Lennox Hogan knew his brother was in deep shit. Had for months, but the stubborn son of a bitch wouldn’t budge on anything. When he’d started bringing Hayes around, Nox thought, for sure, she could have been a part of it. But after meeting the girl, it was easy to see she wasn’t and that his brother was struggling with some dark demons.

Pulling up to a run-down warehouse, pounding music coming from inside, and dozens of cars scattering, he knew nothing he found out tonight was going to be good. Heading through a side door, he followed Hayes’ instructions to where they were.

What he saw in the middle of the building shocked him. Surely, his little brother wasn’t fighting? And yet, it made sense. The bruises and cuts. Constantly being beaten up. All the secrecy the past few months. His darker demeanor. This was what Levi had been hiding from the family.

Pounding on the door he figured had to be the one she described, a young guy built like a linebacker opened it. Hayes’ back was to him as he entered, and it wasn’t until he saw Levi’s grip on the back of her shirt and his head buried in her chest that he fully understood what was going on.

“What happened?” He couldn’t help the snarl.

Hayes had tears in her eyes as she told him. “Casper, his agent or whatever, he set him up.” Her breath caught on the last word.

“Set him up, how?”

“Levi told him he was done. He would finish the last three fights he was committed to, and that was it. He was supposed to fight Tiny!” Her agony, hurt, and worry had his temper rising. “He brought this new fighter by the gym on Wednesday. Rocko. He’s huge, Lennox. Levi never should have fought him.”

“Fuck.” He ran a hand down his face frustrated as fuck and ready to pound the hell out of this Casper guy. “So, what happened to this Tiny guy?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. Rocko was announced, and he beat the hell out of Levi.”

“Did not.” Relief swamped him as Levi slowly turned his head.

“He did,” Hayes insisted.

“Nox?”

“Got something to say?” He was pissed. And concerned. But mostly pissed.

“How the fuck did you get here?” Levi’s words were slurred, and Nox knew he had a concussion at the very least.

“How about we worry about getting you to the hospital.” He walked over and took hold of his brother while the linebacker from the door helped from his other side.

“Hayes?” Levi’s voice was weak.

“I’m here.” She walked into his brother’s view.

“You call him?” She nodded. Fear of his brother’s anger was clear in her eyes and fidgeting hands. “Thanks.” She took a relieved breath as they helped Levi out to his car and headed to the hospital.

* * *

Anxiety. Dread. Sorrow. Those emotions all floated through Hayes like a lazy boat on a river. Levi was suffering, and she couldn’t do a damn thing. Nox had gone with him to the exam room because of the stupid family only policy the hospital had in place, and the damn nurse wouldn’t budge.

Sitting in the waiting room alone after sending Brett and Lys home, she couldn’t seem to quell the images flipping through her mind of Levi laying broken and battered on the bed when they’d rolled him away from her hours ago.

Nox had opted not to tell their youngest brother or their mother yet, wanting to know what was wrong first. She had to respect that; it was his family after all. Didn’t make sitting on her hands any easier.

All she could think about was the pain of losing Ryder and how she wouldn’t survive if Levi didn’t come out of this. A lot of people dismiss concussions as nothing serious, but she knew better than most that they could be deadly if not diagnosed and treated properly.

It was the what-ifs that were playing with her mind. Not being by his side didn’t help any at all.

Dawn broke the sky by the time Nox finally appeared with a glum look on his face. Terror paralyzed her as she was about to stand. Tears pooled in her eyes as he sat next to her. She couldn’t bring herself to say a word. Instead, waiting for him to speak.

“Mild concussion. Two bruised ribs. Severe bruising to his torso and hands.” Nox’s words were solemn as he listed his brother’s injuries. “I’m trying to convince Levi to press charges against Casper for breach of contract and anything else that can be done. He’s refusing. I need you to convince him.”

“Won’t he get in trouble, too? Because it’s an underground ring?” She wouldn’t push it if it meant he got charged as well.

“Yes and no. From what Levi has told me, the warehouse is permitted for the fighting, and contracts were signed. Since he never technically bet money on anyone and he hasn’t received any of those profits, I’m not sure anything would happen to him.”

“Is he mad at me?” Her words were barely above a whisper.

Nox looked at her like she was insane. “Why would he be mad at you?”

