Page 26 of Ignite
Raising my fist, I hit him in the face, pounding his left eye. His skin turned red as I punched again, my knuckles splitting his eyebrow. Then he bucked underneath me, throwing my balance, and we rolled. A fist hit me in the mouth, tearing my lipopen.
My head swam, my vision blurring. This fight had gone on for far toolong.
We were pulled apart by the referee, and the fight resumed with us on our feet. Renegade danced before me, his fists held high, the wraps around his hands stained with my blood. He dripped with sweat, blood pouring from his eyebrow. I was sure I didn’t look any better. My mouth tasted like copper, and my teeth were probably red. A sexy look for theladies.
I wondered if Ali was here. She needed money and wouldn’t let me give any to her, so maybe she’d placed a bet on me. If she had, I better make sure she didn’t lose the last of hercash.
I pushed forward against Renegade aggressively, hitting him with my right fist, and then my left. While he was stunned, I hooked my ankle around his and shoved my shoulder into his chest. He fell onto his back with a shout, and I brought down my knee into his stomach. I could tell the moment the air pushed from his lungs because his eyes bulged like he’d just had something rammed up hisass.
Raising my fist, I gave him a second todecide.
Renegade tapped, and the fight wasover.
Afterward, I showered, washing off the sweat and blood, and patched up my lip with some salve. It would sting for a few days, but the sooner it healed, the better. Split lips were a pain in theass.
Shoving my gear into my locker, I slammed the door closed and cursed when I saw Rebel standing on the other side staring at me. We weren’t exactly mates, but he wasn’t a douche like the other guys around here. He and Goblin were probably the only decent shits out of the lot, but I still didn’t like the way he was looking atme.
“What?” Isnapped.
“You doin’ all right, man?” he asked, looking me up anddown.
“If you’re looking for a weakness, you can forget about it.” I shoved my phone into my pocket and ignored him. “And if you’re looking to become a therapist, you’re in the wrongplace.”
He shrugged and pushed off the lockers. “Yourfuneral.”
“What’s that meant tomean?”
He raised an eyebrow and gave a small nod toward the rear of the change rooms. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a group of fighters standing by the showers, talking intently. In the center of the group were Viper and Rocket. When they looked over at us, I turned back toRebel.
“They’re talking,” he said. “Have been for a couple of weeksnow.”
I nodded, dropping the tough guy act. I was pissed at myself for losing my focus and had been in a shitty mood, but now I realized people were watching…and not in a good way. I was well positioned in the rankings, and Rocket, Viper, and the others were just waiting for their chance to take me out. I’d shown weakness, and like an arrogant moron, I’d believed I was stillstrong.
Rebel slapped me on the shoulder and walked off, leaving me to contemplate his warning. He didn’t have to go out of his way like that, which only solidified him as one of the good guys. If only I could be as well adjusted as him, then I’d beset.
My thoughts inevitably went to Ali, and I went out to the bar, knowing she would be hanging with Faye if she was here, but as I approached, she was nowhere insight.
Sitting on a free stool at the end, I smiled weakly as Faye leaned over the bar and kissed mycheek.
“What was with that fight?” she asked. “You let him hit you too much. It should’ve been an easy win foryou.”
I pressed my fingers against my split lip and scowled when I tasted blood. I had to quit pokingit.
“Liam?”
I glanced up at Faye andshrugged.
“You’ve been weird ever since Ali came along,” she declared. “I warnedyou.”
Automatically, I scanned the warehouse around me. Ali was probably busy writing a résumé or something since she was out of work. I wondered if she’d managed to score any interviews or if she’d sued her boss for trying to get her to suck his cock. She should totally sue fordamages.
“Wake up,” Faye snapped, slapping my arm. “If you’re into her, then we need to stop hanging out, and you need to do something about it. You need to tell her. It’s not right for us to keep fucking behind herback.”
“You’re saying that like you know she’s got a thing forme.”
“After everything you’ve helped her with? I wouldn’t besurprised.”
“What do you mean?” I hesitated, knowing exactly what she was getting at but not wanting to acknowledge any ofit.
