UNDYING: A Bad Boy MMA Romance (Midwest Alphas) (Book 3) Page 12

  The room falls into a hard silence as the two of them make their way to the ring. Ryan keeps his head high, refusing to show weakness to his former league. I can see the rage in their faces; jaws and fists clenched tight beneath red, unblinking eyes. Tobias squeezes my hand a little harder. I look at him and he shows no worry on his face — only confidence for his new ally.

  Ryan and Owen stand at opposite ends of the ring. Just like the Eastwood boys, I see the family traits standing out between them. Dirt brown hair, playful eyes, serious jaw lines. They differ in stature with Owen standing over Ryan by several inches, but Ryan’s muscles are way more impressive. I try not to get too excited, remembering Amy’s first rule in recruitment. Bigger does not always mean better.

  Amy stands tall between them, but I can tell what she’s hiding behind her blue eyes. I know her well enough to see that she’s terrified. “There will be three fights,” she says, her voice thick and strong. “Whomever wins two out of three takes the tournament.” Her eyes fall on Ryan and she bites her quivering lip. “Good luck to both of you.” She takes a quick step back, slides out of the ring, and lingers to the side with her whistle clenched between her teeth.

  Ryan and Owen stare at each other, balancing on the balls of their feet so they can pounce at any moment. My entire body goes tense. Ryan said the Kings don’t care about putting on a show. They care about one thing only, and that’s winning. They don’t waste time on theatrics.

  Amy blows the whistle and I jolt in my shoes. Owen leaps forward like a mountain lion, fast and without mercy, even towards his cousin. I fear for Ryan as Owen’s fist connects with his jaw. He falls backward against the ropes and I see Amy’s eyes turn away. The Kings shout with excitement, the sound quickly overcome by the Alphas screaming above them.

  Ryan bounces off the ropes, using the force of Owen’s punch to his advantage. With quick precision, he slides beneath Owen’s outstretched arm and slams his closed fist against Owen’s ribs. He kicks his leg around Owen’s knee and forces him to the ground, refusing to let him regain his balance. Owen grunts with fury, his cheeks turning red as he falls to the floor beneath them. He reaches out and pulls Ryan down with him.

  I cringe, watching through half-closed eyes as Owen locks Ryan in a fierce headlock. Amy throws her hands to her mouth, but somehow manages to keep her eyes on them. Owen flexes hard, pushing his thick arm against Ryan’s throat. He smiles down at him, his tongue poking out the side of his lips in concentration. Ryan chokes on his air, kicking and throwing his arms up to regain control. His face turns a new color each passing second. My face falls, too frightened to watch the outcome.

  Tobias squeezes my hand again, pulling my attentions towards him instead. The confidence in his eyes remains intact from before. He raises an eyebrow and silently gestures for me to look back at the ring.

  As I do so, the crowd cries out in surprise.

  Owen has lost his grip on Ryan. He throws his head back, shrieking in pain as Ryan scratches hard against his face, tearing downward with his nails to break skin. I watch in wonder as Ryan spins about and pulls Owen completely over his head and slams him down to the mat below. Blood sprinkles against the floor, dripping from Owen’s torn cheek.

  The brutality shocks the Kings and they collectively wince. They nod in respect of Ryan’s former status among them, but defeat crosses none of their eyes.

  Owen bounces back to his feet and steps away to regather himself, but Ryan doesn’t quit. He swings his closed fist to deliver a solid backhand against Owen’s sliced open face. Fresh blood sprays the air around them, soaking their skin and knuckles. Owen pushes Ryan away and strikes with a quick jump kick. It connects with Ryan’s chest, forcing him back. Owen takes the few seconds it provides him to catch his breath and wipe the blood from his eyelids before charging forward again.

  I taste blood on my tongue. I release my bottom lip from my sharp teeth and try to relax my jaw. My entire body remains tense, the hold gripping me down to my bone marrow. By the time Tobias is up there, I’ll surely be completely numb. He senses it and takes a slow step behind me to rest his hands on my waist to hold me steady. My eyes fall to the other side of the ring, making contact with Rick’s. He stares back at us with a twitching brow, anger flowing through him as he covets what Tobias possesses.

