Thirty-Three
Eli
Ifeel bad for the girl standing across from AJ right now.
She has no idea the absolute weapon that she is about to face.
I glance over at where my brothers are and am met with a whiny pout from Maxie and a glare from Oliver.
It’s been too long since we’ve watched her fight.
We don’t get a lot of girls that fight here at The Poolhouse but when we do have them, it’s always the most savage show.
It’s like there is something in their DNA that calls out for more blood.
And they are always way more technical and precise than any of the guys.
With AJ fresh off this training conference, she’s about to be a killer.
Mia is tucked into the corner as far as her tiny body will go.
I know she probably feels guilty for bringing AJ into Oliver’s drama but she made the right call.
Oliver is already looking more present than he has this whole week.
Sometimes his mind gets too much and he becomes distant.
And she’s always been the one to help bring him back.
Everything that AJ has had to endure in her life has given her the super power to see right through everyone and only pull out the parts that matter most. Just like Mia and Maxwell are made from the same energy, Oliver and AJ were created in the same shadows of their minds.
So whatever the real reason he seems to be doubting his entire existence lately, she will fix it.
The sound for the fights to begin rings through and the entire building goes silent for only a moment until the sound of AJ’s fist hitting the girl’s jaw makes the air around us vibrate with cheers.
It’s always bewildering how ravenous people are for the blood of others.
AJ steps to the side, keeping her feet planted solidly.
The girl’s face turns red with rage and she lunges for AJ. That’s her first mistake.
I can see AJ’s grin from here as she catches the girl’s foot that was meant to land in her abdomen and pulls her in closer, cutting across the girl’s face with her elbow.
AJ lets go of the girl's leg and she falls to the ground.
Blood is already trickling down her face and her rage is growing.
AJ is the most calculated out of all of us and she is only playing right now.
I take the free moment of the girl pulling herself up from the ground to check in on Oliver’s fight.
He has no blood visible on his body which is a nice change from the past few fights of his.
The guy he is facing is circling him and Oliver is just waiting, sucking the guy into his space.
When the guy does move forward, Oliver clenches him in tight with his arms wrapped around his neck and lands a beautiful knee into his ribs before dumping him.
Oliver’s eyes dart over to our side of the pool to find AJ dodging another punch and coming in tight with an uppercut that rocks the girl hard enough that her hands drop from protecting her face.
AJ stays close and lands a perfect punch straight down the line to knock the girl’s head back like a pez dispenser.
She does it again and again until the girl stumbles into the wall.
AJ pulls back as soon as the girl’s head drops.
Which is how I know that she is in full control of her own bloodlust that used to run rampant through her veins when she fought.
Before she wouldn’t have relented. She helps the girl up and motions for her to take a seat in her corner. Then she turns and walks back to me.
“How is he doing?” She clips, barely even out of breath. Rory hands her some water and she takes in Mia from over my shoulder.
“He’s actually moving instead of just taking hits.” Her eyes cut to mine after she takes a drink. She nods then tosses the bottle to Rory. He wipes a little bit of blood that landed on AJ’s face from the hits the other girl took.
She looks back up at me as she takes the end of her wrap in her teeth and tightens it before refastening it.
“Text Max, tell him to tell Oliver that his guy's gate is too wide. And his left knee is weak.” She tilts her head to where Oliver is sitting in his corner.
I pull out my phone and do exactly what she says, knowing it is only going to piss Oliver off more that not only is she fighting but she is going to tell him how to win his fight as well.
“She’s actually terrifying.” Mia acknowledges as AJ walks away.
“I love it.” Rory grins.
Oliver flips me off from his corner and I blow him a kiss in return.
Giving my brothers shit is my favorite hobby.
AJ’s fight starts again and she just keeps making the girl work for it.
Every time she lunges or tries to move in closer, AJ cuts her angle and effectively moves out of her reach.
I glance back over at Oliver just in time to see him make contact with the guy’s weak knee that AJ pointed out and he drops quickly to the ground.
