Page 26 of Beguiled

“Come here, honey. You are one hot babe.” I moved with grace or at least tried to keep from falling flat on my face. The speaker dragged his tongue across his bottom lip while shoving a twenty in my garter.

A little bird reminded me what Patrick had said about spunk. What did I have to lose?

“Is that all you got? Trust me. I’m worth so… much… more.”

“Whoa,” a couple of guys said at the same time.

I batted my eyelashes for their benefit and like that, the hundred-dollar bills popped out.

At least that allowed me to experience more confidence. The first fight lasted a full five rounds and both men were bloody.

But I had to admit, a tiny thrill had kept me from fainting, both fighters very skilled even if they were beating the crap out of each other. I’d lost count of how much money I’d earned, but when the fight was over, Mark even gave me a thumbs up.

I could do this. What shocked me almost as much was the rush of adrenaline I was experiencing, now completely replacing the fear. Even the knot in my stomach was gone.

When the second fight started, I was able to breathe a little easier. Being on stage no longer had the effect of making me long to vomit in my mouth. The makeup was the key. I could be anyone I wanted hiding behind gold and silver, reds and blues. I even blew a couple of kisses to the crowd.

This fight lasted four rounds and I hadn’t noticed until the last just how bloody it had gotten. The mat was slickened, stained from one corner to another. The last punch was the worst, blood flying over the ropes, landing right in front of me. Along with two teeth and the loud cracking that indicated broken bones.

He was carried off the stage while the other man reveled in being the winner.

The crowd cheered, pushing against the ropes. When the fighters left the area, a crew came in to wash down the ring.

A bottle of water was suddenly placed in my hand, Mark standing over me, also offering a towel. He was huge, a large, jagged scar on one side of his face. “Mind yourself with the last fight,” he said in a deep voice, his warning clear.

“Why?”

He snorted. “Because the Born Killer was called to duty.”

“The born killer?” I wiped my face and neck, grimacing when noticing the blood staining the material.

His nods were slow and deliberate. “He’s a real piece of work. Stay out of his way. He doesn’t like interference.” He grabbed the towel from my hand, grinning at the sight of blood.

As Mark walked away, I glanced across the corner of the ring to the guys on the other side. They were completely revved, money already exchanging hands. Why did I have a terrible feeling this was more than just a fight until a man was unconscious?

I had a strong feeling this was a fight to the death.

The crowd of men was on their feet, several chanting ‘Born Killer’ as if the man was a legend. I had no idea what to expect, completely overwhelmed by the intense level of energy. Fists were in the air, faces bright red. The dudes who weren’t screaming his moniker were shouting something just as powerful.

And horrible.

Kill! Kill! Kill!

While holding my breath, I turned in a full circle, allowing myself the full vibe of the club. This was a situation where if the owner decided to pull the fight, there would be mass casualties. I could feel the pressure building, the hunger and the longing to see and taste blood already cracking the surface.

Blinking, I tried to concentrate on the stage, my thudding heart so loud the sound managed to drown out some of the worst exclamations.

“Kill the bastard!”

“Send him to his maker!”

“Slice and dice, Born Killer.”

Jesus. Beads of sweat ran down the back of my neck, my upper lip covered in wetness. While I should wish I was anywhere elsebut here, an unwanted level of excitement was churning in my system. How was that even possible? This was crazy.

The announcer was some big burly guy, also dressed in a suit, but his massive body created strain on the seams. He had the kind of voice that should keep him employed in Hollywood, the unseen announcer behind every movie trailer. Only I could tell by his beady little eyes he got off on the blood and violence.

My hands were clammy as he announced the contestant who would go up against the favored home boy.