"Come on, Imelda!" Dean said lowly through gritted teeth.

He was standing on his own, watching the two women go at it inside the cage. If any of the other guards would have been standing next to him, he would never have opened his mouth and uttered one single word. He knew better than to root for her even though she was one of theirs and therefore also one of the women bringing them money. Rooting for her as simple as it might seem could mean to the others that he felt something for her. And boy, did he ever. Not just something, he felt a lot. A whole damn lot.

"Finish her, girl. You got this," he said lowly.

He smirked as Imelda surprised her opponent with an uppercut, sending the other woman straight down. Imelda moved fast, sitting on the other woman's back, wrapping her arms around her throat and bending her backwards. It didn't take many seconds before the other woman tapped.

"That's my girl," Dean felt satisfaction roll through him.

He wasn't sure how many of these women fought because they wanted to or how many fought because they were forced to. He knew their girls were forced to but he couldn't be sure exactly how many of these other men bringing in women used force as well. The men that had brought in the losing woman looked anything but happy and he figured she was in for some sort of punishment later.

"Dean!" He turned his head to see one of the other guards walk over to him.
"What is it, Aiden?" Dean asked.
"Boss wants to see you after you put her back," Aiden answered.

Dean nodded as he walked over to the cage. He didn't need to say anything or use force to make Imelda follow him. She always just did what she was supposed to. He wasn't sure how long she had actually been there. She was there when he got hired two years ago and he knew she was never gonna get out. Not alive at least.

"You did good," he said once they were alone in one of the rooms out back.

He walked her over to another cage, a smaller cage than the one she had been fighting in but it was her cage. He knew it wasn't right to put her in there but he had to. The cage was her home. She turned around and was immetiately pulled into a searing kiss. He knew better than to kiss her but he always did it anyway. No one would raise an eyebrow if he fucked her which he did most nights - every guard had their fun with the women - but kissing meant feelings. And he had feelings.

"I can't stay tonight. Boss wants to see me," he said apologetically.

She nodded and he gave her a quick peck before gently pushing her into the cage and locking the door. He hated putting her in there but he didn't have any other choice. Even though she was his in here, she could never truly be his and it broke his heart. He held his head high, pretending to be alright, as he left her and went to see his boss Rusev.

"You wanted to see me?" He stuck in his head.
"Yeah, come in, Dean," Rusev waved his hand in the air.

Dean walked in and closed the door behind him before walking over to sit down on the chair across from Rusev.

"I just wanna let you know that Sonya Deville has personally asked for a match against Imelda," Rusev said.
"No!" The word left Dean's mouth before he could stop himself. "I mean, she's crazy. She might kill Imelda."
"I know you have a thing for her and so far I've turned the blind eye," Rusev said.
"It's not like that," Dean tried.
"Be quiet before you start lying to me. You know better than to lie," Rusev gave him a warning look.

Dean held his tongue, waiting for his boss to continue.

"When is the last time you fucked Naomi or Mickie? Hmm?" Rusev smirked. "You don't. Not anymore. And you haven't for a long time. It's always Imelda and it's alright. As long as you do your job, I don't mind you having a bit of a crush on her. She's one fine woman. We can all see that."

Dean wanted to smash his fists down in the table, jump over it and wrap his hands around Rusev's throat. It wasn't like that. It wasn't just a bit of a crush he had on Imelda and he wanted to tell Rusev so badly. Instead he just sat still and nodded.

"Alright. Let me be the one to tell her tomorrow," he said.
"Fine with me," Rusev smiled widely. "And Dean, tell her to win if she knows what's best for her."