CHAPTER SIX
DEX
Taking hits became synonymous with fucking Zin because my Friday night memories were the way I distracted myself when the easy shots came flying at my face that I had to take and take and take. I kept my hands taut at my sides as I recalled sinking balls deep in her pretty, hot little pussy and pretended the blood dripping down my face was her juices creaming on my lips.
I had to admit, she tasted better. Sounded better than Jericho screaming obscenities from the other side of the cage, too.
I flipped him off for the hell of it, delivered a roundhouse kick because I could with my eyes closed—that last because the bastard I fought had opened a cut over my eyebrow and my vision turned red in the last thirty seconds—and risked knocking the fucker out. Pity it didn’t work. I would have worn Beau’s wrath for that little misdemeanor.
Instead, I took a kick to the back that knocked into my healed ribs and cracked them anew. A sound like a wheezing, dying dinosaur left my lips before I could tamp it down. I slammed my fist onto the cement floor once and something else popped.
Pinkies are overrated anyway.
A boot rocked my stomach, and I spat blood onto the floor. Fuck, I was getting killed and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it. I turned my head to the side, spotting Beau’s ugly mug in the crowd at the back in his customary place between the twins where they flanked him like pale bodyguards.
Last time, I mouthed, and rolled sideways, facing the asshole grinning down at me. I flipped him off, too. “Heard your mother is watching. I know she’s loose, but thought I’d have a go later. Show her how to give you a brother with real DNA.”
The man’s face purpled as his eyes bugged out comically as a vein popped somewhere around his temple. His next kick aimed for my head.
I stared at the swinging fluorescent lights inside Jericho's office from the floor and tried not to think about what the hell I was lying on. From the accumulated grit in his trailer, the man had never vacuumed in his life. The fight ring was probably cleaner. At least it got hosed down once a night.
“You gonna tell me who?”
I stared at the rusty wire the light hung from. One end that bore chew marks. “Fucking rats,” I realized. “You need an exterminator or some shit.”
“We aren’t all fucking rich boys. Is that who’s paying you to throw fights? You’re fucking with my life, kid.”
I turned my head. “No one is paying me to do shit.” The simple motion hurt, and my stomach revolted.
Jericho pointed to the door. “If you’re gonna puke, do it the fuck outside.”
I shoved up and made it to the door before bile left my mouth in a projectile motion. I decorated the parking lot and heaved until my stomach flipped over a few times on a personal rollercoaster ride I didn’t appreciate.
Wiping my mouth on the back of my hand I made it back into his office and found a chair to collapse into. My ribs protested every breath as well as every cramp but my stomach didn’t care about my current pain threshold.
“I’m not here for dirty money.” I took the beer Jericho offered. “You gonna throw me off the fights?”
He snorted. “Not fucking likely. You bring in too much cash. But if you’ve got trouble, I have muscle who can help you out of it.”
I stared at him, exasperated. “Then I what, owe you instead? I already have one problem. I like you. But you don’t own me.”
Jericho smirked. “It was worth a try.”
“It really wasn’t.”
“You got a ride?” He frowned. “I heard your ribs go. You’re not fighting for a while. I’ll pay you if you can emcee for a few weeks.”
“Shit, I'll do that for free. You suck.”
“Little shit.”
We shook on it and I walked out of his trailer, trying to flip my phone in my left hand, and fumbled the grab. My coordination sucked as badly as Jericho's fight ring callouts. From the swelling in my right hand, I’d either dislocated my pinky or broken it. Sighing, I called Falcon, but his phone rang out. I sent a message, but that bounced too.
The hell is he doing?
I flipped it again and caught it. Okay, if Falcon wasn’t answering, maybe I could walk to the hospital. Again?—
Which had been hell last week.
Or I could call Zin.
I flipped my phone, didn’t miss the grab and dialed her number before I chickened out.
“I already saw you yesterday, Dex,” she warned me when she picked up.
