Page 32 of Unlucky You

“Something like that.” I didn’t want to get into how I got the money but I would have to tell her something so I clarified. “It’s not drugs or anything you need to worry about. I’m not gonna fuck this up.”

She stared for a long minute before she nodded and placed the money on the counter. “Did you check with Walt? I saw him a few months ago and let him know you were coming home. He said you should come talk to him.”

“I know, Ma, you told me.”

“You going to see him?”

“Yeah, I am. I just have to get a few things in order before I do.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’m about to head out. I’ll be here before lunch to get him.”

Her face lit up. She was pushing for me to keep Raiden. Said it would be good for both of us. That was all about her believing coming home to my son every night would keep me out of trouble, and truthfully it would, but I didn’t need him as motivation. Losing Aleah and years of my life was enough. WhenI promised my mother I wouldn’t fuck this up, I meant that from the depths of my soul. The thought of someone having that much control over my life was suffocating.

“He’s been looking forward to this all week.”

“Me too. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

“Okay, baby.”

I left her house, pushing thoughts of Raiden and my mother to the back of my mind. I needed to get in the right headspace for these fights. I sent Tali a text, making sure he would be there, then my thoughts shifted toher.

Saniya Montgomery.

Her pretty ass left me with conflicted feelings. I wanted her bad as hell but felt like shit for wanting her. My dick was currently hard with thoughts of those beautiful brown eyes and pretty lips I wanted to see stretched around it. Not only was she easy on the eyes but she was about her business. After the night I caught her looking for me at The Pit, I looked her up to see what she was about. A part of me felt like she was on some bullshit.

The only thing I found were several sites that listed her work. She was well-known around the city and had a solid reputation. Another reason I had no business wanting her. Saniya had her life together and I was figuring mine out. I couldn’t step to a woman with nothing to offer but dick and that was the position I was in currently. Regardless, I still fucking wanted her and that was a problem.

Tonight’s fights were at a different location. I received a text letting me know the address. It was two minutes before ten when I pulled into the lot, so the place was already packed. I called Tali to find out where he was and decided to park around back with him. That way we could slip out after the last round and avoid the crowd.

The women who showed up didn’t give a damn about watching us beat the shit out of each other, but they weren’tshy about wanting to be fucked by the winners after they were done. There was only one woman in particular I considered entertaining, and if I was right about her little stubborn ass, she would be here tonight.

Once I was out of my car, Tali fell in step with me as we walked to the side entrance. I banged on the door and he glanced at me, shoving his hands into the pocket of his hoodie while we waited. “You ready for this?”

“Ain’t shit to be ready for.” I cut my eyes his way then back to the door when it opened a few minutes later. The guy glared at both of us until I mentioned I was one of the fighters. He nodded and stepped out of the way, giving us room to enter.

“Main area is down the hall to the left. Check in with Rix before you get changed.”

We followed his directions and entered the open space. Just like a couple weeks ago, an abandoned warehouse had been transformed into a top notch arena. A bar was built along one wall and the heavy bass from the song the DJ was spinning blasted from the free standing speakers in each corner of the room. There was black velvet roping which sectioned off groups of chairs.

The closer to the ring, the nicer the chairs. Men in suits stood in groups, drinking expensive liquor and smoking cigars while their arm candy stood close by. The diamonds they wore sparkled under the bright lighting which would be turned down when the first contenders entered the ring. The spotlight would be on the fighters. There was a lot of money in this room and my goal was to cash out.

“You’re late. You need to get changed.” The sound of an agitated male voice barking out a demand had me swinging my head to the right where I noticed Rix approaching me with a hard expression on his face. He stepped in front of me and lifted a glass of liquor to his mouth.

“First fight hasn’t started. I’m not late.” I kept my voice level. I needed to get in the ring tonight but I didn’t like his fucking tone so my patience was thin.

“You’re the first fight.”

“Nah, that’s not our deal. I fight whoever makes it to the last round.”

“Thatwasour deal. These guys pay for a show. They don’t want to watch a guy get the shit beat out of him only to knock their opponent on their ass seconds before the third round ends. You want to go back to our deal, you give them a show tonight.”

“You want him to fight three guys back to back?” Tali frowned beside me.

“Who the fuck are you?”

I sensed Tali’s reaction brewing and shut it down before he moved. I held my arm out to stop him. “How much?”

“Five grand.”

“Ten or I walk.”

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