Chapter Eight
Ghost
W alking through the club, I usher Snow through the storage room and towards the elevator.
“You really don’t want people to know what’s here, do you?” she asks as I hit the button to take us below.
“Not so legal,” I remind her. “Besides, everyone else will enter a different way. This one is for staff only.”
Snow gasps when the door opens.
“I was expecting a basement,” she tells me. Sky takes it upon himself to leave the elevator first and sniff everything he passes. “It’s almost like we’re in an entirely new building.”
“In a way, we are,” I admit. “I hired them to build this place to house at least eighty people. There are two locker rooms, both equipped with showers and toilets. A couple of private rooms in case the fighters need to prepare themselves mentally and the box. That’s where I have someone keep track of the fights to make sure all rules are followed. There are cameras that record the fights. It makes it easier for us in case there are disagreements about a call.”
“And that?” she asks, pointing to the huge cage in the center of the room. “Is that where they fight?”
The cage itself is intense, taking up the center of the room with an almost aggressive presence. It’s a massive hexagon about thirty feet across, with eight-foot steel mesh walls gleaming under the bright lights. The walls are solid, painted black to look sleek and intimidating.
The corners are padded, mostly for show, with thick black and red covers. The top edge is lined with chain-link to keep everything contained during a fight.
The floor of the cage is covered with a thick, blood-red mat that’s soft enough to break falls but firm enough for the fighters to stand their ground. In the center is our club’s logo, a black snake coiled around an equally black skull with obsidian wings on each side, standing out in stark contrast.
Cameras hang from the ceiling, capturing every angle, punch, and move. The footage feeds into the box, which has a clear view of the cage. A team monitors the action to ensure both fighters follow the rules.
There’s one heavy door for the fighters to enter and exit, locked tight during matches.
Snow’s eyes widen as she takes it all in, her gaze moving from the high walls to the red mat. “It’s like a modern gladiator arena,” she murmurs, almost to herself.
“Exactly,” I reply. “This is where the real battles happen.”
“How freaking cool,” she whispers, causing me to smile.
I was worried that watching the actual fight might be too much for her, but I think I might be wrong.
“Well, who do we have here?”
Smiling, I turn towards my best friend’s voice.
“Hey, Hunter,” I greet, pulling him in for a hug. “Did you get everything situated with that kid?”
“Found someone who will help him out,” he answers. “Whose your friend?”
“This is Snow,” I smile. “My woman.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Hunter laughs. “Never thought there was a woman alive who could tie this man down. You must be some woman. Names Hunter Nisbit.”
“Amara,” Snow greets. “And this is Sky.”
“Don’t like dogs much,” Hunter says, stepping back. “They never seem to like me much, either.”
Sky’s hair is standing up, and his ears are slicked back.
“That’s weird,” Snow says, petting Sky. “He usually loves everyone. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
“Think nothing of it, pretty lady,” Hunter shrugs. “I was practically raised by wolves. Animals can sense the wild in me. Anyway, welcome to the Undercage.”
“Hunter is my best friend and my not-so-silent partner,” I explain.
“The Cage and the Undercage?” Snow smiles. “Kinda sneaky.”
“Let’s get you in the box and settled before the crowd comes in,” I say. “They can get rowdy, and if someone hurts you, I’ll fucking kill them.”
Her giggles follow behind me.
“He’s not kidding, girlie,” Hunter says. “He won’t give anyone a pass for hurting someone he loves.”
“Oh, we’re just friends,” she says, stopping me in my tracks. I turn and grip her shoulders before she can bump into me.
“We’re what?” I ask quietly.
Maybe I don’t love her just yet, but I know deep down that it won’t be long before I do. However, just friends won’t work for me.
“Oh, uhm. Well, we are friends, right? Even though we’re a couple, we can still be friends.”
“Nice save, girlie,” Hunter laughs.
