Page 94 of The Two Halves of My Heart

I gave up on the beer and hoped Zuri was ready. Without Leo, I needed someone in my corner, the obligatory warm-up to get me amped, help with my wraps and general show of support. I only had a couple of hours left to get my head in the game for the biggest fight of my career, and right now I felt like fucking shit.

This time, when I went through the back, one of the guys working the door showed me through to another part of the building, down the stairs to a basement and then he directed me to a gym area. Mats and a punching bag decorated the cell-type room. A few lockers lined one wall, and two changing areas were signposted at the far end. The light was false from strip lights overhead, and for the first time, it felt like a proper underground fight. The Club had always had a veneer because fights weren’t the only things it hosted. This place felt different—rougher.

“Come on. You’re late.” Zuri came out of one of the changing areas, and I huffed out a breath in relief. Fuck, I hadn’t realised I needed to see someone here for me.

I followed him through the doorway and found a room, not unlike those back at The Club. It was like a giant wet room with tiles and a drain in the corner with a shower overhead. I guess it saved on the stain removal.

“Hey, man.” Leo appeared to the side, looking sheepish. “I’m sorry about before. I’m still here for you. All the way.” He held my stare, and I knew he was sorry. If I was honest, I was too.

We embraced, slapping each other on the back in some macho sign of appreciation, but it settled something in my gut.

“Thanks. Let’s get things started, shall we boys!” I forced the confidence into my voice as I clapped and rubbed my hands together.

Zuri took a phone call and left Leo and me to it.

“Is she coming?” he asked.

“I fucking hope so.” I looked at him and only saw doubt in his eyes. But he was here. I couldn’t question all the shit that could go wrong. I had a job to do—to win—and besides, Kenner knew the deal.

“All set?” Zuri asked.

“What’s the take for this?”

“After you win. Get your head on straight. Fight hard, Mads. Fucking hard. This is no picnic.”

“I’ve got this.” I rolled my shoulders and started to move my body around, stretching my joints and muscles. The other room we walked through was all set for a warm-up, and there’s no way I’d set foot in the ring cold. Leo followed as I took to the mats, working my body before we started some punches and drills.

He held up a couple of pads, but he clocked me with one of them. “What the fuck?”

“Quicker, Mads. Come on, man.” He gave me a cocky grin, and I knew what he was doing.

Twenty minutes later, and I was ready to deck him where he stood. My mind was sharp and focused on only one thing.

I was used to hearing the noise build before a fight, but this place felt like the wolves were waiting for me. It messed with my confidence, as there was no atmosphere to feed off.

“Relax, Mads. You’ve got this.” Leo held up my gum shield and shoved it into my mouth. I started to pace, waiting. Waiting. I hated fucking waiting.

Grace hadn’t phoned or texted me back, but she had the details, and I still believed she’d show, even without seeing me first. Sure, I was a bastard for playing her, but I could beg for forgiveness later.

“Maddison?” A guy in a black t-shirt and sunglasses, despite being in a basement, appeared.

“Yeah,” I muffled.

“You’re on. A reminder, no tap outs, no biting. You fight until one of you stays down. Mr Kenner will be watching and expects a performance. Got it?”

I nodded.

Time to win.

The guy in the sunglasses led the three of us out of the basement and into the main arena. Dark and dingy, the lighting was piss poor, and the smell of sweat and alcohol filled the air. Now the noise finally hit me and set the fire in my belly alight.

“Fucking, yeah!”

Zuri and Leo peeled away from me as I walked around the entire ring while Sunglasses opened the door.

The adrenalin, the energy, it all flowed through my blood, charging it up so I was ready to fucking tear the place down. I felt the beat of the crowd, along with my heart, pulsing around my body. I looked up and scanned the faces, but there was no way to pick anyone out. A curl of dread formed in my stomach as I realised that I wouldn’t know even if Grace were here. I’d been so confident she would show, but as I looked for her in the crowd, panic started to overtake me, driving my heartrate through the roof.

A movement distracted me, and I turned to face my opponent for the first time. He was a big motherfucker, heavyset with muscles wrapped around his neck and shoulders, and his legs look like fucking tree trunks. Getting hit by him would bloody hurt.

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