Her voice sounded so sweet that for a second I couldn’t form words. And having her so close to the fight ring and Jericho’s shithouse trailer seemed wrong, so I started walking. It didn’t really matter which direction I headed in at this point.
“Hey,” I muttered. “What have you got planned for tonight?”
“You’re not coming over,” she said immediately. “Margot’s here. And she’s got a…friend.”
The phone shifted away from her gentle breaths that were replaced with loud moans and a few squeaks. I grinned despite the ache running through my rib cage on both sides that the beer hadn’t done a damn thing to quell. I should have hit Jericho up for a bourbon.
“Sounds like someone is having all the fun. Are you up for a drive?” I aimed for casual.
“What the fuck did you do?” she practically shrieked at me.
Even the bouncing and moaning in the background stopped.
“Uh—” Fucking busted. “I could do with a lift,” I hedged.
“To the hospital?” Keys jangled on her end. She yelled something, ostensibly to Margot, who yelled back in her normal voice before the moans started up again. “She’s a screamer, alright?”
“Why does she leave the room for us, and you don’t leave for her?” I asked, stuffing my hand in my pocket and hissed out a breath when my pinky hit the material.
“Ribs?”
“And hand. The last is my fault.”
“Fuck. They’re both your fault. I fucking told you not to screw around with Beau Bennett and the Allstars.”
“Or the twins.”
“The—” Zin said words I promised myself she had never said before tonight and never would again.
Double standards, much?
I knew she had a filthy mouth. I just only liked it when she was with me, and I was inside her. Lie. I liked her filthy mouth all the time.
“Where did you get such a broad vocabulary?” I asked, interested.
“I had a gay best friend when I was a kid. He has a drag act now. Damn good. In both personas he has a filthy fucking mouth.”
“Why don’t I know him?” I frowned.
“Because we have a standing Friday night date and not much else,” she reminded me.
“And if I want more?”
“There is no more, Dex. I’m coming to get you because you screwed up.”
“You’re coming to get me because you care, sweetness.”
“Do I? Because I can stop and you can walk,” she sassed me.
But we both knew she was coming. Fuck, I hoped she was coming, because I was in for a long damn walk and I wasn’t even sure what direction I picked. Stupid ass.
“Where are you?” she asked on cue.
“Ahhh—” I found a street corner and rattled off the nearest names, plus a few buildings as landmarks. “Don’t get out of the car when you arrive,” I said, keeping my voice as light as I could, despite the tightness building around my ribs and chest.
My breath puffed harder with every step but I kept my stride long and even. It wouldn't do for the twins to see my suffering, and I knew they were watching. Fuck, they weren’t even here for her tonight. If they saw me struggling and were out for blood, Zin would pay for my debt.
She shouldn’t be hurt because of me. Hell, Nelson already boasted a few extra scars because I couldn’t keep my roommate safe.
“Nine minutes. Are you going to pass out on me?” My girl was all business.
“Nah. Keep talking. I like hearing your voice.”
I kept an eye on where one of the twins parked his ass against a shadowy building further up the block. I guessed his significant other was stationed on the other side. If I timed this wrong I'd pass them on foot, and that could be catastrophic. Or I’d pass them with her—and that could be worse.
Choosing the lesser of two evils, I power walked through my pain, shoving my fear aside and prepared for a blade in my back.
It never arrived. Zin chattered nervously on the phone all the way to me, keeping me distracted nicely as well. She pulled up as the twins stalked my footsteps, changing buildings and blocks with each I passed. I never looked back, but then I didn’t have to. They weren't hiding.
I never stopped, not until I slid into the car she pulled up to the curb and peeled away the moment I snapped “Go,” at her.
“You are filthy. He beat you good.” She eyed me sideways, and reached across to yank my seat belt over me, ignoring my wince. “Shut up. You deserve it,” she reproved me. “If you’re going to call me, make sure I'm there when it happens next time.”
