"I want the stamp," I said, holding out my hand and digging my heels in a little as Fox made a move to sweep me on through.
He indulged me as the girl quickly obliged, inking the word Slammers to my hand with a nervous smile.
I grinned down at the name of the club, wondering why I hadn't instantly realised that this was Ace's place the second Tatum had told me the name of it.
I took Fox's hand in mine, quickly pressing the back of my hand against his so that the ink transferred to him too, just like we all used to do every year when the carnival came. You couldn't go on any of the rides without a stamp to prove you’d paid the entrance fee, so we used to pool our money for one ticket then quickly press the ink to each of our hands before it could dry. Fox and Rick could have just bought their own of course, but they always stuck with us when we were pulling a con, no matter how petty it was.
Fox sighed, lifting my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles before leading me down a dimly lit corridor into the heart of the club.
The volume of the music rose to a roar the moment we were inside and my eyes widened as I drank in the dark space with my heart thrashing with excitement.
There was a single brightly lit area in the whole room, the large fighting cage at the heart of the space dominating everyone's attention as a blonde dude with a tattoo of a roaring tiger on his bare chest beat the living hell out of his opponent against the wire.
The crowd were screaming and cheering for him and the vibe of the club had my veins buzzing with excitement, making my smile widen even further.
The club had almost entirely standing room only, so I had to push up onto my tiptoes to try and see around a tall fucker when he moved into the space ahead of me.
Fox noticed and tugged me towards him, grasping my waist and turning my back to his chest before ducking down and encouraging me to get onto his shoulders.
I laughed as he lifted me up, his fingers curling around my thighs as he held me in place and I was gifted the best seat in the house as the blonde dude punched his opponent so hard that he fell to the floor of the cage and didn't get back up.
The crowd exploded with cheers as a board flashed up, naming the winner as Simone Dipsicle and I watched as the people who had bet on him celebrated while those who had bet against him cursed and tore up their betting slips.
My gaze caught on a flash of blonde hair and I spotted Tatum on the other side of the cage, jumping up and down and pumping her fist in celebration as the winner of the match was let out of the cage. She raced forward and leapt on him, kissing him passionately despite the blood speckling his skin.
"Onward horsey," I called to Fox, pointing across the crowd to my friend and kicking my legs like he was my faithful steed. "Yah!"
Fox made some comment about him being happy for me to ride him if that was what I wanted and graciously started walking through the crowd while I stayed high above the sweaty bodies on his shoulders.
I kept directing him until we made it to my friend and Tatum yelled a greeting to me over the music as Fox let me down.
"You made it!" she cried enthusiastically, throwing her arms around me and drawing me into a hug.
Fox did some super cool dudebro head nodding and acknowledging of the three guys who were with her while they all clearly sized each other up. Tatum had brought two more of her boyfriends, aside from the one who had just won in the cage and I grinned at Tats as he gave me an indulgent smile.
"Hey, troublemaker," he said to me. "I hope you're not here to try and corrupt my girl again."
"Corrupt? Moi? Never," I assured him.
"Are you in the line up tonight?" Fox asked him, his arm going around my shoulders again as he tugged me close to his side, that whole possessive asshole streak to him coming out to play.
"I'm headlining, sweetheart," Tats taunted. "They like to save the best 'til last."
Tatum scoffed. "No chance of that because I'm up before you. You're more like the filler at the end of the night."
"No fucking way," I gasped in excitement, looking at her with wide eyes. "Are you gonna kick ass up there in that cage for real?"
"Sure am," she agreed.
"Who are you up against?" Fox asked Tats, and I swear to Christ they were both flexing.
"Someone who calls himself Pyro," Tats scoffed.
"You want a real opponent instead?" Fox offered and I froze. No, scrap that, I melted. Because the idea of Fox getting up in that ring and going all wild dog with his shirt off and his body gleaming with sweat was all kinds of intriguing.
