Sugar Pop (The Riot Crew #2)

1. Ari

Chapter 1

Ari

B ones’ punch landed square on his opponent’s jaw, and blood sprayed from his mouth with the impact. He teetered on his feet before his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

The crowd roared before he even hit the mat.

The hoots and hollers of gamblers around me drowned out my cheers.

BONES! BONES BONES!

I smiled when the referee lifted Bones’ arm to declare him the winner of the fight. I couldn’t have imagined this would be possible a few months ago. Bones had been a down-and-out, disgraced fighter whom I took a chance on. Now? The name Bones Vega was no longer associated with scorn and naysayers. He was the undisputed king of the underground ring, and he proved it night after night to anyone who challenged him.

Bones was the real deal, and he belonged to me.

Frankie, standing next to me in the crowd, clapped his hand on Lotto’s back. Another fight, another big payout. Pride swelled in my chest when Bones turned to us and flashed a grin. After our success at Heathens Hollow, Smiley’s was unstoppable. The position came with a ton of perks, most of them green with a nice picture of Benjamin Franklin on it. But our wins were more than that. They were proof of our bond and a chance to drown out the critics.

And they were a way to keep my father’s spirit alive and well.

If only he could see us now. Thanks to the Heathens Hollow payout, we were looking at hosting another round of tryouts and getting back on track as a tried-and-true boxing gym. With the extra winnings from Bones’ fights, we would have enough to support multiple fighters and even renovate the place, bring back the true spirit of boxing, and truly make sure the Smiley’s legacy carried on.

“Ari,” Frankie called. “Let’s go get our boy.”

I smiled. Our boy. It felt almost strange coming from Frankie. He had taken the longest to warm up to the idea of our unconventional arrangement. But having my three guys by my side meant the world to me. I would move mountains for Frankie, Bones, and Lotto, and I knew they would for me, too.

“After you.”

Lotto and Frankie went ahead first, and I followed them through the crowd toward the cage in the middle of the large room. People surrounded Bones, patting him on the shoulders and back. Probably big winners thanks to his easy KO finish. Blood caked his chiseled face, and a few drops from a cut above his left eye dripped onto his bare shoulders. Sweat covered his thick arm muscles and abs and accentuated his tats. His boxing shorts hung low on his hips, giving me a perfect view of his thick cock through the fabric.

God, he always looked so fucking sexy after a fight.

The instant I’d stepped into the ring and enticed him to Smiley’s I’d known Bones Vega was a masterpiece of a man, and I couldn’t wait to get home and worship that work of art.

I took another step toward the group before a flash of fingers caught my eye.

Just to the left of the main crowd, a large man waved at me with a little smirk, his long black hair pulled into a bun at his nape. He was dressed in all black, but from the collar of his hoodie, I could see the spirals and twists of his thorny neck tattoos. His hauntingly blue eyes pierced me and challenged me to strike up a conversation.

Beau “River” Fitzpatrick. I’d almost gone with him over Bones back when Smiley’s needed a fighter. I didn’t regret my choice, especially when things ended up with three sexy men to call my own. But I hadn’t expected him to show up tonight because he wasn’t on the docket.

River had a powerhouse of an uppercut that could knock you off your feet in five seconds, and an enticing grin that could do the same in less than three. I was approaching him before I even realized what I was doing.

“Well if it isn’t Ari,” River said as soon as I drew close enough. His eyes roamed over my tight dress. “You realize you’re at a fight, right?”

“White’s a good color on me,” I answered with a shrug. It was also my good luck charm. I wore the same dress the first night I met Bones.

River pushed off the brick wall and touched the bottom of my long, silvery braid. “Can’t argue with that.”

I ignored the way my heart leapt to my throat and gently flicked away his hand. “I’m surprised to see you here. You usually don’t show up when you’re not fighting.”

“Scoping out the competition,” he said nonchalantly. When he smiled down at me, a dimple creased his left cheek. “How’s it feel to be on top?”

“I’ll let you know when we get there.” I didn’t want to gloat. That was one thing my father always taught me: having a big head only meant more area for your opponent to sucker punch.

“Oh, you’re already there.”

Something in his gaze made me pause. Rumors always swirled that River got his nickname from the turbulent currents of blue he called eyes. But there was something else hidden deep down in there—something that started a crashing wave of throbbing throughout my whole body.

He was practically undressing me in front of the crowd, and I couldn’t find it in me to look away. My cheeks flared hot; his stare was both magnetic and challenging in a way that made me shiver.

Whatever he meant with his vague responses, it definitely wasn’t good for me. Heathens Hollow was fun and games. This was business.

“Why don’t I feel like you’re giving me a compliment?” I asked and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Are you questioning my intentions?” he shot back with a sly smile. “I’m just a spectator tonight.”

The word spectator made my pussy throb. Is that all he wanted to be? Based on the hungry expression he sported, I doubted it. River was dangerous, and he was pushing the conversation in that direction.

I played with the straps of my dress. “Then you plan to hop in the ring next fight? I haven’t seen you in action in a while.”

“We’ll see.” His face shadowed so I couldn’t read his expression. River shrugged and took a step back, cutting off our competition. “I wouldn’t want to keep you from your celebration. Plus I think Freakshow is going to rip my head off if I keep you any longer.”

“You’re damn right.”

An arm draped over my shoulder, and Frankie stared at River like he was ready to start another cage match right here and now. Bones and Lotto slipped to my right, surrounding me in a possessive wall of thick muscle.

“Tough crowd.” River threw up his hands with an amused glance between the four of us. “Too bad. I know when to bow out. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”

“In the ring if you keep that shit up,” Bones called after him and only received a wave in response.

“At least he’s got a brain.” Lotto shrugged.

“Knock it off, guys.” I laughed and shrugged out from under Frankie’s arm. “We were just talking about our wins. Leave me out of your dick-measuring contest, please.”

“Speaking of wins.” Lotto elbowed Bones and nodded toward the back of the crowd. “I’ll go grab our winnings.”

“I’m gonna go wash my face off. And then we’ll go celebrate.”

Bones shot us a look that clearly spelled out what “celebrate” meant. My body flushed hot. Tonight was definitely going to be a good night if Bones had the same ferocity with me as he did in the ring.

“Meet us in the parking lot.” Frankie threw his arm over my shoulders again.

This time, I didn’t shrug him off. Frankie clearly wanted to show the crowd I was his. Who was I to tell him no when it was the truth?

As Lotto and Bones headed off, Frankie leaned down to my ear. “And while we wait, I’m going to make sure every trace of River’s filthy paws is gone from your body.”

I shifted closer, making sure to press my ass right over his cock. “Promise?”

“Yeah,” he growled and tugged me even closer. “’Cause no one touches our girl without permission.”