I guess now he is going to see I can’t do it. I’m not a fighter.

“Get up.”

I lift my head to see Roger at the door. He’s glaring at me. I turn away.

“Did you not fucking hear me? Get the fuck up.”

I don’t answer.

He storms over, leaning down and gripping my arm before hauling me up so hard I lose my footing and fall into him. He shoves me back and begins the insults again. “You’re a fucking worthless waste of space. There never was any hope for you. Your parents are probably glad they got killed—you’re putting them to shame.”

His words burn into my core and I feel myself beginning to pant. Is he right? Am I putting them to shame? Am I letting them down? I’m letting him kill me. I’m not even fighting. My father told me to always believe that I can do whatever I have to. I close my eyes, remembering him.

“Angel, don’t you ever let anyone tell you that you’re not beautiful,” he soothes, stroking my hair.

“She told me I was ugly, Daddy,” I cry.

He rubs my shoulders. “No one can make you anything you don’t want to be. You’re beautiful, and as long as you believe it, then the rest doesn’t matter. Don’t let your friends make you feel anything less than perfect.”

Tears run down my cheeks.

“Worthless,” Roger taunts. “Just like I thought. I should just let you fucking die. You’re not even worth the effort. You can go and join them and show them your pathetic defeat.”

I don’t even feel my hand lash out, but it does. It comes soaring up and hits him so hard in the face he stumbles two steps backwards. I see my mother’s and father’s faces, and how they used to be so proud of me. I’m not ready to let them down. I have only two choices now—fight or die. I’ll fight. I’ll fight until my last breath because that’s how I was taught.

Never give up.

I lunge at Roger even though my body screams at me to stop. I bring my knee up and hit him so hard in the groin he roars in pain. As he drops down, I bring my other knee up into his face. At his cries, two men rush into the room and tackle me until I’m restrained. I’m panting as Roger gets to his feet.

“You’re fucking wrong,” I growl. “Nothing will stop me.”

He grins even though his face is masked with pain.

“I knew it was in there.”

“You’ll regret this one day,” I vow. “I swear it.”

He laughs. “Your pirates aren’t here to save you this time, princess.”

I give him a stare as cold as ice as he straightens and turns to the men holding me back.

“Order me another fight in two days. In the meantime, get me Damon in here.”

Damon? Who the hell is Damon?

“On it, boss.”

The men let me go and I fall backwards onto the bed. Roger grins at me once more before heading to the door.

“I hope you’re ready.”

I’ll never be ready, but I will fight. I can’t die. I’m not finished and the only option I have here is to do as he asks until I can find a way out. Fighting means he’s going to take me out in public, which will give me a chance.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Jess

The door opens later that day, and Roger steps inside. He’s followed by a man I was not expecting. I knew he was going to bring in this ‘Damon’ fella, but I didn’t realize Damon was a freaking god. I blink a few times as the tall, extremely gorgeous man steps into the room. My mouth opens slightly; it’s really hard not to gape. He’s got long, thick blond hair and the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s at least six feet tall and has more muscle than even Dimitri and that’s saying something. Dimitri is a big fucking man.

“Damon, this is Blair. Teach her the basics.”

Damon turns his eyes to me, and they widen. “You’ve got to be kidding me, right?”

Roger turns to him with a disgusted expression. “Why would you think I’m kidding?”

“She’s tiny, a girl, and I’m not interested.”

Roger steps forward and glares at Damon. “She’s going to make me a lot of money, therefore you’ll get paid well. If you walk out, there will be no money for you and without money, you can’t take care of your wife.”

Damon flinches. “She’s just a fuckin’ girl.”

“She’s run with the best of them for years, she is tougher than she looks.”

“I’ll teach her the basics, Rex, but that’s it.”

Roger pats him on the back and he flinches. “Get on it then. Her first fight is in two days.”

Damon stares down at me, and with a defeated sigh says, “Get up.”

I get to my feet, staring at the huge, gorgeous man in front of me. Roger takes hold of my cuffs and leads me out of the room and back down to the large ring he’s got in his basement. He then uncuffs me and clicks his fingers. Six men appear and stand near each window and door in the room. I shake my head with a sigh. Roger turns to Damon.

“Four hours today. Same tomorrow.”

Then he turns and leaves the room. Damon gazes at me, his green eyes searching mine.

“What’s your name, darlin’?”

I tilt my head. “Huh?”

“You heard me.”

“My name is, um . . . Blair.”

He stares longer. “What’re you doin’ here, Blair?”