Magic (The Associates #1)

Prologue.

A fist landed on my jaw, knocking me backwards.

I grinned manically, blood staining my teeth, then launched forward and returned the blow. Screams erupted from outside the cage as I traded blows with this loser. Sadly, the poor bastard wasn’t on my level, and I was winning hands down.

“Kick his ass!” Jody screamed from the sidelines—I heard my girl over the roar of the crowd.

“Hear that asshole? My woman wants blood.” I grinned and set to work. Within moments, I had the fool on the back foot, and I pounded him, blood racing and fists flying.

“Get him, baby!” Jody shouted. “Make him bleed!”

A grin spread across my face. God, I was getting the good stuff tonight. As much as fighting got my blood boiling, it was nothing compared to what a match did for Jody.

The guy stumbled and went down.

“Stay down!” Jody screeched as the ref began the ten-count. The fool staggered upright, and I let loose with a roundhouse that closed his eyes, rattled his jaw, and sent him flying. Now he was out for the count.

“Winner!” the ref shouted, holding my arm up. He unlatched the cage door, and I walked out triumphant.

Jody rushed forward, jumped into my arms, and wrapped her legs around my waist. Grinning all over, Jody sank greedy hands into my hair.

I kissed Jody as the crowd roared, and I grabbed her ass tightly and squeezed.

I was a damn lucky guy.

◆◆◆

“You’re under arrest,” the officer said.

I stood there, glaring at the asshole and praying that Jody would keep silent and hidden.

Mere moments after we entered what was doubling as a locker room, the cops raided the warehouse.

I’d heard the shouting and seen uniforms racing down the hallway.

There’d been some lockers, and I’d shoved Jody in one and ordered her to stay quiet. Whether she would was anyone’s guess.

“For what?” I demanded.

“Illegal fight ring.”

“Can you prove I was fighting?” I retorted, and the cop looked incredulous.

“Dude, are you serious?” he replied, tightening the cuffs. “Marked up like that, get real.”

“Car accident.”

“Yeah, right, just happened, did it? Now shut up and let me Mirandize you.”

Fuck. This. Shit.

April 2005

“You fuckin’ kidding me?” I roared at the judge. “Two years!”

“Silence!” the judge yelled, banging the gavel.

“The fuck I will.”

“Be quiet, Magic!” Jody snapped.

I subsided because she was upset.

“Anymore, and I’ll hold you in contempt,” the judge warned. “Two years.”

“Watch your back, asshole, I’ll find you,” I threatened.

The judge smiled nastily. “Make that three for threatening a judge.”

Jody screeched angrily as I was hauled away. Fuck my damn temper.