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The fight in front of mine is a long one, which makes my stomach twist even more in anticipation.The Rose is my bitch, I keep repeating. I’m not surprised they gave me a better opponent this time. I agree with Johnny on one thing. His dad knows what he’s doing. He’s got an angle on everything, and maybe he’s truly trying to test me. Just like moving me out of Johnny’s suite was a test, too.
After a few more minutes, the door to the room swings open. Instead of spying Brawler creeping in, it’s Johnny. A huge grin pulls his lips apart. He’s dressed in a dapper suit, like usual. A dark gray coat offsets his dark hair. “God, you’re sexy as fuck,” he breathes. “Maybe if you said you needed a good fuck to win, Dad would let up on the rule.”
“Actually,” I say, “there are more than a few fighters who forego any sexual activities before big fights. The Gracies are known for it.”
He makes a face. “That’s terrible.”
“I haven’t bought into it yet,” I tell him, winking.
His face darkens in lust. He pulls his hand out from behind his back and a royal purple robe unfurls between us. “Purple for royalty.” He turns it over. On the back is my fighting nickname with a wrapped hand making the uppercut movement. “May I?” he asks, gesturing with the robe.
I nod, turning around so he can slip it over my shoulders. He puts one arm through and then the next, then moves his hands up to my shoulders to massage me there. Leaning down, he captures my earlobe and sucks it into his hot mouth. “Take her down, babe.” He pulls me against his hard body, hand slipping noticeably low over my abs and toward the front of my skin-tight shorts.
My body melds into him. It doesn’t take much to get me excited when I’ve started and stopped with him so many times. He lets out a breath and backs away from me. I’m relieved because whenever he’s near, I’m caught up in him, just as I am when I’m with Brawler or Oscar. Hell, even Magnum can sweep me away into another time and place. I lose a little of myself to them as soon as I’m in their presence. It’s unnerving, scary, but satisfying at the same time. It’s nice that I don’t have to bear the brunt of all the pressure myself. Finally. It’s just too bad I only trust two out of those four people fully. Magnum and Johnny bringing up the rear.
“Is it time?” I ask, to make myself focus.
Johnny holds his arm out to me. “I think you’ll find a few things have changed.”
“Like?”
He grins before opening the door. We step out into the room. There’s a clear path from the door to the fighting area this time. I don’t have to push past people. People hold out their hands to touch me as I walk toward the ring. There’s a girl already standing in the center, and I completely zone everything else out. A golden yellow bra and pant set completes her fighting outfit. It’s completely different from my black on black. I’m not trying to be subtle about anything. I’m trying to tell everyone that I will fuck them up if I have the chance.
The roar of the audience is deafening, but it doesn’t stop me from sizing my opponent up. She grins at me like she knows something I don’t. Her mouth too wide and lips too thin to be anything but intimidation. I wonder how long she’s been near the top of this ring. At least the female card. Brawler’s at the very top of the male card, and he’d blow this girl away. Not that I think he’d actually fight her. Brawler’s not the type.
This time, it’s not Brawler in the center of the fighting area announcing the fights. It’s a guy in his thirties, looking like he’s trying to take a page out of Bruce Buffer’s playbook. When he speaks, his voice comes out of speakers. I glance up, noticing the new large speakers circling the room. Not only that, but there’s also huge TV’s in different corners of the room. I look down and straight into the lens of a camera. From my peripheral, I see myself on the screen, and the crowd explodes again.
The guy in the center of the ring announces The Rose first. She has a decent following. The yells and claps for her are genuine. Hell, I am the newbie. No one knows what could go down here. Most of these guys have just heard of me and not seen me yet.
When the guy gives me my introduction, Johnny slips the new robe off my shoulders. I bounce on my feet and shake off the tremendous uproar of the crowd that pierces through my focus. Johnny says something to me, but I can’t even fucking hear him. He backs away, and that’s the last time I feel his presence before the fight starts.
However, he’s replaced with another presence I recognize. Brawler walks into the center of the room. He eyes us both coldly, like he doesn’t have any sort of connection with either of the fighters. I lick my lips, and he holds his hand in the air, bringing it down in a swinging motion to call the fight to a start.
The Rose comes right for me. She doesn’t circle or try to get a feel for how I fight. She’s on the offensive from the get-go. I sidestep her, a little perplexed by her tactic. She’s got some lady balls for sure. She probably wants to take me out as soon as she can to prove a point, but little does she know, I’m not going to let her get away with that. No fucking way.
When I duck under her attack, I throw a backfist into the back of her head. She whirls in an instant, coming for me again. I lift my guard to save me from her two crosses, and then retaliate, giving her a solid three count that ends in an uppercut instead of a cross.
The crowd fucking loved that one. Especially because I staggered her a bit.
With how many people are in this space, which must be double what it normally is or even more, the Crew—or should I say Big Daddy K—is making bank tonight. That’s just on attendance. That doesn’t even count bets where they skim a little off the top for allowing people to even place money on a fighter.
The Rose slows down now. She steps back, circling me after finally learning her lesson. If she comes straight at me, I will make her pay. So, I return the favor. I step inside, cracking my foot off her calf. She winces, and I move in, sending three good body shots to her midsection. When her guard lowers, I take it to her. I batter her face with punch after punch until she pushes me off.
That won’t work though. She’s scared now. She’s circling but instead of looking for ways to get in on me, she’s only focused on staying away. I have this fight. Now, I only have to finish it. The thing is, will the crowd want a beatdown of epic proportions? Or will they want me to carry this out a little?
Fuck it. I just want to kick her ass and get it over with. I want to prove my dominance. I can play with the next person if I think that’s what they want.
I throw a stomp kick to her gut. As soon as her hands lower, I throw a right uppercut, rocking her. Her eyes roll back in her head, and I throw some quick jabs until she staggers, falling to her ass. I jump on her, backfisting her in the face. Blood spurts from her nose, staining my wraps. Then, two strong arms engulf me, pulling me away. Brawler’s sweet scent surrounds me as he hauls me to my feet, but he lets go just as soon.
I move my stare up, watching the crowd go bananas. I catch sight of Jax and Finn in the crowd, and I smile. I had no idea they’d be coming tonight. I figured since they “unofficially” were fans of underground fighting and they have a very real business promoting real fighting, I didn’t think they’d risk it. Instead, they’re both clapping and shouting for me. Jax nods, but Finn looks like he’s going to jump over the line between the ring and the crowd to celebrate with me until his brother holds him back.
Soon after, a silky robe covers my shoulders again, and Johnny squeezes me from behind. He raises my hand and walks me into the center of the fighting area. The announcer walks up, but Johnny gestures for the mic. “If you want to celebrate my girl’s win, we’ll be at Candy’s.”
I sneak a glance at Brawler who’s helping The Rose to her feet. I shrug out of Johnny’s grasp and move toward my opponent. She lifts her steady gaze to mine, and I’m relieved to find that she’s not that injured. I hold out my hand, and she takes it. “Good fight,” she says.
“Same,” I tell her.
I glance up to meet Brawler’s eyes. Adoration, respect, and pride seep through his turquoise shades. I nod at him, but people start to crowd me now. I guess not everyone has a brother to hold them back. Johnny holds out his hand, keeping everyone at a safe distance. “We’ll be at Candy’s. She’s very thankful for your support. Thank you.” The crowd opens a gap for him until we’re safely back in the small holding room for the fighters.