“You want to see me get the shit beaten out of me?” I leaned my head back onto the passenger seat and closed my eyes, not needing an answer.
All I could think about was the night I thought I’d seen her in the crowd. Did I want her there? Fuck, yes, I did. Every damn time.
Even though it hurt like hell, I reached out with my mangled hand and grabbed hers, winding our fingers together tight, ignoring her exclamation.
After a moment, she grew quiet. Then?—
“I’d kiss you, but you’re covered in blood and filth.”
“And puke,” I added helpfully.
“Someone else’s?”
“My own, Zin. Tonight fucking hurt,” I admitted.
More silence. I could deal with that. She drove.
“Why?”
“Huh?” I blinked at street lights going past upside down. My stomach hated that. “Ugh.”
“Why do you fight him?”
Beau. She still thought I was fighting Beau Bennett. “Ah—it’s the rush. He’s an ass. It’s off campus.” A shitty lie, maybe plausible? I had no idea.
“Bullshit. Not buying it.” She stroked my hand, the not sore side.
“That feels nice.”
“Good.” She stopped the car. “We’re here, Dex. Get out. I’ll go find a parking spot.”
“Oh.” I found the ER sign with bleary eyes, and looked back at her. “Thanks for driving.” I wanted to kiss her, but she was right. I was filthy.
She clicked her tongue and gave me a little push towards the door. “I can’t stop here, Dex. Get out. I’ll come find you.”
I nodded and hauled my ass out the door. “Thanks, Zin.”
She huffed out a breath and drove away. For the first time in hours, I smiled. At least she’d be well away from beau’s psychotic tame twins here. I headed inside the hospital, and prepared for pain.
Zin dropped me home. She still refused to come in, but I got her as far as my door. Hell, I even claimed a kiss, though that might have been a painkiller-induced hallucination. The doc did me good, and I was dozy as fuck with whatever he managed to get me to keep down.
“Come in,” I murmured, tugging at her arm with my good hand, walking backwards as Nelson opened the door when I kicked at it with my heel. “Stay with me.”
“No.” Zin glared at first me, then at my housemate. “Enough favors for one night. Go deal with your new charge, nursemaid,” she shot at Nelson, turning away.
I laced the fingers of my good hand through hers. Not that I could feel the other one in its cast right now. “What if I need you tonight?” I asked, lowering my voice, though Nelson wouldn’t miss anything being right damn well there in our space, the royal little creeper.
“Then you’ll have to take care of it yourself. With your other hand,” she said tartly to Nelson’s general hilarity. “Maybe think of that if you’re going to pick a fight with the biggest bully on campus. Have you been fighting, too?” Her dark gaze snapped to my roommate.
Nelson took a step back, freeing the doorway up. I took the opportunity, retreating into my dorm room, and brought Zin with me.
“I don’t have anything to do with this.” Nelson raised his hands in my periphery, but couldn’t stop the wince his action brought on.
A decent dose of guilt swirled in my stomach. “He’s not involved.” I doubled down on his declaration of innocence.
I mean, he was, but only because of me. And…cue the extra guilt. No amount of painkillers stopped that. Damnit.
Zin snorted. “Right.” She tugged her hand free, and I couldn't stop her. Nothing worked properly, including my feet. “Go to bed, Dex. I’ll be back to feed you in the morning. Look after him,” she said softly to Nelson over my head as I found myself sitting on the floor. “And don’t let him pick fights with Beau Bennett, for fuck’s sake?”
Nelson laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
Zin leaned down into my field of vision and cupped my cheeks in her smooth, small hands. “Go to sleep, Dex. Rest. I’ll—” She sighed. “I’ll be here tomorrow.”
I gave her a goofy grin. “I knew you couldn’t resist me,” I murmured, losing myself in her pretty eyes.
Right before I passed out on her biker boots and drooled across their scuffed surface.