Page 108 of Falcon

He didn’t need to do that, but it’s like he could read the anxiety on my face. He was telling me, without saying it outright, regardless of what any of the other women behind me say, and no matter what they did with Falcon, it didn’t mean anything to him.

I mean something to him.

I have to. Otherwise, why would he say the things he says and do the things he does?

I don’t have time to dwell on it too long because the lights begin to dim once again and the emcee for the evening takes his place in the middle of the Octagon.

“Ladies aaaaaand gentleman. I trust you’re all nice and warmed up for the main event. The finale. The pièce de résistance. Masen vs Wyrez” His voice booms over the PA system so loudly that it vibrates deep in my gut and the crowd goes beyond nuts.

Screaming, yelling, and chanting: I just take it all in. I can hear the steady chant of, “Falcon. Falcon. Falcon,” over and over until it’s nearly everyone in the room.

“We all know who you’re here to see, especially the ladies.”

With that, the belt riders behind me screech and scream, bringing nearly all of the attention squarely on them, which is what I’m sure they were aiming for.

The emcee just laughs. “Exactly like I thought. Well, we shouldn’t keep you or them waiting any longer. Let’s get this started, shall we?”

The crowd goes wild once again and the spotlight in the middle of the Octagon shuts off and before long, a different, louder voice sounds over the PA system.

“Ladies and gentleman, weighing in at two hundred and fifteen pounds…Jose Wyrez!”

A hip-hop song I don’t recognize begins blasting into the room and lights of all colors give a fiery show as Falcon’s opponent makes his way into the cage.

He’s not as tall as Falcon, but I can tell from here he’s bulky and his muscles are impressive.

And with the way he stalks around, smiling and cheering, I can tell he’s incredibly confident in himself.

“And now… weighing in at two hundred and nine pounds…Marco…Faaaaaalcon Masen!”

Blue lights flash all around the arena and the song “Bartholomew” by the Silent Comedy blasts from the speakers.

His entrance music. His tone. His colors. His aura.

I’m swimming in it, letting it consume me, and the minute I see him step out from behind the wall to make his way to the center of the arena, my heart is nearly beating out of my chest.

Nothing else matters in this moment because my eyes are on him, watching every move he makes as he steps into the Octagon. He’s wearing a black shirt that looks very much like the one I’m wearing and red compression shorts that hug his strong thighs with his Falcon logo down the leg.

His trainer steps into the corner with him and starts to wrap tape around his hands then slips the fighting gloves over them. I can see from here that Falcon gives his fingers a wiggle then closes his fist a few times to test the fit.

I take in his process and watch him in his element. He’s got this aura emitting from him that is impossible for me to describe. It’s almost vibrating the air around him. There’s a smile on his face and he’s hopping back and forth from foot to foot. He shakes his arms out to stay loose, then he leans over to ask Joe, who has just appeared at his side on the outside of the cage, a question. Whatever Joe says in reply must please Falcon because his smile grows tenfold and then his eyes sweep over the crowd.

He’s looking for me.

I stand up straighter and watch as his features soften the moment our eyes meet.

He gives me that cocky grin that makes me feel weak in the knees then he holds a hand up, showing me two fingers.

Second round.

He’s calling his win. Knockout in the second round.

All I can do is laugh and give an exasperated shake of my head, which he returns with an even bigger smile before he turns his attention back to the task at hand.

Round one ends in a flash. Each man got a few punches in and Falcon took Wyrez to the mat, but the round ended before it could progress any further.

I stand still, with my hands folded in front of my face like I’m praying, watching as the referee signals it is time for round two to begin.

Falcon attacks quickly; throwing first a hook then his leg swings through the air, connecting with the side of Wyrez’s head, and he stumbles backward into the cage then falls to the ground.

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