64. Chapter 61
Mari
S weat beaded on the backs of my legs as Randy Rager’s walkout song came on and the devil himself emerged from the chute.
That antagonistic, irritating smirk was planted on his mouth as his eyes scanned the crowd.
They met mine as he passed by where I was sitting next to the beast that we called Hogs.
I could have sworn his lips lifted farther, but I definitely didn’t imagine that wicked flash that crossed over his face.
“Is this why you’ve been assigned guard duty over me?” I asked Hogs, plastering a bored look over my face as I held eye contact with Randy.
Fuck this guy.
“Partially.” He shrugged and shoved half of his hotdog in his mouth.
I was antsy waiting for Chance to walk out. My knees were bouncing all over the place and I was trying my goddamn best not to watch Randy do his pathetic little pre-dance routine. I fought back a scowl as the crowd cheered for him.
Randy Rager— a known monster .
Randy Rager— the pig who had alluded to disgusting, corrupted actions against me at the weigh-ins twenty-four hours ago .
Randy Rager— Chance’s next victim .
Then it came on. That strumming baseline of “Seven Nation Army” I’d familiarised myself to after Chance’s little ‘google it’ comment from right back at the beginning. Before he was … well, my Chance .
Chance waited the first ten seconds before he appeared at the start of the chute.
His eyes scanned the countless people around the arena before settling on me.
He smirked for a second, no more than a heartbeat, and began stalking up the walkway to the cage.
His eyes were ahead, almost looking bored if I didn’t know better.
One of the referees patted him down, checking his gloves, shorts, and mouthguard. Next the cut-man stepped in, smearing vaso across multiple points of his face before turning Chance back towards his corner.
His corner that was filled with people we loved; our family .
JJ and Nan took a moment with Chance—Nan no doubt saying the exact words she’d said to my father all of those years ago.
“You are brave. You are fierce. You are loved . No matter today’s result, that will never change. Go on, my warrior.”
Then it was Al’s turn. Al, who had come out of retirement for one last fighter. Al, who had been reminded of a younger version of himself in Chance. Al, who had changed yet another life he’d touched. Not many words were exchanged between the two, but the tight, long embrace said enough.
Chance did his quick bumps on the archway as he entered the octagon. To others it wouldn’t have looked like much, but it was as close to a pre-fight routine as he got.
“If I lose a fight because I didn’t kiss each step on my way up to the cage, I shouldn’t have won it either.” His words echoed in my head as he did a very quick, very brief lap around the ring, completely ignoring Randy’s presence, before settling into his corner.
The announcer stepped into the middle of the octagon. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is—the main event of the evening!”
Screams, cheers, and whistles roared through the crowd as he introduced the judges for the evening.
“And now! For those in attendance and UFL fans watching all over the world! This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Live! From the sold-out Lockdown Arena in Darlington Harbour, Australia!”
“It’s time!! Five rounds, for the undisputed UFL Light Heavyweight Championship of the world!”
“Introducing first, fighting! Out of the blue corner, a mixed martial artist, holding a professional record, twelve wins, one loss. He stands at six-feet-two-inches tall, weighing in at two hundred and five pounds, fighting! Out of Colltown, Australia, presenting, the current UFL light heavyweight champion of the world! Randy Rager!”
I watched Chance, pacing coolly in his corner. The red shorts he wore, shaping his muscled legs and ass perfectly, matched the red at the base of his gloves. I glanced down at my own attire.
Had a little surprise up your sleeve, did you, Chance?
“And now! Introducing, fighting, out of the red corner, a mixed martial artist, holding a professional record of ten wins, no losses. Standing six-feet-three-inches tall, weighing in at two hundred and five pounds, fighting! Out of Soggla, Australia. Presenting! The number-one contender for the UFL Light Heavyweight Championship! The challenger! Chance ‘Rio’ Riordan!”
~
Chance was losing.
It made my body physically ache watching every hit he took.
The cut on his left eyebrow was deeply split now, blood pouring down his face.
He wouldn’t be able to take many more hits before they stopped the fight because of it.
Chance knew it too. He’d switched back to predominantly using a southpaw stance, leaving the right side of his face further exposed.
His cheek was busted as well as his lower lip. Bruised marks were already beginning to form on his high cheekbones, and I dreaded what his beautiful face would look like tomorrow morning.
The bell signalled the end of the fourth round, the referee pulling Chance and Randy apart.
Time is running out.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Hogs asked, his huge arm pinning my body back into my seat.
“Hogs, you gotta let me get in there, man,” I begged. “He needs my help!”
“You can help him by keeping your little ass in this seat until the end of this fight,” he replied, sipping on his coke whilst he single-handedly held me down.
“Hogs.”
He sat quietly.
“Hogs.”
Silence.
“HOGS!”
More. Fucking. Silence.
“I’ll give you a free gym membership for a year,” I bargained.
“Not worth losing my dick when Chance cuts it off for letting you go.”
“ARGH!” I huffed in raging frustration. “I’ll give you unlimited Knock’s gear.”
“My dick is worth more.”
LIGHTBULB MOMENT HERE, MARI.
“I’ll get you a date with JJ.” I smirked. His thinking music was all I needed to jump out of my seat and onto the floor. I ducked and weaved security guards like a woman on a mission before heading straight to the open cage door. I was on the first step when one of them caught me.
