Page 8 of War Hope
5
Hope
The basementof the pub is full of filthy men. The ring is nothing more than a roped off square of concrete, and the entireplace reeksof beer andbodyodour with an undertone of piss.Dirty old men roarand heckleat the twosweatcoveredmeninthe ring. I spot Larry,Haven's dad,off to the side of the ring.He'sshouting atFinn who is now his prized fighter—it used to be Brandon.That boy was chased by demons,but damn did theymake him fight well.Me and Haven are at the back of the room,standing on some rickety chairs, watching as Finn and his opponent circle each other.
Haven whistles. “Get him, Finn,” she shouts.
One of themen in front of us turns around and drags his eyes over me then her, a sick smile creeping over his face. I'm tempted tokick himinthe nuts for staring ather because,Jesus,whatis she? Eighteen?I glance at her. Streaks of purple dye are scattered throughout her blonde hair. She’s wearing an old Nirvana t-shirt that’s so thin you can see her bra through.
Finn throwsa punch and nails the other guy in the cheek. Each of Finn’s movements are calculated and calm. His muscles bunch and flex under the lights. Dark and quiet, it’s hard not to find Finn sexy. Ever since I moved here, he’s been my favourite of the guys to watch fight. They’re all attractive in their own way, but something about Finn has always left me a little hot under the collar. Maybe it’s his dark hair that’s just a little too long and messy,or his brown eyesthatnevermissatrick.
The other guythrows a punch and misses which garnishes a smile from Finn just before he slams his fist over the guy’s face. He's always been the one I thought fought just to fight, but right now I see something else in him. I see that rage that used to overtake Brandon when he fought and something tells me there's a storm brewing.
Haven screams Finn's name and I turn to smile at her for a second, and in that second, it’s all over. Finn knocks the guy out and the crowd roars. This is when it gets hairy, when the room becomes divided between those who have lost and those who have won. Men like to gloat and that's when tempers run high, but I love it. I love all the testosterone, the element of danger, the thrill of the fight. You can practically smell the bloodlust inthe air.A pair of hands grab at my hips. I'm about to knee someone in the face when I glance down to seeKyan. He's a dog andhasalsobecomeone of my best friends. He lifts me from thechair, placing me onmy feet before he grabs Haven.A couple of the nearby spectatorspatKyanon the shoulder and he smiles at them before turning back to me.
"What's up,ginge?" he asks, grinning. His blond hair is piled in a messy bun and he's wearing a sleeveless shirt that shows off his defined arms. His eyes twinkle as they sweep over my body and I smile, running my finger down his arm teasingly. He steps closer, pressing his chest against mine. I glance over his shoulder and see Haven walking away towards the stairs.
"Wantto get out of here?"he murmurs against my ear.This is what we do, flirt and tease, butnothingever happens. Poppy is convinced I've fucked him, but I like my men with a little more challenge.
"I'm busy, hot stuff."
He pulls back and sighs. "Quickyin the toilets?"
"Gross,Kyan.” I wrinkle my nose. “You have seen the toilets here?"
"Plenty of times."
Iroll my eyes. "You are sovile."
The cheersof the crowd grow louder as Finn shoulder his way through to me and Kyan. He wedges his way between us, turning his sweaty back to me.A massive tattoo of some kind of angel-demon creature spans his back. I study it, the thing looks utterly tormented. It’s on its knees with its head thrown back to face the skies. It's twisted and scary, but oddly beautiful.
"When's your fight?" Finn asksKyan.
Kyansmirks, glancing around Finn’s shoulder to cock a brow at me. "Is he ignoring you? Or is this a macho move?"
Ishrug. "I'd go with ignoring."
He nodsand winks before straightening again and facing Finn. "Sheisginger. And I'mnot fighting this week. Somedickheadfrom over the pondtook my spot." Heducksaround Finn again and points at me.
"Fucking Irish."
"Aw, don'tbe sore because thepikeykickedyour arse."
"Better luck next time," Finn says,slappingKyanontheshoulderbefore he turnsto walk away.
Sighing, I follow up the stairs and right out the front after him because, yet again, he looks like shit and he doesn't know when to ask for fucking help. He’s pulled his vape pen from his pocket and is steadily puffing on it, a thick cloud of smoke surrounding him. Thesweetscent of cherry hits me and I inhale deeply. It always reminds me of Finn.
The streetlight hits his face just right and I can see that his jaw is swelling. I'm not goingtolie;I find a fighteras hot asthe next girl—all thatmanliness, the sweat and theblood.There's goodmoney init,butit's notexactlya healthy wayto make aliving,notlike thisanyway. I'mpretty sureFinn is goodenough totrainprofessionally and I have to wonder why he doesn’t. Places likethisarewhere mencome tohide, to earnfast cashand laylow.Finndoesn't needto laylowor hide though…does he?
"Why doyou fight here,Finn?"I grab thevape pen from him. He frowns, but lets me have it. I notice his eyes fixing on my lipsasIinhalethe sweet smoke.
"It'sgoodmoney," he says.
Itiltmy head and prop a hand on my hip. "We both know that's not why you're here. Man of your skills could be doing a damn site more with his life than scrapping in this shit hole. Brandon came hereto hide." I shrugoneshoulder."But we'reallhiding fromsomething,sowhat are you hiding from?"
"I'm not hidingfrom anything."Hesnatchesthe vape from me and takesa drag. I snatch it right back.
"Always sosurly,Finnley," I smirk. He ignores me and starts walking away. "Don't you want your pen?" I ask, holding up the vape pen. He glances over his shoulder.
