Page 16 of Chasing Sarah

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Paige is nearly plastered against my back as we walk toward the abandoned warehouse that houses the underground fights.

“Everything is going to be okay,” I reassure her as I reach out and pull her to my side.

“I know. It’s just…” Her sentence trails off as we step up to the entrance.

My senses are slammed with the scent of sweat and marijuana. The sounds of music, grunts, and shouting fill my ears.

My smile grows the further inside we walk. Aside from the missing scent of exhaust, this is exactly the setting I would find myself with my brothers.

Sadness and grief pulses through my chest, clouding the happiness I just felt, and I press my hand against the ache.

I was never allowed to go to places like this without at least one of them. Now… I have no choice. I shake away the emotions growing inside me and focus on the now.

Now, it’s me and Paige.

Since meeting her, an indescribable amount of protectiveness has taken control. I often feel anxious when unexpected thoughts of her getting hurt infect my mind.

She’s slowly becoming my family, and I’ll be damned if I lose that.

“There’s a spot over there.” I wrap my hand around Paige’s wrist and push through the crowd.

I glare at a few girls who are giving us dirty looks.

My brothers taught me a few things about fighting, and I never back down when it comes to defending myself or those I love, so if they keep it up… Let’s just say someone is getting throat punched.

It’s standing room only, so we stand as close to the ring in the center of the room as possible without being up against the bars.

I loop my arm through Paige’s and pull her close. “This is going to be so awesome!” I beam.

“You’re lucky I love you.” She side-eyes me.

I plant a kiss on her cheek before turning to face the ring.

Two fights, and a lost voice later, Paige and I are walking out of the warehouse.

“Did you see that guy’s tooth fly out of his mouth?” I can’t contain the adrenaline that courses through me. I’m feeling such a high just from watching the gruesomeness of this fight that I feel like I can run for days.

Paige scrunches her face is disgust. “It was bizarre to see people scramble for it.”

Yea that part was a tad overboard.

“Aside from that, it was fun, right?”

Paige’s head tips from side to side. “I mean… it wasn’tbad.”

She laughs loudly when she sees the bored expression on my face. “Okay, I had fun.”

“See what happens when you leave the confines of the apartment?” I ask, nudging her shoulder with mine.

“Don’t get used to this.” She says with a smirk.

I return her smirk. “I’m hungry,” I say, changing the subject.

“Of course,” she teases.

A flash of Xander saying the exact same thing sends a wave of grief through me. Taking a deep breath, I plaster a smile on my face and loop my arm with Paige’s.

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