Page 1 of Revive Me

PART ONE

1

ROMAN

“And your winner, fighting out of the blue corner…Roman Ward!!”

The cheers are deafening. The lights are blinding. The adrenaline coursing through my body is overwhelming.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As the ref lifts my arm in victory, a huge grin breaks across my face.One step closer.

I feel someone clap me on the back, and when I turn, it’s one of the commentators ready to interview me. His eyes light up with excitement as he extends his hand for a shake.

“Roman, congratulations on an incredible victory,” he says, his words reverberating around the arena as he speaks into his microphone. “How does it feel to know you’re officially the number one contender in the light heavyweight division?”

My grin widens. “It feels fucking amazing, Joe. Even knowing it was inevitable, it feels amazing.”

He shakes his head, but he looks more dazed with admiration than anything else. “That confidence has carried you far,” he says. “Would you say that’s been the secret to your success? To being 12-0 in one of the most stacked divisions in the world?”

I sober and lean into the microphone to give him a serious answer. “It’s definitely contributed, but I’d hardly call it a secret. And it’s not the only contributor. Hard work, incredible teammates, and the smartest coaches in the game have been just as important.”

Joe nods his approval at that answer. Then he shifts so he can look toward the giant TV screens in our view. “Well, all of those things combined have created a very successful night for you, that’s for sure. Talk us through some of these moments during the fight.”

I look at the screen just as a slow-mo video of me starts to play. I watch myself evade my opponent’s punches, ducking into a double leg takedown that slams him to the ground. As I drop elbows onto his face, I say into the microphone, “Wrestling was a big part of my training camp for this one. I knew he was feeling good about his striking after his last few fights, so I brought in collegiate wrestlers to help me work that part of the game plan.”

Joe turns his stunned gaze toward me. “So you went into thisplanningto beat his wrestling, even though he’s one of the greatest collegiate wrestlers? Is that what you’re saying?”

I shrug. “I know what I’m capable of.”

As Joe watches another clip on the screen, this time of me defending my opponent’s takedown right before ragdolling him with a takedown of my own, he says dazedly, “Yeah, I’d say you certainly do.”

I feel a smug sense of pride as a third clip plays, this one from the last round of the fight. My opponent was running on fumes, exhausted and dejected by his repeated attempts to beat me with his striking, and then with his wrestling. But I was just getting warmed up, teeing off on him, never giving him a moment to rest, or even to guess what was coming. Beating him with athleticism and force of will.

“So…title fight next?” Joe finally asks with a grin.

“Damn right,” I affirm with a nod. Grabbing the microphone, I look square into the camera as I say, “You hear that, Baker? Keep that belt real warm for me, because I’m coming to take it from you. I’ll see you in London, baby.”

The arena explodes with cheers as I walk off with those parting words. I embrace my team and wave to the crowd, then show off my sponsors in the cameras as I exit the cage. And the whole time, the high of adrenaline buzzes along my skin.I fucking love this shit.

“Fuckyes, that’s what I’m talking about!” one of my teammates exclaims as we file into the locker room. “That wasincredible!”

When the door closes behind us, I take a deep breath, the privacy and support of my team allowing me to fully relax for the first time all night. When I let it out, my reality seeps into my consciousness, and a slow smile spreads across my face.

I just won my fight.

I just broke a division record with my undefeated record.

I just became a title contender.

I just became a title contender.

I amthiscloseto winning that belt and achieving the thing I want most. The thing I’ve spent every waking second dedicated to for the past decade. I’m so close to victory, I can taste it.

“So how soon before Lorenzo calls, do you think?” another teammate asks, practically bouncing in his seat. “There’s no way they don’t offer you the fight soon. I mean, Baker can deny it all he wants, but he’s been training for you for months. And you’re uninjured, even though you just fought. They could schedule that fight next month and you’d be prepared.”

“Speaking of uninjured…” my striking coach says, jumping into the conversation with a concerned frown. He gestures at someone behind me. “Doctor needs to check you out. Let him take a look.”

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