2. Two
TWO
THEO
I checked the tape on my hands to make sure it was secured, hopped up and down to get my blood pumping, and walked out to the ring to “American Psycho II” by D12.
“Coming out weighing 175 pounds, the challenger, the one and only Bronze Devil!”
The crowd booed as I stepped through the ropes and into the glaring lights. My opponent was already there, bouncing on his toes, a sneer on his sweat-slicked face. He had at least thirty pounds on me, but I wasn’t worried. I knew I had the speed and agility to outmaneuver him.
The referee called us to the center of the ring and recited the rules in a bored monotone. We touched our gloves and returned to our corners. My trainer, Cavan, talked to me, but I didn’t hear anything he said.
I was too focused on a raven-haired girl in a tight black dress sitting in the front row. Her eyes were locked on mine. I was almost positive I had never seen her before, yet there was something familiar about her. Her gaze made my heart race faster than any pre-fight jitters ever could. She had an intensity about her that was both alluring and unsettling
An intensity that matched mine .
A flash of her eyes—dark and scared .
I blinked, and the image was gone. The referee called me, urging me to take my position in the ring.
“Let’s have a clean fight,” the ref said sternly as he looked between us.
Time to crush this prick .
We both nodded.
Then the bell rang out.
We circled each other, fists up, eyes locked. He threw a few jabs to test my defenses. I slipped them easily. Then he lunged with a wild hook. I ducked under it and landed a solid right to his ribs.
First blood to me.
He grunted and reset, more cautious now.
I raised my hands and circled to my left, keeping light on my feet. My opponent matched my movements, his eyes fixed on me. We sized each other up, two predators searching for weakness.
He struck a lightning-quick jab that I slipped by a hair’s breadth. I countered with a right cross, but he was already gone, dancing away. The crowd yelled its approval at the opening exchange.
Near the end of the first, I feinted left and smashed an uppercut into his chin. His head snapped back, and he stumbled.
The bell rang.
Back to our corners.
I glanced at the front row. The dark-haired girl was still there, her eyes boring into me. Her red-headed friend with big tits and nothing between her ears was chattering away, but she paid no attention. Where had I seen those eyes of hers? It felt like it had been in another life. I couldn’t place it. The memory was just out of reach, like a word on the tip of my tongue.
“Beautiful work,” Cavan said, squirting water into my mouth. “Stay on him. Be first to the punch.”
I nodded, already eager to get back out there and finish what I’d started. This fight was far from over, but I felt the momentum shifting.
I was good.
Undefeated .
The second round began much like the first, with both of us circling, probing for openings. My opponent was more cautious now, keeping his guard high, wary of my speed. I feinted a jab and then launched a blistering combination, left-right-left, that drove him back into the ropes. He clinched, trying to smother my punches. But I dug hard shots into his body, feeling his muscles tense with each impact.
The ref separated us, and we went back to circling. My opponent’s face was beginning to swell, his breathing heavy. I could sense his frustration growing. He lunged forward, throwing a wild overhand right. I slipped under it and cracked him with a counter left hook that sent him reeling.
The crowd roared as he staggered back, his legs rubbery. I pressed forward, raining punches, looking for the finish. He covered up, trying to weather the storm, but I was relentless. A straight right hand found its mark, and his knees buckled before he crashed to the ground. The ref slid down onto the mat and began counting down, giving him time to get back up.
“ One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five . . . six . . . seven . . . eight . . . nine . . . ten! ” The ref jumped up, waving his arms, signaling the end of the fight.
I raised my hands in victory as the arena erupted. The announcer grabbed my arm and shouted into the microphone.
“The Bronze Devil wins by knockout!”
My eyes immediately locked on the girl in the crowd, and she looked at me with the same intensity. The announcer said something to me, pulling my attention from her, and I gave him some half-assed response and then looked back, but she was gone. Her seat was empty, as if she had never been there at all. I scanned the crowd, hoping to see her dark hair moving through it, but she’d vanished as quickly as she’d come. I felt a pang of disappointment and frustration because I couldn’t recall where or how I knew her, but the rush of winning promptly overshadowed it.
In the locker room. Cavan helped me remove my gloves and tape. I couldn’t shake the girl from my mind.
“You were on fire out there,” he said, squeezing my shoulder. “That guy didn’t stand a chance. ”
“They never do,” I muttered, and I took a swig of my water bottle.
He chuckled. “That’s the attitude of a champion. Keep it up, and we’ll be headlining the MGM Grand in no time.”
I nodded absently.
