I watched as he found a seat and talked with his friends though he seemed somewhat separate from the group like he was a bit of an outcast. I don’t know, something about him reminded me of myself.
And then he had to go and raise that magnificent body out of his chair and make his way over to the bar. The guy hardly said a word but I was a bumbling mess of nerves as his friends tried to hit on me. I swear, I must have been blushing like an idiot.
From the moment he left the bar, he sat at his table and never took his eyes off me. It was super intense and made me feel all gooey inside but who am I kidding? He is definitely a heart-breaker, someone I should stay far, far away from.
A boy like him could only be bad news.
Since that night, I’ve seen him one other time. He had come into Micky’s one day during lunch. The bar wasn’t open but I was hanging out with some of the waitresses and helping out where I could, even though Micky continuously demanded that I go and have a life rather than staying holed up in his bar, but I can’t help it. I love it here.
His eyes clocked me the second I came out of the kitchen with a tray full of meals. I almost fell flat on my face and spilled the food all over the place when I saw him. Though, my nerves only got worse when I realised I was taking the food to their table.
I unloaded the tray as quickly as I could with his dark eyes trained on me and the second I could, I disappeared up to my apartment in fears of him getting deeper under my skin.
Hell, the guy is running circles in my mind and I don’t even know his name.
“Earth to Charli,” I hear Lex, one of the other girls who works at Micky’s say as she starts clicking in my face. Shit. Daydreaming about the sexy guy again.
“Oh, sorry,” I cringe. “What do you need?”
We’re just finishing up our shift on Thursday night and wiping down all the tables. “I was trying to ask I you wanted to come out with me tonight?” she asks.
“Oh, sorry, I was completely in my own head,” I admit. “Where are you going?” I ask, not really sure I want to be going anywhere with Lex, she seems like bad news.
“Not sure,” she shrugs. “My boyfriend was taking me somewhere and asked if I wanted to bring some friends along,” she explains.
“I don’t know, Lex,” I say. “It’s already late.”
“Come on,” she insists. “You’ve been here for three weeks and haven’t gone anywhere apart from this old bar. It’s about time you meet some new people, don’t you think?”
Damn it. Why did she have to word it like that?
“I don’t really have anything to wear,” I admit.
“Don’t stress, I have my whole closet in my car. I’ll grab us a few things and we can head up to your place to get ready. It’ll be fun. I’ll get Eddie to meet us here.”
Shit. “Fine,” I sigh.
She gives me a big beaming smile but she is right. I’ve been here for weeks and still haven’t managed to meet any friends or even leave the place for a night, maybe this is just what I need to break out of my shell. A fun night out.
Just as Lex had promised, ten minutes later she ducks out to her car and comes back in with a few different options. We head up to my place and she dresses me in a little black dress and throws a pair of black heels my way. Shit. I’ve never worn heels before and to tell the truth, they look downright terrifying but I pull them on anyway.
Lex insists on doing my hair and makeup. She pulls my hair out and fluffs it up a bit, saying it needs some volume, then proceeds to put black eyeliner on my eyes.
I take a look in the mirror and I’m blown away, I’ve never worn makeup before, well, honestly, I would have loved to but I’ve never been able to afford it but come tomorrow, I’m heading to the shops and buying one of these little bastards for myself.
The black kohl around my light blue eyes makes them ‘pop’ in a way I have never seen before and I absolutely love it. I take my whole look in, my dark hair, the little black dress matched with the heels. Wow.
I’m busy admiring the way the heels make my ass and legs look when Lex gets a message on her phone saying that her boyfriend is out the front before dragging me back down the stairs. I make sure to lock up my apartment before flicking all the lights and locking Micky’s bar.
We get into Eddie’s beat up old car and Lex immediately climbs into his lap and shoves her tongue down his throat. I cringe and look away while I roll down the window, trying to get a bit of fresh air from the stale smell of old cigarettes, a smell that reminds of my step-mum.
