Chapter Thirty-Nine
MARCO
It’s round three—the final round—with only two minutes left.
Bella has held her own like the damn good fighter she is.
Shawna, who has four fights and wins under her belt, has gotten her on the ground several times, but Bella has managed to get out every time.
Bella and Shawna are currently going toe-to-toe.
Bella’s throwing punches, and Shawna is trying to get her onto the ground.
If something doesn’t happen in the next minute and a half, the decision will go to the judges, and while Bella has fought hard, Shawna will win with the points.
The women circle each other, throwing punches that aren’t connecting.
Then out of nowhere, Bella comes in for a kick to the back of Shawna’s thigh.
She connects, but Shawna is quicker and kicks back, only she misses, leaving room for Bella to take a shot.
Bella’s fist connects with Shawna’s face, and Shawna flies backward landing on her back. Holy shit!
Bella follows through, and with one more punch to Shawna’s face, Bella knocks her the fuck out, the referee grabbing Bella to pull her off and declaring her the winner by knockout. The crowd goes crazy and her dad and I are both running up to her.
I grab her gently by her neck and bring her in for a kiss, ignoring the chants and screams around us.
I can taste the blood from her cut lip as I pick her up into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist, and kiss my woman with everything I have.
Too soon, I’m forced to put her down to let my mom clean her up.
The commentator asks her a few questions and then we head out of the octagon and back to the locker room so I can warm up for my fight.
Since mine is the main card event, I have nine more fights until my own, which can be hours from now.
When my mom insists that she check out Bella completely, they leave to the showers. It’s just Cooper and me in the locker room since Kaden is filling out paper work and Liz is at home with Micaela and the other kids.
“I’m ready,” I blurt out like an idiot.
“I would hope so. If not, it’s too late.” Shit, it would help if I explained myself better.
“No, I didn’t mean about the fight. I meant I’m ready to ask your permission to marry Bella.” Cooper stares at me showing no emotion. “I know it’s only been six months since we’ve been together, but I love her.”
“You left her today,” he argues.
“I didn’t leave. I was in shock that Logan died and I did leave the house, but I came right back.
We both know I’m not perfect. I’m pretty fucked up.
It’s been fifteen years since my mom killed herself, and since then I’ve lived a life most kids dream of.
But for some reason, I just never stopped running.
It’s how I ended up at your gym when I was eleven years old.
I was running from my home, from my life. ”
“And are you done running?”
“Bella is my safe place. I hate that it took me so long to come to terms with that. But she’s it for me.”
Cooper looks me dead in the eyes. “I’ve cared about you like my own son since I met you and I’ll give you my permission to marry my daughter, but Marco, if you ever hurt her like you did when you ran, I’ll hunt you down myself and kill you.” Then he smiles and adds, “Welcome to the family, son.”