Page 135 of With Wine Comes War

I laughed and said, “Let me?”

He smirked and said, “Of course I’d have to let you. Not like you could do it on your own.”

I shoved him away and nodded. I knew he was trying to keep my head in the ring. He didn’t want anyone giving me soft inspiration. I looked over at Matt and Jack who were talking to the judge. They all had their arms crossed and their faces were full of serious expressions. I couldn’t think about that though. I needed to stay right here in this ring full of rage. I looked in the only direction I needed— right at Tanner. Just his face was enough to enrage me. I could feel heat rising through my body. I couldn’t hear anything else going on around me other than the blood rushing through my ears. He was talking and smiling to his attorney and his brother. So, Marcus the politician showed up to watch his brother beat up a girl. That’s probably not going to look good for his next political campaign. I’ll have to make sure I get a hit in for him, too.

I decided not to look around anymore until Bruce came into the ring followed by Tanner. No one else was allowed in there. I was still wearing my sweats— Tanner had on a tee shirt, shorts and gym shoes.I was wearing my normal training attire, which was a sports bra and short spandex shorts underneath. I was trying to provoke him as much as possible.

Bruce looked at Tanner and treated him like any other fighter, not some sick predator and said, “Are you going to wear those shoes in the ring? I would suggest taking them off, so you don’t trip on your laces.” Tanner rolled his eyes and huffed out a laugh then walked to his corner, taking his shoes and socks off.

When he came back over, he snarled, “Better?”

I don’t know if I would take an attitude with Bruce. He might be a professional, but I’m sure Tanner remembers being manhandled by him already.

Then Bruce said, “Yes, now what about your shirt? Do you really want your opponent to have that kind of leverage against you? She could use your own shirt as a weapon.” He darted his eyes at me and licked his lips. Bile came up in my throat, but I forced it back down.

“She’s wearing a sweat suit. I think it’s fair, don’t you?” With that I removed my sweats and watched his eyes get predatorial. That’s exactly the reaction I was trying to invoke. He smiled and licked his lips again as he removed his shirt. God, he makes me sick to my stomach.

He said, “Should I take my shorts off too? Maybe we should just do this naked.”

He’s one sick motherfucker and all these people watching. I could feel the evil intent coming off him.Deep breaths.I could tell Bruce didn’t like it, but he was trying to keep things fair.

Finally, Bruce growled out in his burly deep voice, “I think this is good. Now the rules are that the fight’s over when one person taps out or becomes unconscious. We have all kinds of security in this building and paramedics if necessary. I’m not going to say keep the fight clean,because the premise of this was dirty from the beginning, so don’t kill each other is all I’m saying. When I leave the ring, you won’t start fighting until I ring the bell. Do you both understand?”

We nodded our heads while staring into each other’s eyes. His had nothing but blackness behind those blue eyes.

As soon as Bruce was out of the ring, I was standing toe to toe with Tanner. I had to look up to see his face. He was smiling, creepily at me, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“I’m going to knock you the fuck out and then fuck you right here in the middle of the ring, right in front of your boyfriend hiding on the back wall back there.”

Oh my God, Roman’s here.

I whipped my head around to see him and as soon as our eyes locked, I felt this searing pain on the side of my face. I went down to my hands and knees. Then another pain in my side and then a loud smacking sound and a sharp pain right on my ass.

***

ROMAN

Seeing her in the ring with him is unsettling. I don’t know how I’m supposed to watch this, but it would literally drive me crazy not knowing and waiting for someone to tell me after. My mom spotted me, and she came and stood on the back wall with me.

While keeping my eyes peeled on Alex, I asked, “How is she? Did you see her before this?”

She said, “I did. She has something to ask me after this is over.”

Hmmm, I wonder what that could be.

“Do you know what it is? Never mind, I shouldn’t be asking.”

She just smiled and said, “I think this is closure for her.”

Closure from me? “For what?”

She reached out and patted my arm. “I don’t know. Maybe that’s what she wants to talk about”.

As I was looking back toward the ring Bruce was leaving it, and the room was getting quiet now. Alex was standing really close to Tanner and he was whispering in her ear. She abruptly turned around and our eyes locked and it made me smile.

Oh, shit babe, I’m so sorry!

He punched her right in the face then kicked her when she was down and smacked her on the ass. I’ll bet that smack on the ass sealed his fate.

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