“I sure the fuck do.”
“Nah,” I shake my head, “I don’t believe it.”
“What’s not to believe? She picks you out, two weeks ago, sets you up to protect her, then plants the murder weapon on you.” Diesel cocks his head. “If it wasn’t so fucked up, I’d be impressed. She played you from day one.”
“Nah, nah, there’s gotta be more to it.”
“Sure there is. The more to it is her showing up scared, and five seconds later, bullets are flying overhead. Then her playing along with us the other night. Acting like she’s gonna take part in shutting down her father and the rest of those pervs, when it’s really the other way around.”
There’s no way I let another woman get over on me.
“Hey, Bolt,” one of the prospects calls out from the front of the gym. “You’re up in two.”
I shove the necklace into my pocket and put the knife between my clothes in the locker.
“Smoke’s gotta know about this.” Diesel nods to my locker.
“He was the one who told me not to let her out of my sight, right?”
“I don’t think Smoke meant that to include you getting roped into her bullshit.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Deny. Deny. Deny.
“I’ve seen how close the two of you are getting. Everybody sees it.”
“You’re crazy.” My heart amps up.
“Am I? I saw you and her in the alcove between the locker rooms. You gonna tell me you weren’t giving her your dick?”
“Didn’t know you enjoyed watching so much.” I end the sentence with a sneer.
“Don’t put this back on me. If you were getting that hot in the locker room, then you’re definitely getting between her thighs when you’re alone in your apartment.”
“Sounds like you got it all figured out. What are you gonna do now, run to Smoke?”
“Nah, fucker, this ain’t my story to tell, but you better get your head straight and come clean with all this shit, or it’s gonna explode in your face.”
I push at his shoulder. “And maybe you should stay the fuck outta my business.”
Diesel’s eyes narrow, and we both know if we throw down, it would ruin my chances in the cage.
“Hey, Bolt,” the prospect yells again. “C’mon, you’re up. The fuckin’ crowd is goin’ wild.”
I move toward the door, and Diesel holds me back. “You gotta tell him.”
I pull out of his grasp, push through the door, and two prospects flank me on each side. The crowd shouting and cheering my name amps me up.
“Fuck this guy up, Bolt.”
The prospects make a path for me, pushing people back.
“You’re a fuckin’ winner, man.”
“I gotta lot of fuckin’ money on you tonight.”
By the time I get to the three metal stairs leading to the cage, they’re chanting my name louder. Fuckin’ unbelievable feeling. All the trauma, all the doubts fade away in a cloud of euphoria.
The cage door bangs open, and I stomp onto the mat as the ref announces me and my opponent. I already know this guy doesn’t stand a chance because I got the skill, and now I got a shit-ton of anger to go along with it.
