Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
“My man Eraser over in the corner will take your bets.” Remy turns and points to a table against the back wall. Eraser stands with his arms crossed over his chest and throws a surly look at the room. He nods but doesn’t wave or respond to the introduction. The money guy can’t afford to look too friendly. Ella’s sitting next to him with a more approachable smile. She doesn’t stand and Remy doesn’t acknowledge her. Knowing the guys, it’s a safety issue, not a slight against Ella.
“Betting ends once the fighters are in the cage and the door closes,” Remy continues.
With one quick, powerful movement, Griff shoves the door. It swings shut with a thunderous clang. A few people jump and back away from the cage perimeter.
“Maintain a respectful distance from the cage. Do not touch the fence.” Remy jumps off the chair and slaps his palm against the chain link encircling the fighting ring. A soft clinking rustles through the air as the fence brushes against the steel poles embedded in the floor. Inside the cage, big foam pads cover the unforgiving metal. Outside, not so much.
“No refunds. No fighting outside the ring. No touching anyone or anything that doesn’t belong to you. In our house, we congratulate the winners, shake hands with the losers, and leave the fight in the cage. Take your petty beefs off of our property. No whining if you lose—better luck next time.” He stops and runs his gaze over the crowd, then moves onto the punishment phase of his lecture—which, if I remember correctly, is much shorter. “Punishment for breaking our rules will range from a simple beating to expulsion to permanent bans. Are we clear?”
Remy pulls the bullhorn away from his mouth, cocks his head, and cups his hand around one ear.
The deafening roar of spectators shouting, “Clear!” fills the building.
“Excellent! Tonight, we welcome a new challenger to our ring of chaos.” Remy drones on about this newcomer, then runs through a list of the other matches. I tune him out and search the room, recognizing more people than I expected.
I recognize a few kids from school—some who graduated a couple of years before me. Others seem familiar, but I can’t place them. There’s a mix of men and women but it’s definitely a more male than female audience overall.
At least eight or nine different girls who look like they took their fashion cues from a Victoria’s Secret runway show mill around a large, garage-sized doorway. Ring bunnies. I’m fairly certain the tallest dark-haired one in a gold minidress worthy of a space-cowboy movie has come home with my brother once or twice. Three of the girls watch Griff with an interest that turns my stomach.
I slide my gaze away from the bunnies. A few guys wearing Lost Kings MC vests prowl through the crowd, keeping order just by the name of their club on their backs and the terrifying scowls on their faces. I recognize one Lost King—Jigsaw—since he’s at Zips a lot. He probably doesn’t remember me, so I don’t bother waving or doing anything to call attention to myself.
While my brother continues his spiel, Griff pushes his way through the crowd. Most of the spectators seem to be headed toward the betting table, making Griff look like a fish swimming upstream.
There’s no smile on his face when he reaches me, but he wraps me in his arms. “You okay?”
“Are you sorry I came tonight?” I tip my head back to see his face.
“No, but things get rough sometimes.”
“I’m glad you’re not fighting.”
His lips tilt into a playful smile. “I thought you liked seeing me win?”
Shock holds my tongue for a few beats. Maybe I shouldn’t have tuned out Remy’s speech so early. Is Griff planning to get in the cage? “Remy said you two are calling the fights tonight.”
His playful grin intensifies. “So, you don’t want to see me in the ring?”
“Honestly? No.” My heart pounds. “It makes me a little stabby every time you take a hit.” Stabby makes me sound braver than I am. The last time I saw him fight, I almost threw up when he got kicked in the head.
“Good thing I don’t take many hits, then.” He brushes his knuckles against my cheek. “You’d be dangerous with a sharp instrument.”
“When it comes to you, yes.”
He hugs me against his body again, and this time I snake my arms around his middle and rest my cheek on his chest.
“I’m glad you’re here tonight,” he says.
Pressed so tight to his body, I both feel and hear his statement. I snuggle even closer. Even in amongst all this chaos and bloodlust, I’m safe with Griff. “Me too.” I tip my head to peer up at him. “I’m proud of you two.” I nod to the crowd surrounding the cage. “What you and Remy have built here.”