Mickey’s a fucking snake. And all he wants is for me to be in pain.
Babysitter pulls onto the desert road, and the bumps in the road make the adrenaline already flowing through my system spike. The anxiety makes my heart beat faster and my whole body breaks out into a sweat.
I can see the rock configuration in the darkness and pull my phone out. If I’m going to die fighting, I’m going to make damn fucking sure Ty knows how much I love him.
My fingers fly over the keyboard and the green message turns blue when it’s been delivered.
For Ty. For Ty. For Ty.I chant in my head right before I see Mickey hiding in the pitch black darkness by the entrance with a mocking smirk on his face.
“Get out.”
CHAPTER 30
“I’m sorry,Ty. I’m so sorry,” Mario babbles, his hands shaking and his nose running as he slobbers. I can’t focus on him right now though. He’s been trying to apologize and get me to see why he’s done this for the past twenty minutes.
I focus on my push ups, warming up my muscles and stretching out.
The earth floor makes the adrenaline surge through me faster. I didn’t want to be here again. I didn’t think I’d have to be. I thought I’d fucking finally left this shit behind.
“Terecino,” Mario starts up again, but I snap at him. My jaw shuts quickly at him as I growl.
“Shut up. Shut. Up. Shut the fuck up, Mario!” I yell, crowding his space. “I’m in this shit because of you. I’m…” I point at him in anger, but I stop immediately when I see him flinch. Sweat rolls down the side of his face, running parallel with a tear.
“I’m sorry, I just… I lost my way.”
“You’re damn right you did.” I shake my head. “And I’m the one that’s going to pay for it. Like always. After this, after I save your assagain, you are to get the fuck out of my life. You all are. I don’t want to hear from Mom, from the boys, from you. All you guys do is use me and I’m fucking done with it.”
Mario’s eyes widen for a good seven seconds after I stop talking. Like his drug-laddened brain finally caught up with what I’m saying.
“Ty, wait, please,” he begs, but I step back out of his reach.
“Get the hell away from me,” I say with a growl and turn away from him. Turning my back on my brother for the last time.
I stalk towards the decrepit bathrooms of the Underground, pissed and frustrated that I’m in this situation.
Mickey’s deal was that I enter as his fighter in the ten thousand dollar fight at The Underground. If I win, he keeps all the winnings and he’ll consider both debts paid.
Ten fucking thousand dollars… It’s gotta be a hell of an opponent for a bag that big.
I shake the nerves off and turn the small sink as cold as it’ll go before cupping my hands and splashing my face.
Roxie. For Roxie. Even if I get fucked up, she’ll be free. Finally. Finally. All I want is for her to be happy.
I look in the broken mirror and crack a small smile at the man staring back at me.
She sacrificed for me before, this time, it’s my turn. Whatever it takes.
Whatever it takes.
The crowd fucking swarms around the makeshift ring and the energy is amazingly charged. Everyone can tell there’s something big going on and it’s feeding into itself.
That energy can either work in my favor, or bite me in the ass.
Mario’s standing by Mickey, not allowed to leave until I fulfill his debt. Mario won’t stop watching me though, a sad desperation in his eyes. He’s giving me the same face he usually does when he’s trying to get me to do what he wants.
He wants forgiveness, but that’s not happening.
The lights dim around us, signalling the fight’s about to begin, and I thumb the worn leather cord around my wrist.Roxie.
