After the first time we made love, I knew I had to tell her everything about what I’d planned with Brock.Thankfully Juliet wasn’t upset that I agreed to fight him, but she’s been really nervous ever since.From what she’s said, she’s not afraid I can’t beat him; she’s afraid that he’ll cheat.Or there will be some kind of double-cross that takes her from me.
“You know I won’t let anyone take you from me, right?”I ask, and Juliet nods.“Everyone that’s coming tonight is part of my underground fight club.They all know what’s going down.Most of them are my competition in the ring, but they have loyalty to this gym, and we respect each other.To them, Brock is an outsider and doesn’t deserve the same respect.If Brock cheats and I go down, there are a dozen guys behind me ready to protect you.”I look into her eyes so she can’t miss anything I’m saying.“You’re my entire world, Juliet.All of it.I was nothing before you, and I’ll be nothing without you.”
“Maverick,” she says softly as tears form in her eyes.
“I know someone might say we just met, but I knew the first time I looked into your eyes that you were my soul mate.I didn’t realize it until that moment, but I was waiting on you.I’d been drifting until then, and as soon as you showed up, I was anchored in a way I’d never felt.You did that to me and made me understand what love is.”
A lone tear rolls down her cheek, and I swipe it away with my thumb.“Are you saying that?—”
“That I love you?”I smile down at her.“Of course I am, little mouse.It was love at first sight, but I couldn’t have you running out the door screaming that I was crazy.Even if I am.”
She laughs at my lame joke and nods.“The only place I’m running from now on istoyou.”
“You’re going to marry me when this is over,” I tell her, and her eyes widen.“Don’t act surprised.I’ve been trying like hell to get a baby in you so you can’t leave me.I love you, and this is forever.”
“I love you too,” she says before she jumps into my arms.
I’m smiling against her lips as we kiss, but all too soon there’s a knock at the door.“Boss, it’s time,” Kincade says from outside my office.
“We’ll be right out,” I tell him as I look at Juliet one last time.“Stay by my side until I get in the ring, then you’ll be next to Kincade until the fight is over.”
“Got it,” she says, and there’s a strength in her eyes that gives me a spark of excitement.
The gym is crowded as we walk to the ring.It’s the normal crowd for an underground fight, but it somehow feels more amped up than usual.Probably because I never get in the ring anymore.It’s late and the gym is closed, but I’ve got Cedric manning the front door so no one gets in without permission.
When we get to the edge of the ring, I feel Juliet’s hand tighten in mine, and that’s when I see it.Brock is on the opposite side of the ring, and there’s an older woman with him.
“That’s Rina?”I ask Juliet, and she nods.
“Yeah, my dear old stepmother.”Juliet narrows her eyes at the woman, and I like seeing how feisty my girl can get.Maybe one day after this is over, I’ll get her in the ring with me.
“Ready?”Kincade asks me as he takes his place beside Juliet.
“Ready to make this quick,” I clarify as I reach for my shirt.Kincade’s eyes widen at the sight of my chest when I pull it off.I might have encouraged Juliet to leave a few marks behind when we made love, knowing Brock would see them.I hand my shirt to Juliet, who blushes furiously.“Hold this for me, little mouse.”Then I bend down and kiss her so everyone can see.
There are a few whistles before I release Juliet and hop in the ring, but I can’t hear anything over Brock’s visible fury.He looks like a toddler that got his favorite toy smashed.I guess in a way, he did.
The ref calls us to the center, where we touch fists, since neither of us is wearing gloves.He goes over the rules, but we’re not listening.Brock is staring down at the marks Juliet left on me, and I’m getting in his head.
“Tell me, Brock, are you pissed that I got her first?”I ask as I lean in close, “Or because you can see how much she liked it?”
“Fuck you,” he hisses as he lunges and the fight begins.
With these kinds of fights, the ref’s only job is to make sure we don’t kill each other.Brock is so pissed and letting his emotions control his movements that when he lunges at me, all I have to do is sidestep and sweep his feet.He tries a couple of moves on me, but it’s clear he was all talk.Whatever skills he once had in the ring are long gone with lack of training.I’m able to break every hold he tries so easily it’s almost comical.After a couple of tries, I’m tired of playing with him and ready for it to be over.
When he lunges again, I grab him in a chokehold and pin him to the mat.He pushes up and tries to twist his body, but I’ve got him locked in place.The crowd is going nuts at how fast this has turned, and someone is screaming for me to break his arm.Is that Juliet?I can’t look because I don’t want to get distracted.
Brock is refusing to tap out even though I’ve got him pinned, so my only option is to wait for him to pass out.
“You’re done in this town, you understand me?”If Brock responds, I can’t hear it because he’s too busy being choked.“After tonight, if me or one of my boys sees your face again, they’ll be using dental records to identify you.”
Brock makes a gurgling sound as I squeeze tighter.
“Tap if you hear me,” I say, and it only takes a second for his hand to come out and slap the mat.
Once it does, I release him and get up.He stays on the mat, limp and coughing as Cedric appears in the distance with the cops.
“Right on time,” I say to Rina, who is watching Brock with a disgusted look on her face.She goes to open her mouth but freezes when she sees the cops.That’s when her expression changes to fear.
