Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“And her opponent, owner and founder of Smiley’s Gym in her first ever cage match, right here at Heathens Hollow, Ari Dexter!”
The crowd screamed and pressed in on me like a vice. They screamed her name over and over—they screamed some other bullshit I would normally lay some people out for daring to say out loud. But words failed me. This was the moment we were waiting for. The moment we’d trained for. The one we’d fought tooth and nail to bring to life.
Ari lifted her chin and drew a deep breath.
Then threw open the cage door and stepped into the ring.
Chapter 25
Ari
Pain seared up my side and spiked through my veins.
Misty’s punch landed straight on my left ribcage and sent me jolting back.
I dodged the next punch and kicked my foot out.
The top of my foot collided with her elbow and made her falter.
I shook out my head as I studied her. Misty was clearly going for the kill. Ever since our match started, she had come straight for me and barely given me a break—the offensive strategy. Something Frankie told me pointedly to avoid. It would only tire me out and make me vulnerable later. For now I needed to focus on defense and find the perfect opening to gain the upper hand.
But I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out.
Misty wiped sweat from her brow with the tape on her wrist and smirked. I managed to catch a few hits to her face, and blue and purple bloomed on her chin and left cheek. I even roundhouse kicked her thighs and chest; the “PERK’S GYM” sports bra she wore smeared with her blood from a cut from one of my toenails.
But I was much worse for wear. My legs and arms ached from her heavy punches. After the third, I realized her taped knuckles held a more painful secret: rings. And tons of them. They added an extra layer of stinging each time they connected. At least my face was still okay. After losing to Joanne, Frankie had drilled me on keeping my arms up to protect my face and head.
No more blows. No more KOs.
I was doing much better than my previous fight at least.
But better wasn’t enough.
I kept looking for a way to make her pay, but all I was doing was wearing myself out. If I grew too fatigued now, Misty would pummel me, and I’d let everyone down. Bones. Lotto. Frankie. I had to do this for them. For Smiley’s. For Dad. I could sleep the next two years away, as long as I made it out of this ring with the win.
I danced around one of her punches and elbowed down into her forearm. Misty cried out in pain but dodged my next hit. She rolled around and grabbed onto my bun, trying to force my head down to the mat. I grabbed her wrist and twisted as hard as I could, spinning out of the hold and grabbing onto the strap of her bra. I tugged her closer and without thinking, sent my head straight into hers.
My forehead rang with pain but at least I was free. Misty stumbled back, the strap of her bra hanging off her left shoulder. The crowd pulsed harder than my temples; clearly they were enjoying the show. I wondered what Lotto, Bones, and Frankie looked like but didn’t have a chance to check. Misty pounced, and I barely had time to dodge her uppercut. I grabbed her arm and twisted, but she was ready for me. She circled us around, pushing my front into the cage. My head bounced off the chains and swam with pain.
MISTY! MISTY! MISTY!
I gritted my teeth. Fuck the crowd. I wasn’t going to let them forget who the winner would be.
I ducked and threw my entire body back against hers. We both went tumbling to the mat. Misty tried to grab me. I kicked and pushed her away, but she was too strong. Her body slumped on top of mine and she straddled my waist. Her hands went around my neck and squeezed until I couldn’t breathe. I dug my nails into her wrists and flopped my body to escape, but it was no use. She only gripped harder. My head swam with dizziness; her eyes flashed with murder.
She was literally trying to kill me.
My brain screamed for oxygen. I kicked for freedom to no avail. Out of reflex, I shot my hands out and pressed my thumbs into her eyeballs as hard as I could. She jerked away enough so I could draw several gulps of breath. With all of my strength, I punched the side of her head, and Misty rolled off of me.
My vision swam. Two Mistys climbed to their feet and stretched out their necks.