  Owen falls to the floor in front of us, breaking my line of sight. He pushes his hands beneath him, his eyes crossing from dizziness, but Ryan kicks him hard in the stomach to force him back down.

  If this were an Alpha fight, I’d imagine Owen would be considering a tap out right about now, but the Kings don’t train that way. You either walk off a winner or you’re dragged off a loser. There’s no in-between. He closes his eyes and breathes in deep to soothe his pain. Ryan pulls back his foot to kick him again, aiming for his face. Owen throws his eyes open at the last second and blocks the move with both hands. He holds Ryan’s foot with a white-knuckle grip and twists sharply.

  Ryan cries out in pain and falls to his knees. Owen lets him tumble down and grabs Ryan’s shoulders to pull him in to head butt his face. I hear the cracking above the crowd’s scream and blood gushes from Ryan’s nose and lips. Amy turns away, hiding the tears as they fall down her face.

  Owen moves fast to trap Ryan in a headlock once more, but Ryan won’t make that mistake again. He throws himself backward and kicks up to land on his feet before jutting his knee into Owen’s face. Owen falls back, his hands rising to his nose, and settles against the hard mat.

  Ryan prepares for the next attack, but his muscles loosen as he stares down at Owen’s lifeless form. His eyes turn soft and sweat drips down his face, slowly sliding towards his chest. Owen doesn’t move. I stare at his ribs, relieved to see them rising and falling with his breath — but it doesn’t look like he’ll get back up anytime soon.

  Amy wipes her eyes before climbing back into the ring. She throws her game face back on and smiles wide as she reaches down to check Owen’s pulse and tap his face. “Owen!” she calls out, raising her voice several pitches. Still, he remains on the floor with his eyes closed. “Round one is over! One point for the Alphas!”

  The Alphas cry out in victory and clap their hands together in celebration of Ryan. If there was ever a question of his loyalty among our ranks, it’s officially been settled. Ryan is one of us now.

  He turns to face the Kings. I expect to see red eyes among them, perhaps several gusts of smoke as they breathe fire in his direction. While I see that among a few of their faces, I sense respect from others. If there’s one thing the Kings respond positively to, it’s male power and dominance. Ryan is a talented fighter. That’ll never change, no matter whose side he’s on.

  He spins around and lowers himself to his knees in front of Owen. “Come on, buddy,” I hear him say as he grips Owen’s arm and pulls him up to sit. Owen’s eye flicker open and he glances up at Ryan. He accepts his cousin’s hand and Ryan helps him up to his feet.

  Amy smiles at Ryan with loving eyes, a slight break in her character, but she clearly doesn’t care. She looks at him the same way I look at Tobias; She is his Dame and there’s no power on this Earth that can stand in the way of that.

  “Next,” she announces, clearing her throat, “a former Alpha returns to the ring.” She points towards us, her eyes lingering behind Tobias’ head. “We call him Pike the Punisher.”

  Pike steps around us and the Alphas part the crowd for him. The excitement is thick in the air. Most of them have not seen Pike throw a punch since the night he was banned for stabbing Tobias. My lips twitch. Life has changed so much since then.

  “To challenge him,” she continues, “the Kings have brought Frankie Miles.”

  I look across the ring, squinting to see where she’s pointing. A man howls with delight at the mention of his name and he scurries forward to climb into the ring. Ryan wasn’t kidding when he described him as a loose cannon. I crane my neck to look at Tobias and catch a phantom panic in his pupils before he manages to brush
it aside for my benefit. The confidence returns to his expression before he directs me forward again. This time, he reaches around me and rests a hand on the front of my shoulder, holding me loose against him to comfort me. His heart thumbs hard behind my back and I feel his fear bleed through his skin onto mine.

  Neither of us have to say of word; we know what the other is thinking. If Pike wins this, it’s all over. Tobias won’t even have to fight Rick again.

  Two out of three. Winner take all.

  Amy waits until Pike and Frankie settle into their corners before dismissing herself again. She reaches for her whistle and places it between her teeth, casting one final glance at both of them before blowing into it.

