Chapter 2 #2
“Reapers and the Devils,” I mumbled absently, not realizing I’d said anything out loud until Skeeter grabbed my bicep and spun me around to face him.
“How the fuck do you know that?” he demanded, and I tried coming up with an excuse, but was thankfully saved.
“I told her,” Slash said as he appeared beside us, running his eyes over me to check that I was okay before meeting Skeeter’s eye.
“Why the fuck did you tell her, but I don’t know a thing about it?”
“Cops and crews were everywhere last night in Ashburn. I was passing by her house and thought it was a good idea to tell her to stay home. You know how she likes to wander,” Slash answered calmly.
“Why—”
“Look, you’ve made it obvious she’s sticking around. I don’t need her getting herself into fucking trouble, then you running off half-cocked in a rage because something happened to her. I’m trying here, bro,” he sighed. “What’s she doing here?”
“To watch some of the guys fight and to spar with the kicker,” Skeeter shrugged, braced for an argument, but it never came.
Slash nodded, pointing at me. “No weapons in the cage. No fighting guys today.”
“Yes, bossman,” I grinned, making him roll his eyes.
“Good answer.”
Skeeter and Diesel glanced at each other in confusion at the lack of tension, and I gave Skeeter a quick kiss on the cheek when I spotted Mule walk through the door.
“I’m going to go for my playdate. Be good,” I deadpanned, and he swatted my ass as I walked off, taking a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it as I approached Mule. “Hey.”
“Who let you in?” she teased, bumping knuckles with me.
“Skeet said I could play with you today,” I scoffed, rolling my shoulders.
“I’ve gotta rest my knuckles today. I need them to heal faster for my fights,” she cringed, motioning to Zeena. “Zee might take you on though.”
“She’s mean to me,” I huffed, and Zeena cracked a small smile as she approached, running her hand over her shaved head.
“C’mon, Donovan. You’re meaner than me.”
“Me?” I said sweetly, making both girls snort. “Fine, we’ll agree to take it easy today.”
“I didn’t say that,” Zeena smirked, pulling her hoodie over her head, leaving her in her shorts and sports bra.
I did the same, leaving our things in the corner before stretching. Since some of the guys were already sparring, we did a little in our spot out of the way, waiting our turn as we warmed up our muscles.
“Should you be fighting if you’re that beat up?”
I turned, finding Tyler frowning at me as he stared at my bruised ribs.
“It’s just a bruise,” I huffed, letting him reach out to run his fingers along it. “Besides, we’re just sparring for fun today. It’s not a serious fight.”
I glanced around for the others, finding them talking to Diesel at the bar.
“Or you could not fight for fun and come back to my place instead?” he grinned, stepping closer and giving me a kiss, his hand resting on my waist. “I’ll kiss it better for you.”
“You’re going to get your head knocked off your shoulders,” Mule muttered, making me look over at her.
“Huh?”
“Your side piece. You’re drawing attention,” she answered, lifting her chin across the room to motion to someone behind us. I turned, finding Matteo and Samuel talking, both of them glaring at me.
“One, Ty isn’t my side piece. Two, what’s their problem?” I scoffed, turning my attention back to Mule.
“Uh, you’re fucking Skeet.”
“So? We’re not together.”
“Does he know that? No one’s allowed to touch you,” Zeena chuckled dryly, wincing slightly. “Head’s up.”
I noticed Matteo walking towards us, but Skeeter appeared and blocked his path, standing between him and me.
“You’re seriously going to protect her?” Matteo snarled, waving a hand in my direction. “She’s locking tonsils with this prick right here in your shed. She’s a disrespectful little—”
“Don’t fucking finish that sentence,” Skeeter warned, jabbing a finger against Matteo’s chest. “And I know what she’s doing. No need for you to step in.”
“She—”
“We’re not exclusive. Leave it,” Skeeter bit out, not moving until Matteo sneered and stomped off.
Skeeter turned to face us and Tyler blew out a breath, apology in his tone. “Sorry, man. I didn’t know it would cause a problem.”
“It’s not. They can mind their own fucking business,” Skeeter muttered, dropping an arm around my shoulders and kissing me quickly. “Don’t go anywhere alone, okay? Maybe sit down for a bit so you don’t miss the good shit. Brick is fighting one of the new fighters, so that could get interesting.”
“Why don’t I ever see you fight?” I asked, making him chuckle.
“I’m busy running them when you’re here. I fight sometimes, though.”
“You want to fight me?” Tyler joked, and a slow smirk spread across Skeeter’s face.
“I'd annihilate you, Johnson.”
