Page 20 of Property of Mercy
Unable to hide my sneer from the man, I lean in close, speaking slowly.“Sounds like your boss is a dumbass if he let my brother into the ring unchecked.Now, I’ve got to go and cleanup his mess.”
“You’re all just a bunch of fucking assholes with no morals,” he snaps back as I make my way through the door and into the belly of the beast.
The crowd is loud and thick.The scent of adrenaline, lust, and alcohol hangs heavy in the air.Fighting my way through the crowd is like fighting the undertow of the ocean.As I get closer to the makeshift ring, the excitement and frenzy of the fight grows to a crescendo.Finally laying eyes on Blender, I flinch at the sound of snapping bone when his fist connects with the man’s face.Blood sprays the front row of spectators who cheer even louder.I would be less concerned if Blender gave acknowledgment to them, yet the fact he is completely focused on the man in front of him tells me I might just have to put him down to get him out of here.
Making it to the ring, I yank the door open and step in just as the badly beaten man falls to the nasty, cracked concrete floor.I catch the attention of the very pissed off monster still standing.Holding my hands out wide from my body, I watch him closely.Knowing and expecting the strike from the cornered and pissed off serpent in front of me.
“Blender, you centered?”I question, watching every twitch and movement of his muscles.
He throws his head back, letting loose a laugh so chilling that the crowd goes silent.Blender throws his arms out wide, spinning around before looking me in the face, quirking an eyebrow.
“You steeped in the ring.Does this mean you’re finally fucking ready?”he goads.
Cracking my neck from side-to-side to loosen up the tight muscles, I shrug off my cut and hang it on the side of the ring.Before I turn around, I pull my phone from my pocket, texting the group chat for the club.
Me:Might want to get down to the warehouse.Just stepped into the ring with Blender.
Blitz:Fuck me … Have you two finally fucking lost it?
Remedy:I’m too fucking drunk for this.
Raider:sending prospects and a cage.They’ll let us know who lives.
Smirking, I shake my head as messages continue coming in from other brothers.Some even take bets on who will win.I turn back to Blender and pull my shirt over my head, dropping it on the concrete at my feet.
“Let’s get this shit fucking done, brother.”I bring my hands up in front of my face.
“I’ve been fucking waiting for this day.You won't win this one.”Blender tilts his head to the side, balling his hands up at his side.
Relaxing into my fighting stance, I let go of the monster inside of me, getting ready to fight the only other person on this planet that I give a damn about.This fight will be a careful balance of staying alive while at the same time I bring the insane to heal.
“Let’s see if you have it in you to teach me fucking something!”I barely get out as Blender launches his assault on me.
We clash like two lions fighting for the title of king.
12
AINSLEY
Icome awake on a gasp.Looking around the room, I try to find what woke me from the most perfect dream.The door to the bedroom has been banged open and standing in the doorway, shadowed by the light of the hallway, is a monster.Holding my breath, I watch as the figure stumbles into the room, nearly falling onto his face before making it to the bed.When he falls onto the edge of the bed and Mercy's scent mixed with the smell of iron, sweat, booze, and smoke hits me, I let go of the breath I had been holding.
Mercy looks over his shoulder at me, hissing as if in pain when he does.“Shit, Little Lamb.I didn’t mean to wake you.Go back to sleep.I’m just going to sit here until I can fucking catch my breath.”
Concern that I will not focus on right now blooms in my chest.“What happened?Were you in an accident?”
Mercy’s humorless laugh shocks me.“I mean, my momma always said that he was an accident.Making your statement mostly correct.”
Moving slowly due to my bruised body not wanting to work right, I slide past the giant of a man to flip on the side table lamp.Mercy hisses like a vampire when the light hits his eyes.
“Fuck me, a warning would’ve been nice.My head already feels like ass,” Mercy sneers at me.
Once again, that fucking filter that keeps me from getting myself in more shit fails me when talking with this asshole.“I mean, when you act like an ass all the time, it’s only fair that your head would feel that way.”
His eyes narrowed to slits as he looked over at me.When I take in his face, I gasp at the damage I see.Holy … damn, someone has beaten the shit out of this man.My gaze tracks down his body, taking in the arm wrapped across his chest as if trying to hold himself together.Without thought for my own injuries, I go to stand moving quickly and Mercy reacts on instinct.His hand snaps out, grabbing me to halt my movements.
“What the fuck are doing?”he growls, pulling me close.
“I was going to go get something to clean your face up with,” I snap, anger rising in my chest as his eyes skate down my body, lighting an entirely different fire.
