Page 133 of The Beast's Heart

“I don’t believe what I’m seeing, Rod. Is the boyfriend challenging Chevalier?”

I manage to roll over and see Jonathan, holding his fists up. Guess Geoff taught him something after all. I rub at my chin where it connected with the ground. Todd stalks towards Jonathan with a look of such anger that I feel a spike of genuine fear for him. Again, Todd grabs him, but instead of throwing him to the side he holds him in a chokehold and dangles him off the stage.

That’s too far. It’s too much. Jonathan isn’t trained. I manage to get to my feet, do quick calculations in my head then fly at Todd, aiming my shoulder for his middle. With any luck I can knock them both down. But instead, Todd drops Jonathan off the stage. (It’s not that high, my higher self tries to say). Todd allows me to push him back towards the ring, then he locks my head under his arm and falls back in a DDT.

My head nearly connects with the stage. It’s a narrow miss. The real danger is close enough that the adrenaline finally floods me. I need to end this. I need to check Jonathan is okay.

Todd lets go of the headlock and crawls away. Usually I’d play up the drama by staying down a bit longer, but instead, I get to my knees and roar, giving him a split second’s warning before I grab him in a half nelson and transition it into a cobra clutch. He’s pinned, but we’re outside of the ring so I can’t do a finisher here. I wrench him upwards and toss him into the ring again. He sprawls satisfactorily. I mount the ropes. Rod announces what I’m doing, so Todd doesn’t have to see me.

I let the tension build as I get my balance on the top rope and then leap into a big splash, landing my full body weight on top of Todd. Or that’s how it will seem. Really, the impact is spread out across his and my splayed limbs. Still, it’s the ideal position to pin him, which I do.

The ref, rushes over and makes the count. I watch Todd’s eyes. If he wants to kick out, if he still wants to finish this as the guy who slayed The Beast, I’ll let him. But he doesn’t move. The ref counts three.

The bell goes, music blares, the fake crowd cheers.

“What we’ve seen today is truly historical!” Rod says. “The Beast, fighting for love, has defeated The Chevalier! There are some things that are more powerful than fame, more powerful than fortune!”

I block out the rest as I head to where Jonathan was dropped. My heart in my throat. He’s sitting on the floor and I jump down to check on him.

He’s panting, a little rumpled, but laughing. I grab him and hug him to me, not caring what the cameras might see. “How the hell did you even get in here?” I ask against his hair.

“Friend of a friend of a friend. Pretended I was a big wrestling fan and organized a ringside ticket.”

“Which friend?”

“Philip has a friend whose father sits on the MSG Sports board. Brian told her it’s my birthday.”

I brush away the damp curls from his face, checking his neck to make sure he really isn’t injured. His fingers trace the skin above where I cut myself. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to do this?”

“Because I knew you’d worry. It was a calculated risk. I knew it was likely I’d be fine.”

“What if you weren’t? What if you hit your head too hard? I saw the way he was hitting you?—”

“He was pulling his punches.”

“Still. God, Adam, what if something had happened? What about the children?”

I frown. I don’t have an answer for that. How do I say that the only thing that mattered in the moment was ensuring Jonathan was okay, that his Dad’s medical bills could be paid. “Your father. How is he?”

Jonathan swallows. “He’s fine. He… he wants you to move in with us.”

My heart stutters. I’m not sure I heard him right. I’m about to ask a clarifying question when none other than Cliff McHoman marches out of gorilla.

“Where is he? Where the fuck is he?”

Cliff is a short shit with delusions of grandeur. He inherited the promotion from his father and has been tangled up in scandal ever since. Still, he’s the big boss man.

He spots me. “What the fuck was that, Beast? I give you this opportunity and you bring a civilian in? And you don’t get to decide when there’s a heel-turn. That isn’t up to you! I hope you know you’re never working in this industry again.”

“Hadn’t planned on it,” I say, calmly.

Geoff comes running up. He’s limping a little. I guess the table might have partially fallen on him. Oops. “Sir, you should see the buzz. The clip of the kiss is already going viral.”

McHoman throws up his hands. “Because that’s the last thing I fucking need.”

“Sir?” Geoff seems genuinely confused.

“Do I have to spell it out for you?” He directs his ire at Geoff. “This is wresting.Wrestling. We’re not the gay sport.”

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