  Pike flexes, preparing for the quick King-like charge, but Frankie stays back. He raises an eyebrow with amusement and I recall that Pike is the Alpha’s own loose cannon. His muscles lengthen and he shakes out his arms, bouncing to and fro on his toes to secure Frankie’s attentions. My eyes twitch back and forth between them, completely caught on edge, waiting for the inevitable moment when one of them strikes first.

  Frankie grins and chuckles softly to himself as he mirrors Pike’s mannerisms, shifting up and down on his bare feet. He pushes forward, only to fall back into place, teasing Pike over and over again. Deja vu overwhelms me. Pike did the same to Tobias to rile him up at their own fight. Back then, Pike attacked first out of impatience, and now, I see the same look in his eyes. He’s not the type to wait around to be hit first and Frankie knows it.

  Pike darts forward with clenched fists, flying through the air to strike Frankie’s nose. His knuckles connect with his face, but miss their intended mark by a few inches as Frankie slides to the side. They hit his ear instead, the blow knocking Frankie off balance enough for Pike to launch a frontal assault against his ribs.

  Frankie grunts loudly, the pain calling through his voice, but the tone swiftly changes to something far more sinister. His laughter brings a chill down my spine as he lays back against the ropes and takes his beating with amusement dancing across his face. Even Pike leans backward, stunned by the sudden sound of it, and stares into Frankie’s evil eyes.

  I twitch forward, my instincts driving me to call out to Pike, to tell him to keep his guard up, but Tobias holds me back. My eyes wander to the Kings and I notice the grins teasing all of their lips. “Pike!” I cry out, my voice lost in the sea of others.

  Frankie’s grin plummets off his face. He throws his hand forward, barely a blur in the air, and chops his stiff fingers against Pike’s throat.

  Pike bends forward, his hands gripping his neck, coughing and wheezing for air as Frankie drops downward and sweeps Pike’s legs out from under him.

  Tobias embraces me tighter, his own body twitching as Pike’s lands to the floor with a deafening smack. He lays his lips against my hair and his warm breath rushes over my scalp. “It’ll be okay, Claire,” he whispers.

  I say a silent prayer, but I see the pain rush through Pike’s eyes. Frankie dances around him, watching with hilarity as Pike turns onto his hands and knees. He swings out his legs and kicks Pike in the face. Pike tumbles downward and Frankie falls to his knees beside him to attack him with a series of firm and fast punches.

  Pike borrows from Tobias’ style and takes the beating against his ribs, raising his arms to protect his face. Be patient. Wait for an opening. Dominate your opponent’s weakness until the end. Pike can take it; I know he can. I reach up to squeeze Tobias’ hand and feel the sweat gathering in his palm. He’s just as nervous as I am about this. I turn my neck to look at him and sadness strikes me cold. He makes eye contact with me and he doesn’t even try to hide that the confidence has melted from his eyes.

  Pike may not win this.

  Frankie hops up and straddles Pike’s waist, giving himself the perfect advantage. He’s lean, meaning that Pike could easily push him off given the chance, but Frankie refuses to let him do it. He attacks faster than before, slamming his fists against Pike, leaving bright red bruises behind with each jab.

  The air shifts among the Alphas. All of their energy passes to the Kings, who cry out with victory before it’s even called.

  “Get up, Pike…” I mutter, tears forming in my eyes. He can still turn this around. He can still win this. He can—

  Pike’s arms drop limp to his sides and Frankie adjusts his aim. With shrieking laughter, he pummels Pike’s face, knocking it from side-to-side like a rubber doll. I spin around in Tobias’ arms and bury my face in his chest. He lays his hand on the back of my head and silently keeps his eyes forward.

  “That’s enough!”

  I glance back, hearing Amy’s voice calling over the rest. She enters the ring and stands above them. “Frankie, stand down!”

  Frankie doesn’t change his speed. He ignores her, lashing out even faster against Pike’s numb body.

  Amy looks at Rick, who merely shrugs at her. Fury fills her eyes as she steps back over to Frankie and hikes up her skirt a few inches.

  “Amy!” Ryan gasps and limps towards the ring, but her heeled shoe connects with Frankie’s jaw before he can reach her.