“Rory can kiss me better,” he laughed, and I swatted him in the stomach.
“If you get beat up for being a cocky prick, I’m not kissing shit.”
“Go sit,” Skeeter ordered, pointing at Tyler then me, making it obvious Tyler was in charge of watching me. I considered punching the asshole for that, but decided against it as I let Skeeter steer me towards a seat, where he pushed me down into it and told me to behave before he walked off again.
Matteo was glaring at me from beside Slash by the cage, and whatever he was bitching about wasn’t gaining any of Slash’s attention. He was too busy eyeing the two fighters in the cage.
You could tell when the sparring and warm-ups were over because the atmosphere changed. People started moving closer to the cage, trash-talking and bantering as Brick and another man walked inside.
I leaned back, dropping a leg over Tyler’s thigh as I got comfortable, my eyes glued to Brick as he warmed up. I hadn’t seen him fight before, but every movement he made showed the muscle he usually hid under his jacket. Dude was ripped.
Caden, Jensen, and Lukas joined us, Lukas’ hand instantly moving to my thigh as he watched the fight. I was glad he seemed okay, and I hoped whatever Karen had started last night wasn’t playing on his mind.
The second the fight started, I knew the new guy was thrown off guard by Brick’s strength as he was flung back, bouncing off the side of the cage. I hadn’t really had much to do with Brick before, but it was obvious he earned his keep.
Tyler was shouting for Brick to flatten the guy, people cheering and laughing as the two beat the ever loving shit out of each other. It was pretty brutal, and it didn’t take a genius to realize this was some kind of punishment for the new fighter or a way to humble him.
He was dragged away unconscious by the time Brick was done with him, and after a short break to clean the cage, Slash motioned to me. “Donovan, get over here.”
Skeeter had been at the bar talking to Diesel, but he must have heard from the way his eyes darted towards me as I stood.
“Uh, what’s he doing?” Tyler asked under his breath, but I shrugged.
“No idea. Bossman wants me to play in the cage, I guess.”
I walked towards Slash as he also called Zeena over, his voice low as he waited for her to join us. “Your ribs are okay?”
“I’m fine, why?” I asked, swatting at him when he reached out to touch my bruise. “Can you not?”
He drew his hand back, meeting my gaze. “I know you two girls are on the same level but also challenge each other. You know you can tap out, right?”
Zeena chuckled as she appeared beside me, giving me a wink. “We’ve got this.”
“Didn’t think girls were fighting today? It’s only sparring practice,” I said slowly, and he gave me a serious look.
“You watched that last fight like you were about to jump in the cage and join in. If you want a real fight, I’ll give you one.”
“Aw, is this favoritism?” I teased.
“Do you want to fight Zeena or not?” he snapped, Matteo lingering close by and listening to our conversation.
“I do.”
“Then stop giving me shit and get in the fucking cage,” he growled, opening the gate to let us in.
I saluted him, only annoying him more, then I stepped inside and stretched a little, bumping knuckles with Zeena.
We started slow, building up to it to make sure we didn’t do too much harm as we warmed up more. Then she threw a punch at my kidney, starting the more serious fight.
People cheered as she managed to knock me to the ground, and I only just twisted out of the way in time before she could stomp on me. Zeena might have been nice to my face before, but in here? She was a machine on a mission.
I sprung to my feet and caught her off guard, dodging her next punch before slamming my own into her face. Her head snapped back in surprise before managing to get her balance back and throwing a fist at my face, catching me on the cheek.
We went punch for punch, the guys screaming for me as I swept Zeena’s legs out from under her and straddled her. Blood dripped down her face from her nose as she tapped out, and I forced myself to climb off her and helped her to her feet.
“Mule needs to stop teaching you that shit with your feet,” Zeena growled, wiping the blood from her face with the back of her hand.
“You need to dodge better,” I joked, waiting for Slash to open the gate so we could step out. He nodded at me with satisfaction, not saying anything as I made my way back to my chair.
I halted when the door opened and Hunter appeared, raking his gaze over me with appreciation before giving me a wink.
“Hey, babe. Long time no see.” A few other Devils walked in behind him, Marco being one of them, and I swatted at Hunter’s hand as he reached out to touch my bruising face. “You should put some ice on that.”
I expected Skeeter to yank me back, but it was Slash who put some distance between us, keeping me behind him like a shield.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he demanded, but Hunter only grinned.
“You came to my house uninvited last night, so I thought I’d repay the favor. What’s happening here? Girl fights? You should add some mud and make it interesting. I’d bet on that.”
“There’s people outside of the crew here, asshole. Don’t cause a scene,” Slash scowled.