Chapter 27 #3
Damiano is barely standing upright, his body jerking and his head snapping back and to the side as Adrik savages him with blow after blow. Blood pours from his nose and mouth as he turns to spit crimson on the ground, his purpled, half-shut eyes unfocused.
“Isn't someone going to stop this??” I blurt, turning to Bella.
She just shrugs, her eyes still trained on the fight. “They’re supposed to tap out when they’ve had enough.”
“Okay, but Damiano's getting the shit kicked out of him,” I say nervously.
Bella’s brow cocks. “He sure is.”
The bell finally rings, ending the round. Adrik looks pissed as he walks back to his corner and glares at Damiano. Dame, meanwhile, turns and stumbles back to his side of the ring, right where we’re standing.
Suddenly, his swollen eyes laser focus right on Bella. A shiver ripples down my spine as he grins a bloodied smile at her and lurches over right to us, slamming against the waist-high plywood wall.
Bella smiles widely. “You know, Dame,” she sighs in a bored tone, “it’s usually customary to fight back when someone punches you in the face? I mean, I’m no boxer, but—”
I gasp sharply when Damiano’s bloody hand shoots out and abruptly wraps around Bella’s throat. Her eyes widen as he yanks her close to his snarling, bloodied face.
“There’s going to be hell to pay for this, little nightmare,” he drawls in a mumbling, muffled voice as blood drips from his mouth.
What the fuck?
I step forward to push him away from my friend. But Bella’s hand raises between us, warding me off.
When I stop, she just smiles at Damiano as she reaches up and pats his swollen cheek, winking.
“Fight’s about to start, handsome. Try not to get hit so much this time?” She pats his face again before she extricates herself from his grip on her throat.
Damiano glares at her just as the bell rings, announcing the fifth round.
“Um…” I turn to look at Bella when Damiano sluggishly raises his fists as Adrik advances. “What was that?”
Bella shrugs.
“Oh…” She waves a hand dismissively. “That was nothing.”
I frown. “Are you two—”
She snorts a laugh. “God, no.”
Out in the ring, Damiano is losing. Badly. Even the cheers of the crowd have gone quiet as he drops to his knees, barely conscious.
Adrik punches him twice more. Then he stops. There’s a scowl on his face as he turns and spits into the dirt before shaking his head.
“Call it,” he growls in the silence. “Fuck this. He’s done.”
Damiano tries to speak. Suddenly his brother is hopping the barrier into the ring, shaking his head and waving his arms. Dame is struggling to get up when the announcer vaults into the ring and makes it official.
The fight is done. Adrik is the winner.
I shiver when Damiano, still on his knees, slowly raises his swollen, purpled eyes and narrows them right on Bella. Blood drips from his mouth, nose, ears, and various cuts over his brow.
“Such a violent sport,” Bella murmurs, her eyes shimmering when I turn to look at her.
Okay…
“I’m going to go get a drink from the bar," I say. "You want anything?”
She smiles and shakes her head. “I’m good!”
I’m halfway to the bar when I get a new DM on my phone.
The Ghost Prince:
I didn’t peg you for a fan of blood sports.
I freeze, whipping my head around and dragging my gaze over the crowd before I groan inwardly.
What, like I’m going to suddenly spot a guy in a fucking tactical mask chilling at a college party?
Right.
Velvet Villainess
Spying on me again. How out of character.
The Ghost Prince
Biting sarcasm. What a change of pace.
I giggle, blushing.
Velvet Villainess
Can I assume you’re here?
The Ghost Prince
You can.
Heat tingles over my skin and pools between my thighs as I rake my teeth over my bottom lip.
He just does this to me. Like, even just chatting to him makes my pulse skip a little faster and my nerve endings sing.
He just makes me want him, always.
Velvet Villainess
Should I expect to see you in the ring for the next fight?
The Ghost Prince
I really don’t think that would be appropriate.
My brow furrows.
Velvet Villainess
Appropriate?
The Ghost Prince
It’s considered bad form to enter a boxing ring to fight with a full-on erection.
Another giggle bubbles from my throat.
Velvet Villainess
Got a thing for sweaty, shirtless men punching each other? How Fight Club.
The Ghost Prince
Why don’t you step into the woods, thirty feet past the west entrance to The Garrison, and I’ll show you EXACTLY what I have a thing for.
Fuck.
Pure need coats my thighs as my pulse skips.
Velvet Villainess
I want you.
The Ghost Prince
You have ten seconds to get your ass here before I come and fuck it right in front of everyone.
God, this man…
I quickly glance around and make a beeline for the west entrance, an old, half-crumbling stone archway that leads into the darkness of the surrounding woods.
I’ve barely made it ten steps before strong hands grab me, yank me into the shadows, and slam me against a tree.
I moan when his familiar scent washes over me, his hand wrapped around my throat.
“Are you wearing your plug, baby?”
I whimper and nod, my eyes adjusting to the darkness as I look up into his masked face.
Three days ago, Ghost gave me a present: a small, silver butt plug with a green gem set into the handle.
And yes.
I’m wearing it.
“Good girl,” he murmurs. His other hand trails up my stomach and between my tits before it slips to the side and pinches one of my nipples through my hoodie, making me whimper and moan as his hard body sinks against mine.
My phone dings loudly.
“Shit, sorry,” I blurt, wincing as I turn to the side and yank the phone out of my hoodie pocket. “Let me just put this on silent—”
My words fail and my face goes white.
Lucia
RED ALERT FOR REAL
Lucia
Wren is in v bad shape. Low pulse. Blacking out. We need to get her to hospital ASAP
Lucia
Garrison north gate!!
Lucia
HURRY!!!