“Don’t feel that it’s all like that. She’s the exception. The rest are just hot lays.”
I could see her anger rising again. “Why would you tell me that?” she asked.
“Because for one thing, this is helpful to your research. And for another thing, I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea about me.” I grinned.
Needless to say, the rest of the ride was very, very quiet.
Chapter Twelve
“I am the punishment of God…If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”
– GENGHIS KHAN
Veronica ran off with Odgerel as soon as we parked the truck. Sansar-Huu walked with me to the fighting ring.
“Why did you tell her that last part?” he asked me.
“What?”
“Why did you tell her that most of the time you are just having sex for fun?”
“Because it is none of her business what I did in the past. And I didn’t like being judged.”
My friend nodded. “You are right, but you have a lot to learn about women.” I watched him as he walked away, knowing he was right. But it pissed me off that Veronica, who was supposed to be objective in her studies, would be so angry with the way I’d lived my life so far. This was the main reason I stayed away from attachment in the first place. And here I was, getting involved again.
I didn’t owe Ronnie anything. I was just an oddity she examined and judged…a footnote in a thesis. Actually, I was starting to get angry with myself for the feelings I had for this woman. What had I been thinking? That I could change her? Loosen her up? What an idiot!
Focusing on the competition was my main concern. That was why I was here. Right? I took off my deel and pants and started warming up. Yalta, Zerleg and Zolbin joined me. All three of our matches were in a few hours. We concentrated on watching the games, taking note of the other athletes and their weak spots. I was determined to forget about Veronica.
I was so wrapped up in the contest that I barely made it to do the eagle dance for my own match. Clearing my head as I moved around Yalta, I ran through everything that could happen and how I would counter it. I slapped my thighs and made my way into the ring, squaring off against my opponent.
This time I didn’t look him in the eyes. That barely worked last time. I wanted to try ignoring his face and concentrating exclusively on his movements. In fact, this strategy worked so well I had him on his back inside of a minute.
“Great job,” my opponent growled in English at my feet.
I offered my hand to help him up. He grabbed it and pulled himself to his feet. My competitor wasn’t Mongolian. Instead, I was staring into the face of Arje Dekker…my assignment.
“Don’t see many Europeans here,” he said as his eyes crinkled into a smile.
“I’m American,” I said smoothly, hiding my shock behind a warm grin.
“Well, you kicked my ass,” Arje answered. “Hopefully, I can regain my dignity later.”
“Good luck with that,” I said as I started to turn away.
He didn’t answer, just chuckled as I walked toward my coach. I was in shock. Even though I knew my vic was in Mongolia, I didn’t think I’d see him until the national event. It never occurred to me that he would be here doing what I was doing.
Yalta and the boys clapped me on the back, and Chudruk joined us.
“You followed his technique!” Chudruk noted. “ Yalta is very happy with you.”
I nodded and tried to turn my attention back to the competition. In a few hours I would have to fight again. My brain was a hot mess, between Veronica and Dekker. Focus was looking like a pipe dream at that point.
Zerleg lost his match, but narrowly enough that his grandfather was very proud. Zolbin defeated his opponent easily, and I was once again starting to get caught up in the festive atmosphere. The naadam was going well for us. Too bad my professional and personal life sucked.
This was too much. I understood the idea of coincidence. But to have both Veronica and Dekker here? Maybe something else was going on. In the Bombay family, you knew that just about anything was possible. After all, I never did figure out how they got the assignment to me.
I pulled on my deel and joined the others, who were having tea about one hundred yards from the ring.
“Where’s Veronica?” I asked Odgerel. I don’t know why. I didn’t particularly want to speak to her.
Sansar-Huu’s wife pointed over her shoulder, and I looked but couldn’t see her. I stood chugging the hot tea and then wandered in that direction. Imagine my surprise when I spotted her talking to, of all people, Dekker. They seemed to be deep in conversation. This was bad. Dodging behind a ger (and feeling like an idiot for doing so), I tried to sort this out.
It made some sense to think they would spot each other. Caucasians tended to stand out here. If Veronica asked what he was doing at the competition, she’d have another guy like me to interview.
I peeked around the edge of the tent and saw that they were smiling. Damn. What if Dekker was hitting on her? What if Ronnie decided he would be better to hang out with than me? She didn’t know him. I didn’t know him either, but I had his number. Arje Dekker was one mean bastard.
I looked again and saw that they were gone. Shit. I walked over to where they had been talking, toeing the flattened grass where they had stood. I cursed Veronica for making me angry and for running off with a dangerous man she knew nothing about. Then I cursed myself for acting like a ten-year-old.
“There you are!” a male voice said behind me. I turned to find Vic and Ronnie standing there like old chums.
“You were looking for a rematch?” I asked casually.
“The two of you know each other?” Veronica asked.
Dekker nodded. “He tossed me to the ground like a rag doll earlier.” He stuck out his hand. “Arje Dekker.”
I shook it. It would look too strange if I didn’t. “Cy Bombay.”
“Ronnie tells me you are here for the same reason I am.”
Ronnie? He calls her Ronnie already? That’s my nickname for her!
“I figured that out when I helped you up earlier.” I forced a grin.
Something dark flashed in Arje’s eyes. I recognized it. I’d seen it many times before. People who didn’t have a conscience tended to look that way. I was grateful to see it. It reminded me who he really was.
“I thought it might be good to interview you to-gether.” Veronica held up her notebook as if that explained everything. “You might have some similar experiences.”
“Maybe later…” I mumbled.
“After your next fight then. Before we leave with the others,” she said firmly. At least I was happy to hear that she was still planning on staying with me.
“We’ll see.” I broke off and walked back to the others. I did not want to be around Dekker any more than I had to. The whole idea of being interviewed with that man was more than I could handle.
I thought of the look in Veronica’s eyes…like she’d just hit the jackpot. That was troubling. The fact that Dekker was in the country and would be around wasn’t the problem. The problem was Ronnie. She knew him now. When he died, she might even feel sorry for him. This was a complication I was not used to. Instead of just killing him, I’d have to find a way to make it look like something else. I’d done it before, but it was outside my comfort zone.
After rejoining Yalta and Zolbin, I decided to use my anger in the upcoming fight. The idea burned inside me like a white-hot brand. My energy started to rise and I pictured defeating Dekker over and over, using every trick Yalta had taught me. I knew I wouldn’t face him again-he’d lost his one chance. But pretending it would be that slime bag seemed to help. I could actually feel my aggression spiking.