Page 38 of Pretty Lies (Watch Me Burn #1)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

RORY

I always felt powerful when I walked into the Shed and people parted when they saw me. Not just because I was known as Skeet’s girl , but because I was respected as a fighter.

I had to ignore the stabbing pain in my chest when I spotted Tyler talking to Diesel at the bar, not understanding why it hurt so much to see him here. I’d handled him fine at school this morning, but I guess I’d been prepared for that confrontation.

I saw him stiffen out of the corner of my eye when he noticed me walking through the crowd beside Skeeter, keeping my head held high and doing my best to ignore him.

I didn’t need the distraction before one of my fights.

I grinned as Mule bumped fists with me as I joined her, and we chatted while Skeeter grumbled about having better shit to do than gossip as he kept walking towards the cage to meet Slash.

“He’s so grumpy,” Mule chuckled, her eyes scanning the room for trouble as always.

She was beat to shit from our fight on Tuesday night, her nose still swollen and her eye black.

“Skeet? That’s not grumpy, that’s his happy face,” I scoffed, crossing my arms to glance around the room myself, deliberately not making eye contact with Tyler, who was still staring at me from the bar. “He doesn’t need to occupy me here anyway. I’m here to fight and make some money.”

“They must make academy brats braver these days. The man’s a monster.”

“Eat shit. I’m not an academy brat, and he’s the right kind of monster. He does that thing I like,” I joked as I flipped her the bird. “I’d better get ready. I’ll try not to knock your teeth out this time.”

“Can’t relate. You’re fucked if I get my hands on you,” she threw back with a grin, bumping knuckles with me again and letting me walk towards the cage, pulling my shirt over my head to leave me in my sports bra and shorts.

“You know Ty’s probably sent word to the rich bitch parade about your presence here, right?” Skeeter asked as I approached him and Slash, Slash’s eyes roaming my chest before he lifted his gaze to mine, realizing I’d caught him checking me out.

I didn’t call him out on it, turning my attention to Skeeter. “Most likely. They’ll all be here in the next twenty minutes, I’d bet money on it.”

“Just play nice and only fight the fighters, okay? We don’t need cops here because you beat up the elite,” he said with amusement. “You’ve got that red-headed bitch up first.”

I nodded, tying my hair up in a high, messy ponytail, before he motioned for my opponent to enter the ring. Lonnie was a good fighter, but she was cocky, showing her hand early in a fight and ending up on the ground fast.

We didn’t like each other.

“Ready to lose, Donovan?” Lonnie smirked as she stepped towards me, ignoring my knuckles as I held them out for her to bump. Her disrespect was going to get her ass thrown out if she kept it up because it wasn’t just me that had a problem with her, all the fighters did.

“I’ve been ready for a while, but I just keep beating you,” I deadpanned, her face turning red with anger. I easily dodged her fist as she tried to get a cheap shot in, and people cheered as Slash stalked towards us, not hesitating to grab her around the nape of her neck.

“You’re on your last warning, bitch. You fight when you’re told, or you leave. Even Donovan can do as she’s told, and she’s a brat, so you have no excuse.”

“Fuck you,” I snorted, his eyes sliding to mine.

“I’ll pass, but thanks.” Lonnie snickered, but she stopped as Slash’s hand tightened, and he turned his glare back to her. “I’m serious, Lonnie. Your pussy won’t save you if I decide to throw you out.”

She muttered that she understood before he let her go and left the cage, her mouth twisting into a snarl as she watched me. “It seems you’ve got them all wrapped around your finger. Fucking the boss too? Don’t you have any shame?”

I stretched my arms, warming them up as I grinned. “Sounds like you’re the one who bribes them with your pussy.”

People cheered as Skeeter’s voice boomed around the room through the speakers, cutting off whatever bullshit Lonnie was going to say.

“Alright, you fuckers. Are you ready to see a good bloody fight? Because you’re going to fucking get one!” The crowd roared and I soaked it in, listening to Skeeter’s usual intro stuff while I finished warming up my limbs.

Lonnie watched him with stars in her eyes, acting like he hung the moon, and I shook my head at her for not warming up properly. Mule gave me a knowing look from outside the cage, giving me a thumbs up.

Lonnie wasn’t going to last long.

The moment Skeeter called the start of the fight, the bitch flew at me, but I was ready and swung around suddenly, knocking her back with a solid jab of my elbow and tripping her to the ground.