Lex soon climbs over to the passenger’s seat and we get on the way. He drives like a freaking maniac through the city and ends up in a dodgy looking area at what must be an abandoned building. There are heaps of other cars around but no one out on the street.
The place has my nerves on high alert but it’s a little too late to back out now.
We all get out of the car and there is a chill in the air, but at least it’s not bucketing down with rain so that’s a positive. Lex loops her arms through mine as if we’re best friends and pulls me along as we enter the building.
Just as I thought, we enter into an abandoned building, which looks as though it’s pretty damn close to falling down. I hear loud music, muffled by walls and wonder where the hell it’s coming from and if it’s some weird party she’s brought me to, which could only be bad news. Crap, I bet this place is filled with the wrong sort of people. “Where the hell have you brought me, Lex?” I ask, slightly freaked out.
“Chill out,” she sings with a big grin. “You’re going to love it.”
I zip my lips as she drags me to the back of the building and opens a door. The sound suddenly becomes un-muffled and I peek through. Lex doesn’t give me a chance to figure out where I am before she pulls me through the door, leads me down a staircase and into a massive room.
The room is swarming with people and my mouth literally pops open with what I’m seeing. There is a bar set up with tables and chairs but that isn’t what has my attention, it’s the big boxing ring in the centre with two guys going at it, blood dripping from a nasty cut above one of their eyes.
“Holy shit,” I whisper to myself.
“Tell me about it,” Lex grins. “Isn’t it awesome?”
Sure, it’s awesome but it’s totally illegal. I could get in so much trouble if I get caught here. Well, I don’t really have anyone to get me in trouble except for maybe Micky but he would just say he is disappointed in me and give me the ‘look’.
I hold onto Lex’s arm a little tighter as I realise this place is filled with all the wrong sorts of people and to be honest, I don’t know whether to be freaked out or intrigued by the place.
“Oh look,” Lex squeals in my ear. “He’s here.”
“Who’s here?” I ask.
“Your date,” she grins.
“My what?” I ask, horrified.
She lets go of my arm and races forward towards a guy who looks like a complete and utter sleaze-ball and also reminds me of the guy who tried to get a little too friendly my first night in the city. He looks me up and down and I see the interest in his eye as Lex drags him back towards me and Eddie. “You can thank me later,” Lex says as she leans into me.
“Hey,” the guy says with hooded eyes. “I’m Chris.”
“Um, hi,” I say reluctantly. “I’m Charli.”
He steps up beside me and throws his arm over my shoulder while dipping his head towards me. “Let’s find a seat, baby,” he whispers in my ear right before running his nose up the length of my neck and sniffing me.
Ugh, I slide out from under his arm and cringe at the feel of his damp nose on my skin. What a freaking creep.
I turn to leave but the next fight is announced and the crowd all push towards the ring, giving me no chance at escape. I follow along with the crowd and find a space close to the ring with a perfect view. Lex shuffles in beside me with Eddie hugging her from behind. Chris attempts the same thing but I push him off me and send a w
icked glare his way. “Dude, you have no chance. Don’t even think about it,” I warn him. He holds his hands up in surrender but I see the challenge in his eyes. He isn’t finished for the night, this fucker is certain I’ll end up in his bed. What a twat.
A voice is heard over the speakers and a man announces the fighters. The first guy comes out in nothing but a pair of shorts and he looks angry, especially with the scar that leads from his right eye, straight down in a jaggered line to his lip. The crowd cheer for him and then the announcer brings out the guys opponent, which is when the crowd goes nuts. Bets are made and people are screaming out for their favourite fighter.
The fight starts and I can’t tear my eyes away. This shit is brutal. The fighters are quite literally beating on each other. Blood is spilled all over the ring as the guy with the scar really lays into his opponent. Scar guy gets the other guy on the ground and basically sits on top of him while his fists pummel into him.