  Frankie falls back in surprise, his hand moving to rub his face. He slides off of Pike, transferring all of his violent energy towards Amy instead. She shows no fear and stands her ground with closed fists.

  He rushes for her and readies his open palm. “You little bitch—”

  Amy jabs forward and slams the heel of her hand against his nose. Pure shock brings him to a standstill and I catch a grin on her lips as she kicks forward, connecting with his groin.

  “Ooof—!” It knocks the wind out of him and Frankie tumbles to his knees.

  “This fight…” Amy heaves a thick breath, staring at him with daggers in her eyes, “is over.”

  The Kings fall silent again, their faces full of curiosity. They whisper to each other with hushed tones, no doubt enthralled by this blonde woman that dares to stand up to one of their men.

  Ryan finally reaches them and plants himself in front of Frankie’s seething face. “You heard her — back off,” he growls.

  “I don’t take orders from women,” Frankie slurs.

  “You’re in her domain.”

  “For now.”

  I jump in surprise as Ryan latches his fingers around Frankie’s throat. “Apologize or you’ll have to deal with me…”

  “Ryan—” Amy steps forward. “Let him go.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “Amy—”

  “Do it,” she interrupts with her eyes locked on Frankie’s tortured face.

  Ryan obeys and releases him. Amy takes another quick step up to stand in front of Frankie. “Get the hell out of my ring,” she says, her voice deep and strong.

  Frankie’s lips curl. “I’ll have you on your knees for this…” he mutters.

  “Try it,” she says, loudly biting her teeth together. “I dare you, you fucking savage.”

  Rick’s laugh carries across the ring. “As entertaining as this is…” He leans forward to rest his hands against the bottom rope. “Can we please get on with it?”

  Frankie’s eyes dart downward. “Sir—”

  “Get off the damn mat, Frankie,” he spits. “You’ve already won.”

  His body quivers with anger, but Frankie does as he’s told. He backs away from Amy, slowly licking his lips at her as he goes, and climbs out of the ring.

  Ryan bends down and pulls Pike to his feet. I breathe a sigh of relief as Pike opens his eyes and stands on his own. More than half of his torso has turned purple, along with both of his eyes and cheeks. Several Alpha fighters climb up to assist him and Ryan back down.

  “Claire,” Tobias says, his fingers slipping free of mine. I turn to face him. “Don’t leave their side, okay? The Alphas will protect you.”

  I nod. “Okay.”

  He lingers in front of me and cups my cheeks, pulling my eyes up to his. “I love you,” he whispers, his voice only for me.

  “I love you, too.” I smile and h
e kisses me softly. As he pulls away, my eyes twitch across the gym, feeling a presence honing in on me. Rick stares at me and I sense the envy in his blue eyes again. Tobias and I have what he could never give me and he knows it.

  Tobias follows my eyes to see what I’m looking at. “Claire,” he whispers, drawing me back, “don’t look at him. Look at me.” I obey, fixing my gaze on him. “I want you to promise me something.”

  “What?” I ask.

  His fingers shake against my cheeks. “Promise me that… no matter what happens up there, you’ll remember me as a man — not like this.”

  “Tobias—” My voice cracks. “What are—”

  “Promise me, Claire.”

  I search his eyes, desperate to decipher what he means. “I promise.”

  “Always and forever.”

  “Always and forever,” I repeat. My lip trembles. “Tobias, what are y—”

  He silences me with another kiss, pulling me in so tightly, it’s impossible for me to break free. I feel it all — every bit of love and affection he has for me. It warms my cheeks. The sensation travels through my entire body with a flowing current that wiggles my fingers and toes. Just as quickly as it began, Tobias pulls away from me, leaving me behind to hold myself up without him.

  “Tobias…” I whisper his name, although it feels like I’m screaming. He doesn’t look back at me. I need him to look back at me and confirm that my darkest fear isn’t coming true right now, but that would be too easy.

  I could feel it in his kiss. The feeling still lingers on my lips, that phantom tug of his teeth. It’s new, but not in a good way. It’s painful and nauseating and downright horrifying. I rest my fingers against my lips as he climbs up into the ring and tears fall down my cheeks.

  That was our last kiss.