Page 15 of Hold 'Em Tight

“Fuck, kid, stay down!” he barks, but I just give him a smirk and return to my fighting stance.

The crowd is going wild, and I hope someone is recording this. Maybe I'll be TikTok famous when I'm gone.

The man who lost everything and gave up… Maybe Len will see, and actually take a moment to grieve for me. To feel remorse for what he's done.

Yeah… right. He knew exactly what he was doing. Taking that snake to bed behind our backs, ruining our family. No regrets.

He's a lot more like his father than I thought. I never should have let him in.

We circle each other a few times, and I know the crowd is becoming restless. Beer bottles are shattered along the cage, and soon I'm covered and sticky.

“Kid, seriously, fucking hit me,” he roars and I grin. “Throw a punch! I'm not going to fight some pain junkie.”

Opening my mouth to reply, I see something in the crowd that makes me freeze. But when I glance around again, I don't see anything there.

Fuck, I think I might be wasted. Whatever. It doesn't matter. Soon this will all be over.

I lean forward and charge. He throws a punch to the back of my head, causing me to see double.

I grip his waist tight, as he fights to get me to let go.

“Just end me. I don't want to be here anymore. Please,” I beg, my eyes watering.

His body tenses and he rips me off of him, throwing me away.

Stumbling, I fall onto my back, knocking the breath out of me as my head starts to throb.

Why is this taking so long? Crouching over me, he places his hand onto my chest, begging me with his eyes.

“Stay down, kid.”

Groaning, I push his hand off of me, then roll onto my side and climb back onto my feet.

He shakes his head and looks around.

“I can't kill a kid. He's got a deathwish, Angelo. I'm out,” he shouts to the crowd, and they start to boo and complain.

Who would have thought this convict has a heart of gold?

“I don't care,” I slur, shaking the cobwebs from my brain. “Just fucking do it.”

The crowd quietens and someone laughs, but it's not a happy sound.

“Wow, hear that, Colt. He doesn't care…”

“Donny,” I mumble, turning to where my friends stand.

They came to say goodbye. My heart jumps and I smile. I thought I wouldn't get a chance to see them again.

I look behind them for my Red, but remember she's not here. That's okay. It's better this way.

I stumble toward the cage and Angelo frowns. People are talking all around me, and they are confused about whether the fight is over or not.

Some thugs storm up to Angelo and insist on him following the rules.

You can't leave the cage unless you're unconscious or the victor. It's always been this way.

They start to argue as Donny moves closer to me, gripping my hand through the cage.