“Crap, aren’t there rules or something?” I ask Lex, who watches the fight with wide eyes.
“Pft, no,” she scoffs. “Not in the underground,” she tells me.
Holy cow. This is sort of terrifying but I can’t tear my eyes away. Scar guy knocks his opponent out and a guy wearing black comes into the ring and holds his hand up to the sky declaring him the winner of this round.
Fight after fight is held and I’m amazed at how much blood lines the floor. The last guy who went down, tried to move his arms and legs as he attempted to get up and unconsciously made a snow angel or... a blood angel? I don’t know but it was damn gross.
The alcohol is flowing around the place and bets continue to be made but my eyes remain solely on the ring. The announcer calls the final fight and introduces a new guy to the ring, explaining that this is his first time in the Underground.
I see the interest in people eyes as they see new-blood for the first time and I feel I’m starting to understand it. They are excited that it could be someone much better than the other or he could be used as a punching bag. Who knows? But the crowd seem interested.
The announcer introduces him as ‘The Widow-Maker’ and the crowd do their usual cheering and chanting as the guy enters the ring.
The guy is wearing a black robe with a hood as he walks into the ring. He pulls it off and my eyes notice the body first, it is like a work of art but then he lifts his head to the cheering crowd and my heart stops.
It couldn’t be him. He’s a hockey player, not a fighter. Strange feelings course through me, intrigued to see him fight but terrified he will get hurt. But why do I care?
Damn it. I wish I knew his name.
As if sensing my eyes on him, he looks straight up at me, focusing those smouldering eyes right on mine. I see the surprise clearly written on his face but also something else that I can’t quite explain. It’s almost as if he’s happy I am here like I’m giving him a reason to show off, to be better.
I don’t know but either way… I’m damn curious.
Chapter 5
Xander
It’s my first fight of the competition and I have to admit, my nerves are starting to get the best of me. I know I’m prepared but I’ve never seen the opponent before, how do I know what to expect? Is he good? Is he a clean fighter or a dirty one?
Who the hell knows?
“You’ve got this,” Cole says to me as he takes both my shoulders and gives them a tight squeeze. Luke and Jace stand next to him, both giving me encouraging nods.
“Don’t let him get you off your feet,” Jace reminds me.
I nod along with them, taking in any last-minute advice they’ve got for me, after all, I don’t want to screw up my first fight of the season and tarnish my reputation before I’ve even got one. Besides, there is five grand on the line for tonight. Compared to my trust fund, that’s just spare change but it’s going to make a difference when I need to get my own place and live on my own two feet.
The announcer is heard over the speaker and is suddenly calling me ‘the Widow-Maker’ like who the fuck comes up with this shit? I don’t have a chance to dwell on it as Cole pushes me out into the ring with my robe and all.
The crowd is going nuts as they try to get a good look at the new-blood, trying to figure out what kind of competition I’m going to be. Little do they know, this competition is mine. I’m just that good.
I slowly pull off my robe, giving the chicks in the audience a good show before flicking it over to Cole who snatches it out of the air with a smirk. I hear the chicks in the crowd all screaming out dirty comments, wanting to get me in bed while the guys are all rushing around trying to get their bets down.
Even with every eye in the room on me, I feel a familiar piercing stare that has my heart rate picking up. What the hell. She couldn’t be here. There’s no way.
My eyes snap up to the crowd, right to the area I feel her stare. My eyes lock on hers in an instant to find her gawking at me and I have to admit I am completely shocked. What the hell is Charli doing here? Sweet, innocent Charli at a freaking place like this.