"So the rumours are true? The Harlequin prince likes getting his fists wet?" Tats asked, a smirk on his lips as he sized up my man, looking excited about the prospect of that fight.
"Jesus, I'm about to choke on all the testosterone flooding this room," I muttered, pretending to swoon against Fox's chest and he caught me with a snort of laughter.
"Don't you want me to fight?" he asked, sounding disappointed.
"Err, where did you get that idea?" I asked him. "Do you seriously think I would have any objections to seeing you up there shirtless and sweaty, fighting like a motherfucker with your body all oiled up as you roll around with another dude who-"
"There's no oiling up," Fox said, rolling his eyes at me and I huffed.
"Way to ruin my fantasy, Badger. Maybe you can ask around and see if there's a bit of oil going spare anyway?"
"Oooh, then we can film it and make a viral video," Tatum suggested with a giggle.
"Yes! How do you guys feel about doing this naked?"
Fox shoved me playfully while I laughed with Tatum, but I was pretty certain I had him close to convinced on this, so I wasn't giving up.
We all moved away from the cage as another fight started up, finding a spot at the side of the room where we could hear each other a little easier as the drinks began to flow. I mean, mostly they flowed my way because the others were keeping a clear head for their fights, but I did a damn good job of drinking their share alongside Tatum's other boyfriends.
When the time came for Tatum's fight, I was officially half cut, but the buzz I had going was of the best variety and I was front and centre to watch her as she climbed up into the cage in a sports bra and shorts combo which kinda made me crush on her. Damn she had legs for days. I couldn't wait to see her roundhouse a bitch with those things.
The fight was brutal and Tatum fought like a motherfucking badass, throwing her opponent around the ring and taking her own hits like a pro.
I was screaming her name the whole time and when she dropkicked the bitch she was fighting to the ground, I swear I tore my own throat open with my triumphant screams on her behalf.
Tatum headed for the cage door as it was unlocked, swiping blood from her face as her guys hurried around to congratulate her, but before I could follow, Fox caught my waist and spun me to face him.
"Wish me luck," he said in a low voice, making my eyes flick up over his shoulder to the neon board which was announcing the next fight. Big Bad Badger vs Lord Squiddington.
I grinned at the name he'd picked out at my suggestion and Fox caught my chin in his grip as he drove me back against the wire of the cage.
He leaned in and my lips parted automatically at the promise of his kiss. "When I win, I want a prize from this mouth," he growled, his voice somehow reaching me above the roar of the music. "Will you give it to me, baby?"
I licked my lips slowly as I held his green eyes, my skin tingling at the contact with his and a nod making my head bob up and down without my permission. I was pretty certain he was asking for a kiss, but I couldn’t help but imagine what else I could do with my mouth for him. And I had to say, I wasn’t all that opposed to the ideas that were forming in my mind.
Fox smirked like a cocky asshole before releasing me, leaving me aching for him as a groan escaped me. Why did these boys keep doing that shit to me? I was addickted to them and I was starting to think the only answer to that problem lay on top of them. Or under them. Or pinned
against something by them. Or in front of them. Behind them. On my knees for-
"Eddie and Tom are gonna stick with you while I'm fighting. Promise you won't give them the slip,” Fox said, making me blink away fantasies of my mouth wrapped around his cock and a faint blush lined my cheeks.
"No worries, Badger. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be the one panting over you against the wire while you go full savage in that cage."
His pupils darkened at my joke and I was actually kind of certain it wasn't even a joke at all.
Fox pushed away from me, jerking his chin at the two stooges who had turned up to lurk on me and I sighed as I was instantly flanked.
Tatum caught my gaze from the other side of the cage, pointing to her bleeding nose and holding up a finger to tell me she'd be back once she got that shit sorted out. I raised my bottle of beer to her in a salute as she headed away with her guys to clean up, but I was staying put to watch every moment of this fight.
Tats hopped up into the cage with Fox a moment later and I grinned at my boy as he stood there in nothing but a pair of shorts he'd clearly borrowed, holding his arms wide as the crowd roared at the sight of the Harlequin prince taking centre stage.
