the dressing room.

“This is what’s going down for the night,” Catherine said. “There’s an after party. It’s completely normal. Tradition, one might even say, for the winner to host a party for fans. It’s important for Merrick to be there and have a presence. The organization is looking hard at him right now. They know he’s a contender for the belt and he’s likely going to get that offer soon. Public support is always a good thing to have on your side.”

Elle held her hand up to stop the flow of words. “Catherine, I understand. Of course he should go. This is an important night for him. I just wish…”

Catherine’s face wrinkled in sympathy. “What do you wish?”

“That I could be there too,” Elle said wistfully.

Catherine put her hand over Elle’s. “I know you do. I can only imagine.”

Catherine and Dakota both knew of Elle’s situation. Merrick could hardly keep it a secret from them since he needed their cooperation in keeping Elle out of the public eye. Most of Merrick’s camp knew. And Dakota and Catherine had both been wonderful to her.

But what they didn’t or couldn’t know was the extent of her relationship with either Cade or Merrick. How could they when even Elle didn’t know?

As far as they were concerned, Elle was a woman in trouble, and Cade and Merrick were lending her a helping hand and support until she got her memory back.

Elle knew in her gut that she wanted more. But damn if she could even put a finger on exactly what she wanted from the two men. Or maybe she knew, and she was too afraid to admit it even to herself.

“Dakota has a car to take you back to the hotel. If you don’t mind, I’m going to catch a ride back with you,” Catherine said. “I’m beat, and as thrilled as I am for Merrick, I don’t have it in me to pull a late nighter tonight.”