Page 9

Chapter

Nine

RIVER

T he referee lifted my gloved hand, and the crowd cheered as the announcer called our names.

It was a decisive victory—3-0 in only a handful of rounds. We’d sent the other team back to Oregon with their tail between their legs without even breaking a sweat.

Smiley’s Gym was officially tied with Base One Gym for first place in the Circuit.

I should have been happy. I mean, I was happy. Plenty to gloat about. Three matches down, a billion to go, and an 8-1 to start with some big name influencers hyping us up all over social media. A surprisingly large turnout for such a quick turnaround.

But that was the problem: in that turnout were a few faces I would rather forget.

Namely, the three people glaring at me from the stands, all with different reasons to be pissed off.

I avoided their eyes as I climbed out of the ring and made it back to the rest of the team. Bones clapped my back and grinned.

“Had to go and show us up, River?”

“A round-one KO is insane, man.” Teo fake punched my stomach and laughed. “Especially with their best fighter.”

“It was nothing,” I shrugged. He had twenty pounds on me and about three inches. I figured it would be a fuck ton harder. I just happened to get a good hit on his jaw and sent him flying after only a few minutes.

Someone behind Ari started clapping. Lucien Fritz slid into view with his annoying grin and somehow even more oily hair. His tan suit was definitely out of place with the rest of Smiley’s logoed gear and sweats.

“I wouldn’t say it was nothing. Great work everyone.”

“I’m glad it’s up to standards.” Ari’s voice barely masked her annoyance. “Are we fulfilling the contract?”

“And then some.” Lucien tapped his finger against one of the gloves slung around Frankie’s neck. “Though this was just three matches. The true test starts now.”

The true test started the day Lucien Fritz walked into Smiley’s like a pompous asshat, but hey, who was counting?

Lotto hummed. “I assume all of our travel and accommodations are taken care of?” He crossed his arms, muscles pressing against his Smiley’s Gym T-shirt.

“Of course, of course. Only five-star hotels for my best fighters. I need to treat them to keep them winning.”

There was something unnerving around the way he smiled at us. It wasn’t just greasy. It was like Pennywise inviting us down into the sewers by saying, “We all box here.”

Unlike Lotto and Ari, Frankie didn’t bother to hide his distaste. He grimaced and set his hands on his hips. “And what happens if we lose?”

“Well, let’s hope you don’t do that.” Lucien clapped his hands together. “It would be tough on all of us, don’t you think?”

I’d seen a lot of shady shit in the underground rings and dealt with a lot of bad customers. It was par for the course in our line of work. But damn if this guy didn’t give them a run for their money. Years I’d spent avoiding his “lucrative deals” and “exciting opportunities,” knowing it came with insane strings attached, only to wind up in the same situation I’d been running from.

Smiley’s was lucky they were all so damn talented.

Not to mention hot as fuck.

“Yeah, yeah, pipsqueak, we get it. Keep winning.”

“Or else,” Lucien confirmed.

Or else? Really? I shook my head. If he was going to threaten us, he had to do better than that. That was child’s play.

“ Or else ,” Teo mocked and punched Bones in the shoulder. “Listen to this guy.”

Lucien glared at Teo. “How would you like to be off the team? I own your contract, so watch how you speak to me.”

“My daughter’s boyfriend is scarier than you, and he’s five.” Teo slung his bag over his shoulder and nodded at Ari and Frankie. “I’ll go wait in the van. I shouldn’t stick around. Or else,” he mocked again and cackled as he left the venue.

Ari laughed behind a fist, clearing her throat when she finally stopped giggling. “Is there anything else you need, Lucien?”

“I won’t be traveling with you to California, but I just wanted to remind you, I expect results.”

“And results you’ll get. Just like you did today and the last two fights, in case you forgot,” Frankie deadpanned as he slid his gaze over to Bones and me. “Rest up tonight. Tomorrow we travel and are back at it.”

God, could Frankie give us a damn break? Between the past few weeks of intense practice, the first matches of the Circuit, and all this travel, I was beat and ready for more than a few rounds of drinks. Or some more “team building” activities with the rest of the Smiley’s team. Maybe Frankie could relax a bit if I sucked the tension out of him?

