Wild Bastard by Ella Savitskaya (book suggestions .txt) 📕

Matthew

"We need to talk, Cash!"

Larry fires up his lighter and lights a menthol cigarette.

"М?"

I look at him sideways. The fact that the prick decided to have a pre-fight chat hints at another demand for a throwing a fight. The dude doesn't get that I, unlike other fighters, can't be bought with any dough. The rest is easier to bend, especially those whose financial situation is lame. I don't have that need. But even if I did, my name's worth more.

"Cash, I've got a good deal for you!"

Larry ingratiatingly looks into my eyes, even getting up and sitting in the chair next to me.

"May be for you?"

"For sure. But there are some advantages for you, too."

"Well, let me hear it, if you want to waste your time talking"

I lean my elbows on my knees and, taking a drag on my cigarette, blow the smoke in his direction.

He squints, not waving the cloud away. Endures my antics.

"I want to offer you to make today's fight the last in our deal. All future ones you'll fight for yourself and put the earnings in your own pocket."

"Sounds like tempting, doesn't it? But..."

"No buts. You finish the fight today and you're free. Only I need you to lose. Just once."

I snort and laugh, letting a puff of smoke out of my mouth. No buts, right.

"Listen to me" Larry says demandingly "I have an important guest tonight, and he's betting a substantial amount of money. He has brought his own fighter. A very good fighter."

"If he's so good, he might take me down with his own strength"

I bow my head to the side, examining the plaid shirt of the venal hide.

"Perhaps. I don't rule out that possibility. But I'd like to be sure of the outcome of the fight. You know how much connections mean to all of us. I need a connection with someone that powerful. And if I can get his good graces, I'll be so happy to let you go free. How long do you have to fight for me? Two months? Not being able to take your chick to the islands this summer. Your strength will run out sooner or later. And you'll start losing and screwing up your own name."

What a bastard. Knows the pressure points to get his way. It wouldn't cost me anything to throw and get out today. It's easy enough to bend over and never see his ugly face again. Only knowing myself, I'll eat myself later if I show weakness.

Marina

"Let me be responsible for my own strength" Matthew replies sharply.

I was just looking for him to wish him good luck before the fight, when I heard voices from the organizer's office. Fortunately, there are no lights on, and no one knows of my presence. I don't think Matthew would want me to be a witness to that.

"Cash, it's not a request" Larry's voice suddenly takes on a steely undertone, removing all the gooey syrup he was trying to butter up the conversation with. "It's a recommendation"

"Stick your recommendations up your ass, Larry!" The sound of a chair sliding across the floor forces me to retreat further into the darkness. "I'd rather borrow money from my father and pay you back than bend to you and your fucking acquaintances."

The office door jerkly opens, and Matthew walks past me with a heavy stride, wearing gym shorts and a T-shirt. He doesn't notice me and hides in the locker room. I am about to follow him when someone else's voice suddenly catches my attention.

"What are we going to do?"

Where did the other man come from? I thought it was just the two of them talking.

"I'm sick of him! - Larry barks. His voice sends shivers down my spine. "So, Bogdan. I thought we could do without it, but if the sucker won't cooperate, we'll act differently. Take it, when you need it, you'll use it, and the victory will be yours."

"The brass knuckles?"

The hairs on the back of my neck begin to stand on end, and I rock forward to make sure I didn't mishear.

The metal of the knuckles gleams in the guy's hand, creating a wave of clammy fear inside.

"Yeah. If you feel like you're losing ground, just use it"

"What about the rules? You want me to go to jail?"

"I don't give a shit about the rules. I'm sick of that asshole sitting right here with his principles. If you hurt him, I don't mind. I got a good roof to cover you and my ass later"

Anger mixed with wild worry for Matthew washes over me in a wave. The desire to dig my nails into Larry's face becomes unbearable. What a creature! For his own gain, he is ready to put a human life on the line!

I need to warn Matthew right away. Tell him not to go out there, or at least wait for a catch. My heart is pounding so hard that it drowns out the sounds of what's going on around me.

I take a step forward, but immediately bump into an ambo whose approach I hadn't noticed, having fallen completely into eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Who do we got here?"

A husky voice reaches Larry and his companion. The two heads turn sharply in my direction, and the man's strong arms wrap around me and push me into the office.

"Baaah, that's Cash's chick"

Larry grins predatorily, making me want to powder him.

"If you even try to use the brass knuckles, I'll destroy you" I warn the guy with the smiley face, who immediately spreads an unpleasant grin on his face, ignoring the organizer.

"She's got sharp teeth. I like you!" Walking up to me, the dark-haired bastard runs a stringy stare over my body. "I'll take care of your boyfriend first, and then I'll take care of you"

A cheeky paw rests on my buttocks and squeezes. A wave of rage hits my head and I slap the jerk in the face. Then I stagger back, catching the black spots in front of my eyes as his palm slams into my face with a clang.

The pain burns and brings tears to the corners of my eyes.

The bastard's dark eyes glow with animal strength. There is absolutely nothing human about him. There are no rules for such a man. If it costs him nothing to hit me, then he's just as likely to ignore human principles and use a brass knuckle in a fight.