“Size doesn’t scare me,” I said, putting in the mouth guard.
A bell rang from the other side, signaling us to begin. I bounced on my toes, waiting to see if Rico would play defense oroffense first. I felt the heat of everyone’s eyes on me, watching to see if I was the fighter I was deemed to be. That’s the one thing about me, I lived up to my reputation, the killer, the one that thirsted for blood, the vengeful one.
Rico inched closer, swaying from side to side, finding his opening to strike. He playfully jabbed my shoulder, poking the bear anticipating that I’d lunge for him to start my own attack. I tried to stay calm.
“You gonna just dance?” I taunted.
Rico didn’t show any expression but determination. Before I could retort another chirp, he strikes me, throwing a punch to my unguarded side, repeating it before throwing a surprise hit to my stomach, making me hunch over. It took the air out of my lungs for a second. He backed off respectfully, allowing me to find the air back into my lungs.
“I told you not to get cocky,” Hank snipped from the side.
“I realize that,” I grunted out. “Fuck.”
“Again,” Hank commanded.
I shook it off, finding myself back into the headspace I needed. Thoughts ran through, the remnants of voices talking about the risks of fighting, Amelia’s worries, and De Santo saying Amelia’s name on his lips. This was the fuel for my mind to get lost in what I was doing.
Over and over again, every hit, every advance was followed by the voices in my head. They guided me and followed blindly. My blood was fired up, surging through my veins like electricity. Rico didn’t let up on the attacks either. He had knocked me down, my back colliding with the ground. A roar surged through me like a war cry before I pinned him in the corner giving all I could behind every combination I could pull out.
I kept ramming my punches, all the strength I could give, the monster inside of me roared, taking over in that moment.
Arms pulled me away, two figures dragging me to the corner. I yelled, trying to break free like a caged animal.
My name filled the air, a siren call breaking a spell. “Come back.”
My chest heaved with hungry breath. I was lost. I needed a way to come back.
“Come back, sugar, please,” that voice called again, pulling me out of the fog that surrounded me. “I know you hear me.”
Yeah, I heard her. Why is it always the beauty that calms the beast?
“Let me see him,” she called from behind.
As if heaven opened its gates for me the only time, a beautiful angel appeared again, rescuing me. She had a good habit of doing that. I noticed her little freckles on her left cheek that spread across to her other side. They were lighter, but when you could see the perfection up close, I knew it was her.
“Either you got him to shut up or…” she tried to tease. A small smile appeared on her face, seeing my eyes focus on her. “There he is.”
I slunk down at the corner, she followed me down to the mat. “Well, it looks like your pupils are returning to normal. Can you say something so I know your other brain functions are normal?”
I licked my lips. “Gimme a kiss, peaches.”
“Yep, he’s okay.” She leaned over, grounded on all fours, her lips hovered over mine. Her warm scent filled my senses, bringing me back to reality. She was real, I could reach out and touch her. Amelia’s soft lips seared onto mine, capturing me into a daydream worthy kiss. “Can you be a good boy while I go check out the other guy?” Her eyes darted over her shoulder.
I glanced to see Rico slumped over. I nodded as she dashed to the other side, performing a check on her. I blacked out again, lost control of my senses, my body. Exactly what happened thelast time I fought in the ring. The reason why I couldn’t step back into the ring. It was one thing for me to unleash the urge when it was club business and retaliation. But it was another when it came to fighting in the ring.
Amelia nodded at Hank as a couple other people got him on his feet. I needed to apologize, I needed to take a break. Or something.
Amelia spoke with Hank through the ropes, they kept glancing over at me. The sheer disappointment in their eyes combined with the worry.
“What the hell was that?” Dillon asked, trying to get into the ring, sitting by me.
“What did you see?” I never really knew what it looked like, more like I was told that it couldn’t happen again.
“Fucking unhinged, I mean it was like you weren’t there. You kept attacking him. There was a snap after you got knocked on your back,” Dillon explained.
His eyes dropped before darting back to me. “You don’t seem surprised.”
“It’s not the first time.”
