30. Lotto
I tapped my pen against the clipboard with a frown.
The number of potential new members of the gym was absolutely insane.
Too bad most of them were complete duds.
After the fun at Heathens Hollow, we’d walked back into Smiley’s and immediately started working again. First up? Finding new meat. With Troy’s “hospitality” sitting at our front door step bright and early Monday morning, we were in the perfect position to find new fighters. Anything to keep Ari out of the ring again. Her cuts were healing nicely, but I preferred my angel to be a little less beat up and more sexed up.
She was the one who would ultimately decide who we signed on. It was my job to wade through all the duds. Once she invited them, Frankie would train them, and Bones would kick their asses. The ones who made it would be interviewed and offered a lucrative spot at Smiley’s Gym.
If only we knew where the hell we were going from here.
Troy’s offer still lingered like a storm cloud we pretended to ignore. Ari wanted to put out the feelers for possible new fighters before committing to anything concrete. I couldn’t blame her. Though she’d absolutely kicked ass in the ring, she was clear it wasn’t the ultimate place for her. Her place was sitting atop her father’s legacy. Our job was to support her in any way we could.
This included getting rid of eighteen-year-old egotistical, trust fund asshats who thought “I saw you fight at Heathens Hollow and thought you were so cool!” was a reason to give them a callback.
I crumpled that paper in my hand and immediately pitched it in the trash.
I was looking through the next two sheets when a brush of blond hair tickled my neck.
Ari leaned over with a curious smile. “Anyone good?”
“If you’re into thirty-somethings whose experience includes…” I stopped to check the top paper again. “‘Getting my ass kicked by my dad for decades.’”
“Well, did he kick it back?” Ari chortled when I shrugged. “Pass. We have enough family issues with Teo around this place.”
“And my ear is fine, by the way!” Teo yelled from the punching bags. “Thanks for asking!”
“I don’t hear you practicing!” Ari yelled back before shaking her head. She crossed her arms over her chest, the little smiley face logo on her white sports bra popping out—a cute little addition to our gym uniform.
“Leave him to me, Ari,” Bones called back from inside the ring. Only a few days had passed since his fight, but he looked as good as new. Well, except for the fading marks all over his throat and neck. I smirked. I’d have to make more.
“Or me.” Frankie leaned against the ropes and eyed Teo from next to Bones. “’Cause you’re up next, hotshot. Get the fuck in here.”
“I’d rather punch the bags,” Teo said. “Ari, order me around some more so I don’t have to get my ass handed to me again. Plus it’s super fucking?—”
“If you finish that sentence, you’ll be seeing stars before you can even step foot in here,” Frankie warned.
I shook my head. How Teo still had two functional legs, I had no clue, but the bastard was resilient at least. Even after he lost at Heathens Hollow, he’d come back in here bright and early on Monday morning, ready to get his clock cleaned one more time.
Teo held up his gloved hands. “Hey man, I’m just saying?—”
The bell above the front door cut him off. Probably another straggler looking to disappoint me with their application.
I turned to meet icy blue.
River stood in our lobby, saluting at me with two fingers. He sported a cheeky grin and wore a regular black shirt and basketball shorts. No Perk’s Gym merch to be seen anywhere. I didn’t let that sexy smile affect me.
I tilted my head and crossed my arms over my chest. “We’re busy.”
River looked around to the half-empty gym and hummed. “Looks like it.”
“Are you here to ask for a rematch or something?” Ari moved to my side, matching my pose.
“Do I look like I’m sporting Perk’s gear anymore?”
“You don’t look very injured anymore either,” Bones said. He and Frankie instantly slipped out of the ring to my other side. “Are you here for some more?”
“Tough crowd.” River leaned around Teo and whistled, “Hey buzzcut, are they always this inhospitable?”
“Especially when you lose!” Teo shot back. Frankie turned to glare, and Teo held his hands up. “Mouth shut. Got it.”
River leaned back and flashed the four of us a smile. “I’m here for tryouts.”
“Excuse me?” Ari asked.
“There’s a sign outside.” He pointed behind him. “Got big enough for open tryouts. Congrats. It’s open for everyone, yeah?”
“For everyone not named River,” Frankie spat. “Get out. We don’t need you here.”
“Lucky for me, my name is Beau.” His grin grew even wider. “You think one win puts you on top of the world? Cute.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bones asked.
“You’re a small fish in a big pond. One big win at Heathens Hollow doesn’t mean anything. Let me guess, Troy offered you something lucrative to keep you coming back?”
River eyed me curiously, but I kept silent. Troy’s games were essentially public knowledge. Anyone could have guessed he would want to keep his meal ticket on the payroll.
“That’s none of your business,” Ari answered with a smile. “We don’t accept fighters signed with other gyms.”
“I’m a free agent now. Looking for a winner.”
“A winner.” Frankie’s frown hadn’t left since River arrived. “To ride the coattails?”
“Come on, Freakshow, you and I both know the underground life doesn’t last very long. Don’t you want to do something bigger?”