I grip the back of her neck and pull her lips to mine. Taking my time, I make sure she knows exactly what kind of friends we are. By the time I pull away, her eyes are glazed over, and I nod with satisfaction.
“So fucking sexy,” Hunter says from behind me. “You need to keep her looking just like that for the rest of her days, brother.”
“You only get one,” I warn him. “The next time you look at or talk about my woman like that, I’ll shoot you. Friend or not.”
“Ghost,” Snow gasps.
“Don’t worry, girlie,” Hunter laughs. “He’ll make sure to shoot me where I won’t die.”
I wouldn’t be so sure about that. As fast as my feelings are developing for this woman, I wouldn’t be surprised if I shot someone between the eyes for simply looking at her wrong.
Even my best friend.
I think King is rubbing off on me.
“Who’s on the docket for tonight?” I ask, changing the subject.
“We have six competitors between three matches,” Hunter says eagerly, leaning forward. “First up, there’s that rematch everyone’s been dying to see. Remember that controversial decision from last month? Those two are squaring off again.”
I nod, recalling the uproar the fight between the two siblings had caused. “Should be interesting,” I say, careful to keep my voice measured. I can feel the energy building, but I don’t usually show it as openly as Hunter.
Beside me, Snow watches us with a soft smile. Her calm presence is grounding, a steady light against Hunter’s overly vibrant enthusiasm. Needing more, I scoot closer and place my hand on her knee.
“Then we’ve got Zara ‘The Hurricane’ Hops. She’s up against a rookie, and you know how she fights. Those kicks are lethal. Should be a real test for the new kid.”
I nod again, thoughtfully this time. “I’ve seen her fight. Tough as nails.” The image of Zara’s last match flashes through my mind. She was relentless, a real force in the cage.
Snow’s smile widens, and I catch the glint of amusement in her eyes as she looks at me. What is she thinking?
Hunter leans in closer, his voice lowering as if he’s sharing a secret. “And for the main event, it’s Raul ‘The Reaper’ Mendoza. This guy’s a knockout artist. His last match? Over in under a minute. If he wins tonight, he’ll remain undefeated.”
My interest piqued. “He’s got the skills, no doubt about it. But I thought he wasn’t on the list for a fight for several more weeks.”
“He was asked to move it up,” Hunter says, practically bouncing in his seat. “If he wins, we’ll cash in tens of thousands of dollars. But, if something happens and he loses tonight, we’ll bank at least five hundred grand. Maybe even double, depending on tonight’s bets. People want to see him lose, so I know those bets are going to be high.”
Snow chuckles softly beside me, her eyes twinkling. “Sounds like it’s going to be quite the show,” she says, her voice warm and amused.
I turn to her, a faint smile pulling at my lips. “It usually is,” I say.
Hunter grins at us both, his enthusiasm lighting up his face. “You’re in for a treat, Snow. Cage fights like this? They’re a rush.”
Snow nods, still smiling. “I’ll take your word for it,” she replies, her gaze lingering on me.
I look back at Hunter, feeling a rare moment of shared excitement. Tonight’s matches are shaping up to be something special, and despite my usual reserve, I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
“Who’s fighting against The Reaper?” Snow asks. Sky seems to be paying closer attention to Snow, which also has me paying closer attention.
Will I be able to tell if she’s about to have a seizure?
“Oh,” Hunter says, rubbing his neck. “Someone named Firecracker. I think he’s going to give The Reaper a run for his money.”
“I’ve never heard of a fighter with that name,” I say. “We don’t usually let nobodies in main events, Hunter. I’d like to meet him before his fight.”
“No problem,” Hunter says, standing. “I’ll set that up. In the meantime, it looks like the crowd is coming in. I’m going to go make sure your men are doing their job.”
Venom is always on duty in the Undercage. I have no doubt that jobs are getting done.
“This is so interesting,” Snow says. “Can we go near the cage when they’re fighting?”
