“Meet Cyclops,” Pesci said as he stood between us. “You’re all in for a treat tonight,” he said to the crowd. “Looks like Gabriel Grey Wolf Townsend decided to join us tonight.”
The place went up in thunderous applause. I hated everything about this.
Within a minute of me stepping into the ring, Pesci leapt out of the way, a bell sounded from somewhere, and Cyclops came at me.
I sidestepped a front kick he threw my way. We circled one another, arms raised, sizing each other up. I noticed the way he dropped his guard every time he moved in for a punch.
When I saw my first opening, I took it, popping him right in the nose with a jab when he dropped his guard again. His head flinched backward, and I took the opportunity to deliver a right hook to his side body.
The room went up in cheers again. I wanted to peer out into the crowd to make sure Lena was all right, but I needed to stay focused.
My opponent dove in, in an attempted takedown. I brought my elbow down onto the middle of his back. It wasn’t enough to do any severe damage, but the hold he had on me loosened. Breaking free, I wrapped my leg around his body in a move that forced us both to the ground.
I ended up behind him, placing him in a chokehold, similar to how Eli had won his fight minutes earlier.
I counted in my head until I felt that telltale tap on my forearm. My arms fell away from him as I released the hold and pushed his body off of mine.
“That was over before it even began,” Pesci wannabe said. “Let’s give it up for Grey Wolf.” Pesci moved to the center of the ring and tried to hold my hand over my head.
“We’re leaving,” I said through clenched teeth.
He nodded.
I pivoted, ignoring the onlookers and shaking off a few who patted my shoulder in congratulations.
After snatching my shirt from Eli, I threw it on, not bothering to rebutton it. I grabbed Eli by one arm and took Lena’s hand, and led the three of us out of that basement, up the stairs, and to the door.
“I didn’t get my money,” Eli shouted before we passed the guard, pulling his arm away from me.
I saw red and was half an inch away from swinging on him.
If it weren’t for Lena’s body heat next to me, I would’ve completely lost my temper.
“You mean, you’re welcome, don’t you?” I seethed.
“Welcome? For what? I need to go back and get my damn money.”
“You need to get your fucking ass back in your car and go home before I beat the living shit out of you,” I yelled.
“He owes me,” Eli insisted.
“Owes you for what? For putting your damn career on the line?” I pushed him right past the guard at the door and into the parking lot. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“You just cost me twenty Gs!” he yelled.
“You cost your dumbass possibly millions by fighting in one of these things.” I couldn’t understand why someone with as much talent as he had couldn’t figure out how not to screw it all up.
“And you’re putting my fucking name on the line,” I seethed, getting in his face.
“It’s my money,” Eli countered.
“Gabe, calm down,” Lena said when I advanced on Eli, ready to acquaint his jaw with my fist. I was about at the end of my patience with him.
“You’re going to have to settle up with him later,” I said. “Take your ass home.” I pushed him toward the row of cars
Eli paced back and forth, looking as if he wanted to run right through me to get back into that dingy basement.
“This is some bullshit.” He tossed his hands in the air and headed for his Thunderbird.