“NO!” I screamed. “Chance! Al!”
A wave of relief went through Chance’s eyes but was quickly replaced with concern. The cut on his eyebrow was brutal, but he waved off JJ holding a cotton tip to it and started to stand. Though he wasn’t the first to speak.
“Put her down!” Al bellowed, and I swear the whole stadium went quiet. The two hands that were holding me off the ground quickly left my sides, and I dropped to the floor.
I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the pain shooting up my ribs. I’d lost my heels by the time I hit the top step. “Chance!”
He scrambled past the small crowd of people and came to me, checking me over quickly and frantically. “What are you doing up here? I told you to stay with Hogs—”
“I love you.”
He was speechless as he stared at me with wide open eyes. I’d loaded up on words, ready to snap him out of his daze, when the most beautiful, breathtaking grin broke out over his face and he slammed his lips on mine.
The crowd went silent, though I knew they were cheering.
The bell went for the round to start, though I couldn’t hear it. All I could hear was my thumping heartbeat as he kissed me.
“Time’s up, Riordan,” Randy said with a faux yawn.
Al ushered me out of the ring, pushing me to one of the security guards who was more than happy to carry me back over to my seat. A very angry Hogs stood waiting for me, but all I did was flash him a bright smile and a double thumbs up.
As soon as my ass hit the seat, I saw it.
The change.
The shift.
Chance was standing up taller. His back muscles rippled as he rolled his shoulders and swung his neck. Any tension he’d carried in his juicy, juicy lats had vanished as he stalked Randy on the edge of the cage.
Surely I am dripping through my dress with how turned on I am.
Randy came forward to bump gloves, but Chance declined, shaking his head and circling him like a predator stalking his prey. Randy hit him with a lighter one-two, but Chance circled out and dropped his bomb of a right hook.
Randy, the prick, fell to the ground cold.
Chance didn’t even chase him down for follow-up punches; he knew his job was done.
Chance—my person, my love, my home —was the new Light Heavyweight Champion of the world.
I was up and out of my seat once again before Hogs or Dylan (who was beside my father bellowing for his brother two rows behind us) could stop me.
My heels were long gone as I sprinted along the side of the cage.
Most likely knowing I would try to get through again, they had stationed more security guards around the ring so I had no chance of sneaking in. I screamed at him.
My Chance.
My champion.
My love .
The referee had called Chance and Randy into the centre of the ring when he saw me.
Before anyone knew what was happening, Chance ran, jumped, and climbed the cage.
He leapt off the side, landing in front of me and taking me in his arms. Blood was still streaming from a cut on his eyebrow, with more blood spattered across his tired body.
He smiled at me, neither of us having the words to speak right now. Chance took my hands in his and pulled me up into the cage. Finally, the referee took his wrist.
I screamed with nothing but pure joy when the referee raised his hand.
I screamed with nothing but pure joy when they wrapped the belt around his waist.
I screamed with nothing but pure joy when he jumped up the side of the cage once again, but this time in celebration.
I screamed with nothing but pure joy when he pointed down at me then to his left pec—right where his heart was.
~
Once Chance was done basking in the love from his fans and spectators all over the world, the interviewer quickly pulled him in for a chat as Randy made his way out of the cage. I flipped him a hard bird when he met my eyes. His lip curled back in a snarl as he passed by.
“Oh … man … it’s incredible, really.” Chance puffed into the microphone.
“It’s not so much of a secret, but I’ve recently changed gyms. Absolutely no bad blood to all those guys I was with before, but it’s very public knowledge why I moved.
It truly takes a team to get us fighters up here, and I feel so goddamn lucky to have had the opportunity to work with, train with, and to love such wonderful people.
JJ, Al, Marilyn, all of my guys at Knock’s—I owe you more than I could ever repay.
More than this belt around my waist.” Chance turned back to face us.
His lips curved upwards as he met my gaze, JJ’s arm lazily draped around my shoulders. Poor JJ, the softie was crying.
“Those first few rounds were tough for you, Chance, but after the break in the fourth round, it was like you’d flipped upside down,” the interviewer started. “Is there a special someone here today that we have to thank for that?”
Just when I didn’t think he could smile any bigger.
“Yeah, yeah definitely. That incredible woman who broke through your security line has a very special place in my heart. For those of you who don’t know …
” His eyes found mine, sparkling and shining my favourite shade of sky blue—the one that gleamed with happiness.
“Mari is the most fierce, compassionate, badass woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, let alone loving.
I’ve loved you for longer than you know, darling.
This fight, this belt, this life … it all means nothing without you. ”
My heart pounded against my ribs, filling my entire body with love and air and light.
Chance grabbed the microphone out of the interviewer’s hands and walked closer to where we were all standing.
“Sunny baby …” he said gently. “Everything I am is yours. Everything I will ever be is yours. Life is only beautiful when I share it with you. I will never finish falling in love with you.”
JJ’s hand came up behind me and pushed me straight into him.
I staggered forward but, as per usual, a pair of strong arms caught me.
I could not get enough of this man, couldn’t get close enough when I pressed my lips to his.
His tongue gently probed my bottom lip, and I welcomed it instantly.
Despite having just fought a grown-ass man, he still tasted like him —somehow still minty and sweet.
I was utterly lost in him, and I didn’t ever want to be found.