Chapter 21
The moment I exit the locker room, I’m ready. My chin is raised. My mind is blank. And all I see is the biggest fucking man ever standing in the center of the ring. He raises his hands, waving them at the crowd with encouragement to chant his name.
“Brutus! Brutus! Brutus!”
Sounds right. He looks like the type of motherfucker to stab you in the back.
"Don't worry. I'll call your mommy when I put you out," my opponent grins wildly, standing at the center of the ring as I walk up the stairs.
"You a fan favorite?" I ask, nodding toward the rambunctious crowd, loosening my neck slightly as his tightens with his movements.
"I'm undefeated," he says with a grin. “And I plan to keep it that way. Be a good little bitch and go down in the first round.” Oh, he sounds very confident. I should probably change that.
"Why? Cuz you can't pick on anybody your own size? Are you that insecure?" I chuckle, cracking my knuckles and jumping from foot to foot. Damn. My muscles are way too tight for this. I need more time to loosen them before he chews me up and spits me out.
I'm fully aware I'm taunting the bull. I'm like a damn red flag, waving in the wind for him to race after. That's okay. I want that. He needs to exude all his minimal energy before the fight commences.
Brutus's face tightens, and he exposes his teeth. "I'll show you insecure, asshole."
A referee steps into the middle of us with his arm in the air above his head, eyeing the tension between us.
"Once I back away and am out of the ring, the fight will begin.
There are no rules, except—don't kill each other.
You will be declared the winner if your opponent is knocked out or doesn't move for more than three seconds.
I am the judge. If you harm me, then you're banned for life.
" He raises a brow at Brutus, like this might be something he's capable of.
Might be right. Brutus looks a little unhinged.
Okay, not a little. A lot. He smiles like he's got something over me.
"No more than five blows to the head are permitted.
We do not allow death in this ring." He takes a small step back and lowers his arm.
I grunt, knocking back when Brutus the fucking cheater slams his fist into my jaw and then my ribs.
Pain rings through my brain, and the breath leaves my lungs as I gasp.
But I have enough mind to duck when he sends his second fist flying, attempting to catch the same spots on the opposite side.
He meets nothing but air as I dance away from him, shaking my head and trying to right myself.
"That was a low blow," I grunt at his back, making him turn on his heels and wildly punch at my face and body, never landing a blow. “You call yourself a fighter,” I wheeze, rubbing at my ribs until I can stand up straight.
"This is a fight. There are no rules, remember?" he asks cockily, heaving several breaths as I sidestep every punch he throws at me.
That’s right, big boy. Tire yourself trying to catch me. I may not have his strength, but I’m nimble on my feet.
"You gonna throw some punches or be a pussy?" he asks, cocking a brow when he takes a step back. He opens his arms wide. Way too cocky for his own damn good. He’s asking for me to attack him.
"I could," I say with a shrug, ducking under another one of his assaults when he realizes I’m not falling into that trap.
He heaves a breath, snarling in my direction.
"Fight me, pussy boy!" he grunts, nearly charging at me like the bull I accused him of being earlier. I swoop out of the way, pissing him off more until he’s facing me. Red takes over his cheeks, and he cracks his bare knuckles several times. “You gonna keep running? This won’t end well for you.” He grins again, looking at me like I’m the prey he’s been searching for all his life.
It's creepy.
I lift a shoulder, nonchalantly taking a step back as he takes two steps forward.
He’s so determined to take me out that he doesn’t see the coordinated dance we’re having.
It’s all part of my strategy. One Jordy knows all too well and keeps me on my toes.
Only Jordy is much more lithe than this guy, who is practically stumbling over his large feet.
“Then come put me out of my misery,” I jest, curling a finger in his direction.
“Gladly,” he growls, bulldozing toward me at his highest speed.
I jump to the side just as he gets to me and kick the back of his knees out.
He lands with a loud thud, expelling the air from his lungs.
Before he can think about standing again, I punch him.
Over and over again until he’s collapsing on the ground and unmoving.
But I don’t stop. I grunt, smashing my fist into his face over and over again.
Strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me off the big man now out on the mat, drooling and mentally begging for his mommy.
