18. Chapter Eighteen #3
When a male voice shouted for them to begin, Dom immediately surged forward, tossing Eli to the ground. He rolled backwards and sprang to his feet, but Dom was already there, ready to deal his next blow.
He slammed a fist into Eli’s temple, leaving a ringing in Eli’s left ear.
He stumbled a step but quickly righted himself and blocked a second punch.
Dom’s attacks were coming so quickly now, it was nearly impossible to reverse the tide.
Eli sloppily kicked in front of him, right into Dom’s stomach.
It was only enough to send him back a few steps, but it gave Eli a moment to breathe and collect himself.
When Dom pressed forward again, Eli threw out his arms and caught him by the shoulders.
They rocked back and forth as they each tried to toss the other to the ground.
Although they were evenly matched, Eli could feel his feet slipping in the dirt.
Dom was making progress and pushing Eli toward the rope marking the edge of the ring.
Eli gritted his teeth and dug his feet into the loose soil. But soon he was sliding again, and he felt his chance with Grace slipping away with each inch he lost. He glanced over his shoulder to see how much space he had left.
A little more than a foot…
He didn’t know how much longer he could hold Dom off. Sweat ran down his face and neck. His muscles were taut and nearing their breaking point. He couldn’t even feel his toes anymore from the effort it took to resist sliding backwards.
Dom was struggling just as much. His face was bright red and his eyes had that manic look again. The vein in his forehead bulged with the effort of pushing Eli back. He licked the sweat dripping above his lip and released a heavy breath.
Eli chanced a glance behind him again. His heel was almost touching the rope. If he didn’t do something, he was going to lose. The last thing he wanted was to fight Dom for a third time, but every second brought him closer to that reality.
Over Dom’s shoulder, Eli’s eyes caught on something…
someone. Grace was standing on the platform.
She watched with both hands clasped over her mouth.
Nik stood beside her. His arms were crossed, and he was looking at Eli with disappointment.
He tilted his head a little and Eli could practically hear Nik’s voice in his ear.
You’re better than this.
Fucking Nik. Even from fifty feet away, he was a pest buzzing around Eli’s brain. He’d love to throw a punch or two his way. Side-step and watch him face plant in the mud like Eli had in one of their earlier practices—
Hold on.
That was it. Dom was using all of his weight to push Eli back. If he just…
Eli couldn’t have timed it better. Just as his foot was about to slide out of bounds, Eli spun to the side, releasing Dom as he moved. Dom’s momentum sent him flying forward, and he came to a halt several feet beyond the border, a look of complete bewilderment on his face.
The crowd erupted in applause.
Eli looked up at a sea of cheerful faces, but there was only one he cared about. Behind him, Grace bounced on her heels with the brightest smile in the arena. She was glowing with pride, and Eli wanted nothing more than to cross the ring and wrap her in his arms.
He’d completed the second round. Only one more to go.
Footsteps sounded behind him, and Eli turned to find Dom with a hand outstretched. “Well done,” he said in a low rumble.
“Thank you,” said Eli. “You fought well.”
Dom disappeared into the crowd, officially eliminated from the competition, and Eli found a spot on the edge of the arena to watch the fourth and final match.
Except Zeke was still nowhere to be found.
The crowd simmered, and Eli watched as Ellen crossed to the side of the platform again, chatting with Eamon. He couldn’t make out the words, but Eamon seemed excited. Which meant that Eli wasn’t.
After exchanging a few sentences, Ellen addressed the crowd.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming out today. And congratulations to the suitors who won their respective matches and will be competing in the final round.” She gestured toward Eli, Jae and the other victor, and the crowd applauded.
Once they quieted down, she continued, “Unfortunately, one of the suitors has dropped out, which means our fourth matchup goes to Trevor by default.”
The news was met with mixed results. Some onlookers cheered as Trevor raised a hand in unearned triumph, while others looked disappointed by the event’s premature ending.
And Eli…
Heat rose up his neck. He watched his least favorite person strut to stand beside the rest of the victors, an arrogant smile plastered on his face.
It had always been a gamble that Trevor would meet his end during the second round, but to have that chance stripped away?
It was unfair and difficult not to feel slighted by fate.
Why should he have an easy path to victory while the others gave their blood and sweat in the ring?
Trevor grinned and murmured as he passed, “Might as well get used to seeing my face, Eli. You’re going to see it a lot more often when I’m standing next to Grace.”
Eli scowled. “Over my dead body.”