Page 2 of Heartbeats & Highways

I raised my brows at Daisy. “You’re not serious.”

“She’s serious,” Roxy said. “He’s never nodded at either of us though.”

Daisy crossed her fingers. “Here’s hoping . . .”

“Women turn him down, though, right?” I asked.

“Never.” Roxy shook her head. “You’ll understand why when you see him fight.”

I didn’t reply. How could I? I was the new girl and I’d only been working the last two weeks. There was a fight every few nights. The job paid well and it gave me my days free. But it made my skin crawl every time I got into my uniform—a pair of tight jeans and a black pleather vest I’d found at a secondhand store. It wasn’t stripping, but it felt close enough.

I told myself I’d quit. When I had enough cash to move on. But I wasn’t sure that was true. When I held a wad of bills in my hand, a surge of power washed over me. The money wasmine. I’d earned it. And so long as I had money, no one could control me.

I put the pints of beer on my tray and walked through the crowd. One by one, the beers disappeared, and tips went into my satchel.

Drinks were free. The cover at the door more than made up for the loss. The customers—mostly men—were loose with their money when they were happy and drunk.

I made it to the customer who’d asked me for a dark beer. He swept the cup off my tray. Before I could leave, he reached out and grasped my wrist. His fingers were clammy, and it took everything in me not to shake him off, but I didn’t want to alert security. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.

“Stay with me,” he commanded.

“Sorry.” I flashed him an insincere smile. “I have to work the floor.”

“Go home with me tonight.”

I swallowed down my fright.

The crowd suddenly began to cheer.

Two men entered the ring. One was huge with dark hair and bulging muscles. He looked like he could break someone’s arm in half like a turkey wishbone.

The other was blond, rippling with muscles, ink, and scars.

Danger and confidence poured off him, causing me to shiver.

It didn’t matter if he was a few inches shorter than his opponent. If I was a betting woman, I would’ve put all my money on him.

“Fight’s about to start,” I said to the man currently holding my wrist. “You don’t want to miss it.”

I pulled my arm from his grasp, fear still coasting down my spine, and disappeared into the crowd.

Oscar’s voice came over the microphone. “We have a special treat for you folks tonight! Get ready to witness the absolute devastation from Toro Masivo, the seven-time undefeated bare-knuckle boxing champion from Tepito in Mexico City! He’s traveled here tonight to crush his opponent like a worm!” The crowd went wild, and Oscar continued. “But who is his opponent? Who will stand up to the might of the massive bull? Who has the courage to fight such a man? Tonight, a crowd favorite, the undefeated bare-knuckle champion of Waco known simply as Savage! What more do you need to know? He’s never lost, and with a name like that you’d better get ready—this fight is going to be insane!”

The throng roared with unbridled excitement. Adrenaline was in the air and people began stomping and cheering at the top of their lungs. A beer went flying across the room accompanied by a hoot from a screaming group of red-faced men.

Daisy and Roxy had warned me not to be in the middle of the crowd during a fight. Bloodlust would leak from the ring onto the floor, coating drunken men in exhilaration and determination.

I made it to the far wall and ducked behind the makeshift wooden barrier. I climbed up onto a keg so I could see the ring.

“Tonight, our fighters will have their hands taped to make sure you get to see one of them beaten to a pulp!” Oscar stated. “The only three rules in this fight are as follows; one, there will be no eye gouging. Two, there will be no blows to the top or the back of the head, or the back of the neck. And three, there will be no winner until one fighter is utterly defeated! This fight is one round only, with no time limit—just pure blood sport. The round will begin at the sound of the bell and ends when one fighter is unable to defend himself any longer. May God be with you both.”

Anxiety spiked along my spine.

The bell rang.

The two fighters came together, their taped hands curled into fists, ready to trade blows. Savage’s fist connected with Toro’s jaw. Shock spread across the bigger man’s face and then anger quickly replaced his daze. He lunged at Savage, but Savage moved out of the way and countered with a jab.

That only enraged Toro further; he punched Savage in the nose so hard blood spattered in a fine red mist onto the floor. But Savage didn’t seem bothered, and only wiped his nose with his hand, staining the white tape around his knuckles blood red. He grinned like a lunatic before pouncing.

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