But at least I had one source of energy: the pictures Daisy sent me of the boys holding signs with my name on them. My nephews had apparently been going around school talking about their cool boxing legend uncle. I liked it. Boxing Legend River had a pretty damn good ring to it. I couldn’t let down the most excited five- and seven-year-olds in all of the Seattle area.

“Wonderful.” Lucien fixed his suit and tipped his head. “See you when you return.”

He turned and left. Too bad, because he missed the way we all flipped him the bird.

As soon as our benefactor was out of the venue, Bones rolled his eyes. “I might get kicked off the team before Teo. One of these days, I’m going to fucking snap.”

“Me first.” Lotto exhaled through his nose. He did that a lot when he was trying to calm himself down. “Technically, I’m not on the team, so I’ll do it.”

“Maybe I should kick his ass. I think humiliation at the hands of a girl sounds like a perfect punishment for that prick.” Ari grinned and picked up her bag. Her smile slipped when she looked over my shoulder. “Fuck me,” she whined. “I think it’s asshole day.”

I glanced behind me. Asshole Day was right. We’d already dealt with Lucien, and now here came two of my three headaches: Jace and Misty Perk. They weaved between the camera crews packing up their gear, heading straight for us. For me, probably. Damnit.

“You guys go first.” I sighed. “I’ll deal with the dick parade.”

“I wish it was a different kind of dick parade.”

Ari’s joke made me chortle. “Maybe later.”

“Don’t take too long.” Frankie eyed the Perks siblings with a frown. “We’ll grab your stuff from the locker rooms and wait for you outside.”

Bones, Ari, Lotto, and Frankie headed off to the locker rooms. I stared after them, wishing I could join.

But first, I had to smite the fuck out of some ghosts of my past.

“Beau Fitzpatrick.” Jace oozed smugness as he approached. “Look at you. King of the world. Congrats on the KO.”

I eyed him then his sister. “What can I say? I’m good.”

“Cocky as ever.” When Misty smiled, it barely pulled at her frozen cheeks. Another round of Botox, probably. “Think you’re too good for us now.”

“You said it, not me.”

“It’s the opposite now, River. We’re too good for you . Got my own sponsor, someone who sees my talent and potential.”

“Is that talent and potential in the room with us right now?”

Jace stepped toward me, but Misty held him back. He shook her off and fixed his jacket. Now that he was so close, I saw the rings on his fingers, the gold chain around his neck, his new leather jacket and leather shoes. He looked like he was some college punk dressing up for his first big boy interview. Or some new crypto bro cosplaying as a rich man. But one glance back in the stands, and I knew it wasn’t an act.

Troy Godwin was staring at me and not looking too pleased.

The Perks must have been his back-up plan when we went with the Circuit. Jace Perk, headliner. It was laughable. The guy couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag. I lifted a hand in greeting to Troy, but he didn’t move a muscle. Damn, tough crowd.

“New development?” I lifted a brow. I hadn’t heard anything about new Heathens Hollow headliners. Neither had Lotto, I was sure. He would have told us if so.

“Just signed the contract two days ago.” She played with the large diamond earrings in her ears in an overexaggerated way. “Wanted your little gang to be the first to know.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I know a great financial planner if you need one. So you don’t blow your money and all.”

“Unnecessary,” Jace smirked. “With you and Bones out of the picture, no one can stop us.”

I opened my mouth and closed it, merely smiling at them. Sure, we weren’t there anymore, but there would always be another “River.” Another “Bones,” another “Venom”, another “Smite.” The underground cycled out fighters with chips on their shoulders. Fighters with something to prove. Fighters needing to support their families with a little extra cash. Fighters with egos as big as their balls. Someone was always waiting to bring you down a peg or two and become the new king of the cage.

But I’d let Jace figure that out for himself.

Not that he had the brain to do it since his ego was blocking the way.

