Page 110 of Keep Your Guard Up
I let out a sigh of relief. Hogs would be a pain in the ass to get through, but Hogsandmy brother? Surely that was enough of a nightmare to steer any bastard away from her.
“This is your time, bro.” JJ pulled his forehead down to mine. “Mari’s safe. Make sure thatcuntisn’t.”
Chapter 61
Mari
Sweat beaded on the backs of my legs as Randy Rager’s walkout song came on and the devil himself emerged from the chute. That antagonistic, irritating smirk was planted on his mouth as his eyes scanned the crowd. They met mine as he passed by where I was sitting next to the beast that we called Hogs. I could have sworn his lips lifted farther, but I definitely didn’t imagine that wicked flash that crossed over his face.
“Is this why you’ve been assigned guard duty over me?” I asked Hogs, plastering a bored look over my face as I held eye contact with Randy.
Fuck this guy.
“Partially.” He shrugged and shoved half of his hotdog in his mouth.
I was antsy waiting for Chance to walk out. My knees were bouncing all over the place and I was trying my goddamn best not to watch Randy do his pathetic little pre-dance routine. I fought back a scowl as the crowd cheered for him.
Randy Rager—a known monster.
Randy Rager—the pig who had alluded to disgusting, corrupted actions against me at the weigh-ins twenty-four hours ago.
Randy Rager—Chance’s next victim.
Then it came on. That strumming baseline of “Seven Nation Army” I’d familiarised myself to after Chance’s little ‘google it’ comment from right back at the beginning. Before he was … well,my Chance.
Chance waited the first ten seconds before he appeared at the start of the chute. His eyes scanned the countless people around the arena before settling on me. He smirked for a second, no more than a heartbeat, and began stalking up the walkway to the cage. His eyes were ahead, almost looking bored if I didn’t know better.
One of the referees patted him down, checking his gloves, shorts, and mouthguard. Next the cut-man stepped in, smearing vaso across multiple points of his face before turning Chance back towards his corner.
His corner that was filled with people we loved; ourfamily.
JJ and Nan took a moment with Chance—Nan no doubt saying the exact words she’d said to my father all of those years ago.
“You are brave. You are fierce. You areloved. No matter today’s result, that will never change. Go on, my warrior.”
Then it was Al’s turn. Al, who had come out of retirement for one last fighter. Al, who had been reminded of a younger version of himself in Chance. Al, who had changed yet another life he’dtouched. Not many words were exchanged between the two, but the tight, long embrace said enough.
Chance did his quick bumps on the archway as he entered the octagon. To others it wouldn’t have looked like much, but it was as close to a pre-fight routine as he got.
“If I lose a fight because I didn’t kiss each step on my way up to the cage, I shouldn’t have won it either.”His words echoed in my head as he did a very quick, very brief lap around the ring, completely ignoring Randy’s presence, before settling into his corner.
The announcer stepped into the middle of the octagon. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is—the main event of the evening!”
Screams, cheers, and whistles roared through the crowd as he introduced the judges for the evening.
“And now! For those in attendance and UFL fans watching all over the world! This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Live! From the sold-out Lockdown Arena in Darlington Harbour, Australia!”
“It’s time!! Five rounds, for the undisputed UFL Light Heavyweight Championship of the world!”
“Introducing first, fighting! Out of the blue corner, a mixed martial artist, holding a professional record, twelve wins, one loss. He stands at six-feet-two-inches tall, weighing in at two hundred and five pounds, fighting! Out of Colltown, Australia, presenting, the current UFL light heavyweight champion of the world! Randy Rager!”
I watched Chance, pacing coolly in his corner. The red shorts he wore, shaping his muscled legs and ass perfectly, matched the red at the base of his gloves. I glanced down at my own attire.
Had a little surprise up your sleeve, did you, Chance?
“And now! Introducing, fighting, out of the red corner, a mixed martial artist, holding a professional record of ten wins, no losses. Standing six-feet-three-inches tall, weighingin at two hundred and five pounds, fighting! Out of Soggla, Australia. Presenting! The number-one contender for the UFL Light Heavyweight Championship! The challenger! Chance ‘Rio’ Riordan!”
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