Page 37 of Clinch'd

The crowd outside roars and Jordan comes through saying, “It’s time.”

They all sail out the door and I wonder what I’m supposed to do when Cooper comes striding back in and grabs me up before kissing me wildly. Breathless I stumble when he releases me and barks at Jordan, “Take her to her seat.”

Jordan nods and he’s out the door with a new gleam in his eyes that I can’t help but wonder if I put there. Pleased by the notion I smile which fades to a frown when Jordan steps up beside me.

“Hm, maybe I underestimated you.”

Ignoring his ugly face, I step toward the door, but he grabs my arm and my stomach lurches. Thankfully, he drops it when the dude who was hyping Cooper up just moments ago pokes his head through the door and says, “C’mon, let’s go.”

Relieved for the reprieve, I stumble forward in my haste and follow the guy down the hall without looking back. I have no idea what to do about Jordan, but I need to steer clear of being alone with the fucker. It’s either that or gut him like a fucking fish but I doubt Suit would appreciate my efforts. Still, I wish I had brought my pocketknife on this trip.

Fuck me but nothing is simple.

I’m led to the front of the cage and placed within touching distance of it as the announcer begins his spiel.

Cooper glances around, his game face on but my heart catches when his brows drop and then flatten, as he spies me in the crowd.

When he doesn’t linger, I’m left wondering what he’s thinking. If he doesn’t want me here, why did he invite me?

After that, Cooper enters the ring, and I place my shaky hand over my stomach, where butterflies are whooshing around.

His opponent, this time is a smaller, slimmer guy with a feral smile and wild eyes. Uneasily, I watch as he enters to a surge of cheers.

Bewildered, I glance around, because I’m used to the cacophony of sound Cooper brings but the crowd definitely likes this newcomer.

“Billy Wyld!”

His name definitely matches his style and it’s with a shiver of unease that I glance between Cooper with his bored stare and Billy who looks like a ravenous fucking hyena.

And I’m proven right when they pair off and immediately Billy starts in. He has no inhibitions. He doesn’t care about pain and takes each hit Cooper dishes out with a grin. It’s disturbing to watch his face split with blood as he smiles.

Cooper has the advantage until he doesn’t, and I gasp because he drops his arm to the side and Billy’s on him. With a vicious intensity, he pummels Cooper who staggers back and shudders under the barrage.

I’m covering my whimpers with my hand while Cooper wobbles under the blows. It’s physically painful to watch and with each hit, I flinch. I don’t know how people do this. I can’t fucking bear it.

The roar of the crowd blares around me but it’s a dull sound through the ringing in my ears, and I stumble a little when the guy next to me bellows, “Kill him! Yeah!”

With a dirty look, I turn away and clench my jaw, but I can’t help myself when he follows with, “Fuck his shit up!”

“Hey, douche, shut it,” I toss over my shoulder, my hands curled into fists.

Cooper’s backed away, and he’s covering his face which doesn’t look good to say the least.

“What did you say to me?”

“I said shut the fuck up!” I scream, swinging toward him.

He steps back before his eyes narrow, and a pulse of alarm skitters down my spine. Shit.

“Bitch!” he grinds out leaning into my space with a menacing as fuck glare.

The crowd roars just as he raises his hand to what I don’t know because we both turn back to find Billy Wyld laid out on the mat and Cooper standing at the edge staring at me with bright eyes.

He curls his hands through the metal surrounding the cage, his lips twisted in a snarl, until the referee grabs his arm with a confused smile, raising it high.

The crowd erupts once more and the douche beside me sits in his seat, muttering, “Bitch.”

Ignoring him, I smile tremulously at Cooper who staggers back before turning away.

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