A strange need pulses through me to get out of the ring and rush up to her just so I can drag her ass out of this shit hole and take her home. She doesn’t belong in a place like this. But honestly, what do I know? Apart from telling her to keep my chance, I’ve never actually spoken to the chick. What do I know if she is an innocent, sweet girl? Hell, she works in a bar for fuck's sake and now she is at an underground fight. Maybe she isn’t the kind of girl I thought she was, maybe she is just the kind of girl I could bend over an….. No. I need to concentrate
Either way. She is here now and there is no way I am leaving this ring without my first win under my belt. I keep my eyes trained on her and watch as some loser flings his arm over her then leans his whole drunken body against hers, making her stumble forward. It infuriates me to see, but I must admit I get a slight satisfaction out of the way she cringes in distaste and pushes the loser off.
He wobbles behind her but she clearly doesn’t give a shit about the guy. A smirk comes ripping across my face and I watch in amusement as the corners of her lips begin to rise.
Whoever this girl is, I’ll be finding her after the fight.
The announcer starts to introduce my opponent and I know it’s time to stop staring at Charli and get my head in the game. I send a wink in her direction and grin as her face instantly flames.
I turn away and face the opposite side of the ring, mainly to give Charli a moment to get herself sorted but also to check out who this twat is ill be competing against.
The guy is introduced as ‘Hell-Raiser’ and I scoff at the pathetic excuse of a fight this is going to be. The guy is small and has barely any muscle mass. Though I have to be smart about this, he is here for a reason and wouldn’t be here if he couldn’t fight, which means the guy must be fast but so far, I have never come across anyone that is faster than me.
I watch him as he strips himself of his robe and makes his way into the centre of the ring, looking up at the crowd with both hands raised as if he is already the undefeated champion. Yeah freaking right. I need to teach this loser a lesson.
Before long he focuses his attention on me and the fight gets started. He lashes out immediately and I jump back out of the way, narrowly missing my jaw. Wow, this bastard really is quick. He smirks at me as if his little deadly secret has been revealed and I should suddenly be shaking in my boots.
He pushes forward but I won’t let this kid make a fool of me. I match his advance and go right for him. He seems put off, so I use that to my advantage and nail the guy in the gut then follow it up with a quick combination. Jab, jab, kick and repeat.
It’s almost like a game. The adrenaline pulsing through my veins has me feeling almost on cloud nine, add that to the feeling that I’ve got this fight in the bag and knowing that Charli can’t take her eyes off me. Amazing.
I’ve barely broken a sweat. ‘Hell-Raiser’ attempts to fight back but he has worn down way too quickly. Total rookie
error.
“Quit playing with him,” I hear Cole scolding from the side, his voice roaring over the sound of the enthusiastic crowd.
I smirk down at the kid, who has sweat dripping through the centre of his eyebrows, a busted lip and a scowl that could go on for days. I almost feel bad finishing it so quickly, that the kid hardly got a chance to impress anyone which will not benefit the rest of his competition but I came here to do a job and build a reputation. From this point on, no one in this competition will doubt my skill, no one will enter the ring with me as cocky has this idiot had.
A slight cringe comes over me but I hide it immediately as my fist comes up and I clock him in the temple.
‘Hell-Raiser’ goes down like a sack of shit.
A guy comes rushing into the centre of the ring and grabs my wrist, holding it high above my head then speaks into a microphone. “Winner by ‘KO’ – ‘The Widow-Maker’.” The crowd starts cheering and I look up into the stands.
My eyes land on Charli instantly and what I see there has me thinking all sorts dangerous things. Her blue eyes flame as she takes me in, her bottom lip is pulled in between her teeth and without seeing those delectable thighs, I know they are pressing together, desperately trying to relieve the ache that she’s hoping I can fix.
Her need has me wanting to do all sorts of things to her, especially when the blush creeps over her cheeks when she realises she has been caught.
I smirk up at her but I don’t get to watch her long before Cole, Luke, and Jace are tackling me to the sweat and blood-soaked ground.
“I knew you could fucking do it,” Luke exclaims as he grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me in his own excitement.
Cole claps me on the back with a massive grin that takes over his whole face. He doesn’t say a word but he doesn’t need to, the words ‘fuck yeah’ is practically written across his forehead.
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