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)
River, that fucker.
This was supposed to be a simple scrimmage—something to send the Circuit to showcase our abilities—but apparently, River wasn’t too happy about his loss at Heathens Hollow.
And he was clearly trying to get his revenge.
I kicked out from under him, rolled over and sent an elbow into his side. His grunt was extremely close to my ear. So was his follow-up chuckle, and that sent goosebumps down my arms. I rolled to my knees and pushed to my feet, gloves in front of my face. River followed suit, tapping his gloves against mine like he was restarting the match.
Like we hadn’t been sparring for the past five damn minutes.
Duck, jab, punch, block, juke. Over and over we danced around Smiley’s ring. I got in one hit. River got in two. He kicked me once, so I kicked him twice. The entire time, he had a smirk on his angular face like kicking my ass was the most fun thing he’d done all week.
I sent a punch straight for that damn sexy smirk, but River grabbed my arm and flipped me. His hard body pressed me down against the mat, my arm locked in his legs. Every time I tried to move, he jerked harder on my arm so that pain shot up my shoulder. I tried to roll away, but he had me pinned beneath slabs of abs and muscle.
As I was about to tap out, a shrill whistle cut through the air.
“Enough. Don’t break his arm, you dumb fuck.” Frankie slipped through the ring’s ropes, his frown so big, it could probably be seen through space.
River climbed off me. That smirk was still on his face when he held out a hand to help me up. “Sorry, Bones. You good?”
More like humiliated. Annoyed. Angry. Stupidly turned on. You named it, I felt it.
I took his hand and hopped to my feet. “Can’t feel my shoulder, but what can you do?”
“I swear to fuck, if you get hurt even before we apply…” Frankie glared at River. “I told you to take it easy.”
He shrugged as he re-tied his long black hair back into a bun. “That was me taking it easy.”
“And it was absolutely perfect!” Ari slipped into the ring next, Lotto close behind. They held their phones close to their chests. “We have such good footage. There’s no way we’re not getting picked.”
“I do my best to impress.” River winked at Ari.
She rolled her eyes and threw the towel slung over her shoulder at him. “Save it, Casanova.”
“That’s a compliment, you know.”
I frowned at River. So not only was he pushing into my gym, he was pushing onto my girl, too? Annoyance pricked at my veins. Too bad arousal did, too. River was built like a damn statue. His cut muscles gleamed with sweat. His shorts were so tight, the outline of his cock pressed against the fabric. When he caught my eye, his lips slid into an all-knowing grin.
I tore myself away, shifting so my cock stopped throbbing. I was just wound up, that was all. The past few days had me on edge.
“We’ll edit this and send in our application by tonight.” Lotto clicked a few times on his phone then turned to Frankie. “Did you get in touch with Venom?”
“Venom?” River raised an eyebrow. “What do you need him for? He’s been out of the scene for years now.”
“But he spends a shit ton of underground bets,” Frankie explained. “Knows the best odds.”
“So?” Ari asked.
“So the odds are saying we’re not the only ones from the underground trying out for the Circuit. So are Pulp, Firebrand, and Evac.”
“Fuck.” I ran a hand over my jaw. Those were the best of the best. Damn legends in the ring and the scene. Brock “Firebrand” Turner was a fat-necked bastard with a penchant for curb stomping his opponents long after the bell rang.
“And Venom says Smite and Ka-yo are teaming up.”
Lotto’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “But I heard Smite and Meteor were teaming up under Beatbox Fitness.”
“If those three are on the same team, we’re fucked.” River slung the towel around his neck. “Smite is the only one who’s beaten me twice.”
Frankie’s lips twisted. “And he’s also one solid hit away from being the main star of Looney Tunes. Not something the Circuit will be looking for. Trust me.”
The mood in the room shifted immediately. Frankie wouldn’t want to sit out something as big as the Circuit. If it were me, I’d do a whole host of dumb shit to bring my team to glory. Hell, I almost did it with Nero all those months ago. But for Frankie, that dumb shit stopped just short of losing his life. That wasn’t worth a paid trip to Vegas and possible continued sponsorships.
“Oh, fuck off, guys,” Frankie said when the silence stretched too long. “It was just a comment.”