“There’s a reserved place for us,” I smile at her excitement. “But maybe this first time you should watch from here. I don’t think you realize how brutal it’s going to be. There will be blood, babe. Maybe even some broken body parts.”
“Well then,” she laughs. “I return to my original statement about this being a gladiator arena.”
Snow’s watch alarm goes off, and she reaches into her bag and pulls out a bottle.
“It’s not all the sexy, huh?” she laughs uncomfortably. “I’m always having to take some pill every few hours.”
“Do they keep you alive?” I ask as she swallows her meds.
“And coherent,” she nods. “And standing.”
“Then I think those are the sexiest pills I’ve ever seen.”
Her laughter brings out my own smile. That’s what I was looking for.
“Come on, babe. Let’s get these cameras up and running so we can get a close-up of all the blood splatters.”
“Eww,” she laughs. “But okay.”
“You don’t seem as freaked out as I thought you would be,” I admit.
“Oh, I edit romance books for a living,” she tells me. “I’m way more excited for this than any normal woman would be. But usually, the heroine’s man is the one in the cage.”
“Want me to fight for you, Snow?” I ask sincerely. “I’ll bloody a few faces if you want.”
“No,” she says quickly. “I’d rather sit here with you and watch other people bloody some faces.”
Nodding, I start turning on the systems but make a mental note to add myself to a future match. If my woman wants to see me beat the shit out of someone, she will.
***Amara***
This is awesome! The room below us is crowded with people cheering so loudly that I can feel the vibrations in this room. Ghost said there would be blood, and he wasn’t wrong. Six screens in front of me show close-ups of each person as they fight for their victory. All four have walked away with nearly unrecognizable faces.
The first two matches got my adrenaline pumping, but the excitement in the room as the announcer, Hunter, announces the last match has my head buzzing.
The excitement is addicting.
“The moment you’ve all been waiting for,” Hunter says, his voice powerful in its excitement. “In this corner, coming in at one-hundred and ninety-two pounds, you all know him, you all love him, let’s hear it for Raul ‘The Reaper’ Mendoooooozaaaaa.”
The crowd goes wild as their favorite fighter raises his gloved fists in the air and walks around the cage. They chant his name, causing the fighter to shout back his approval.
“REAPER. REAPER. REAPER. REAPER.”
“And in this corner,” Hunter’s voice drops an octave as if he’s about to reveal a huge secret to the entire room. “He’s mean. He’s angry. He’s fucking furious. Coming in at one-hundred and fifty-nine pounds of pure unadulterated rage, a rising star, give it up for Nathan ‘Firecracker’ McAllisteeerrrrr.”
The lights flare and Nathan McAllister bursts into the arena, his eyes blazing with intensity. His lean frame is taut with barely contained fury, and every step is a controlled explosion of pent-up rage. The crowd’s energy shifts, a mix of anticipation and awe as they witness the entrance of this volatile new contender.
There’s only one problem.
“Is that a kid?” I ask Ghost.
“That mother fucker,” Ghost seethes. “He said the fighter didn’t want to meet until after the fight. Now, I know why. This also explains why The Reaper’s match was moved up.”
“FIRECRACKER! FIRECRACKER! FIRECRACKER!”
The chants echo, swelling louder as Nathan simply watches his opponent. His focus is unbreakable, as he points every ounce of rage in his body towards one single person.
Hunter’s voice rises again, charged with the electricity of the moment. “This fight is set to be an inferno, folks! Let’s get ready for a showdown between The Reaper and Firecracker! Let’s get it on!”
“Come on, babe,” Ghost says. “I’m taking you upstairs to hang out with Emily while I have a chat with my partner.”
“I think I’m good here,” I say quickly. “I’ll stay out of the way.”
“If you stay, you’re going to see a part of me that might scare you away, Snow,” he says. “I’d rather you not witness that until I have you tied down a little more. Plus, I don’t want you stressed. I read it can cause you to fall into a seizure.”
