PROLOGUE
BRODI
One year ago…
“Kelly lands his first shot right out of the gate!” The crowd roars and screams. “Cook may be the heavy weight in the ring tonight, but Kelly is quick on his feet.”
“Bullshit,” I mutter to myself, watching this unjust fight unfold.
“Looks like Cook is blocking every body-shot Kelly is throwing. If he keeps up at this rate, he’s going to tire before the next round,” the ring announcer speculates. Kelly’s erratic, pushing Cook back to gain center ring. “Cook’s calm and controlled movements make for a good defense against Kelly’s combination work.”
The bell marks the end of the first round, sending the boxers to their corners for a minute to hydrate and hear from their trainers.
I don’t know why I bothered watching the fight; I already knew who was going to win. In one ear I had, T.O.P.- DOOM DADA, blasting as to keep me from being bored to tears.
Spectators move around trying to get a better viewing angle, before the second round begins. One pair of eyes scanning the crowd locks onto mine, then moves quickly to my position in the back of the room.
“I would never have thought a beast like Cook would have to work so hard to come out on top,” Alex says.
I cross my arms, not meaning for the chuckle to escape.
“No… Really? They’re fixing it for Kelly?”
I look down at nothing in particular and shrug, already annoyed by this man’s inability to notice anything of significance, like me trying to be left the fuck alone. I clear my throat, remove the transceiver, and put it in my pocket.
“It’s not my fault you put your money on a name who wasn’t already tied to the Murrays.”
Alex is the kind of guy everyone knows, but no one can really rely on. Mostly because he has no allegiance to anyone. He’s a drifter. Knowing a little bit about a lot of things and using that as his calling card on the streets. No gang will have him, but it’s no mystery he wants to be in whatever group that’ll have him. I’m confident he would turn on his own grandmother if it meant a payday.
“Well, fuck me sideways…”
I grimace.
“What can I do to have you move my bet to Kelly?” His wide pleading eyes make the dark circles below them look even darker on his thin aging skin. Fool.
“No way. I’m not ending up like the last bookie.”
The second round begins, and the horde of people screams Cook’s name. His sharp movements open up an opportunity for him to deliver an uppercut to Kelly’s jaw, causing blood to drip from the victor’s nose. He better reel himself in real quick or this is going to be his last time ever fighting. “Good shot fromCook! Kelly is going to have to claw back into this and do some damage.”
I look over at Alex, who watches the fighters with hope in his eyes, as they dance around the ring. Like a switch is flipped, they go from toe-to-toe to unnaturally primed. Cook all but pulls his hits, as Kelly begins landing blow after blow.
Alex looks back to me. “I put everything I had into this match! Switch my wager to Kelly and… I’ll give you something significant.”
My eyebrow raises accompanied by a reluctant smile, because nothing this guy says is valuable. “Tell me now and I’ll consider it.”
Alex combs his thinning hair back with his fingers, all the while looking around for something, or someone who may make him not want to divulge this secret.
“Things are not looking good for Cook, folks!” The announcer bellows.
“I know you're skimming the top of the bets…”
I see red. This slimy motherfucker is going to blackmail me! Instantly my arms unfold, I crack my knuckles within each palm, while deciding where I’m going to dump this asshole’s body.
“Woah! Keep your assless chaps on, biker boy. My lips are sealed if you can do this for me. Plus, I have some historic news about that banging brunette you're seeing.”
How the fuck does he know about Cindel? Is he watching me when I’m not at the Bay Boxing Club? I’ve only ever brought around girls for hire, never wanting any of this to get entangled with my personal life.
“Ooooo. That overhand left from Kelly has clipped Cook, leaving him looking a bit buzzed,” the announcer proclaims, right before the bell signals the end of the second round.
