Page 213 of Blackwood

Dr. Monroe leans forward slightly, voice softer now. “Bella, what you’re about to do.”

I stare at the edge of his notepad, letting the silence drag.

He nods slowly. “Just make sure you’re not the one who ends up bleeding for it.”

♥♥♥

The Pit – Northvale University

Donor Fight Night

709 Days Since Zeke’s Death

Cade and I step into The Pit, the underground already humming with Fight Night electricity. It’s two hours before the doors open,but mayhem is already in full swing. Knox is in the lighting booth, barking into his headset. Rico is backstage, flinging costume racks and shouting at the poor hair and makeup crew to stop fucking up his vision.

Rez walks up, stretching his neck like he’s already halfway through warm-ups. “Hey, B. Look, I just wanted to say thanks for everything you’ve done to make tonight happen.”

“I did it for Lex.”

He nods. “I know.” He glances toward the ring. “So, let’s go over the plan.”

I tip my chin, voice cool. “Fight One: Hollow King Chase Cooper vs. Caleb Briggs.”

Rez raises a brow. “Who the hell is Caleb Briggs?”

“He’s from Knoxville, Tennessee,” I say, casually brushing off the not-so-international part. “Leader of the Ashen Sons.”

“Yeah… I’ve heard of them. Gun runners. Midwest all the way down to Mexico. And how do you know him?” he asks.

I just smile. “That’s not important. Just know he wants something from me and this fight is my price.”

“Let’s just be clear on something,” Cade cuts in.

“Every one of the four fighters she brought in tonight wants something from her, Rez.” He adds while wrapping an arm around my waist. “And to get it, they’re going to have to put on a damn good show for her.”

“Damn, B. Lex said you had connections,” Rez smirks. “Fight Two?”

“Hollow King DeShawn Reyes versus Tatenda Khoza.”

“Khoza?” Rez clears his throat. “As in Jackals of Johannesburg, Khoza? How the fuck did you got someone from Blood Diamond country to show up to The Pit?”

“He was already stateside,” I shrug.

“Fuck, okay.” Rez gives a low and impressed nod. “And my fight… are you sure about that one?”

I grin. “Awe, Rezy. Are you scared?”

“Fuck that,” he snaps, shaking his head. “But still, that man’s a beast.”

Cade chuckles, then looks at me more seriously. “In all honesty, sweetheart, the one we should be worried about is Lex’s fight. Are you sure this isn’t a mistake?”

I pause, then smile slow. “I’m sure, babe. We needed a showstopper for the main event. And the two of them? They’re going to give us the fight of the year. Plus, you know that my prize fighter will do anything for me right now. So, when I told him he was going up against my boyfriend…”

Cade’s brow lifts. “He agreed?”

“Hesitated at first,” I admit. “But yeah. He agreed. Said he’d do it just for me.”

Rez cracks his knuckles. “Alright. I’m gonna go warm up and pretend I’m not about to get my ass handed to me by one of the biggest criminal leaders in the world. Thanks for that, B.”