“I called you.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side as he spoke. “He’s pissed at himself for worrying you. That’s all.”

Nodding her head, she asked him, “Can I go see him now?”

“Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her to Levi’s room. “I’m going home to sleep. I’ll call Ma and Loch later, once he’s rested a bit. Make sure you call your folks as well.” He left before she could say a word.

Looking down to her hands, Hayes took a deep breath before quietly opening the door. “Get in here,” was slurred as she walked through.

“How’d you know it was me?” she asked softly, though a smile appeared on her face when she saw his eyes were alert. They no longer held that glassy tinge as when he’d left the ring the night before.

“Sugar, I’d know your scent anywhere.” He took a deep breath, cringing as his chest tightened. “Sweet sugar and sunshine.”

Walking over to him, she tried to sit in the chair next to his bed when he pulled her into him. “Levi,” she hissed, fearful he’d hurt himself.

“Up here, sweetheart.” His mumbled words were followed by his arms opening in invitation to her. Doing as he asked, she climbed up beside him, careful not to rattle him. “I’m not made of glass, Hayes.” He grumbled until she was in a position he was happy with.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get to tell your family, Levi.” It was eating at her that she had been the one to spill the beans.

“Sshh. It’ll work out.”

Nothing else was said as he fell asleep, and she followed soon after.

* * *

“Levi Steven Hogan!” Startled awake at his mother’s words and the use of his full name, he cringed when his ribs pulled. “What were you thinking? Fighting! I can’t believe you!”

“Ma. Tone it down, will ya?” Concussion or not, every time the nurses came in to wake him up, they always woke Hayes, too, and each time, she was looking more and more exhausted.

“I will not, boy. Twice my size or not, I’ll still put you over my knee!”

He snorted at her threat.

Loch walked in eyeing him up and down. He knew his baby brother was about to give him shit also. “You could have told me, Lev.” His voice was low, hurt, making Levi feel worse than he had for keeping such a huge secret.

“You guys wouldn’t have understood.”

Loch’s eyes met his, and he had to admit that maybe the younger man would have.

“It’s not about understanding, Levi. It’s about knowing what my children are up to.” His mother wasn’t paying attention to either of them as she continued her tirade.

“I know, Ma.”

She steamed right over him. “You made poor Hayes keep this secret, too, didn’t you?” Oh, she was pissed now.

“No, Ma, I didn’t. Can we do this later?”

A knock on the door came before she could answer him. “Hello.” The sound of Hayes’ father’s voice had him trying to sit up higher in the bed.

“Sir,” he greeted.

“How are you feeling, son?”

“Knocked around.” He had a hard time looking the man in the eyes. Knowing he’d put Hayes in danger by allowing her to go to his fight would be unforgivable for any father. Him included.

“She’s okay?” Eric asked him.

“Yes, sir.”

“You’re done now, right?” her mother, Andrea, asked him.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Putting a duffle bag on the vacant chair, she told him, “I know she’s going to want to stay with you while you recover. I expect you both to be at dinner on Friday night.” Andrea looked towards his mother. “Lorraine, you’re invited as well. Hayes’ graduation is on Sunday, and I think she’d like for you all to be there.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Levi said, looking down at the amazing woman in his arms.

“We’ll all be there, Andrea.” His mother beamed at Hayes’ mom, as proud as any mother about the occasion. “Andrea, Eric, this is my youngest son Lochlan.”

Loch nodded to them. “Sir, ma’am, a pleasure.”

“It’s nice to meet you. You’re welcome to come to dinner as well,” Eric said. “We’ll leave you to rest now, Levi. Have Hayes give us a call tonight to check in if you will.”

“You got it.”

As Hayes’ parents left, he had a new appreciation for her and her family. They were slightly broken, but the love and caring they expressed were as strong as ever. The trust they gave her even knowing he was so much older than she was, and the world he was involved in, amazed him every day.

“I’m glad you’re alright, Levi. I just wish you would have told me what was going on. Why you felt the need to fight.” His mother looked sad as she moved Hayes’ bag and sat.

“I’m sorry, Ma. I had a few demons to slay.” Looking back down at Hayes, he admitted to the new feelings he had been struggling with. “She made me see the light. She was what I was missing.”

A sad look crossed his brother’s face, and he began to worry that Loch was going to lose the innocence he still hung on to without the girl he was chasing in his mind.