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Grinder glares at Bryce and then at Justin and Pierce, who are watching Bryce. The boys continue their conversation while stepping away casually as if they wanted to be over there anyway. Wordlessly, Grinder does the same. Nova watches as Bryce relaxes his grip on both of us. Nova fidgets in her seat, making herself comfortable as we settle in to watch the fight below.
I don’t know if I should be embarrassed by hanging out with a rich snob or if I should deck him for flirting with Nova in front of me. My face is tight as I stare down at the ring and fold my arms, determined not to touch Bryce despite our proximity. He continues to talk to Nova, little bullshit phrases about how he’s heard she’s exceptional, and he’d like to see someone with actual talent fight. Nova tilts her head, and a smile crosses her lips as she relaxes her body into Bryce’s side. She giggles as they watch Derick climbs into the ring dressed in lime green with a matching cowboy hat. I can’t hear what Bryce says to her next, but she laughs loudly and nods her head.
How can she let herself be taken in by him so quickly? Did I do the same?
“Ladies and gentlemen,” shouts Derick in his lime-green mic, “this is the night history will be altered as energy collides and spins our world out of its orbit.”
I cringe at the ridiculousness, but Nova and Bryce laugh like it’s their inside joke. Derick continues to work up the crowd with one-liners until Grinder folds his arms. The Pit used to be down and dirty and badass. People came here to show skill, and you could even learn while you got your ass pummeled. But not now; it’s worse than a reality show.
“It’s time to finish your drink,” continues Derick, “so you won’t spill it because the main event is about to start, y’all.” Derick sweeps his arm. “In the blue corner, we have the man you want to cheer. The fighter incognito—Mask.”
Mask steps into the ring and raises his arm as the crowd cheers its approval. Mask circles around once and then stands in his corner. He glances up quickly at the catwalk, but his attention is back on the ring when Derick starts to announce his opponent.
“And the challenger is built up stronger and broader than the wall around Fort Knox,” Derick holds his hand to his ear. “Did I hear someone say Brickhouse? Well, here he comes, moving toward us. Y’all better move back.”
Nova starts to laugh along with Bryce, and I hear him ask her, “Where do they get their names?” She turns around and beams a smile at Bryce like he’s her best friend. I hug my arms tighter, but they aren’t paying attention to me.
Brickhouse earns as many cheers as Mask, but it’s coming mainly from the guys checking out his massive torso. Brickhouse resembles a freak of nature, made of muscle and nothing else. He’s wider than Mask and has to weigh a ton more. The guy towers over everything in the warehouse, and when Brickhouse lifts his arm, he looks as if he could touch the ceiling. I move to stand, but Bryce’s hand grips my shoulder hard as he continues his intimate conversation with Nova. I sit back in my seat, but my body is on alert as my nerves vibrate like live wires traveling through me. Mask is talented, but his challenger is a beast. There’s no way Mask will win, and even if he does, he’s going to need medical attention.
The fight begins as soon as Derick flees the ring. I watch for Derick to come up to the catwalk, but he doesn’t show. He always watches the fight from up here, but I stop looking for Derick when the chanting begins.
“Fuck him up!” a guy in the crowd howls. “I paid for blood.”
My body starts to shake, and I rub my hands over my goose bumps, hoping it won’t be as bad as I expect. I glance over at Bryce, and he’s staring at me while Nova leans forward to watch the fight. He’s unnerving me with his icy looks, constantly assessing what I must be feeling. It’s hard to hide the concern fixed on my face. I wonder if Bryce knows that it’s Wyatt and if he’ll stop the fight to protect him. But I can’t snitch, not even to save him.
“Ooh!” someone shouts below, and our attention immediately goes back to the ring. Mask is on the ground, but he’s up again before Brickhouse can strike him. Mask dances back, placing space between them, but Brickhouse isn’t going to let Mask stall. He moves forward quickly, and Mask narrowly misses being pinned to the ropes.
Bryce has taken his arms off Nova and me, and we sit in a row on the edge of the couch. Nova is cheering on Mask, but Bryce watches unemotionally. Well, he’s trying to seem as if he doesn’t care, but Bryce clenches his fists tighter than the two men in the ring.
“Come on, ladies. Stop dickin’ around.”
I glare, wishing I could get that asshole into the ring.
The fight starts out slow, and the strategy riles the crowd up. Some asshole tosses his empty cup into the ring. Grinder’s eyes sweep over the spectators. If he figures out who did it, the guy’ll be banned for life. After a few tentative punches, Mask backs away toward the ropes. I hold my breath. Not a good move—he’ll be trapped. But when Brickhouse thinks he’s got him cornered, Mask pivots behind him. Mask lands a wicked blow to Brickhouse’s lower back and sends the giant man into the ropes.
People scream, and a rush of movement starts away from the stage as Brickhouse sways low on the ropes. I smile, hoping that Brickhouse will land on the obnoxious fool who threw the cup.
Mask lands another jab before Brickhouse straightens up. Brickhouse uses the ropes’ momentum to straighten up, and Mask doesn’t have a chance to get away. Brickhouse lashes out and lands a savage blow on Mask’s face. Mask stumbles back in a daze, bringing up his hands in time to block another blow.
Bryce scoffs and then crosses his legs, smiling as if he’s only just amused. I look back again, and the fighters are in a huddle. Mask’s fist disappears into a blur.
The fight shifts in a blink as Brickhouse wises up and uses his own weight against Mask. They both tumble to the floor as Brickhouse goes limp, pulling Mask down. Their arms are linked together. Brickhouse only strikes once before Mask rolls onto his feet. Brickhouse tries to move his heavy mass, but Mask kicks out his legs, sending him back down.
Each time the heavy man tries to lift himself, Mask sends him hurtling back down to the floor again. Every time Brickhouse lands against the cement surface, he does more damage, as if he’s beating himself up. Brickhouse lies on his back, panting and refusing to move. Derick jumps into the ring, declaring Mask the winner.
I’m on my feet and rush the railing, looking down at the ring at Mask. He pulls his torn shirt off, and the phoenix stretches across his toned back in flight. Nova is beside me, cheering and gripping my hand as she waves her fist.
“We won tonight!” she shouts, then hugs me.
I’m laughing, too, until I catch the look on Bryce’s calm face. I freeze, staring at the hate deep in his eyes as he turns away and disappears down the catwalk.
