Chapter 14
Quick Fists
Ciara
“What can I do? What do you need?” Daliah asks nervously.
“You look like you’re about to puke. You should probably stop drinking and you probably should have stayed home with Ciarán. A sitter was a waste of money,” I chuckle.
She sticks her tongue out at me. I laugh and shake my head as I work on loosening my body up. The music from the arena is thumping through the walls.
From what I’ve seen, Vega knows how to throw an event. This place is packed and jumping. I can’t say I’m surprised.
Ten grand per fight and another twenty when I pull off the win. Vega didn’t have to ask me twice. When I made the call to her, she had already set this event up, knowing I needed the money.
I’m slated for two bouts tonight. Vega didn’t think I would be up to fighting two men in one night. I told her to bring them on. I’m not scared.
Vega doesn’t have many female fighters. She couldn’t bring anyone in who wanted a match with me on such short notice. I would have had to wait two months for her to bring in some chick from Miami.
Not to mention, I would have made only half the money. The price is doubled because I’m fighting men. No problem, I do this shit in my sleep.
I’m here to win. I’ll have more than enough to stash and take care of Ciarán’s birthday gifts and tuition. He’s been on his best behavior all week. His birthday is tomorrow.
I still don’t know how I feel about the Roaring Irish gym, but I plan to take him there in the morning to join the gym and take my own look around. If I see that guy and get to ask him questions, that’s a plus. I’ve been trying my best not to think about him.
“Ariel, you’re up,” Dimitri calls into the room.
I roll my shoulders back then move my head from side to side. Bumping my knuckles together, I start out for my first match. Daliah follows nervously behind me. She’s never seen me in an actual match.
As we make our way out to the makeshift ring, the song changes to “Simon Says” by Pharoahe Monch. The beat fills my chest, and a smile comes to my lips. I’m getting in the zone.
However, one glance toward the crowd and I stumble a little. As I’m walking to the ring, the big blond from Roaring Irish walks in with the little redhead. This dude has an aura all his own.
It’s like his presence takes over the arena. He moves with purpose to a seat in the front row. I now feel like the music is a soundtrack for him.
He moves like he’s in step with the thumping beat. People even part to accommodate his movements. Like a king has arrived and they all know this.
I shake off my shock and focus on what I’m here for. The ring isn’t so much a ring, but a circle they’ve made filled with dirt. I can handle this. I’ve fought in similar settings.
I lock eyes with the guy already waiting in the ring. He’s about five seven, give or take. I’d put him at two fifty, two hundred and thirty-five pounds.
He probably doesn’t expect my speed or power. I’m sure he’s going to come at me with force. Big mistake.
I can see it in his eyes. He looks almost bored and cocksure he’s going to take this match. I grin as I mentally list at least ten ways to take him down in the first round.
We’re given the rules, and we bump fists. That’s when everything else fades. Just as I thought, he rushes me with force, but I’m much faster than he is. Using his momentum, I rock him with a punch combination and move out of his reach before he can react.
While he’s dazed a bit, I throw another combination. I rock his head so hard, it snaps to the side and blood flies from his mouth. I don’t hesitate.
I take his legs out with a double leg takedown and get him to the ground. He doesn’t stand a chance as I place him in an anaconda choke so fast the ref even looks shocked before he calls the match as this guy taps out.
I get to my feet and lock eyes with the blond giant as he stares back at me. I allow myself to take him in this time. He’s really handsome. The blond quiff suits him. It lends to the air he has about him.
A smile comes to his lips as he continues to gaze at me, drawing my eyes to his sensual-looking mouth. I’m dressed in a sports bra and shorts, but the way he runs his gaze over me makes me feel like I’m standing here completely naked.
I look away as butterflies fill my belly. I have another fight tonight. I need to keep my head in the game. I release a breath and shake my hands out.
Turning, I head back to the dressing room to await my next match. I feel good. Adrenaline is coursing through my veins and I’m hyped for the next fight.
“That was great,” Vega says with a smile on her lips as I go to walk past her, not seeing her there at first.
“Thanks.”
“Mitch is a lot bigger than Frank and he’s a lot more skilled. Watch your back with him. Take a breath, there are three fights before your next one.”
I nod at her and keep moving. Back in Seattle, I’ve gone from one fight to another. I already know I need to keep moving without tiring myself out.
“Wow, you and Ciarán weren’t bullshitting. You were awesome out there,” Daliah says as we enter the dressing room.
“You’ve been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Why do you sound so shocked now?”
“Girl, I’ll always be in your corner. If you say you can fart rainbows, I’m going to say that shit is fantastic. I don’t need to see it.
