Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I eyed him then his sister. “What can I say? I’m good.”
“Cocky as ever.” When Misty smiled, it barely pulled at her frozen cheeks. Another round of Botox, probably. “Think you’re too good for us now.”
“You said it, not me.”
“It’s the opposite now, River. We’re too good for you. Got my own sponsor, someone who sees my talent and potential.”
“Is that talent and potential in the room with us right now?”
Jace stepped toward me, but Misty held him back. He shook her off and fixed his jacket. Now that he was so close, I saw the rings on his fingers, the gold chain around his neck, his new leather jacket and leather shoes. He looked like he was some college punk dressing up for his first big boy interview. Or some new crypto bro cosplaying as a rich man. But one glance back in the stands, and I knew it wasn’t an act.
Troy Godwin was staring at me and not looking too pleased.
The Perks must have been his back-up plan when we went with the Circuit. Jace Perk, headliner. It was laughable. The guy couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag. I lifted a hand in greeting to Troy, but he didn’t move a muscle. Damn, tough crowd.
“New development?” I lifted a brow. I hadn’t heard anything about new Heathens Hollow headliners. Neither had Lotto, I was sure. He would have told us if so.
“Just signed the contract two days ago.” She played with the large diamond earrings in her ears in an overexaggerated way. “Wanted your little gang to be the first to know.”
“Thanks for the heads up. I know a great financial planner if you need one. So you don’t blow your money and all.”
“Unnecessary,” Jace smirked. “With you and Bones out of the picture, no one can stop us.”
I opened my mouth and closed it, merely smiling at them. Sure, we weren’t there anymore, but there would always be another “River.” Another “Bones,” another “Venom”, another “Smite.” The underground cycled out fighters with chips on their shoulders. Fighters with something to prove. Fighters needing to support their families with a little extra cash. Fighters with egos as big as their balls. Someone was always waiting to bring you down a peg or two and become the new king of the cage.
But I’d let Jace figure that out for himself.
Not that he had the brain to do it since his ego was blocking the way.
“Well, good luck. It’s been great to catch up and chat.” I let the sarcasm drip over my words. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Hey River, before you go.” Misty set a hand on my upper arm. I glanced at her hand and back up at her unnervingly unmoving face. “Come back and visit Heathens Hollow. We’ll show you what you’re missing.”
Her diamonds flashed in the light of the gymnasium, but something else flashed in front of my eyes, too: my sister’s relieved smile when I told her I’d signed with Smiley’s and would be making a name for myself in boxing. Now that the boys were getting older and their dad even more deadbeat, she needed the help, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
And I’d do anything to keep that smile on her face.
“I’m good, thanks. Try not to get too many concussions.”
I gave them a salute, then did the same for Troy. He was still glowering at me. Clearly, he was pissed he’d lost his better meal ticket. Maybe the Perks and Smiley’s had more in common than we thought; two shitty benefactors who clearly hated our guts and were purely in it for the money. At least I had the foresight to save mine. The Perks were going to have to learn that lesson the hard way.
I left the venue and headed toward the parking lot. To my surprise, Frankie, Bones, Lotto, and Ari stood outside our rented van. Once they saw me, they lifted their hands in greeting.
“Welcome back,” Ari smiled.
“You didn’t have to wait for me.”
“We weren’t going to leave without you. You’re one of us now.”
The welcome filled me with a strange happiness, like I belonged with Smiley’s, even after our history. In all of my years in the scene, no one had been that nice to me.
I almost made a joke about waiting for me or my cock, but I swallowed it. I wasn’t looking to start a parking lot grudge match with Frankie tonight.
“So a team?” I winked and chuckled when Ari’s face twinged with a faint blush. I peeked around her into the van. Teo was fast asleep in the back seat inside. I took a breath and blew it out of my nose. “Well, I’m glad you waited ’cause the alternative was the Perks.” I glanced at Lotto. “You didn’t hear anything?”
Lotto cocked his head. “About?”