Page 67 of Mayhem

“You have girl’s night here? I mean, I see some here, but I wouldn’t think this is a place girls want to go to have fun.”

He shakes his head, laughing. “Girl’s night is when we let the girls fight.”

My eyes widened. “Like fight like this?”

“Yep.”

“I’m scrappy, but even I wouldn’t want to fight for fun,” I say, rapidly blinking, trying to process what Nate just told me.

He wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me with him farther into the crowd. “It’s not for fun. Well, I suppose some may find it fun, but they get paid. Everyone who steps into the ring will get a stipend just for stepping in. If they win, they get a percentage of the money earned on the fight.”

“What do you mean?”

“Listen, I don’t really know how much Rocky wants you to know, but I’ll tell you a little bit. You can’t repeat it though.”

“I think I’ve proved I’m loyal.”

“Good point.” He stops, leaning in to whisper in my ear, “We take bets on the fight. All these people surrounding us? They come to watch. They pay an entrance fee to get in, but then once in, you can bet on any fight you want. We have our seasoned fighters, but you can call someone out here too. The only two rules, no weapons and no murder. You can’t step into the ring planning to murder someone.”

“What happens if you do?”

He smiles. “You won’t live to tell the tale.”

“Oh.” I nod slowly.

“Yep. Now enough Q&A. Keep me company while I work.”

Nate keeps an arm around me as he pulls me in and out of the crowd. People walk up, using random words while shaking his hand. He chats with me in between his “deals.” Sometimes it’s about the person who he just met with while other times it’s about whoever is fighting. I keep scanning for a glimpse of Chase but haven’t spotted him yet. Part of me is relieved to finally know what he’s been up to, but then the other part thinks he might still be hiding something. I mean, he disappeared as soon as we got here.

Curiosity killed the cat, Willow.

“See this guy here? He’s a beast.” Nate draws my attention to the ring in front of me.

There stands a man who is well over six-foot tall. He reminds me of one of those football players you see on TV making the quarterback appear tiny. Not only is he tall, but he has the build to support it. His biceps are the size of my head while his shoulders look like two boulders.

“He looks like it. Who in their right mind would step into the ring with him?”

He shrugs, averting his eyes. “Some are desperate enough for the entry payment.”

“I don’t know how he doesn’t kill someone with one punch.”

Nate steps away from me and smiles.

An arm falls across my shoulders, making me freeze. I spin, facing the newcomer, only to come face to face with Chase.

“What are you doing?” I ask, drawing back.

“Hanging out with you.”

I push him off of me. “Where have you been?”

“Damn, you got that nagging girlfriend thing down pat. None of your business,” he grinds out, jaw clenched.

“Don’t be an asshole. I thought the whole point of bringing me here was to show me what you do,” I snap.

“I told you I would give you insight. There’s a difference.”

“Whatever.” I turn back to the ring. “Why is he still standing there? No one is going to go against him.”

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