Page 29

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

RIVER

E verything disappeared into a tunnel of black.

Five fucking rounds. Aching muscles and exploding pain everywhere in my body. The screams and calls of people who either wanted me to win or wanted me out for good. The worried expressions of the rest of Smiley’s, who watched me with hope in their eyes and nerves etched on their faces.

Our future rested on my shoulders.

One match. One last chance for glory.

My opponent bounced around the edge of the ring. Clearly, he was buying time. If we didn’t win this, it was over for us. Everything we’d fought for would be for nothing. But if we won, we were saying hello to the semi-finals—the last ride before Vegas.

He kicked at me, and I dodged easily. His smirk told me everything. Fucking bastard was just going to wait ’til the last bell sounded.

I couldn’t let that happen.

I lifted my gloves and went on the offensive. Punch after punch, kick after kick. I wasn’t going to let these fucking pricks stand in my way.

Not now, not ever.

He tried to dodge a hit, but it was too late.

My fist connected with my opponent’s jaw.

His body seized up, and he fell to the mat in a heap of muscle.

And with one punch, Fitspiration was no more.

The rest of the world rushed back in like a tidal wave. Arms circled around my sweaty chest and squeezed until I couldn’t breathe. Ari, Frankie, Lotto, and Bones surrounded me like a buzzing cocoon. Teo held up my arm and pointed at me, yelling to the crowd about the true winners.

Because we were winners.

Fourth place belonged to Smiley’s Gym.

Holy shit, we did it.

The crowd chanted our names; cameras flashed and blinded me. Someone was screaming—was it me? The energy around us had a life of its own, and the buzzing in my veins didn’t stop, even after we stepped out of the ring.

Ari clutched my hand the entire way down the steps.

“I knew we could do it. I just knew it.” She squeezed my fingers.

She had the most to lose. When Bones told us about his dad, she marched right into the Circuit’s main office and refused to leave without an audience. They barely granted her one—at least until she started reading off Scotty Green’s texts admitting to his drug scheme and pressuring her to help.

Her threat was simple: if they didn’t want another Lucien-type scandal on their hands, they’d cut Scotty Green and let Smiley’s sponsor themselves. If not, she’d go straight to the media and the cops, turn his ass in for pedaling PEDs, and blame the Circuit for not doing more. They could kiss season two of the Circuit goodbye with all the other problems they’d had this year.

Funny how a little bad press could be a great motivator.

The “cut of the sponsorship money” we offered helped. 100K to buy in as a replacement sponsor and keep the dirt quiet as long as possible.

Even the bald bastard at the top of the WCC couldn’t say no to that.

“We did it,” Bones echoed. His fight was over in less than a minute. After his win, he kissed his fist and pointed to the sky.

“For Pops,” Lotto agreed. “For all of us.”

“Except this scrub.” Frankie glared at the side of Teo’s head.

Teo held up his hands. “I lasted four rounds against the second-best in the Circuit, okay? Cut me a break for one night!”

“Then go talk to the media,” I said and gestured with my chin to the vultures waiting a few feet away. I didn’t want to deal with them. I just wanted to stay with my people.

“I’ll give you a good name.” Teo laughed and gave me a two-fingered salute.

As soon as he was gone, Ari let out a heavy breath. “I didn’t even fight, but I’m so tired.”

“’Cause we haven’t been able to breathe in days.” Lotto jerked his thumb toward the stands. “Some motherfucker won’t leave us alone.”

I glanced at the crowd. Between the cheering people stood one lone greaseball with two middle fingers up and pointed right in our direction.

Scotty Green hadn’t taken too well to us telling him to fuck off. But he didn’t have much say if he didn’t want to be back in prison.

I blew him a kiss and turned back to my group. Even his stupid shit couldn’t bring me down.

“This is the beginning.” Frankie wrapped an arm around Ari’s shoulders. “We have a two-week break before the semis in San Francisco. And if we want to make it to the final exhibition in Vegas?—”

“We have to be in first or second. We know, Frankie,” Bones said. “Damn, can’t we enjoy our win for a bit?”

“Not with the teams who stand in our way.”

I grimaced. Base One Gym, Neurosport, and St. Luka’s were all formidable as fuck. Neurosport wouldn’t be a problem, but beating one of the others? We were going to need more than hopes and prayers. Besides, St. Luka’s was getting plenty of those from their church sponsor.

No, we needed to be better.

But how much better could we really be in a few weeks?

I set a hand on Bones’ shoulder. “What Frankie is trying to say is, we should be proud of everything we’ve done so far.”

“That’s definitely not what he’s saying,” Lotto deadpanned. He took Bones’ hand. “So I’ll say it instead. Pops would be proud.”

“So would Dad,” Ari added with a smile. She reached out for Lotto’s other hand. “And we should be proud of ourselves.”

I nudged Frankie with my shoulder. “Come on. A little smile for your big winners?”

Frankie fought with his lips but ultimately sighed his resignation. “A few days off. Then I’m going for the throat.”

“When do you not?”

“I believe in us.” Ari looked around the group. Tears shone in her beautiful eyes. “We weren’t even supposed to make it this far, but we did.”

“And we’re not finished. Not by a long shot.”

“Then let’s do this damn thing.” I smirked. “The top four’s not gonna know what hit ’em.”