Pain. The pain I saw in Cin’s eye was like none I’d ever seen in her. Eviscerating pain.

And it was caused by me.

I’d intended this one-knee stance to be my losing one, but that flash of Cin had me bringing my fist up again.

It caught Kade by surprise, sending him stumbling several paces back.

I smiled grimly, my bloodied teeth looking grotesque. He thought that was bad? Let’s see what he made of this.

Smashing my fist into his abdomen doubled him over. He was ready with his own, which I easily parried. No more playing games now. Fuck whatever BS the other guy’s manager had over Owen, no way was I going to have Cin suffer at my hands like that.

The next slam caught him in the chin – hard. A satisfying crunch, and now he was the one on one knee. His eyes bulged out at me; maybe his manager had told him he had this one in the bag. Too bad.

My last punch, I didn’t even look to confirm it had ended him. I knew it had.

Instead, I twisted around, searching for the face that mattered most. Cin was glowing.

Then, the bell rang, and the crowd screamed. The referee was saying something, but I beelined to Cin and Owen.

Owen was eyeing me strangely, as though he knew. “Shaky start, there.”

I shrugged. “Gotta give the fans something to talk about.” I’d delve into the whole ‘do you owe this douchebag money’ conversation way later.

“That was…” Cin let out a ragged breath.

I wiggled my brows. “That good?”

She responded with a kiss, full on the lips.

We broke apart, laughing.

“Damn,” I said, grinning like an idiot. “If I’d known I’d earn that, I would’ve won way sooner.”

Now, Cin was slamming a kiss into Owen too. Jesus, with everyone watching, I reflected. Surprisingly, the thought only warmed me.

Let them see. Let them all see the woman my brother and I couldn’t get enough of.

Cin seemed bouncing with energy, the reason for which I found out soon enough.

“Got to go to the bathroom,” she said. “Be right back.”

“Hang on,” I told her.

Owen and I made sure to cut a way through the still-cheering fans so Cin could pass through. While she was in the bathroom, Owen turned to me. “Guess that earned you a slice of pizza.”

He lifted a dismal looking rectangle from his pocket, wagging it. “For a minute there, I thought our good old lucky fry had stopped working.”

“About that…” I said.

Just then, a trio of teenage boys pushed their way through. “Autograph?”

“Sure,” I said, accepting the proffered sharpie. “Where?”

Smiling sheepishly, they held out their shirts. As I signed away, more people thronged to get their autographs as well. I happily obliged, although it ended up taking way longer than expected.

I only stopped when Owen pulled me aside. “First thing, Cin’s been gone a while. Second thing, your pizza’s gone cold.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” I took a bite of the admittedly cold triangle. “I would’ve gotten another one.” I tossed a glance at the bathroom. “Don’t be a spaz about Cin. It’s a girl thing, taking ten minutes in the bathroom.”

“Yeah, except it’s been” – Owen checked his watch – “twenty minutes. And she hasn’t responded to my text five minutes ago.”

“Oh shit. Really?” Time really had flown while I was autographing.

“Yeah.” We exchanged a look.

“Let’s go,” I said.

In the bathroom, some girls squealed as soon as we made it to the doorway.

“Sorry ladies,” I said. “But we’re looking for our friend. Could you call out and see if there’s a Cin – she has highlighted brown hair – in there?”

A minute or so later, the redhead we’d asked returned with a decided head shake. “Nope. No Cin in there.”

I scowled. What was the face I’d seen as I made my way?

Rodney’s. Absolutely fuming. I’d forgotten it, barely registered it, but now, could Cin being missing have anything to do with it?

No.

Owen gave me a questioning look, but I was already striding into the bathroom. Luckily – or not so luckily – there was no one there. No one to berate us for coming where we didn’t belong. But Cin wasn’t there either.

My heart felt like a fist pounding against my ribs. My phone buzzed with a text.

Unfortunately, I realized the number all too well – Rodney’s.

Got your girlfriend, it said simply. You’re not getting her back until the money’s paid up.