Page 82 of Player

Clarissa

The underground seems different tonight. Conversations are filled with less boasting and more careful consideration of who’ll survive the cage. Great secrecy falls over the wagers being made. A prevailing somberness hangs over the crowd.

Even Finn is all business, on the other side of the cage and in full training mode. Giving away no signs of the wicked hangover he must be feeling, or the strained tension between us.

I was surprised when he knocked on my door and in not-so-many-words, told me, “You don’t wanna miss tonight’s shenanigans.” As if it’d been my fault I missed the last fights. But I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. This is business. If Finn’s decided to include me once more, so be it.

“Your wan is fine,” Fiona says.

I shrug. “He’s okay.”

They look at me like I haven’t a clue.

My eyes drift back to Finn, who’s doing curls with a heavy set of weights while talking trash to the fighter next to him. I know this because the poor man is trying to do the same amount of curls as Finn, at the same aggressive speed yet looks ready to pass out.

“How can a black eye add to someone’s sex appeal?” I mutter. In the short time I’ve known Finn, he’s sported one or two.And before that, you thought he was a barbarian.“And your guy? Is he hot?” I ask, refocusing on what really matters, seeking out more information about her mobster boyfriend.

“Johnny? When he’s not effin’ and blindin’ nonstop he’s tolerable.”

“Has a way with words, that one,” Shirley adds.

“If he had a wee smidgeon of your wan’s fine looks, he’d be tolerable and easy on the eyes.”

I know I shouldn’t, but I’m still pissed off at Finn’s hot and cold dance. “Don’t tell him I told you,” I murmur, loud enough that my new friends lean in closer, eager to hear my lie, “but he’s useless in the bedroom.”

“You don’t say,” they gush, their heads turning in unison to look at Finn.

“If it weren’t for Viagra ...”

“Viagra!” Their heads swing my way, and I force my smile back.

“He has a lifetime prescription. Needs to take three of them to get it up.”

“You taking the piss, are you?”

“Who would have thought?”

“So, you saying he’s taking performance-enhancing drugs?” Fiona comments. They snicker and I laugh.

Revenge complete.

“But, please, don’t tell anyone. He’d be mortified.” I pause, satisfied with the damage I’ve done. Because I’ve no doubt the entire club will know of Finn’s predicament before the night’s over. “I’ll be right back. Need to use the restroom.”

Halfway across the room, I look back. Sure enough, my friends have scattered, eager to share the news.

When I return, they gather around me, completely mute like no one has anything to say. Like all the talking that’s transpired in the brief time I was gone has caused their throats to go hoarse.

“Eddie looks ready to keel over.” Fiona finally says, gesturing to Lucy’s boyfriend, a scrawny, freckled kid who’s struggling to lift a barbell.

“I told him this was a bad idea but he dinna listen.”

“Always trying to one-up Johnny. Admit it. That’s why he took a laborers job.”

“Yeah, but the company likes Eddie better. Says he’s got brains while Johnny’s got brawn.”

My ears perk up. Company ... like the mob? So, Eddie is connected, too?

“Johnny’s his brother. He’s not here tonight because of Eddie. He can’t hit the pubs until all the heavy lifting jobs have been filled.”