I showered quickly, letting the hot water soothe my aching muscles. As I dressed, Cavan told me about an afterparty being held at one of the houses nearby.
“It would be good for you to make an appearance.”
I stayed silent while he continued.
“Word on the street is that Connor McKinley will be there.”
I lifted my gaze to look at him. “ The Connor ‘Lights Out’ McKinley?”
“The same.” He grinned. “Might be worth a few minutes of your time to scope out the scene and size him up.”
Connor McKinley was the top-ranked and undefeated underground middleweight champion in my weight class. A match between us was inevitable, and he was the talk of the underground boxing world. It wasn’t if I could beat him; it was when , and I was itching to bring that prima donna trust fund kid down a peg or two.
Or maybe even kill him and rid the city of that waste of oxygen.
His dad was a high-ranking leader in the Collectors’ ranks, moonlighting just a short distance below Abel Benson, the kingpin. Connor was in line to follow in his father’s footsteps. He’d integrated himself into politics while winning every collegiate tournament—which made him dangerous in more ways than one.
I nodded slowly, considering the prospect. Connor McKinley was a rising star in the collegiate boxing world, with a string of impressive victories under his belt. He was the guy to beat if I wanted to make a name for myself.
“Alright,” I said, grabbing my jacket. “Let’s make an appearance.”
The frat house was already packed when we arrived, the bass of the music thumping through the walls. I pushed my way through the crowd, ignoring the adoring fans and hangers-on who tried to catch my attention. My focus was solely on finding Connor McKinley.
I spotted him near the back of the room, holding court with a group of admirers. He was taller than I’d expected, with broad shoulders and a cocky grin. As I approached, his eyes flicked to me, assessing.
“Well, well,” he said, his voice carrying over the music, “if it isn’t the Devil himself. Quite a show you put on tonight.”
I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. “Just doing what I do best.”
Connor laughed, but there was an edge to it. “You’ve got some skills. I’ll give you that. But it would be interesting to see how you fare against some real competition.”
The challenge hung in the air between us. I could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me, waiting for my response.
I leaned in closer, my voice low and steady. “Anytime, anywhere. Just name the place.”
His grin widened as he leaned back and sized me up. “Big words from a small-time fighter,” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “Winning a couple of fights against a couple of nobodies doesn’t make you king of the underground circuit. You underestimate what I’m capable of.”
I felt my jaw clench, my fists tightening at my sides. This arrogant prick had no idea who he was messing with. I took a step closer, invading his space.
“And you have no idea what I’m capable of,” I growled. “I’ll take you apart piece by piece and leave you bleeding on the canvas. Anytime, anywhere.”
His grin widened, but his eyes remained cold. “Careful what you wish for, Devil. You might just get it.”
He turned to his entourage. “Let’s leave the champ to his adoring fans. I’ve got better things to do.”
With that, he brushed past me, his shoulder knocking into mine as he went. I watched him go, heading toward a group of half-naked girls. He wrapped his arms around them, and they giggled, pressing their bodies against his. This fucker was nothing but a showboating playboy riding his perverted family’s coattails.
I couldn’t wait to annihilate him.
Then my eyes landed on a familiar figure walking through the party.
The dark-haired goddess.
I watched her move through the crowd. She smiled at people, engaging in small talk before she settled against the wall. She sipped her drink, looking bored with the whole scene, and the redhead standing next to her was preoccupied with her tongue down a buff guy’s throat. The dark-haired girl’s fitted black dress hugged her every curve, and her long hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, contrasting her milky white skin. As if sensing my gaze, she looked up, her eyes meeting mine across the crowded room.
Without thinking, I moved toward her, weaving through the crowd of partygoers. The redhead next to her started dragging the big dude away by his dick as I approached. But she watched me with a slight smirk playing on her full lips. Up close, she was even more stunning—high cheekbones and eyes so gray, they were almost luminescent, and a presence that commanded attention. My eyes flicked to her choker necklace with a small silver eye pendant resting in the hollow of her throat. The necklace glinted in the party’s strobe lights, its silver surface catching my gaze like a magnet. I had seen it before, a lifetime ago it seemed. But where?
“Impressive fight tonight,” she said, her voice low and smoky. “You made it look easy.”
I shrugged. “It’s what I do.”
She tilted her head, appraising me with those penetrating eyes. “I can see that.”
“I don’t think I caught your name.”
“That’s because I didn’t give it.”
Her coy response only intrigued me further. “Fair enough. Can I at least get you a drink?”
