Chapter 12 #2
But a few minutes later, I looked completely different. I knew that without having to see it. I’d trained long and hard to perfect this since it was something that could save my life one day.
“Or save us from ruin,” Iris drawled in my mind. My fire dragon was right, and I couldn’t even blame her for her sarcasm.
I completely agreed.
I reached the location but stumbled when I realized I had no idea what came next. It looked like an unassuming club, but people were showing phones or giving over cards of some sort.
I waited until there was a lull before approaching the men at the door. “I’m not local. I came to take on the champion.”
The guy snorted as he eyed me over. “Yeah, sure you did, sweetheart. Piss off.”
I slowly raised an eyebrow. “You want me to lay you out to prove it?”
He laughed, but the other guy was smarter and moved closer. “We need information from you and—”
“For an illegal fight? Do I look that stupid?” I threw right back. “No.”
“It’s how it—” he tried again.
“It’s not how it works but nice try,” I chuckled darkly. “I know this play and you hold over my head that I was here and one of the fighters if I win—withhold the money since I’m here without an agent.”
“Maybe she’s not as dumb as she seems to try and take on a man in the ring,” the first guy drawled.
He was down and unconscious before the second one could even blink.
I kept his gaze and smirked. “Even if I don’t win, I will give the crowd a show that your boss will want to play out. I promise you that, and if it’s worth my time like it’s been in other nations, I’ll bring my manager around. That’s how I work, savvy?”
He shot a quick glance at his buddy before reaching for the radio on his shoulder. “I got an undisclosed fighter up here that knows the game. I need an escort and she doesn’t—”
“She? Fuck off, mate,” someone came back.
“Yeah, you’re gonna wanna let her meet the boss or it’s your ass,” he said back. “Or come cover the door and I’ll take her back.”
“Fine, I’ll cover, but I’m not taking a broad to the boss.”
“Walk me through this and I’ll remember you when I win,” I told the guy after he was done on the radio. “Take it as appreciation from an out-of-towner.”
He looked me over and shook his head. “You might be good and give something better than we’ve been having, but you’re not gonna win, sis. You’re just not.”
I wasn’t going to argue with him. “Are there rules against betting on ourselves?”
His eyebrows shot up. “No, it’s how most make bank. I’d recommend it. It’s finding who to go to that’s the real problem.”
“Who do I go to?” I asked, annoyed I hadn’t had more time to figure this all out.
“You?” He licked his lips. “You’re too pretty to go to any of them.”
Well, that was less above board than I was okay with. That was seriously a problem and why this all had to become legalized and regulated.
“Another problem for another day. Let me out to play,” Eloise demanded.
I promised that I was doing my best and to please be patient. “Give me the smartest one who knows the right people if I name who I know and wouldn’t risk his life.”
“Well, this is interesting,” a deep voice said from behind me.
I stepped to my side and turned so I could see them both.
“Him, actually,” the guy on the door admitted, nodding to the newcomer. “You still shouldn’t get involved with betting and gambling, hon. Seriously. You’re not going to win.”
I studied him. “The fights ever rigged? They fair like others?”
“Always,” they both said together, their tones so sure that it was what I wanted to hear.
I gave a swift nod and reached deep for nerves for what I was going to do. “‘The stripes on a calf run deep and never change like a brand of loyalty,’” I said, repeating the phrase I’d learned and hoped never to have to use.
But desperate times and all of that.
The man’s eyes flashed shock, but he schooled it fast. “I understand.”
“That was gibberish,” the doorman mumbled.
“No, it wasn’t.” He dipped his head to me. “Avior, at your service.”
I dipped my head back. “We’ll see if this will be a repeat before I give a name and bring my agent. Tonight was on a whim to check out the scene.”
“Interesting.” Something dark filled his eyes. “Yes, it’s quite the purse. And you want the right bookie to place with.”
“Smart men are always nice to speak with,” I praised before handing over the envelope with what I could scrape together that I’d brought with me. “On myself and the full purse if you can handle it.”
“No, never the full when unknown,” he said as he took the envelope. “Not even for them. Not even if they’ll back the bet.”
“Fair. How much?” I asked, glancing at the door when it opened.
He studied me carefully. “Half, and that’s only because I’m going to place my own bets and come out ahead on this, so don’t get used to it on credit.”
“No fucking way,” the doorman whispered. “No way you take that bet on credit. Girl, run. Seriously, you’re going to be sold and—”
“I don’t run girls and never have,” Avior snapped, seeming genuinely pissed at the accusation.
He nodded towards the door. “Let’s go get this party started.
You wouldn’t want a different challenger to try and steal your purse.
” He seemed to only then notice the other doorman who was unconscious. “Your work?”
“I’m not someone you should upset,” I replied, the warning clear.
“No, certainly not given who you’re friends with.”
He honestly had no idea, but I needed to keep it that way.