Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Brant

“I’m here,” I said, stepping into the basement where he had her. My voice echoed against the concrete walls as my eyes locked on Lucas, his silver gun aimed straight at Sable. The sight froze my blood. “I’m here, you motherfucker. Let her go. I missed the fight. That’s what you wanted, right?”

Coming here, I realized something deep in my gut: I would always choose Sable. Always. No championship, no title, no fleeting glory in a cage was worth her life. If she died because of me, I’d never forgive myself. Winning the fight would’ve meant power, but saving her meant everything.

Lucas threw his head back and laughed—his wicked, broken laughter bouncing off the basement walls. “I never really thought you’d come,” he said between chuckles. “Because you? Brant Paxton? You’re a selfish bastard who gambles with people’s lives.”

I ignored him and moved closer to the cage, where Sable stood pressed against the bars. Her blue eyes locked onto mine, wide and trembling.

“You… you actually came,” she whispered, surprise and relief tangled in her voice. “You came to save me… and missed your match?”

I didn’t answer. Words didn’t matter. I only checked her quickly, making sure she was okay, before tearing my eyes from her to face Lucas again, fury burning in my chest. “You bastard. Where’s the key?”

Lucas sneered, shaking his head. “It’s not time for Sable to go. Not until she knows every one of your dirty secrets. How you hurt women, used them, treated them like doormats.” His grin widened. “Give her a little warning.”

He laughed again before spitting out a name. “Jessica…”

“Shut the hell up, you bastard!” I barked, my hands curling into fists as I stalked toward him. The gun swung back toward me, aimed at my chest now.

“You know who she is, Sable?” Lucas taunted, his voice dripping with venom as he pointed the gun at her again. “Brant’s first bet. His first assignment. Oh, she was beautiful—perfect—with that pink and black backpack of hers. Those eyes, shining like a deep lake. That cabin by the water… yeah, that lake.” His voice twisted into another manic laugh.

“Shut up!” I growled, my teeth clenched so tight my jaw ached.

“Who cares, right?” Lucas went on, enjoying every word. “I even liked Jessica myself. But every woman always wanted Brant. His bets. Just like Marirose—my Marirose, my Rosie. She was a bet too. Her virginity, just another fucking prize.” His grin split wider. “There were others. Too many to count. I don’t remember their names… except Jessica and Marirose. They stuck with me. I wanted them.”

He snapped his fingers as if remembering one more sick twist. “Oh, and here’s the best part—Jessica was his stepsister. She’s this bastard’s stepsister. Yeah, that’s right. Step-siblings who fucked each other.”

I turned to Sable then. Her face crumpled with devastation, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to speak, but nothing came out. The pain in her eyes stabbed deeper into me than any blade could. My chest clenched seeing her break like that.

Lucas wasn’t done. “And you, little bird, you’re probably just a bet too. Are you a virgin? If not, then your heart’s the bet. That’s the game, isn’t it?” He laughed, manic and gleeful, lost in his own madness.

That was his mistake.

That was the moment I lunged, with every ounce of rage I had. My body slammed into his, knocking the gun from his hand. I snatched it up, flipping the barrel toward him, my finger tight on the trigger.

“Stop. Stop with the lies, the madness,” I snarled. “Because that’s what you are, Lucas. A madman.”

He tilted his head, breathing hard, his eyes glittering with a strange calm. “I’m not mad,” he said quietly, almost too steady. “I know exactly what I’m saying. And you know what?” His lip curled. “Tell Leslie to fuck herself. And you—fuck you too, Brant. Because I’m done. Done with this stupid club, the drugs, the business, all of it. I’ve got enough money to last me a lifetime.”

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small key, and threw it at me. I caught it without lowering the gun.

And just like that, he turned and walked away.

I went to the cage and unlocked it. As the door creaked open, I stepped inside. Sable stood exactly where she had been, frozen, her body stiff, her eyes wide and swollen from crying. She didn’t move when I reached for her arm, my hand trembling as I touched her.

She looked at me then, her gaze sharp and broken all at once, her eyes red from the tears streaking her cheeks. Slowly, almost painfully, she lifted her hand and moved mine away. Then, without a word, she started walking toward the open door of the cage.

I just stood there, staring at her retreating back, the urge to hold her burning in my chest. I couldn’t stop myself. I went after her, catching her arm again. She spun to face me, her eyes snapping with hurt.

“Let me go. Why did you save me? Why? You’re nothing but selfish, Brant. So why choose to save me? Why risk everything for me, Brant?” Her voice cracked. “Was it just another game to you? Another fucking bet?”

“Don’t listen to him,” I said quickly, my chest tightening, my heartbeat slamming against my ribs. My voice shook because I knew—fuck, I knew—there was truth in Lucas’s words. Jessica. Marirose. The things I had done. But that was the past, and I had to make her see that.

She searched my face, lips trembling. “Was he lying?”

Silence stretched between us like a blade pressed against my throat. I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her—not her. But the truth sat heavy in my chest, and my silence said more than words ever could. The truth was dangerous, but lying to her would destroy me even more. And deep down, I knew I didn’t want to lose her. Not Sable. Fuck the fight. Fuck everyone else. This was between me and her.

Tears shimmered in her eyes again. “I don’t want my heart to be a bet,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I don’t want to be a fucking bet, Brant.”

Something inside me shattered. I couldn’t take it anymore. I pulled her into my arms, the gun still clutched in one hand, my other arm wrapping around her desperately. I grabbed her trembling hand and pressed it against my chest, right over my heart.

“Fuck… I should hate you,” I whispered. “I should despise you. That’s what I told myself over and over since the moment you came into my life. But no matter how much I tried, somehow you carved yourself into me. Into this dark, black, rotten heart of mine that I thought could never feel anything real. And it terrifies me, Sable. It terrifies me because it’s you.”

Her mouth twitched as she bit down on her lips, trying to stop the tears, but they kept falling, tracing down her beautiful face.

Then, slowly, she pushed against me, breaking free. Her hands shook as she backed away, her eyes never leaving mine, full of pain I couldn’t mend. She turned and fled—her footsteps rapid and uneven as she rushed toward the stairs.

Up the steps. Out of the basement. Away from the club.

Maybe away from my whole damn life.