AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Funny how these pissants thought my brothers were protecting me from the crowd and not the other way around. A smirk curled my lips as I stepped up the three short stairs and bent to slip through the two red ropes.
The spotlights always took some getting used to. So fucking obnoxiously bright. I squinted into the crowd of shouting, animated faces. Finding Diesel at the edge of the room, just next to the bar, his arms crossed. He nodded to me, and I grinned maniacally.
His fingers slyly came up to tap his jaw. Three times.
He wanted me to go at least three rounds before putting Conor down.
I nodded back. I’d try, but Diesel knew just as well as my brothers that I couldn’t always control what happened once that bell rang.
The music shifted and Conor Jones entered from the other curtained off section of the wide, black-painted space. He pounded his fists together and lifted his chin, slapping the hands of the crowd on his way down to the ring. A swagger in his step. A showman.
Unlike me, Jones’ body was entirely devoid of ink. A blank canvas. Unblemished. He looked like a baby. If babies had eight packs and a sick fade. Something in his clean-shaven face only heightened the illusion. The guy could’ve been sixteen or twenty-six. It was anybody’s guess. Corvus would know, but I didn’t care to ask.
He’d be prettier covered in purple and red. When I was finished.
Jones stepped into the ring and raised his arms, shouting into the crowd as they cheered for him.
A chant ofCon-or Jones, Con-or Jones, Co-nor Jonesbegan, and I held in a snicker. He brought some fans. Cute. I wondered if he spotted them the minimum bet, too. I knew his type. I wouldn’t doubt it if he had. He’d be expecting a cut of his winnings, which he clearly thought he had in the bag.
We squared off, and I hesitated before bumping fists, letting him question the look in my eyes. His cocky grin faltered, recognizing that I was a predator. Or maybe that he was the prey.
Pinky positioned himself between us, getting ready to signal the start of the fight. That was basically all we had a ref for down here. There weren’t really rules in the basement of Sanctum.
I glanced up one last time, looking for Grey and Corv. I found them in my corner, waiting for the end of the first round. Kit and water already in hand.
My lips parted. Breath catching as a sharp set of brown eyes met mine from the edge of the room. I’d know those eyes anywhere, even if they were tinted with false color. They’d been haunting my dreams for days.
It didn’t matter that she was wearing a short black wig and heavy-handed makeup, there was no mistaking her. She shuffled uncomfortably, turning slightly and breaking eye contact.
Yeah.
It was her.
I’d know that ass anywhere.
Ava Jade had come to Sanctum. Ava Jade was going to watch my fight. I didn’t know why I was surprised. I had no reason to be. Of course she could get in. Of course she could get the money for the minimum bet. I didn’t think there was much shecouldn’tdo.
The animal within preened like a motherfucking peacock, and I licked my lips, my focus back on my target. Blood buzzing in my ears.
Oh, I was going to make this good.
“Fight!” Pinky roared, dropping his hand swiftly between us before rushing to back up out of the crossfire. It was time for the beast to play. I lunged.
He saw me.I was sure of it.
Rook went at his opponent like a hurricane. A tatted hurricane with storm cloud eyes and a shock of black hair. Andfuckif it wasn’t the hottest thing I’d seen in my entire life.
His muscles rippled and flexed beneath the ink with each skillful blow. His focus was singular. Blind to the world around him as he danced and parried around Conor Jones, making him look a fool.
This man was born to fight.
Conor landed a blow to Rook’s jaw, tearing his lip. Blood dribbled down his chin and splattered on the floor. He wasn’t shocked though, I could tell he was grinning even with the mouth guard making it look more like a grimace. It was in his eyes. The high he was getting from not only inflicting pain, but receiving it as well.
I began a slow walk around the perimeter of Sanctum’s underground club, getting different angles on the fight. I was certain of it on the next hit Conor landed; Rook had allowed it. It wasn’t a lucky hit. Rook was letting the pasty-skinned fucker hit himon purpose. A slow grin spread over my lips, and I shook my head, unsure what to make of that.
I would have my work cut out for me with him. If Rook got close enough, I wouldn’t be able to take him on my own. The admission stung. I ground my teeth, but it was the truth. It was why I’d come. I needed to know what I was up against.
Grey was a challenge, but I could take him if necessary.
