Love Tap (31 page)

He steps back, and another man that is much larger grabs my hands. He feels along my knuckles before turning them and inspecting my palms. He feels behind my ears and neck before giving a curt nod and turning away.

Debs breaks protocol, grabbing me by the arm. “Remember what Camden taught you, and don’t make me regret this!” She shoves me toward the octagon roughly. Full of aggression, I shove her back and the crowd erupts with excitement.

“Fuck you,” I slur around my mouth guard.

She steps forward her face pinched together in anger like she actually wants to hit me. I jut my chin, wanting her to do something and one of the bodyguards steps in between us, separating us.

I climb into the ring, and circle the cage, getting a feel for it. The floor is soft, cool beneath the pads of my feet despite the hot lights boring down on me.

The crowd boos more than cheers, and anxiety tries to poison my outlook.

“You got this,” I whisper to myself. This is it. If I screw this up, I’ll fall to the bottom and have to climb out harder than anyone else.

“Here she comes ladies and gentlemen. The one everyone has been waiting for, Kiki! Queen! Kong!!!” The speakers blare her name, and the crowd erupts into a wave of cheers. I step to my side of the ring, jumping on my feet to keep my muscles warm.

Keep your hands up. Jab her in the chin, and right hook her.
I tell myself, trying to remember everything Camden told me about Kiki, her weaknesses. She can deliver a strong hit, but she can’t take them.

She climbs into the ring, her hair in cornrows. The referee steps forward, calling us to tap gloves.

Raising my glove Kiki punches it unnecessarily hard. My eyes widen, my jaw opening with the amount of disrespect she has displayed publicly.

“Lets get it on!” the referee declares.

Instantly Kiki circles me like a lion. Keeping light on my toes I start walking, trying to keep ahead of her. She strikes, and instinctively I duck, and jab her in the stomach.

She twists, and jumps to the side, my hit doing nothing as far as damage.

My head whips back, a blow to the side of head coming out of nowhere. My brow stings, and my heart pounds against my chest as pain begins to blossom across my face. She grabs ahold of me, and slams me against the cage. She kicks at my legs, trying to take me to the ground. I lock my knees, and try to stay on my feet as much as I can. Using one of her hands that is wrapped around me tightly, she jabs it into my ribs.

Fuck that hurts!

Closing my eyes I turn my head, trying to breathe through the pain. Slowly I open them, and see Camden gripping the cage so hard his knuckles are white. He looks like a madman, as if he’s about to climb in this cage and kill Kiki himself.

I can do this.

Sucking in a quick breath I shove Kiki off me with every muscle I have. She throws a left kick, and I jump sideways, her foot nearly colliding with my face.

Side stepping her kick, I grapple her to the floor. She fights for side control, but I don’t give up. I keep my legs closed together so she can’t get in between them, and I keep my head tucked next to her neck.

Ding ding ding.

The bell goes off, declaring round one over.

Getting off of Kiki, she shoves me hard. Biting my mouth guard I shove her back, and the crowd goes crazy at the hostility.

The referee ushers me to my corner where a stool and my team await.

I sit on the hard wooden stool, and Debs runs a rag over my face, Camden giving me water.

“You’re doing great. Just keep your hands up to block her blows. Watch for her to drop her hands, and when she does, knock her fucking lights out!”

The referee declares our time’s up, and Camden helps me up. The break not near long enough, my throat still dry I long for more water.

Centering the ring, Kiki looks refreshed and ready to pound me into the floor.

The bell rings, I inhale a long breath through my nose to prepare myself.

Kiki instantly starts circling me, and I follow. I jab at her, hitting her in the nose perfectly. Her brows furrow as her face grows two shades of purple.

Her legs whips out from under her, and kicks me in the side of the head. My ears ring, and my head throbs. I notice her hands are at her side, not blocking her face, pushing my discomfort aside, I go in. Getting up close her eyes widen as she realizes her mistake in not keeping her hands up. I lay a one two combo into her face, one punch after another. Her head whips back from the force, and she stumbles backwards.

This is my opening!

Quickly I lay a right hook into the side of her face and she falls to her hands and knees.

Get her. It’s now or never!

I drop to the floor, straddling her body. My heart racing with so much adrenaline I feel high. I slam my fists and elbows into her face, not letting up. My fists flying, and popping her anywhere I see skin.

She stops resisting but I don’t quit laying into her. I can’t, not until the referee calls it.

Blood stains my fingers as I continue to strike. Pain driving me towards victory. The crowd screams, and the referee grabs me by the shoulders, pulling me off her.

Kiki rolls back and forth covering her face, and her coach and a medic enter the ring and assess her injuries.

Camden races into the ring and picks me up over his shoulder, and slaps my ass!

“You fucking did it!!”

Setting me down on both feet, I watch as Kiki’s team help her up. She’s looks a mess. Her face is purple and bloody, and the white of her eyes have popped blood vessels everywhere.

We’re both ushered to the middle of the ring and the referee grabs my arm and raises it.

“Winner by knock out, Tatum ‘HellCat’ Davis!” The crowd screams in excitement, their earlier boos a lost whisper.

Camden grabs my face with both hands and kisses me hard in front of everyone. I didn’t think the audience could get any louder, but they do. Cameras flash from all over and in that moment I can say that I am the happiest, luckiest woman in the world.

Releasing my lips from his, I open my eyes, and the world sets back into place.

A tap on my shoulder catches my attention and I turn finding a bloody faced Kiki.

“Good fight Kiki.”

Her brows narrow, her lips pursed.

“You got lucky! I want a rematch, and when I do I’ll wipe the octagon with you,” she threatens.

“Anytime.” I smile, saluting her out of the ring.