She glanced down at her half-full glass and then back up at me. “I think I’m good for now. But I appreciate the offer.”
I nodded, undeterred .
“So, what brings you to this fine establishment?” I asked, leaning against the wall next to her. “You don’t seem like the frat party type.”
She laughed softly, a melodic sound that sent warmth to my dick. “You’re observant. I’m not usually one for this scene. But my friend dragged me along, insisting I needed to ‘loosen up a bit.’”
“And is it working?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“That’s still undecided,” she replied as she took a sip from her drink while watching me over the rim. “But the evening seems to be improving.”
I grinned, enjoying our banter. She was quick-witted and sharp, a refreshing change from the vapid groupies who usually flocked around me after fights.
“Well, since you’re here, care to dance?” I nodded toward the makeshift dance floor, where bodies writhed to the pulsing beat.
She considered for a moment, then downed the rest of her drink and set the glass aside. “I think I’ll have to pass. I need to find my friend and make sure she hasn’t gotten herself into too much trouble.” She glanced around the room, scanning for the redhead.
Before I could press further, a loud crash sounded from across the room, followed by shouting. I turned to see two guys squaring off, fists raised. It looked like the party was about to turn into a brawl.
I sighed and turned back to my raven-haired beauty, but she was gone, vanished into the crowd like a ghost. I scanned the room but couldn’t catch a glimpse of her.
Disappointed, I headed toward the commotion to see if I needed to break things up before they got out of hand. The perks of being the undefeated champ—you end up the de facto bouncer.
As I pushed through the mass of bodies, the sound of yelling upstairs caught my attention.
Damn, another fight.
I was about to head up the stairs when I saw her storming down with none other than Connor McKinley following her, completely naked.
“What the hell?” I muttered under my breath as I watched the scene unfold.
“Calm down, baby. It’s not that serious. Where are you going?” Connor called out with a chuckle, stumbling down the stairs after her. His face was flushed, and his hair was disheveled.
She whirled around at the bottom of the stairs, her gray eyes flashing with anger. On the other hand, Connor seemed amused, a smug grin plastered on his face despite his state of undress.
“Come on, don’t be like that,” he called after her. “We were just having a little fun.”
She whirled around, jabbing a finger at his chest. “Fun? You call cheating on your girlfriend fun? You’re lucky I don’t castrate you, you piece of shit.”
The crowd parted as she stomped past, people gawking and whispering. I moved to follow her, but Connor stepped in my path, still naked and apparently unconcerned.
“Chill out! We were talking.”
“And I guess the topic of conversation was your dick in her mouth then, huh?”
“Exactly.” Connor smirked.
“Fuck you.”
He grabbed her arm, his grip tight. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to like that, bitch?”
I stepped forward, my fists clenched at my sides. “I suggest you let her go.”
Connor’s head snapped toward me, his eyes narrowing. “This doesn’t concern you, Devil. Why don’t you run along and find someone else to play hero for?”
I moved closer, my voice low and dangerous. “I won’t ask again. Let. Her. Go.”
For a strained moment, Connor and I stared each other down, the air crackling with tension. Then, with a sneer, he released her arm and stepped back. “Whatever. She’s not worth the trouble anyway.”
He turned and stalked off, pushing his way through the crowd. I turned to the girl, concern etched on my face. “Are you alright?”
She rubbed her arm where Connor had grabbed her but nodded. “I’m fine. Thanks for the assist.”
I reached out a gentle hand to her arm. “Let me take a look at that.”
She hesitated for a moment, then let me examine the red marks Connor’s fingers had left on her pale skin. I felt a surge of anger rise within me. How dare that entitled prick lay a hand on her.
“It’s nothing,” she said, pulling her arm back. “I’ve dealt with worse.”
Something in her tone made me pause. There was a hardness there, a hint of shadows lurking beneath the surface. What kind of darkness had this girl faced to make her so nonchalant about being manhandled by that naked asshole?
“Still, he had no right to treat you that way,” I said, my jaw tight. “Someone needs to teach that punk a lesson.”
A flicker of amusement danced in her gray eyes. “And I suppose you’re just the man to do it?”
I met her gaze steadily. “I don’t like bullies. And I especially don’t like men who think they can put their hands on women without consequences.”
She studied me for a long moment, as if trying to see into my very soul. The intensity of her stare stripped me bare. Finally, she nodded, seemingly satisfied with what she found.
“I think I’ve had enough excitement for one night,” she said, tilting her head toward the door. “It was nice to meet you, Devil .”