“Hey, man. I don’t know what drug you’re on, but you’re not fighting,” Dex said, as if it was so utterly ridiculous that I volunteered.
“I’m fighting. It’s my prize from the earlier bet. I’m using it, or whatever the fuck you need to hear. Just let me fuck him up.”
Cosette was moving in front of me, catching my eye because I was so hellbent on avoiding her gaze.
“What is wrong with you? Are you crazy? You’re not fighting!”
She clearly didn’t recognize him.
How could she? The fucker approached me after the game with his helmet still on as if he wanted the protection it could give him if I threw the first punch.
A suited man, with his hair waxed back, approached the four of us, putting a halt to the conversation as he greeted Siege. “My man! You ready? That was the last match before thegrand finale.”
This must be the bastard running the entire event. He really has a thing for theatrics, even showing jazz hands as he said ‘grand finale’ like it was all an entertaining show.
“I’m fighting for the Azuls,” I said, and Cosette turned to me, her nostrils flaring, while Siege just stared at me with a deadpan look on his face.
“Is that so? I guess it was too good to be true to have Siege fight tonight.”
With a comical frown, his mouth turned down as he shrugged his shoulders.
“Eh. The Azul men have enough cred around these circles, anyway. What’s your name, my guy?”
“Nero.”
The guy looked at me head-to-toe, and he slowly nodded. “Good, good. You two are definitely a match built-wise. You’ll do,” he said before squeezing my and Siege’s shoulders, then walking away to head towards the announcer as he called out, “As long as you’re sure, Nero! No backing out!”
Like hell, I would.
Dex faced me, looking just like Cosette as he had her nostrils flared, eyes wide shot and trained on me. “You listen to me. The only rule inside that ring is that there are no weapons allowed. Everything else? Fucking fair game. You better tell me right now if you’re really up for that shit.”
With a simple nod, I steeled myself, my jaw locked, fingers curling, consumed by the need to smash my fist into Gio’s face.
“Follow me.”
The air, growing heavier with the stench of sweat and dried blood, hung thick as Siege and Dex led the way to the lockers. I tried not to mind the musky smell, as my head was already beginning to feel light.
Siege closed the door to the locker room, and I took it upon myself to peel off my shirt as I let my eyes wander.
Upon glancing around the room, my gaze landed on a clothes rack that was filled with fighting attire. The presence of bloodstains on some of the clothing clearly showed that although this venue was where the elite observed the fights, the people who fought in the ring were not members of their social class. Siege was supposed to be an exception because he was on Exodus and he couldn’t officially send one of his men to fight. But, now I’m here.
Dex continued to sift through the rack despite the ragged state of the clothes, hoping to find a decent pair of shorts that would fit me.
He chose red boxing-looking shorts before coming back to hand them to me.
One whiff and I was already shaking my head.
“Do you want to get beaten up? Your jeans will put you at a disadvantage, dumbass,” he said, his hand unmoving.
He had a point. I didnotwant to lose because of something as mundane as clothing.
The moment I unbuttoned my pants and pulled the zipper down, I was suddenly so aware ofsomeone’sunwavering stare. My attention was drawn to Cosette then, and I saw that her eyes were eye-fucking my groin.
As if wondering why I paused, her brows furrowed, and slowly, her gaze climbed up my body. She jumped as she saw I was looking at her, and then she hurriedly turned around to face the wall.
Despite her annoyance at me for pushing through with this, my lips curled into a smirk as I took off my pants and put on the fucking shorts.
If I suddenly develop a rash anywhere near my dick, I’m going to murder Dex.
