On the Ropes 2: Insidious Obsession Read Online Free PDF Page B

leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “It means, Amber, that at least for a little while, you’re going to have to turn heel and become part of The Tribunal.”

Chapter Six
    Amber ducked under the clothesline Lexi tried to administer. “So do I have to dye my hair black?”
    Lexi laughed. “Not if you don’t want to. Though black streaks might look cool against all that blonde.”
    Amber turned, bounced off the ropes, and launched herself at her friend. She caught Lexi in the stomach and took her to the mat. They hit with a thud , and Amber counted to three in her head, then rolled away. “I’ll think about it.” Sparring with Lexi seemed to help release some of the pent-up energy and frustration she’d carried since the incident with Sean.
    “That was a good move.” Lexi stood up and rubbed the spot on her head that had made contact with the mat. “I’m glad you’re going to be on my side in the ring. I’d hate to have to face you for real.”
    A small sliver of pride settled inside her as Amber acknowledged her friend’s compliment. “Wow. That means so much coming from you.”
    “You’re welcome.” Lexi reached outside the ring to the aluminum steps and grabbed their water bottles, then tossed one to Amber. “I know you were looking forward to a singles career, but I think this could be a lot of fun and a huge boost for you.”
    Amber caught the bottle. “You think?”
    “Sure. You’re getting a lot better, and with management aligning you with one of the hottest stables in the business right now, how can you possibly go wrong?”
    “Thanks. I didn’t think about it like that.” Amber took a long, slow drink. She glanced over at the guys, who sat in the currently empty crowd seats strategizing for the upcoming match. Finding out she’d be playing Cole’s love interest in the story line certainly didn’t help abate her current feelings. How in the world could she possibly stay focused on her career with him always being so close?
    “You ready to go again?” Lexi asked. “Hey, you okay?”
    Still feeling less than 100 percent but not wanting to stop, Amber returned the bottle to the step. “Sure. Let’s go.” Just like she’d done on other occasions when her stomach bothered her, Amber would work through the nausea. There wasn’t any room in wrestling for wimps, and she doubted it was any different in the big leagues.
    For the next ten minutes, they worked on submission moves. The entire time Amber battled nausea, determined not to let it get her down. Lexi performed an Irish whip. Her back landed against the padded turnbuckle, and she paused as a fresh wave of nausea, stronger than the ones previous, coursed through her. She sucked in a quick breath and closed her eyes. Damn it, she wasn’t going to throw up.
    Lexi started toward her, then slowed. “Hey, are you sure you’re okay?”
    “Uh? Um…yeah.” She sucked in another quick breath and pushed the feeling away. She hadn’t eaten lunch yet. Maybe she was hungry, or maybe it was all due to lack of sleep. “Our allotted time for the ring is almost up, so let’s do it again.” She moved back into position; Lexi grabbed her arm and turned her toward the turnbuckle. Before she realized what was happening, Amber’s world began to spin, and she stumbled forward, her legs giving out beneath her. She crashed into the corner post and immediately crumpled to the mat.
    “Amber!” The sound of men’s voices and chairs moving mixed with the white noise already whooshing in Amber’s ears. Too nauseous and dizzy to move, she lay on her side with her eyes closed as the voices grew closer.
    “I’ll get the medics,” Jason said.
    “Amber, honey?” Cole’s concerned voice pierced the haze fogging her brain. “What’s wrong?”
    She didn’t dare open her eyes. “Dizzy. Feeling sick,” she managed to gasp.
    “Move her this way,” Logan ordered. Unable to find the energy to help, she tried to relax and allow the