Love Tap(83)

Quickly I go to her side, wrapping my arm around her waist. The need to protect her overpowering anything else going on in my head. I need to get her out of here.

“WINNER BY KNOCK OUT, TATE ‘HELLCAT’ DAVIS!” the announcer shouts.

Noticing how much pain Tate is in, I try to pick her up to carry her out and she stops me.

“No, I’m walking out of this cage. Nobody is carrying me.”

I try to fight the smirk pulling at my lips, but it’s no use. The strength this woman has blows my mind. I tuck her arm behind my neck and wrap my hand around her waist to help her hobble out.

“We have a lot to talk about, Tate.”



Tate



Sitting on the bench I wrap my arms around my abdomen. My ribs protesting my sitting up. My bones hurt. Breathing hurts. Everything hurts.

Camden sits between my legs, his hands on either side of my hips as he looks at me with concerned eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I mouth, feeling terrible for lying to him.

“You almost cost us that fight!” Debs throws open the metal door, her face flustered. The hairs on my neck stand, knowing shit is about to go down.

Camden closes his eyes and stands.

“You knew I didn’t want her in this fight!” He points at her, talking as if I’m not even in the room. If Camden knew about the fight, then he must have fought in The Underground.

“Was—was this the place you—” I stutter, not wanting to say aloud what he confided in me. He glances over his shoulder, his eyes not quite meeting mine.

“Yes,” his voice grave.

I swallow, and look down. It hurts that he didn’t tell me everything, but I didn’t tell him either.

“You, you cost me my payout the first time you *! You owed me! You took something away from me I’ll never get back!” Debs begins to pace the locker room.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Camden snaps.

“You killed Bret! He was my fighter, my nephew! We worked hard to make it to the top, that money and contract was ours!” She throws the locker onto the ground, her face streaked with tears. I flinch from the loud crash of the locker and the floor. Bret, the name sounds familiar.

“Bret?” I ask, wanting someone to connect the dots.

Camden looks over his shoulder at me. “Bret Hollis.”

My eyes flash with recognition. He went to our school. But how did he end up in the cage with Camden? It doesn’t make sense.

“Debs, I—” Camden begins but Debs cuts him off.

“No, you don’t get to talk. I finally get to talk. All those bullshit contracts and them saying he died of injuries inside the ring when really you murdered him!”

This f*cking underground must have known Camden knew Bret. Just like they knew Chase and I knew each other. They play on our emotions, wanting us to turn from friend to enemy. I want to say it’s because it’s a bigger pay out, but it feels personal.

Looking up, Camden and Debs are still going at it. Their faces red, and hands balled into fists.

“You’re pointing the wrong finger,” I groan and they both shut up and look at me.

“You’re blaming Camden, but maybe you should be blaming The Underground, or Silvia. She played you, she played all of us.”

They both look at me wildly as my words set in. They know I’m right.

A knock sounds at the door, and the devil herself walks in.

Silvia Machen.

“Tate that was some fight,” she praises sashaying in. She clasps her hands in front of her, as one of her sharp eyebrows raise at the sight of Camden.

I want to claw her f*cking face off, but even that wouldn’t justify what the hell she’s done. She needs something much worse, and long term, to satisfy my desire to hurt her.

“I have to say, someone knocking out one of my men to defend the honor of his girlfriend and entering the octagon is a first for us.”

Camden scoffs, and I roll my eyes. Not wanting to hear another word of bullshit leave her mouth. I guarantee The MFC knows nothing about The Underground.

“Deal is a deal though, you made the final hit knocking Chase out Tate, so the money and contract are yours.”

I stand, my knees buckling as I stand from the amount of pain my body is in.

“I earned that money through blood and pain so I’ll take it. That contract though, I didn’t earn it.” I point at her, my jaw clenched shut.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re getting at?” Silvia tilts her head to the side as her face scrunches in confusion.

“I’m saying I don’t want the contract!” I shout, irate. I want to work my way to top, not have it given to me. I’ve only been in one fight, while other fighters have had to go through many. I’m saying no in respect to them.

“Tate,” Camden grabs my elbow, his face conveying that he thinks I’m crazy to give it up. I’m not though. I’m saner then I’ve ever been.

“I don’t want it, not like this. I will earn my way to the top through respect and hard work.” I lift my chin, my decision made.

“Um, okay. That is a first as well,” she chuckles but I don’t find the humor in it.

“What can I say, I’m different.” I scowl.

She blinks rapidly, sensing my unease toward her.