But one look at Tats told me this definitely wasn't going to be an easily won fight and my heart pounded as the MC started calling out a countdown for the fight over the microphone.
Fox and Tats began circling each other, dark grins on both of their faces like they were eager for the pain and violence of the coming fight and my heart picked up a rampant rhythm as my teeth sunk into my lower lip.
The buzzer sounded to start the fight and instead of pussyfooting around each other, Fox and Tats dove towards one another with a savagery that had my eyes widening and adrenaline surging.
They exchanged blows, each of them blocking and striking just as often as the other before Fox was suddenly uprooted by a leg sweep that seemed to come from nowhere. Tats dove on top of him while he was still down, sending brutal blows into his face and chest and a scream escaped my lips. Not of fear like some dumb bitch, but a roar of encouragement as I demanded Fox beat the shit out of this asshole and show him what people who grew up on these streets were capable of.
I wasn't sure if he heard me or if it was just perfect timing, but Fox found his opening and swung his forehead up to collide with his opponent's nose. Tats reared back a few inches and Fox pressed his advantage, throwing a heavy punch straight at his throat and knocking him clear so that Fox could regain his feet.
The fight only intensified from there and I leapt up and down, screaming my encouragement as their blows picked up pace.
Movement at my side drew my attention from the fight for a beat as Tom suddenly crumpled to the floor beside me.
I gasped as I looked down at him, whirling to look at Eddie on my other side for help and finding him staring at me with wide, panicked eyes and a knife protruding from his neck.
"Hey, sugarpie," Shawn purred in my ear, making my blood chill as his hand slipped around my throat and he tugged me back against his chest. "It's time for you to come home like a good girl."
My lips parted on a scream which was swallowed by the roar of the crowd as Fox and Tats started beating the shit out of each other against the wire of the cage right in front of me. They were so close, yet still nowhere near close enough to hear me over the noise of the music and the people watching their brawl.
Tears pricked at my eyes as Eddie dropped to his knees, clutching at the knife which still stuck out of his neck as blood ran down his chest from the wound and grief warred through me.
My feet scrambled against the hard floor as Shawn started dragging me backwards through the crowd and I quickly lost sight of Fox fighting in the ring as people surged forward to watch. None of them even spared us a glance, all of them riveted on the show with no one seeming to notice what was happening here.
I started to struggle as the shock wore off and Shawn snarled a curse before pressing the tip of another blade to my stomach.
"Don't test me, sweet cheeks," he warned. "I've had a helluva day and I don't have time for any of your shit."
The fight fell out of my limbs and he chuckled in my ear, leaning down to press a rough kiss to the side of my neck which made my skin crawl with memories I wished I could wash off.
"There's a good little whore. Now let's get going. We have some making up to do."
Shawn shoved me through a door against a side wall and my gaze met that of one of the bouncers who had been on the door when I’d arrived here with Fox.
"You're fucking dead," I snarled at the nameless asshole. "The Harlequins will rip the skin from your bones for betraying them."
The bouncer didn't say anything, only slamming the door between us and him as Shawn dragged me out into the night.
"Everyone has a price, Rogue," Shawn cooed in my ear as he hustled me towards a big grey truck which was parked in the shadows down a side alley. "A good little whore like you should know that well enough."
"Fuck you," I hissed. "I've never been for sale a day in my life."
"No? So you haven't been spreading your legs for food and board at Harlequin HQ then? Tell me, which one of them fucks better, Fox or his daddy?"
He paused, drawing the knife away from me as he pulled his key from his pocket and I took my shot at freedom, slamming an elbow back into his gut and trying to break away from him. But his fingernails bit into my throat as he scrambled to maintain his hold on me and I was twisted around before being thrown back against the truck so hard that the back of my head rang from the impact with it.