My vision goes upside down, as Camden throws me over his shoulder and hauls me off the stage. The crowd cheers my name. My name!

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I tried to.

Once behind stage there’s cameras and random people standing by my locker room. Camden sets me down, gripping my hand tightly.

“Shit,” he mumbles. “Stay close.” He weaves us through the crowd, people yelling for me to sign this, or asking me questions on how I became an overnight success.

Once inside the locker room Camden turns and locks the doors. He swipes his hands through his hair, and eyes me wildly.

“You did it. You fucking did it.” He smiles big. “I’ll admit you had me worried for a minute there.” He steps forward and cups my face, focusing on my eyebrow. “We should get that cleaned up and bandaged.”

A knock sounds at the door, and Camden strides toward it, opening it a crack before widening.

“I knew you had it in you,” Debs smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I can’t help but roll my eyes as she starts to unwrap my hands.

“I’m going to go get the car and make sure it’s clear. Don’t let anyone in here Debs,” Camden informs, pointing sternly at her.

She doesn’t respond as she continues to take the wrap off my hands.

Silence fills the locker room, and I wonder if I should address what happened before the fight. A light rhythmic knock sounds at the door, and Debs nearly breaks her neck trying to get up.

“Camden said not to let anyone in,” I remind her.

“You will want to talk to this person Tate.” She looks over her shoulder, an unreadable look on her face as she opens the door.

The hall is miraculously cleared, and a tall clean cut woman steps in. She’s wearing a black dress with killer heels, her hair as perfect as her face.

“Who are you?” I scrunch my face in question.

She smiles a bleached grin, and perfectly manicured brow arching. “I’m Silvia Machen, the CEO of MFC, and I have a proposition for you Tate.”

My gaze flicks to Debs, and she nods approvingly.

“Um, okay,” I mutter unsure.

“I’m in charge of potential fighters in the MFC, bringing them the best of the fighters around the world,” Silvia informs, pacing in front of the door. My heart skips a beat, thinking she wants me to fight for the MFC.

“You are familiar with the MFC right?”

“Of course, I watch most of their fights since I was a kid.”

She stops, a villainous smile crossing her face.

“What if I told you, that those fights you watch on your television isn’t where the excitement breeds from, that it’s not the most profitable fight there is?”

“I’d say I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I chuckle. The conversation feeling out of sorts.

“I’m saying I have an underground octagon—”

“Underground?” I interrupt.

“It is black-market if you have to put a label on it. High profile celebrities and politicians seek entertainment and are often judged for it, but my underground gives them that forbidden desire without the public eye criticizing them, and in return for disclosure they pay a hefty price. This bringing my fighters a bigger payout than the MFC you see on TV can offer.” Her calculated voice echoes through the room as she stops in front of me, her hands clasped in front of her. Money, the root of all evil, everyone needs it. I could use it to get my dad out of debt, for myself as I set forth my fighting career.

“I’d say I’m listening,” I state, the words leaving my mouth cause goosebumps to race along my arms.

She cups my shoulders, and I look her in the eye.

“I want you to fight in my underground ring. If you accept I will pay you fifty thousand for just participating, and another million if you win.” I open my mouth to call bullshit but she continues speaking, halting the sentence sitting on my lips. “If you win, I will set up a contract for you to fight for the MFC. You will become a professional fighter Tate, just like you’ve always wanted.” She smiles, standing up straight. This seems too good to be true. Money, fame, to be at the top so quickly just for a black market fight.

“What is the catch?” I raise a brow and she laughs.

“She’s a smart girl.” Silvia glances at Debs, who is eating every word Silvia is spewing. “There is some fine print.”

“Such as?”

“Such as, you won’t know who your opponent is, and the rules of the cage are different from the ones ran by the sports committee in the MFC. There are no rounds, no times outs, and you’ll go until someone is knocked out or taps out.”

I nod, letting the info set in.

“We can dwell on semantics after you accept. However, there is one thing I need to make very clear.”

“What is that?”

“Nobody can know about The Underground, or this offer. Do. You. Under. Stand?” Her words are sharp, grabbing my attention from trying to process everything to focus on her. “The high profiles that attend these underground fights will not take lightly that of someone trying to take their secured entertainment away.”

I swallow, feeling that threat to my toes.

Silvia gives me a tight lipped smile and turns on her heel.

“Debs, you have twenty-four hours to give me a yes or no on the deal. I hope you make the right decision, Tate.” Silvia leaves as smoothly as she came.

“Take it, don’t overthink it. This is your shot at the big time, one stupid little fight and you have everything you ever wanted,” Debs’ voice cracks as she begs.

“Yes, but I can’t tell Camden about it, I’d have to lie to him. I don’t think I can do that,” I explain.

She huffs. “He’s going to need you to support him if he doesn’t get his shit together and get back in the ring, Tate. Take the fucking deal, or find another coach.” She crosses her arms, leaning against the lockers.

Biting my inner lip I want to tell her to go to hell. That Camden has taught me more than her, but she did get me this fight, how did she get me this fight?

“Debs, how did you get me this fight, with Kiki?”

She stops, her hand on the door handle.

“I promised a few friends my cut if you were accepted into The Underground. Being your coach, when you are accepted into The Underground I’m granted a payout as well.”

I scoff. I knew she was money hungry but I didn’t realize how deep her issues really lay.

“You have gotten this far Tate, granted I’m shocked, but are you really just going to give up?”

Camden

Walking back inside I find the hall outside Tate’s locker room oddly empty, a tension in the air unsettling. Quickly I make my way inside and find Tate getting dressed, and Debs leaning up against a locker casually. A chill races up my spine as Tate hits me with an unreadable look.