“Well, good luck. It’s been great to catch up and chat.” I let the sarcasm drip over my words. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Hey River, before you go.” Misty set a hand on my upper arm. I glanced at her hand and back up at her unnervingly unmoving face. “Come back and visit Heathens Hollow. We’ll show you what you’re missing.”

Her diamonds flashed in the light of the gymnasium, but something else flashed in front of my eyes, too: my sister’s relieved smile when I told her I’d signed with Smiley’s and would be making a name for myself in boxing. Now that the boys were getting older and their dad even more deadbeat, she needed the help, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

And I’d do anything to keep that smile on her face.

“I’m good, thanks. Try not to get too many concussions.”

I gave them a salute, then did the same for Troy. He was still glowering at me. Clearly, he was pissed he’d lost his better meal ticket. Maybe the Perks and Smiley’s had more in common than we thought; two shitty benefactors who clearly hated our guts and were purely in it for the money. At least I had the foresight to save mine. The Perks were going to have to learn that lesson the hard way.

I left the venue and headed toward the parking lot. To my surprise, Frankie, Bones, Lotto, and Ari stood outside our rented van. Once they saw me, they lifted their hands in greeting.

“Welcome back,” Ari smiled.

“You didn’t have to wait for me.”

“We weren’t going to leave without you. You’re one of us now.”

The welcome filled me with a strange happiness, like I belonged with Smiley’s, even after our history. In all of my years in the scene, no one had been that nice to me.

I almost made a joke about waiting for me or my cock, but I swallowed it. I wasn’t looking to start a parking lot grudge match with Frankie tonight.

“So a team?” I winked and chuckled when Ari’s face twinged with a faint blush. I peeked around her into the van. Teo was fast asleep in the back seat inside. I took a breath and blew it out of my nose. “Well, I’m glad you waited ’cause the alternative was the Perks.” I glanced at Lotto. “You didn’t hear anything?”

Lotto cocked his head. “About?”

“Them being the new headliners at Heathens Hollow.”

“You’re fucking kidding.” Frankie chortled and rubbed at his jaw. “Them?”

“Troy must be desperate.” Bones shrugged. “Plenty of big names joined the Circuit instead.”

I clicked my tongue. “Yeah, he was here tonight.”

“ What? ”

“I saw him in the stands. Troy was here with the Perks. Looking extra constipated, glare and all.”

“That might be my fault.” Ari winced and scratched at her scalp beneath her light blond hair. “I, uh, sent a text the night before the Circuit started saying we were going a different direction? And he tried to call me twice this week, and I ignored it.”

“Huh. No wonder he looked like he was about to smite me on the spot.”

“Ari, what the hell? Why didn’t you tell me this?” Frankie demanded.

“I thought it was handled!” She threw her hands up then set them on her hips. “We’re in the Circuit; he has his headliners. It’s a done deal. I don’t know why he’s calling me.”

“If he calls again, you tell us immediately.”

“Immediately, Ari,” Bones emphasized.

Bones, Lotto, and Frankie stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the van, looking like the Three Musketeers. Or a three-man wrecking crew, which was probably more apt. Ari bit her lip and nodded a few times like a student whose teachers were scolding her. But I couldn’t blame her. Troy was a prick, and I was more than happy to be away from his contracts and stipulations.

“Oh, come on, guys. We’re undefeated. I just knocked a dude on his ass in less than a minute. Why does it feel like my dog died or something?” I elbowed Bones. “We should be celebrating.”

“We can celebrate after five wins. No sooner.” Frankie eyed me before jerking his head toward the van. “Now get in.”

“Damn. Maybe I should go back and take my chances on Troy.” I snorted as I shuffled through the group and clapped a hand on Frankie’s shoulder. “I promise you’re way more attractive than him, though.”

Though Frankie’s face didn’t budge, at least I got a smirk out of the rest of them.

“Don’t say Troy’s name again,” Ari said as she followed me into the van’s back seat. “I feel like his ghost is following me everywhere.”

“Ooh, Troy Godwin, ooh,” I joked as I leaned over the second row seat toward her. “So spooky.”

Ari pushed me away with two fingers to the middle of my forehead. “If I get haunted because of you, I’m kicking your ass.”