“What are you talking about?” Bones asked.
River grinned. “Ever heard of the West Coast Circuit?”
I shook my head. Was he kidding? The West Coast Circuit was a blink-and-you-miss-it dud. Apparently, the cities weren’t fans of the underhanded tactics used to secure teams and funding. It lasted all of three months before fizzling out. Going legit required a lot of red tape and paperwork for very little profit. Not many people were keen to start again.
“That shit’s not going to work,” I argued. “Where are they gonna get the permits? Sponsors? There’s too much legal drama involved. No one is going to restart the Circuit.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. No one’s called you?”
Ari’s nose scrunched up in confusion. She looked between the four of us before shrugging. “I’ve gotten a few unlisted calls, but I thought they were spam.”
“That’s probably them. Good job, sweetheart.” River chuckled.
“Watch it,” Frankie growled. “And explain.”
“The rich fat cats enjoyed our show at Heathens Hollow. Or should I say ‘investors’?” River shook his head. “They want to make it legit. Teams all over the coast fighting for the ultimate prize.”
I raised my brows. “Which is?”
“Vegas.”
Just the one word rendered the room speechless. Vegas. Actual televised fights, primetime boxing matchups, and plenty of bets. Forget the underground bookies at Troy’s place. If we got a cut of Vegas money, Smiley’s would be unstoppable.
Frankie exhaled slowly. “You expect us to believe they got permits in what, three or four days?”
“No but they got the funding. The sponsors. Apparently, that little club downstairs is for more than just a good time.”
River took all of us in, his eyes practically dancing with mischief. I cleared my throat and straightened up slightly. I’d seen the way River watched us last weekend. How he’d fucked his fist, eyes rolling to the back of his head. It was such a fucking sexy sight. I tried to think of something to get the vision out of my mind and stay focused.
“And they want us?” Ari asked. “Why?”
“Like I said, winners. Proven winners. Why do you think I’m here?” River shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Perk’s doesn’t have what it takes for the Circuit. Jace would get KOed and quit after the first two matches. He barely beat Teo.”
“I can hear you, you know,” Teo called with a glare, “and I take offense to that. Dude ate my ear for a snack.”
“A mighty fine ear,” River answered with a laugh.
“Focus,” Frankie snapped. “What is your point here? Getting us to join the Circuit?”
“Let me try out. I hear you’re looking for a third. With me and Bones on the team, Smiley’s would be damn near unstoppable.”
He had a point. Two of Seattle’s best on the same team? We’d have a real shot at winning the whole damn thing. I glanced at Ari, who chewed on her bottom lip, likely thinking the same thing as all of us. A chance to go legit. Actually legit. No more dingy basements or broken bones that had to be waved away when the doctor asked. No more late nights patching each other up, only to do it again for fame and fortune. No more bending to the whims of people like Troy Godwin.
But would Troy Godwin let us go that easily?
“Three on three?” Frankie asked.
“And an alternate,” River confirmed.
Bones ran a hand down his jaw, massaging a few times before turning to the rest of us. He didn’t have to say anything; his eyes said it all.
“Lotto.” Ari snapped her fingers. “Give him a signup sheet.”
I took a blank sheet from my clipboard and handed it over to him. River took it and glanced over it. Then he looked up, his smile practically blinding. “Good choice.”
“It’s a tryout. That’s it.” Frankie puffed up his chest. “We’ll see what you’ve got. Since you claim to be the best.”
“Second best in case you forgot. Someone here kicked my ass.” River winked at Bones, then folded the paper and handed it back to me. “Do I really need to go through all this? You know who I am. Let me show you what I can do. Right here, right now.”
“If you’re that sure.”
“And when you pick me, we’ll discuss joining the Circuit.” River grinned. “Up for the challenge?”
I looked between Ari, Frankie, and Bones. All three stared back at me with a spark in their eyes that told me everything.
Then Ari smiled at the golden ticket standing in our lobby.
“Smiley’s is always up for a challenge.”
Ready to feed the obsession? Can’t get enough of The Riot Crew?
Here is book three:
Sweet Riot :
I thought we had conquered it all. I was wrong.
Just when victory seems within our grasp, the underground fighting world proves it has one last sucker punch to deliver.
The West Coast Circuit promises legitimacy, fame, and the chance to prove ourselves on the biggest stage. But nothing comes without a price. Dirty money. Corrupt sponsors. Threats that could destroy everything we’ve built.
Frankie still burns with the intensity of Freakshow, his protective instincts warring with his need to see us succeed.
Bones fights through pain and loss, his determination to make his father proud pushing him beyond his limits.
Lotto calculates every move, orchestrating our survival while dancing with devils who wear business suits.
And River... he brings something new . Something dangerous. Something that could either complete us or tear us apart.
They’re no longer just fighting for me – they’re fighting for us. For our family. For our future.
But Vegas is calling, and Sin City isn’t known for playing fair. To reach the top, we’ll have to risk it all.
And this time, I’m not sure if even their obsession will be enough to save us.