Page 31 of Ignite
Facing off with him for the second time that night, I curled my lip, wanting nothing more than to pound his face into a bloody pulp, but both he and I knew we couldn’t. The moment we fought outside the cage, we were both disqualified from the Championship and banned. No fights meant no money. No Championship meant I would kiss a couple of million dollars and a chance at making a real go of lifegoodbye.
I could smell Viper’s game a mile off. A win against me in the cage wasn’t a sure bet. It was a risk he obviously thought was too much to handle, which was why he was going for Ali. He was trying to split myfocus.
“I’m not going to fight you out here,” I said. “If you want to settle shit with me, I’ll fight you in thecage.”
Viper laughed, glancing at his friends who’d materialized behind me. “You so sure aboutthat?”
“Hey!”
I hissed as Rebel appeared and pushed between us. Here he was with his white knight routine yet again. The guy who had it all together with his girl, his money, his good looks, and his upstandingmorals.
“Lay off, Viper,” Rebel said, snarling. “You’re walking on dangerousground.”
“I think you’re forgetting where we are, Kane,” he said, smiling like the snake he was. “The whole place is built on dangerousground.”
“You know what’s at stake here,” Rebel went on. “Don’t bestupid.”
I waited, watching Viper closely while his attention was focused elsewhere. He was getting desperate, blinded by his desire to win at any cost. It was almost like he felt he was worthless until he was standing on a podium with a trophy in his hands. Money, women, fame… Those material things validatedhim.
It was exactly the way I was living my life, and realizing I had more in common with Viper than I did a guy like Rebel, I hated myself. It was yet another reason why I was not good for a woman like Ali. An honest, kind, thoughtful, and deep woman who deserved a fuckingbreak.
“What’s stopping us from having a little chat outside?” Viper asked, shoving myshoulder.
“Careful…” Isnarled.
“Are you crazy?” Rebel exclaimed, edging between us. “You start shit outside the warehouse, you’re going to get more than banned, mate. You and your buddies? Your last resting place will be in thegutter.”
“Like hell,” he said, jutting out his jaw like the arrogant prick hewas.
“Max had a partner once,” Rebel went on, referring to the man who ran the entire Underground. “The guy tried to take control of this place, and Max…” He pointed to his head, the shape of his hand mimicking agun.
Viper’s eyes widened slightly, then he curled his lip, turning his gaze back to me. “Then we fight in thecage.”
I nodded, knowing this wouldn’t go away until we hashed it out. The moment I toed the line before him was the moment The Underground would turn into a bloodbath. Winner takes all. Loser…who knew, but it wasn’t going to be sunshine andrainbows.
“Take a walk, Viper,” Rebel said, nudging the fighter with his palm. “I’ll make sure the fight getsscheduled.”
“You’d better.” He gave me one more foul look, then strode off, his posse of fightersfollowing.
“Great,” I said. “A death match. Hasn’t been one of thosesince—”
“It was either that or have you beaten to death in the street by him and his gang,” Rebel interrupted. “In here, you’ve got achance.”
“Doesn’t sound much better,” Idrawled.
“It is what it is,” he replied with a frown. “When you get good here, you become a target. Just how itis.”
He slapped me on the shoulder and walked off, leaving me to seethe alone in silence. The entire change room was beginning to come back to life after stopping to watch the drama unfold. Give it a minute, and the whole Underground would be talking about the fact the rivalry between Blade and Viper was heating up. By the end of the night, I was sure Rebel would seek me out to let me know when the fight was going down. Probably next week, going by theschedule.
Opening my locker, I pulled out my hand wraps. Ripping the Velcro free, I let the material unravel until the end hit the floor, numbing my emotions to the downward spiral that was mylife.
It was just how itwas.
14
Alison
Iopenedmy front door and smiled as Faye came intoview.