“But now that I’ve seen you in action, I’m going to scream that shit to anyone who will listen. You’re fucking badass.”
I chuckle and shake my head. It feels good to have her in my corner. Theo would be up my butt about finishing the dude off so fast.
But he’s not here and that’s already thirty grand you don’t have to share.
Dylan
Taegan nailed it. Ciara does look a lot like Jade Cargill. She’s built like her and has similar facial features. Although Ciara can’t be much more than five feet tall.
I may have had a growth spurt that took me well over six feet, but my childhood friend has remained small. She’s small, but she hits hard as hell. I winced every time she hit Frank.
Frank isn’t a bad fighter. I’ve been in the ring with him before. However, he underestimated Ciara, and she kicked his ass. She’s fast as fuck.
“I know that look. Cadlha can kiss her ass goodbye. Thank the Lord,” Taegan sings from the seat beside me.
“She’s good. Really good. I’d be crazy not to be interested.”
“Aye, but are ya talking about interested in her as a fighter or interested in getting her beneath ya outside of the ring?”
“Taegan,” I drag out.
“Ya think I don’t have eyes on me? I saw the way ya were just eye fucking her.”
“When does Olly get back?”
“Ach, shut yer gub. Ya know how much I miss him.” She pouts.
I place my arm around her shoulders and pull her into me. I kiss the top of her head and give her a squeeze. Olly is a Marine. Taegan fell head over heels for him when he came into the gym looking for a place to work out.
He’s good to her. That’s all I ask for. My best friend deserves the world.
The next match starts, and we fall silent to watch. I only came to watch Ciara’s fights. I’m here to watch her back. It’s a known fact that Vega’s underground fights can get gritty.
It’s not often that females other than Vega fight here. I was livid when Taegan told me Ciara would be fighting tonight. Nine times out of ten, she wouldn’t be fighting a female fighter.
When we arrived, I learned she was to fight Frank and Murder Mitch. I wasn’t concerned with Funky Frank. One whiff of him and I knew she would make quick work of the fight.
Murder Mitch, on the other hand, is the one I plan to keep an eye on. He’s known to always be on some bullshit. Vega is testing Ciara to see if she can handle this.
This is her family’s business. I get the precaution and why she’s done things this way, but it doesn’t mean I like it. I’m here to shut this shit down if things look sideways.
I sit bored through the next three fights. I nearly fall asleep as we wait for them to be over. The arena becomes lively when it’s announced Ariel and Mitch will be next up.
Everyone begins to call out bets, still doubting Ciara as they did in the last match. I have faith in my girl. I’ll fucking kill Mitch if anything happens to her.
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I forgot how big this motherfucker is. Are ya sure ya don’t want to step in now?”
“I think she’ll be fine. Did you hear how hard she hits? Mitch will fold under a few body shots. She just needs to stay clear of his fists. She’s faster than he is.”
“Ach, I pray yer right.”
The fight starts and my focus is locked in. Just as I said, Ciara is much faster than Mitch. She’s weaving around him and his punches like a pro. Her body shots take the wind right out of him, which I’m sure he wasn’t expecting.
Mitch allows his anger to get the best of him. Ciara takes advantage of that and runs at him, leaping in the air. She wraps her legs around his neck and uses her body to toss his big ass to the ground. She then begins to punch his head.
I sit forward in my seat. Mitch goes to make a move, but Ciara rolls away just in time. They both get to their feet and Mitch swings, trying to take her head off.
Ciara dips back out of the way, then spins and places a kick right in those ribs she tenderized earlier. Mitch folds into himself, looking like she’s knocked the wind right out of him.
“The fuck?” I breathe as I stand to my feet.
Ciara has placed Mitch in an ankle lock so fast I’m still trying to figure out what happened. How did I miss her taking him down to the ground? Fuck, she’s fast.
“Yeah,” Taegan roars as she stands and throws her fists in the air.
I fold my arms across my chest and smile proudly. Ciara gets to her feet with her chest heaving. She’s announced as the winner as the crowd goes crazy.
My smile fades as I see the shit Mitch is about to pull. Ciara has her back to him and he’s getting ready to swing for her head. I leap over the little barrier and rush to put him on his ass before the blow can connect.
In my rush, I knock Ciara over. With Mitch knocked out cold, I turn to look down at my girl. She looks confused and a bit dazed.
I squat to help her sit up. “Hey, baby. You okay?” I ask as I cup her face.
“Dylan?” she breathes as she knits her brows.
I smile as I hear my name come from her lips. There’s something in the way she says it, as if she remembers me this time. I want to take her pretty lips in a kiss, but I restrain myself and wink.