Ruined: Loving An Alpha Male(47)

“So why would you want me to decline the fight?”

I watched her eyes, as she battled with what to say. Finally, after a minute, she sighed.

“Look, Mace, I know you are a good fighter. Okay? I’m not going to knock your abilities.”

I knew where she was going, and I was starting to get pissed off even more.

“Allura, I need you to stop talking right now.”

I walked closer to her where she had to look up in my eyes.

I ignored every urge I had to kiss her and said, “Understand something; I don’t give a fuck about Travis or the fact that he’s been fighting MMA style longer than me. He’s a low-life son-of-a-bitch who isn’t worth a pot to fucking piss in. All his experience in the world will not help him once he steps foot in that cage. That fucker needs his head bashed in, and I’m going to be the one to oblige.”

She stepped back from me when I said that, but I continued, “You think I haven’t paid any attention to how he is? The way he looks at you? How you react every time he steps foot in the same room as you? You’re afraid of him, Allura. I don’t know why, but that is fucking unacceptable. I didn’t like the way he grabbed you at the bar the day we met or a couple of weeks ago before my fight. So we either have this out on Saturday in the cage or we’ll have it out somewhere else. Either way, he and I will talk. He’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. So I’m going to do what I do best and diffuse him before he does something stupid and makes matters worse for him. Now if you’ll excuse me, darling, I need a fucking shower.”

I started removing the tape off my hands and walked away from her. I knew she was only trying to help, but I hate being underestimated. I mentioned that I could be cocky and arrogant, but I’m not stupid. I know my body, and I know my limitations. I reached that limit the day I saw Travis grip Max. I know men like Travis. They think they are God’s gift to the world; most of all to women.

I wanted to tell her to stay away from him. I didn’t trust him, and I knew men like that were unpredictable. But I’ve handled shit like that. I don’t believe that Max has. I should have warned her. After I showered, I went looking for her, but she had already left for the night. If Travis did do something, or if she was in trouble, I would hope she would call me. I texted her and asked her to tell me if for any reason Travis threatens her or makes her feel uncomfortable. She didn’t respond, but I knew she got the message. Honestly, I don’t think Travis would be stupid enough to do anything to Max. I mean the guy would be out of his mind, right?

Thursday or Friday I didn’t see Maxine at the gym. I had stopped by her job, but she wasn’t there either. Michelle told me she was studying for an upcoming test. But as she talked to me, I had this feeling something wasn’t right. I’ve always trusted my gut, and it told me to go to her place and check on her myself. I went by her apartment late that night, but she didn’t answer the door. I texted her and called her, but she didn’t call or text me back.

That’s when I knew something happened. I ended up calling every hospital in the area to check and make sure she wasn’t there. I even had Alex call a buddy of his from the police force to see if they had any domestic or assault calls pertaining to Allura or Maxine or even Travis. On Friday, I cornered Michelle and Teresa in a back room of the bar and drilled them with questions, but they gave me some lame ass excuse. I told them I wasn’t buying it. I told them that if Maxine didn’t call me or talk to me in the next hour or so, there would be some shit. Well, I also may have punched a hole in Lou’s wall for emphasis. But they got the message. In fact, my phone rang within an hour.

I had taken a breath before I answered. But clearly that breath did nothing, because I roared in the phone, “Where the hell are you?”

“Mason, calm down. Okay?”

She tried to sound strong, but I could hear something was wrong.

“Then talk to me, Maxine. I’ve been calling you for the past two days. You haven’t been home or at work or answering my calls.”

“I’m over Mimi’s parents’ house. Okay? Her dad is a doctor, and he’s helping me with the huge exam I have next week. That’s all. I’m sorry I didn’t return your calls and texts. I’ve had my nose in the books, and I’ve been also shadowing him in the hospitals.”

The shit sounded plausible, but there was still something wrong.

I said, not caring how it sounded, “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you? Tell me the truth, Maxine.”

“No, Mace. I’m not lying to you. Okay?”