“I certainly hope thatshemakes it on time. I would hate to see her miss this,” he said before turning away and leaving my sight.
“If I could wipe the smug smile off his face I would.” Otis sneered. He checked the time on his phone, then gave me a shove. “Come on, there’s only an hour. And you need to warm up, if you have a fighting chance.”
“Fucker, that doesn’t help me.”
“Take a few shots at me or Stray, it will make you feel better.” Otis smirked, shoving me to the back of the warehouse within the locker rooms.
My head still felt all over the place. It was swarmed with thoughts of doubt and I fucking hated it. I needed to remember who I was, who I needed to be. We had an enemy, a name to a face, and it was time to send it back to hell or burn it down once again.
Otis took my mind off the run in with the man in the suit, bobbing and weaving, pulling out the jabs and the chirping. Music blared outside in the audience, the awaiting audience preparing for a night of blood and gore.
I waited for Amelia to come through the locker room, the last piece of me. I couldn’t help but glance back and forth at the locker room door. I didn’t know if it was sudden nerves or the fact that I was completely obsessed with her, but I needed her like I needed my heart to beat in my chest.
I replayed his words, his taunting message that he hoped that she would come to the fight. I let out a frustrated growl. I tried to find my phone, ignoring the bellowing from Otis and Stray. I clicked on her name and waited with what felt like my last breath, waiting for her voice to echo in the phone.
A roar of chaos erupted as the announcer ramped up the crowd, filling the warehouse with excitement. The thunderous round of applause and screams sent a jolt of excitement in me. But the disappointment of getting Amelia’s voicemail ruined that.
“Shooter, let’s go, he’s getting ready for your walk out.” Hound Dog busted through the door.
I shook my head, “Something’s not right, Prez.” I clicked on her name again. The phone rang until it moved to her voicemail. My heart sank. Where was she?
“And in the other corner, he’s the blood thirsty animal, the caged demon,”the announcer boomed through the speaker.
“Now, Shooter. Come on,” Hound warned.
“She’s not here,” I said, grabbing my gear, with Otis and Stray trailing behind.
“I’ll go look in the crowd, maybe she can’t hear her phone.” Otis rushed out, brushing past Hound. I begged, I pleaded.
The announcer kept going with my introduction, the crowd erupting in more boisterous excitement, cheering me on. In the hallway, Dillon waited for me, giving me a gentle nod. Melody slid next to Hound Dog, resting her chin on his bicep, plastering on a proud smile. My thoughts turned to Amelia, needing her by my side.
She wouldn’t have left me; she was in it for the long haul. My name was stitched on her back, she was mine, and I fully belonged to that beautiful woman.
I looked for Otis, scanning around the arena, trying to cling on to some indication that she was here.
My eyes flashed to the center ring, finding my brute opponent circling like a wild shark looking for his prey. His darkened eyes pinned to me, his violent smile thirsty to take on me. I tried to center myself, forcing myself to flip on the switch in my brain to tune out the man I was once was into the man the club needed me to be.
Ruthless, cold, and vengeful.
Otis came running back, worry in his eyes. “I can’t find her.”
My heart sank. She was nowhere in sight and I couldn’t find her. “Stray, grab me my phone. Now,” I yelled out watching my friend vanish back into the darkened hallway, rushing back with my phone intact.
I ripped off my glove, pulling the phone to my face, quickly trying to find the app where I looked at her cameras. All eyes were on me, time was ticking by and I worried that I was going to make the choice between my club and Amelia.
I was ready to choose her over the club as much as there was a pain in my chest for thinking that. But I would choose her over and over again until I drew my last breath.
The app kept spinning, trying to pull up the feed.
Error
I tapped it again and again and kept getting the same message.
Error
I jerked my head up and at the corner of my eye, I saw the cruel smile of a man that thought he was going to win. Then the pieces fell into place. It wasn’t a taunt to make me spin; it was a promise that was already being fulfilled. My heart disappeared, fearing that I was failing her again.
“It’s not fucking working.” I panicked, then heard the chuckles that were louder than the audience.
