Page 34 of The Pact

HUNTER

Roman spits blood at my feet, and I jump back.

“Hey, what the hell?” My shoes are white Air Force sneakers. “If I wanted red shoes, I would have bought red ones.”

But he isn’t looking at me. He’s looking at his opponent in the ring. I fucking hate this place. But Roman actually asked if I would come down tonight, and I couldn’t say no. He needs me, and I’ll always be there for him when he calls. Just like he is always there for me when I need him.

“We have a game tomorrow. Do you really think this is the best idea?”

I know no matter what I say, he won’t listen. Once he gets an idea in his head, he goes through with it.

His glassy eyes tell me that, for him, this is the best idea. His dad was drunk earlier, and Roman called me for help. He’s spiraled again.

I need him to snap out of it, and Jace isn’t here to help me. I have no idea where the fuck he is, but I need him now. Because I have never been able to break Roman out when he gets like this.

“Come on, man, let’s go. We can still get some food at Annie’s.”

He looks right through me, and I know nothing I say will change his mind. Not until he’s knocked out. He never just walks away. He will fight until there is nothing left to give.

I grab my phone and call Jace again. Roman moves again and swings at the huge fully-grown man he’s been fighting the past ten minutes. I’m surprised they are still fighting, to be honest. Roman is messed up from last night still, and I won’t be surprised if he has more broken ribs after this.

When Jace doesn’t pick up, I scroll to Mila’s name. Is this still her number? If I call her, will she come? Would she even be able to help Roman? He hasn’t spoken about her at all since that first Saturday we saw her. He still hasn’t spoken to her in chemistry, not even about the projects we’re now starting. I would swap with him, if I could. I would partner with Mila.

I wanted to talk to her last Friday. I know what she said was right. She isn’t here to hurt us or break us up. She could, very easily, with the truth, and she won’t. What she said was perfect—we were her first kiss. Each of us. I don’t care how it happened. She was my first kiss, regardless, and all week I’ve wanted to get her alone so I could talk to her. But between practice and school, Mom’s drinking getting worse, and Dad working late, I haven’t found the time.

My thumb hovers over her name. Will she even pick up if she sees it’s me? I rake my hand down my face. I look over to see Roman on the floor and the ref counting. Fuck. He’s out cold. I shove my phone in my pocket and jump in to get him.

Arthur is there beside me as we drag him out of the ring. Roman’s eyes flutter open, and he grunts something as he tries to get up.

I push him down. “No more, you’re done. How many fingers am I holding?” I put two fingers in his face, and he swats them away.

“Boy, no more. Okay? You have a football game tomorrow, and you’re gonna be hurting pretty bad after Tommy knocked your lights out,” Arthur growls at him.

Roman settles back, and I sigh in relief. I’m not cut out for this hellhole. I hate it here; I hate what he does. But if I don’t accept his fighting, he’ll try to hide it. Hell, he already hides more things from me and Jace than we realize.

I saw the leather prospect cut at his trailer earlier. He’s prospecting for The Sons of Death MC. I didn’t tell him I saw it. I need to talk to Jace about it. I’m scared for Roman more than ever.

Is it Mila that tipped him over the edge, or has he already been pursuing this behind our backs? He has a motorcycle. He’s had it for a while now. But I never thought he would join a club.

My phone goes off, and I see it’s Jace. I answer with a sigh of relief. “I need you, now.”

“This is it, boys. Let’s start this season off by showing those Kings who’s best.” Coach Perkins holds his clipboard as he looks over us. The locker room is abuzz. We’ve been waiting for this day.

“Lakeview has been working hard, but we've been working harder. How you feeling, Roman?” Coach looks him over, and Roman just nods as he taps the side of his helmet.

He looks like shit, but Coach would never tell him that. He's here, like me, for the love of the game.

I don’t feel much better than Roman looks. I hardly slept. I was worried he’d broken a rib and it had pieced his lung or something, not to mention he’d snored loudly when I brought him back to my place.

Coach rambles on about defense, and Grady pounds his chest. “Hell, yeah,” he cheers.

The whole locker room grows loud with the rest of the team cheering Grady on. The team loves him—he’s the glue that keeps us all together. Our captain. He is going all the way. There are college recruiters out there tonight just for him, and he received offers last year. But he’s holding out for the right one. He won’t tell us which one that is. I hope he gets the college of his dreams. He’s a four-star recruit, so I would say the odds are high he will.

“Rebels, bring it in,” Grady calls out. We bring it in, our hands all reaching toward the middle as Grady calls out, “Work hard, play hard, and victory is ours.”

“Victory is ours,” the room erupts.

“Rebels on three. One! Two! Three!” Jace calls out.

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