She growled and scrambled to her feet with clenched fists, and I kicked my foot out to clip the side of her head, stunning her long enough to pin her to the ground and straddle her.

Mule had taught me that move.

I laid punch after punch into Lonnie’s face until Skeeter had to forcibly rip me off her so some of his crew could drag her out to clean her up.

His fingers were painfully tight around my bicep as we watched them, his voice sharp.

“Stop once she’s out cold and save me the fucking cleanup.

Even though she’s a cunt and deserves it.

” My blood was pumping as I bounced on the balls of my feet, and Skeeter had to shove me against the cage hard to draw my attention.

“Hey! Are you listening to me? No dead body problems, remember? Once they’re out, can you stop fucking hitting them? ”

“Make me!” I snapped, giving him a feral grin as he gripped my throat hard and got in my face, the adrenaline rush racing through me. He was hot when he was angry, especially now that I knew how good sex with him was.

Angry sex would be insane, and my pussy wanted a piece of that.

“You want to fight again tonight? Then listen to me. I love how pumped up you get when you start seeing these bitches fucking bleed, it makes my dick hard, but if you start killing them, then I have to do a lot of covering up, and you’ll be doing it with me.

You read me?” he growled loud enough for me to hear him over the crowd’s cheering.

“Understood.”

“Good. You’ve got the kicker up next,” he muttered before letting Mule into the cage.

Her smile was wide as she approached, raising her knuckles for me to bump.

“I’ve been practicing, just so you know.”

“Good, you fucking needed it,” I taunted playfully, a bark of laughter leaving her as she lightly punched my arm.

“Bitch. I won’t feel so bad about knocking you out now.”

“That’s if I let you get a hit in,” I winked, stepping back to get ready for the fight.

I got the first punch in, but she got me in the eye twice, managing to surprise me. We went hit for hit for a while, toying with each other and putting on a good show.

Slash liked it when we stretched it out, and since Mule and I enjoyed fighting together, we tried to keep it going.

My ears buzzed as she managed to get a sly kick to my temple, but we ended up on the ground with me straddling her back as I wrapped my arms around her throat and squeezed.

The crowd went wild as she tapped out, my grip releasing instantly, and I climbed off and offered her a hand up.

“I’ll get you next time,” Mule wheezed as she caught her breath, tapping her knuckles against mine. “You’re getting better with your feet.”

“You’re getting better with your left hooks,” I grumbled, rubbing my cheek where she’d gotten a hit in. “I’ll meet you out back later for an ice pack date.”

“Sold,” she laughed, limping out of the cage as the next girl entered.

I ignored Caden and the guys as Skeeter blocked them from entering behind her, Jensen getting in his face, and I kept my attention on my opponent as we studied each other.

We’d fought once before and she was reckless, making dumb mistakes that could’ve been avoided if she’d been more patient.

Her light brown hair was shaved short, and her arms were covered in bright tattoos. The dragon down one arm was impressive, and I admired the detail that had gone into it.

She trash-talked me until Skeeter could get away from the guys long enough to announce the fight, and I wasn’t surprised when the bitch ran at me like a psycho. I didn’t move until she was closer, sidestepping her at the last minute and kicking my foot out towards her knee.

She screamed and hit the floor in agony, and I didn’t waste time as I jumped on her and started punching her face. My body hummed as I slammed my fists into her until she became limp, and I got to my feet just as Skeeter appeared beside me with a glare in place.

I clenched my bloody knuckles and raised an eyebrow at him.

“What? I stopped.”

“Last warning tonight, babe, or I take your ass home.”

“Give me a challenging one then! It’s not my fault you’re giving me easy opponents!” I bit out, one of his fingers jabbing against my chest with frustration.

“I’ve got a guy. Your height and close to your weight.

He goes to Ashburn Valley High, and he’s known to fight dirty.

He’s been searched for weapons, but promise me if you’re seriously hurt, you’ll tap the fuck out, and I’ll split it up.

You got it? I already told him if he does anything dodgy that I’ll put him in the ground.

Hopefully, it’s enough to keep him in line. ”

“Bring it on,” I gritted out, flexing my fingers again as he nodded at Slash, who brought a young guy into the ring. He looked my age, and he had a cruel glint in his eyes that excited me.

He wasn’t going to hold back just because I was a girl.

People went ballistic as money started being handed over for bets, but Caden and the guys were seething as Skeeter gave me an encouraging nod, patting my shoulder.

“Like I said, if this goes south, tap out or I’ll start shooting people.”