“It can, but I’ll be fine. If, by some miracle, this whole thing between us isn’t a joke, I’d rather see this side of you now than years from now.”
“Not a joke, baby,” he growls. “I’ll do whatever I have to for you to see that. Here he comes. Just know that I would never hurt you.”
“I know,” I admit. “I know you wouldn’t.”
“Good, baby. I’ll protect you and Dove with my very life.”
My heart flutters from his words, but as soon as Hunter opens the door, my heart flutters for an entirely different reason.
Ghost grabs Hunter by the throat, kicks the door shut, and slams the man against it.
“What the fuck did I say?” Ghost shouts. “Are you trying to get us locked up? What the hell were you thinking bringing that kid in to fight when I told you no?”
“Don’t worry,” Hunter gasps. “It’s all taken care of. His parents signed a release form.”
“A fucking release form?” Ghost yells. “I don’t care if they signed over their rights completely. That kid is going to get himself killed in that cage, and it’s going to come back and bite us in the ass.”
I can’t see Ghost’s face, but I can feel his rage. This isn’t good.
“Come on, man,” Hunter says through what little air he’s getting. “I covered all of our bases.”
Ghost releases Hunter and then punches him right in the jaw.
“Fuck,” Hunter yells, gripping his face. “What the fuck, man? Choking me wasn’t enough?”
“Explain,” Ghost growls, still not looking my way.
“First off, I’d like you to remember that I own half of this business,” Hunter starts. “You’re not the only one who gets to make these decisions.”
“That’s not the fucking point, and you know it,” Ghost growls, his fists tightly clenched. “You’re not only risking our lives with this stunt. You’re putting my whole fucking family at risk. If the police start investigating me for holding illegal fights, then it’s only a matter of time before they start looking into my family. Into King. Ever think about that?”
“They won’t find shit on King,” Hunter says. “Besides, I told you I took care of everything. It’s on me if something happens.”
“You’re my silent fucking partner,” Ghost reminds him. “Your name isn’t even attached to this damn place.”
“But it is on the release form for the kid. I promise, man, nothing will touch your family if something goes wrong.”
“Damnit, Hunter.”
“That man raped his sister, Ghost,” Hunter says, causing me to gasp. “Wouldn’t you want revenge, too? If he had gone after him on the streets, then he would have been jumped by all of The Reaper’s men. This way, The Reaper has no choice but to fight back without fucking cheating. He wouldn’t want to pay the damn fine.”
“You know as well as I do that going into a match with nothing but rage is going to end in a bloodbath.”
“Look, Venom and Reynolds are both down there in the corners waiting to intervene if need be,” Hunter says. “I’ve also watched the boy fight. Who do you think gave him the name Firecracker?”
“If this goes south, Hunter, it better not touch my family.”
“It won’t. Promise.”
“Fuck.”
Ghost finally turns and heads back towards me. He grips my shoulders and pulls me up and into his body.
“If it touches her, I’ll fucking kill you.”
I don’t say anything as Ghost holds me tightly. It seems he needs a hug.
“Got it,” Hunter says.
With that, nothing else is said. I wrap my arms around Ghost’s back as he continues to hold me against his body. We stand there until the loud bell rings, indicating the first round of the fight is over.
“I need to go and talk to the kid before the next round,” Ghost tells me. “Please, don’t leave this room, babe.”
With a kiss on my forehead, he leaves without looking at his best friend.
“That went better than expected,” Hunter smiles. “If you weren’t here to calm that beast, I most definitely wouldn’t be standing here.”
“He would have killed you?” I ask, not as scared as I should be at the idea of Ghost killing a person.
“In a heartbeat,” he laughs. “He would have at least broken a bone…or three. He must really like you to remain so calm.”
“That was calm?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah,” he laughs. “You’re my good luck charm.”
Laughing, he walks out of the room and heads towards the cage.
“What have I gotten myself into, Sky?” I ask my dog.
His only response was to curl up under my feet and take a nap.