Whoever plucked me off Brutus sets me on my feet and stands beside me as I catch my breath.
The entire room sways in my vision, but I right myself, lifting my chin.
I may be smaller than him, but I’m goddamn mighty.
The crowd blinks back at me when I finally look around until they explode, cheering my name.
My arm immediately gets thrown in the air victoriously by the man who pulled me off.
I expect to see one of the referees standing beside me, but it's not.
It's Hux, looking down at me with pride shining in his eyes and confusion written on his expression.
"Well I'll be damned," he mutters, squeezing my wrist. "You really fucking did it. You beat the unbeatable,” he grunts out gruffly in awe.
I don't say anything back. Too stunned by having his hands on my wrist. When I get my wits back, I yank my hand from his grip.
"Thanks for the confidence." I roll my eyes and take a step away.
Medics immediately jump into the ring with a stretcher, rolling Brutus onto his back and taking him away. The crowd continues to chant my name with excitement.
I cringe when something hits my face and blanch when I hold the lacy material in front of my face. Blinking several times, I take in the bra as heat billows onto my cheeks, and I drop it.
“Fuck,” I grunt earning a chuckle from Hux. Everything in him seems to relax as he stands beside me.
“We’re having a party,” he says offhandedly, pulling my attention back to him.
“Oh, yeah. Another one at your frat?” I’m well aware.
But I’d love to hear it straight from his mouth.
It’s the party of the century, according to Simon.
It happens every year, and it’s for anyone interested in drinking and losing themselves at the graveyard where they hold it.
It’s also the first step into showing interest in their frat.
“More of a clubhouse,” he says, shrugging.
“And what does your clubhouse do?” I raise a brow, gently rubbing at the bruise forming on my aching jaw. Fucker. Those were the only hits I allowed him to get on me.
“A lot of shit.” He shrugs.
So damn informative.
“Okay. What kind of shit specifically?” I want to know what this mysterious frat or clubhouse is responsible for. Criminal activity?
“Let’s just say, if you’re wanting to get ahead in life, you’ll join us. From here, you can get any job you want. Any internship that interests you. Business investments. It’s good for your future to have us at your back, and vice versa.”
“Is this how you sell it to everyone?” I snark.
He shrugs, sending me a glare. “Come or don’t. But I’m extending the invitation. We could use a guy like you in our frat.”
A guy like me. I want to snort. If he only knew.
I pretend like I'm thinking about it and shrug. "Sure. Simon was going to drag me there, anyway."
Everything aches from the exertion of the fight.
My jaw. My ribs. My fucking feet. It's been too long since I've jumped into the ring with someone.
Spared and punched like my life depended on it.
Tonight was a necessity, though. I couldn't say no to Brutus.
Although, I'm betting now he wishes I did.
"Good," he grunts, taking a step back and collecting himself. "I expect you here for more fights."
"And why would I do that?" I raise a brow. He assumes I'll come back.
"Because the more you win, the more status you gain. You just knocked down the biggest fucking douche on campus." A slow grin spreads across his face. "He'll be after you, too."
"After me?" I glower, curling my fists.
"Yeah, so maybe it's best you join. We're the fucking kings, and no one will bother you."
I roll my eyes. Typical fucking Hux thinking. He's a king? Puh-lease.
"Only fellow douchebags call themselves the kings of campus," I quip.
He blinks several times before a chuckle erupts from him. It's low and rumbly, making my stomach swoop. But he's still on my shitlist. No matter how many cute smiles he throws my way.
"You'd better go back and get checked out. Medical is back there in an office waiting."
"I think their priority should be the asshole I knocked flat on his back.
" I take another step, determined to leave this conversation.
I can't get too comfortable with them and let my guard down. No matter how many emotions it’s stirring inside me.
I don't want to laugh with him. I want to take him down.
It's all about pretending that I'm not the girl he abandoned.
Hux doesn't say another word before climbing out of the ring first and making his way toward the table in the corner.
Once he's seated, Mack frowns at him, saying something I can't quite read on his lips.
Hux's furious glare burns through Mack, and he pounds a fist on the table.
Mack shrugs, grinning maniacally at Hux until they're in a heated conversation.