We only met once, twice now, yet he seems to consume my thoughts in a way I have never experienced before. I went out of my way to help him today, to bet on him in a show of faith, but I would bet on Nikko every time.
TEN
Mr. Landry said they would see me at training, so either he lied or forgot.
“Two punch!” my father commands. I quickly smack my fists into the pads on his hands.
“Duck.” I do as instructed, my muscle memory working even as my mind flits away. I should focus—we are in training camp for a reason. I have a big fight coming up, one that will determine my rank and allow me to challenge and be challenged by those in the top three. It’s what I need to be a champion. This is important, it’s my life, but my thoughts are elsewhere, and it’s evident when a padded hand smacks into the side of my face in an easy-to-avoid move.
I straighten, dropping my guard as I gape at my father. “Pay attention!” he snaps. “Where is your head?”
“Here,” I mutter around the mouth guard even as I straighten my shorts. They are shorter than the ones I normally wear. The brand sent them for me to try, and their Nexus colors are bright as hell.
“Then prove it!” he shouts as he slaps his hand pads together. “Give me ten.”
Snarling, I drive my fists as hard as I can into the pads, and hestumbles back under the assault, but that only makes him grin. “Good! Again!”
We repeat it numerous times before he lets me have a ten-minute water break. It doesn’t last long enough, and I’m sprawled on the mat when Luke appears above me. He’s another fighter in my weight class, though slightly newer. He offers me his hand, and I let him yank me up.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
“Don’t thank me yet. We’re up.”
I climb into the ring behind him, wrapping my hands and putting my mouth guard in before we face each other.
Luke is quick, but he tires easily. He doesn’t have the stamina to last in a long match with several rounds, so it’s easier to end it swiftly. The plan comes into my head as naturally as breathing. It’s how I win, learning my opponent’s fighting styles and adapting mine to theirs.
I’m brute strength, and although I’m slower, I have the stamina to last all the rounds. If I can drag this out, then I can wait until he’s tired, and the win will be mine.
The bell rings, and I ignore the other fighters who gathered to watch. Luke and I don’t often spar. He might be new, but he’s rising quickly in the ranks, and my dad wants us both at the top of our game. When we do spar, someone always gets hurt. This is punishment for not paying attention and I know it. I can’t be shown up, so my father wants to push me.
Well, he’ll get what he wants.
Luke dances in front of me, throwing a few jabs, but I duck under them, and then he suddenly attacks. Speed and strength meet as he tries to catch me off guard. He’s emotional and relies on that. I bring my arms up for protection as he moves me back across the ring from the force.
He pummels my raised arms with a grueling snarl, and my back hits the ropes before he pulls away. I move forward to meet him again and duck under his feral punches, returning a few of my own that have him dancing out of the way.
This goes on for two rounds before I see my opening.
He’s slowing.
My bare feet glide across the ring, my arms up in my guard. Sweat drips down every inch of me, and my muscles burn as exhaustion sets in, but I push past it.
He swings slow and becomes sloppy, leaving his chin unprotected. I duck under his neck as he throws two desperate jabs, then I unleash my cruel uppercut. He doesn’t stand a chance. I pull back a fraction early so he doesn’t take the full force, but even so, he hits the mat hard and doesn’t get back up. Dancing back, I bounce on my toes and wait as my dad checks him then grins at me.
“Winner, Nikko.”
Smirking, I glance at the other fighters to the right to see them handing money to each other. Luke groans, and I reach down and help him up. He sways slightly, his eyes blurry. “Shit, Nikko, you could have gone easy on me.”
“You won’t learn if I do. You’re good, Luke. You’re fast and strong, but you need to work on your stamina. It’s your weakness. You’d be unstoppable if you could last.”
He nods and stumbles to the ropes, where the others help him down.
“Stop coaching him and focus on your own training,” my dad says before he heads out to check on Luke.
Clapping makes my head jerk up, and I freeze when I see the crowd watching from the practice mats at the side. My heart stops and everything else fades into the background as I look at the one person I’ve wanted to see this entire time. Zia stands next to Mr. Landry and Charlie, who holds his ever-present clipboard. My eyes lock on him as I climb from the ring and untape my hands, unable to look away as I walk over.
“Mr. Landry and Mr. Xander wished to come see your training. Hope that’s okay.” Charlie grins, winking at me when he catches my eye.