Oliver throws a beautiful right hook as the guy is going down, ending his fight early.
I put my focus back on AJ just in time to see her push the girl back into the wall.
Oliver and Maxwell break through the wall of people to watch her.
“That’s our girl!” Maxie calls out before he jogs over to our corner that is definitely getting too crowded now.
“She’s so hot when she fights.” Max whistles out as AJ backs out, giving the girl a chance to keep the fight going.
If any other guy were to talk about how hot AJ is right now, Rory probably would threaten to break their legs but he just laughs and whistles with Max.
Being the burning ball of joy that he is, no one can ever be upset with him.
He wraps his arm around Mia’s shoulder and pulls her in close to kiss her head.
“Hey sunshine! You look hot too.” He winks at her.
Oliver is still standing off to the side with his eyes glued to AJ.
He was always the one that was her go to when she would fight.
He was the first out of us to train with her.
And he wasn't lying when he said he taught her almost everything.
Dad being the one who taught her the rest. And he is the one that taught us all.
We watch the other girl try to kick out AJ’s knee.
That’s a fatal mistake. AJ never handles anyone disrespecting her very well.
Up until now, she has been fairly reserved, but as she pulls her hands in tighter and makes herself smaller we know she is about to go in hard.
She closes the space in two quick steps, sets herself up to check the kick the girl attempts to create space with.
When AJ’s foot comes down, her fist connects and splits the skin above the girl’s eyes.
She follows up with a left hook to her jaw and a strong uppercut that makes the girl lose all clarity.
She falls to the ground and AJ simply walks away.
She doesn’t come to the corner where we are all standing though, she walks right up to Oliver.
They touch fists but she has a hard look on her face that shows how upset she is that he is here fighting while hurt.
Tucker comes down the ladder, and announces them both as the winner.
Money is being passed all around us. The crowd is even bigger than when the fight first started.
Tucker walks with Oliver and AJ to where we are all still standing.
He checks out where Mia is standing. Oliver steps in front of him and then turns to face him.
Tucker grins at Oliver’s annoyingly obvious possessiveness.
He turns to face AJ, “Are you fighting again? I have a newcomer that is dying to fight you.” I’ve known Tucker for years.
He is a product of all things found in the shadows but you’d never know by the mask of nonchalance and playboy charm he wears at all times.
His dad left before he was born and his mom died of drug overdose.
The neighbors called for a wellness check and saved his life.
They found him lying in the bed next to her crying his eyes out at only eleven months old.
He told us his short life story one night when we were all black out drunk.
Well, they were all drunk. I’m never as drunk as I let on.
Devyn hates it. It reminds her of her dad and I made a promise when we were teenagers that I wouldn’t fall in love with it.
AJ gives her full focus to Oliver but speaks to Tucker, “Is he fighting again?” It comes out as a question but there is such a threatening tone to it that tiny goosebumps flutter across the back of my neck.
She’s not just upset with Oliver. She’s upset with all three of us.
Partially for leaving her out and mainly for lying to her, even if it was just by omission.
Tucker nods his head slightly, confirming what she already guessed.
“Then send in your girl. I’m fighting too. ”
Tucker gives us a wicked grin before holding his hand above his head signaling something to someone and walking back across the pool and up the ladder.
I reach out and pull her close to me before dropping my voice, “You have no idea who this girl is. And you know he likes to start shit.” I warn.
Tucker isn’t a snake, but he absolutely loves to start drama.
And the way he looked after AJ said she would fight set off some kind of warning in my brain. He’s excited.
AJ looks at me like I offended her, “You worried I’m going to lose?
” Her gray eyes squint up at me through my glasses as she reaches out and pushes them further up on my nose.
“Don’t worry. I have you and Rory over here.
” Her confidence never fails to amaze me when she is ringside.
It’s almost as if every doubt that takes up space in her mind dissipates with the energy that courses through before she gets to fight.