Page 143 of Ruin

Zeus is big, and he’s strong. He’s in peak physical shape. He always is. And the last six weeks of intense training has brought him up to where he needs to be.

But Dimitrov is in great shape, too.

Although Zeus has the edge in weight and height, there’s not much difference between them.

I turn to look at Zeus when I know he’s near ringside.

His eyes find me right away. His expression might be hardened, but his eyes…right now, they’re all for me.

He reaches the ring and jogs up the steps.

Before he enters the ropes, he looks back at me. My heart simultaneously soars and plummets because this is it. The moment I’ve been dreading for the last six weeks.

I love you, I mouth to him.

His lips lift into that smile of his, and my insides putter to a stop. Then, he climbs in the ring, and my insides sag to the ground.

“It’s gonna be okay,” Missy says, sliding her hand into mine. My eyes move to hers. “This is Zeus. He’s unbeatable.”

There’s always a first time for everything, my fear says.

But I don’t say those words.

Instead, I force a smile and say, “Yeah, you’re right.”

“I’m always right.” She grins. “My big brother is a hard-ass. And I, for one, cannot wait to see him put Dimitrov on his own ass.”

“Hell yeah!” Ares says, reaching around me and high-fiving her.

“Five rounds most, and Zeus will put him down,” Lo says.

The most recognizable voice in the boxing world starts speaking from within the ring, drawing my eyes there, “And here is the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Our fighters are in the ring, and they are ready to go all twelve rounds! In the blue corner, coming all the way from Bulgaria…standing at six feet four inches and weighing in at two hundred forty-five pounds, the current WBA and IBO heavyweight champion…Roman…‘The Jawbreaker’…Dimitrov.”

The cheers are outweighed by the boos. Ares, Lo, and Missy are shouting negativity in Dimitrov’s direction.

I’m silent. Eyes pinned on Zeus.

He looks calm. Ready to fight. But calm.

“In the red corner, standing at six feet five inches and weighing in at two hundred fifty pounds, he is the IBF, WBC, and WBO world heavyweight champion…your homegrown fighter…Zeus…‘The God’…Kincaid!”

The crowd roars with applause and cheers, and I actually find my voice and cheer for my man as he lifts his arms to the crowd, moving around the ring. I cheer louder.

When the crowd hushes, the announcer says, “To the twenty thousand in attendance and the millions watching at home, ladies and gentlemen, from Madison Square Garden in New York City…let’s…geeet…rrrreeeaaady…toooo…ruuummmble!”

I watch as they step up close with the referee between them, firing out his rules. Then, they’re back to their corners.

I watch as Zeus’s trainer, Mike, talks to him. Zeus nods his head. His shield is put in his mouth, and then he’s on his feet.

The bell rings.

It’s time.

There’s no hesitation. Zeus is in the center of the ring straightaway, intimidating and dominating. And the punches start flying.

Zeus is all over Dimitrov.

He moves so quickly, ducking every punch Dimitrov throws, leaving him punching air.