Page 75 of The Fight for Forever
Jeb looks ahead. “Looks rich. Those are the best friends to have.”
Karas turns to face me as I slip between two parked cars to take my last few steps on the sidewalk. When I reach him, I bend over, resting my hands on my thighs, and drag in some deep breaths.
“You’re really giving it your all, aren’t you?”
I glance up from under the sweaty hair falling over my forehead. “You expected me to just be fucking around with this?” I stand up straight and scrape the damp strands back.
His gaze zeroes in on my face. “If I thought you were just fucking around, I wouldn’t have a briefcase of cash sitting in my back seat.” Karas glances up and down the street. “You want it here? Because if you get jumped and someone takes it, I’ll own you for the rest of your life.”
My head swivels toward the back seat instinctually. “How much fucking money did you bring?”
The low chuckle steals my attention back. “Enough so that if you win, you’ll be able to pay me back, pay off all the investors, and then some. Enough to set you free.”
I blink, replaying what I think I just heard through my brain. “Why?” It comes out quieter than I planned.
Karas studies me. “I see something in you that reminds me of me. Given the right opportunities, you could become a player in this town, Legend.”
I blink slowly and shake off the sweat running down my face, pretending I’m not shocked by Karas’s words. He’s a fucking billionaire, for Christ’s sake. I’m a kid from a shit-ass trailer park in Biloxi, Mississippi.
That thought fades as he continues.
“Saturday could be the first day of your new life. If you don’t lose, that is.”
I reply instantly. “I’m not going to lose. I got too much on the line, regardless of what’s in the bag. You want insurance I’m going to win, know that I’m faster, smarter, and a hell of a lot more determined than Bodhi Black ever was, is, or will be.”
I motion to Jeb. “And thanks to Bohannon, I’ve had the best fucking coaching staff in the city. I’m ready. I’ve lived this moment of victory a thousand times in the last month. Saturday, I make it a reality.”
Karas’s face smooths out, and one corner of his mouth rises. Approval glints in his eyes. “I believe you. I suppose Bohannon does too.” He turns to Jeb. “We’ll bring Legend back in thirty minutes. Keep up the good work, Coach.”
Then he gestures to the open back door of the Rolls. “Get in.”
Normally, I’d sputter about being told what to do, but let’s be honest.I’m about to ride in a fucking Rolls Royce for the first time in my life, and this dude is practically handing me a new lease on life.
I guess faith does just show up sometimes.
“Appreciate the lift,” I say with all the nonchalance I can muster and slide inside.
Jesus, even the leather feels like it’s too expensive to touch my sweat-soaked pants. The aroma in the air is better than anything I’ve smelled—except for Scarlett. And,holy fuck, there’s abig-asssilver hard-sided briefcase in the center that I have to lift myself over to settle in the seat.
Karas gets in and straightens his suit coat before looking at me. “I’m not an idiot, and I’m not risking you fighting for your life on the sidewalk over some cash.”
Some cash. I almost laugh at how casually he talks about what is definitely the most money someone’s ever given me at one time.
Once Karas’s driver climbs inside and shuts the door, virtually every noise from the city is muted.
“Damn,” I whisper, and Karas’s expression halfway approaches a grin.
“First time in a Rolls?” he asks as we pull away from the curb.
“Yeah. That obvious?”
He gives a small jerk of his chin. “Nah. You should’ve seen Holly.” Only when he mentions his wife does his expression soften to easygoing. “She didn’t know what to think about the money. I grew up surrounded by it, so I barely noticed anything like that anymore. Watching her experience things I took for granted was like getting a second chance to appreciate life. She changed everything for me.”
My mind goes straight to Scarlett, and I realize Karas might be one person who would understand what it was like for her to grow up surrounded by luxury.
“I always thought growing up with money would make everything easy,” I tell him as I wipe my hands on my pants before I dare touch the leather. “Never worrying about where your next meal was coming from. No hearing gunshots outside your door at night. Never having to fight for your life to make a buck.” I give my head a small shake. “But meeting Scarlett has taught me a lot that I didn’t get before.”
“I can imagine. I grew up with a completely different mindset; it was unavoidable. Privilege can also blind a person, and it rots plenty of them.”
