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PAIGE
The coppery smell of blood and sweat was strong, even from where we were seated in the back of the stands. The room was dimly lit except for the spotlights focused on the ring in the middle. Scantily clad women walked around the arena, holding trays, some taking orders and others bets. From our vantage points we could see almost the entire club, but more importantly we had a direct line of sight to the V.I.P seating area.
Things were just starting to kick into gear, the stands were almost full and the first of the fighters were in the ring warming up. Seated front and center next to the ring, was the person I’d come to keep tabs on, next to him were the guys from the photos earlier. They were all huddled around looking at some sort of flyer.
“Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?” The announcer stepped into the ring, a short stubby guy in desperate need of a decent haircut and a shower. As the crowd whooped and cheered focused on the ring, I took the opportunity to scan the crowd. “We’re in for a wild one tonight. So sit back, get your bets in, drink up and enjoy tonight's entertainment.”
The lights started flashing and music started pumping through the sound system, the crowd started to go crazy, cheering and hollering as the fighters made their way into the ring. I fucking loved this song, and when all was said and done they’d all remember my name.
“Would you look at those three,” Laoise whispered in my ear, nodding in the direction where Ducane was seated. Even from where I was seated, you could tell exactly what they were doing. “They’re not even hiding their interests.”
They were scoping out every female that either walked by or was near them. The blonde adonis would then make a note or indicate to someone within the crowd that he was interested and Alexander Ducane would then open his phone, type something into it then continue on with his conversation. The fucking predators were using the fight night to hunt for their next victims.
“Don’t go anywhere alone tonight,” Tiernan said firmly as he leaned over Laoise, pointing at the two of us. I could just make out what he was saying over the roar of the crowd and the announcer starting the first fight. “I don’t think it's safe for either of you to be here tonight. You got that.”
“You should’ve let Tiernan and I come here to scope it out,” Cian shouted over the crowd, not hiding his disapproval. We’d argued back and forth back at the motel until I’d put my foot down and called rank.
The sound of the bell, signaling the start of the first fight tore us from our conversation. Punch after punch had the crowd up on their feet cheering, as the fighters ducked and weaved each other's attack. They were evenly matched from what I could see, one wearing blue the other yellow. Suddenly, the guy in blue was on the ground, his fist shielding his face as the other guy pounded into his side.
Blood trickled from his temple, but within seconds he was back on his feet. The blue fighter's fist, came round and caught his opponent square in the face, and sent him stumbling back a few steps, blood flying out of his mouth as he turned and looked at the other guy. A smile formed on his face, one that sent chills down my spine, there was nothing good that would come from this fight tonight.
I watched on as the guy in yellow performed a roundhouse kick causing the other guy to drop to the mat. Before the guy in blue had a chance to get back up a foot landed into his ribs, the painful cry could be heard above all the ruckus. Even from where I was sitting I could see the bruises starting to form. Shades of purple, blue and black had now started to wash across his body.
Tonight was only for entertainment, god only knew what the upcoming tournament would bring for those that stepped inside that ring. I needed some fresh air, the noise and smell had started to get me.
“I need to go outside for a few,” I informed Cian, as I nudged him to gain his attention. He nodded then leaned over to let Tiernan know where we were heading out too.
We pushed and squeezed our way through the throngs of spectators until we made our way to one of the side doors. The cool late summer air was refreshing once we made it outside. The sun had long set, and the moon was high in the sky, the smell of rain was about.
“That shit is brutal Cian,” I sighed, running a hand through my long dark hair. Pacing I tried to figure out our next move. There would be no way we’d be able to take Ducane from this place, there were too many variables and not enough escape routes.
“Yeah Paige it usually is but the payout is worth it for some of those guys,” I looked at Cian and waited for him to elaborate. Cian sighed. “I’ve gone a few rounds at the one back home, but this makes ours look like a highschool wrestling match. You know it would be too dangerous to do anything here right?”
Just as I was about to answer we heard screaming coming from further down the small side alley we were in. Looking at each other, we took off in the direction we heard the sound from. The alley was dimly lit and the closer we got the darker it became. Something was screaming in my head for us to stop, that this was somehow a trap, but I refused to let another woman go through what Phee and I had.
We stopped short of the action, taking in the situation. Just ahead of us, were two burly guys dressed in black sweats and white singlets hauling a female into a black SUV. From what we could see there wasn’t anyone else around. Slowly we crept up, looking over at Cian I nodded, giving the signal, we pounced.
Cian took the one on the left, and I went after the douche on the right. We took them by surprise long enough for them to drop the unsuspecting female before they quickly realized what was happening. Cian turned to the girl, “run” he yelled at her. With my guy in a chokehold I watched as she took off down the same way we came.
It was the wrong move, before we knew it two more thugs had joined the fray, the guy I had a hold of was out cold, so I jumped in to help with the newcomers. Cian was holding his own but neither of us saw the guy coming up from behind until it was too late. A hit to the head from behind saw him drop like a sack of potatoes, out cold on the ground. Fuck, I knew this felt wrong.
“She wasn’t the intended target was she?” I asked, but I already knew the answer, I never took my eyes off any of them. I had to find a way out of this, or at least stall until the others realized we hadn’t come back yet.
“They made you before you even walked through the door, sweet cheeks.” A voice came from behind the three thugs, shrouded in the shadows. Slowly the owner of the voice stepped forward. None other than the blonde guy from Cian's photos.
“Wasn’t like I was trying to disguise myself, pudding pop,” I internally chuckled to myself, this douche thought I cared about the reason. “But I gotta say you’re making a grave mistake by taking me.”
“Yeah, I doubt that.” He now stood in front of me, cocked his head as he looked me up and down. A malicious smile etched across his face. He leaned in close and whispered in my ear, his breath warm with a hint of peppermint. “My sources tell me your family has a beef with one of my clients. That they took something from him.”
My back stiffened as Blondie lowered his head into my neck, inhaling as he caged me in. My back against the SUV now with only one way out. Instinct took over and I brought my knee up into his groin, in one swift movement, I managed to duck under his arm and make a break for it, only to feel a hand grip my hair and yank me back.
“I was going to do this nicely but you had to be a bitch,” Blondie growled, his voice dark. My back was against his chest and his hand wrapped around my throat. One of his goons rushed forward and yanked the door to the SUV open. “Now we do this my way, hell I may even enter the tournament if you’re what I get at the end.”
His statement made my blood run cold and the realization I’d now come full circle, I was a prize and nothing more. Fuck.
“Cian, Cian get up,” I yelled trying to rouse him as I fought against my would-be captor.
Outnumbered, and overpowered, I dug my heels in, in an attempt to stop them shoving me into the vehicle, it was futile as blondie hoisted me off the ground and threw me into the back seat, before he slammed the door shut and jumped in the front.
“I suggest you get comfortable, doll face,” he snickered over his shoulder, if there wasn’t a cage to stop me I would have wiped the smirk he sported off his face. “We have a long drive ahead of us.”