I screamed for help, kicking and snarling as I threw myself towards him, not even giving a fuck about the knife he held and just needing to get away.
Shawn shoved me back against the truck again before slapping me so hard that my head wheeled to the side and the inside of my cheek was sliced open by my own teeth.
He laughed excitedly, his eyes flaring as he looked me up and down, drinking in the sight of me brought to his mercy as my chest heaved and my mind spun with thoughts of how the hell I was going to escape him. Because I wasn't going back to him. I couldn't. If I became that girl ever again, even for the briefest of moments I knew it would destroy what little was left of me.
"You may be a broken toy, sugarpie, but you're still my toy. And I'll have you on your knees begging for my forgiveness before you know it."
"I'd sooner choke on my own vomit than let you near my body again," I snarled at him. "Why the fuck do you even want me anyway? You tried to kill me. You threw me away."
"Aww shucks, sugarpie, did I hurt your feelings? You want me to buy you some pretty flowers before I reclaim that tight body of yours or somethin'? Was me spilling the blood of those men not enough to show you my commitment?" Shawn asked, giving me the puppy eyes like we were just bickering over nothing.
The flick knife in my pocket was purring my name with promises of the freedom I so desperately needed, but as my gaze fell on the blade in his hand, I knew I had to wait. I needed him distracted for a moment before I would be able to make my move.
My gaze darted back in the direction of the club and Shawn laughed. "Waiting for the cavalry? Because they're not coming. And even if someone did show up here to try and save your sorry ass, I'd just kill them too. Because this is war, sunshine."
"You said if I went with you, you'd stop,” I reminded him.
"That required your willing cooperation, not me having to kidnap you. Now get your sweet ass in the truck and stop stalling for time." Shawn hit the button on the key and the truck unlocked with a flash of the lights and a dull thunk.
He jerked his chin in a clear command, but I stay rooted to the spot.
"It'll be worse for you if ya keep fighting me," he warned in a low growl, but I just stayed where I was. No fucking way was I climbing in there willingly. "Are you hoping for me to break you in again, tom cat? Because I can be rougher for you this time if that's what you need."
“Fuck you.”
“I’m sure you’re looking forward to that,” he taunted. “Look at you all dressed up for me. I dunno whether to be pissed about you showing so much flesh or pleased to get a look at those perky tits of yours again.” Shawn moved his blade, dragging the tip of the knife down the open side of my dungarees and smirking as it caressed the side of my breast. “Are you as wet for me as always, sugarpie? Have you been aching for me as much as I’ve been aching for you?”
I spat at his feet and he lunged at me, snatching my hair in his fist as he shoved me towards the back of the truck. But as he spun me around, I snatched the flick knife from my pocket and swung it at him with a furious scream.
Shawn lurched back as the blade swiped across his cheek and a hot spill of his blood splattered over my face. But I wasn't a dumb bitch, and I knew that wasn't going to be enough to save my ass so I channelled the badass vibes of the Green Power Ranger and lunged towards him again, sinking the deadly little blade into his side and twisting it sharply before jerking it free again.
Shawn grunted in pain as he took a swing at me with his own knife and I cried out as I jerked away, feeling a keen sting of pain across my right arm as I failed to fully avoid the blow.
But as he lunged towards me again, he stumbled, his free hand going to the wound in his side as his blood pissed down onto the asphalt and a curse escaped him. I'd hit something important there and for the briefest of moments, the tables were turned between us as he found himself dropping to one knee beneath me.
A door banged open somewhere and people started shouting my name just as Shawn reached for the gun he had jammed into the back of his pants.
My heart plummeted into my ass and I leapt away as he raised it in my direction.
A shot rang out as I darted down the alleyway and Shawn's angry shout chased me as I sprinted as far as I could get from him.
"You'll be back, little whore! I'll just keep killing all the people surrounding you until then! And when you’re sick of seeing people die for me, you can come on back to me and get on your knees to make it stop."
Carnival Hill (The Harlequin Crew Book 3) Page 24