Page 26 of Burning Embers

There’s a mixture of boos and cheers from the crowd, but I drown them all out as the high of my victory sweeps through my veins like a drug, potent and intoxicating. Sure, my body aches fiercely, and I’ll need to cover up all of my bruises with makeup before I see anyone, but there’s nothing quite like winning to put everything into perspective.

Larissa stumbles clumsily to her feet and extends a hand for me to shake.

“Good match,” she says with a smile.

I grip her hand. “You’re definitely going to give me a run for my money. Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“Yeah. Just arrived a few days ago.” She wipes at a blood rivulet on her cheek.

“And the first thing you did was find an illegal fight ring in town?” I smirk at her, and her eyes glimmer with mirth.

“You know it.” Someone over my shoulder seems to capture her attention. She turns back to me with a smile. “See you again?”

“Of course.”

Dennis grabs my shoulder to garner my attention as Larissa disappears into the crowd. He holds out a wad of cash.

“Your winnings for tonight,” he says as I eye the bundle of one-hundred-dollar bills.

This could almost be enough to pay back Hale for the computer, phone, and clothes. Almost. I just need to find a way to give it to him without him believing I’m a prostitute or something.

“Thanks, Dennis.” I take the money and shove it into the back pocket of my leggings.

No one here would be stupid enough to try to steal from me. There’s a plethora of unspoken rules regarding Dennis’s fight club.

Don’t talk about fight club.

Respect the fighters.

And don’t ever, not ever, steal what doesn’t belong to you.

I’ve seen firsthand what happens to someone who breaks those rules. His mutilated body still haunts me to this day.

I return to my corner of the room to see that Grayson has left, though my sweatshirt and his duffel bag remain. I unwrap my hands and throw the tape away before using a towel to wipe the blood and sweat off my face and arms. Quickly, I shove the sweatshirt back on over my sports bra and scan the crowd for Grayson.

I find him almost instantly.

He leans against the long table that serves as a bar, his back to me. In front of him is a rather familiar girl with light-brown hair, smokey eyes, and bright-red lips. The shirt she wears is unbuttoned far enough to show a hint of her black bra.

Sydney.

Grayson’s…girlfriend.

Something inside of my heart cracks and splinters, slicing my insides up along the way. I know I shouldn’t care—I’ve learned my lesson long ago—but the pain persists, regardless.

The beautiful woman places her hand on Grayson’s bicep and steps even closer, invading his space. She pushes up on her tiptoes…

I can’t watch this.

I refuse to.

I hurry in the direction of the exit, no thought in my mind except for “escape.”

“Bella! Where are you going?” Justin grabs at my arm, but I shake him off of me with a snarl.

As soon as I’m outside, I take desperate lungfuls of sweet, fresh air. I thought it would clear the cobwebs from my head, but it seems to do the opposite. Each breath I take sends razor blades slicing down my throat.

Fuck.

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