Love Tap(54)

Entering the ring, I eye Revy Bendoza. He’s a few inches taller than me. His hair shaved off leaving dark shadows casting along his head, matching his dark thick eyebrows.

“You ready * boy?” he slurs around his mouth guard. I don’t respond. Thomas told me to keep it sportsmanlike. Revy is known for his antics inside the ring, getting his opponents bent out of shape and out of focus.

“You ready?” The referee points at me, and I nod.

“You ready?” He glances at Revy, who jumps on his feet, not replying.

“Let’s get it on!” The referee jumps out of the way and instantly my face takes a right hook from Revy. My ears ringing.

He goes for a left hook and I duck jabbing him in the ribs.

Side stepping me he’s out of reach. My eyes catch a blonde female in the crowd. At first glance she looks like Tate, but it’s not her.

Pain slices through my eyebrow, bringing me back from the female to the fight.

I have to let her go.

Closing my eyes I take in the pain. Not just from the fight, but the one inside my chest. I’m going to have to let the girl next door go.

Opening my eyes, blood sticks to my lashes.

I give a quick inside sweep kick, and it takes him to his knees. Quickly, I jump on him and he falls on his back.

I strike him in the face, over and over and over. Rocking him while blood spits across my gloves.

A roar erupts from my throat; one I felt I’ve been holding for years. Maybe it’s the anger I’ve harbored since Tate left, maybe it’s because my family fell apart after she left and I had nobody. Either way, it feels incredible to let loose.

Hands grab at my shoulders, and I come to.

“He’s tapped out, you won!” The referee indicates. Looking down, Revy’s face is a bloody mess and rolling side to side as he groans.

Thomas jumps in the ring, a cheesy smile on his face.

“You did it! You actually f*cking did it!”

“Winner by knock out, Camden Steel!”

The crowd is literally going insane, it’s so loud I can barely hear the announcer. It hasn’t hit me that I’ve won yet. Everything is happening so fast.

Quickly I’m ushered out of the cage, the walk back filled with panties, roses, and bright colored bras.

Finally inside the locker room, Thomas helps take my mouth guard out and attends to my eyebrow where Revy got me.

“You killed it. I haven’t seen you fight like that ever. I’m not sure where you pulled that out of, but keep doing it.”

Panting, I just listen.

A knock sounds at the door.

“Not now!” Thomas hollers.

The door creaks open and a woman in a black tailored business suit steps in, two big men right behind her.

“Camden Steel?” The lady addresses me, her tone sophisticated.

“Yes?” I arch a brow.

“I’m Silvia Machen, I’m with the Mad Fighting Champions.” She holds her hand out, and Thomas tenses, his face ghostly white.

“That was some fight out there.” She looks me up and down as if she’s not complimenting my fighting skills, but rather my physique.

“Thank you.”

“How would you like to fight for us?”





Chapter Nineteen


Tate



Journey is bringing Dad home today. Between her and I we put our money together so I could pick up some groceries for the house. The doctor said his cholesterol is through the roof, and is probably due to bad eating habits. I already lost one parent, I’m seeing to it that this one stays around for a bit longer. Looking through Dad’s fridge, there was nothing but soda and TV dinners. The cabinets weren’t any better, they were packed with chips and jerky. I had to throw most everything away.

Chloe came shopping with me, wanting to catch up on things. I know she’s going to ask about Camden, that’s why I’ve been avoiding her. It’s complicated.

“He likes sandwiches doesn’t he?” Chloe asks, holding up deli meat and lettuce.

I shrug. “I’m not sure, he used to.”

She gives a ‘whatever’ look and tosses them in the cart.

“I think as long as you stay away from deep fried stuff, and things loaded in fat and sugar, you’ll be helping him,” she informs.

“The doctor said grape juice is really good too,” I purse my lips together in thought as I survey the juices. Their colorful labels, and glistening plastic bottles making my mouth water.

“That shit is gross, I can’t see this going over well.” She crosses her arms, looking the cocktails of fruit over.

I sigh, knowing this is going to be a battle.

“He doesn’t have a choice if he wants to stay out of the hospital,” I inform.

She grabs a jug of purple grape juice and places it in the cart.

“So, how is training going?”

Opening my mouth my tongue slides along my bottom lip as I think about what I’m going to say.

“It’s… it’s going.” My voice wavers, and Chloe smiles like the devil knowing I’m not telling her something.

“How is Camden? I know you’re seeing him,” she states matter of fact.

My face turns red, my fingers running along the hem of my shorts. “How would you know that?”