His toned abs are on full display, and I hate that my eyes trail over them longer than I should. He steps into the center of the makeshift ring along with another man. They bump fists, and “Enemies” by Shinedown starts playing.
Law rushes him. He doesn’t hit or kick him. No, he gets low, picks the guy up by his knees, and throws the guy over his shoulder as if he doesn’t weigh over two-hundred pounds. The guy lands on his back and fucking bounces off the dirty concrete. The crowd roars as the guy rolls to his side, coughing.
Law doesn’t waste a second. He walks right up to him and drags the guy up by his hair into a sitting position. Bending down, he wraps a muscular arm around his neck from behind, pulls the guy up to his feet, and squeezes him in a chokehold.
The crowd shouts his name as he holds the guy in place. It feels like it only takes a few seconds for the guy to lose consciousness while the crowd cheers Law on.
Once the guy goes limp, Law lets go, and he drops to the ground once again. People are spraying their beers down onto Law, and he takes a step back. His muscles tighten as he breathes heavily.
Matthew calls Law the winner and lifts his right hand in the air. He drops it, and Law looks up. His eyes land right on mine.
Fuck!
He leans over and whispers something to Matthew, who nods his head and then steps away. Law looks back up at me, and then he walks off the makeshift ring. I lean over the railing to see what he’s doing, and he’s taking the stairs over in the far-right corner two at a time.
“Shit!” I push off the railing and shove my way through the crowd, heading back down the hallway to the front of the building. But just as I pass the chapel, I’m grabbed and yanked inside. “Law …”
He knocks the hat off my head, and it falls to my feet. “What in the fuck are you doing here?” he shouts in my face.
He’s pissed! That’s obvious, but I’m not sure if it’s at me or the fact that he’s fighting in Scout’s place.
“I thought …”
“You weren’t thinking at all!” He takes a step back and picks up my hat, shoving it into my chest. I grab it before it falls. “Take your ass home.” He turns and starts to leave the chapel.
I push away from the wall and straighten my shoulders. “I’m not leaving.”
He comes to a stop, and my eyes sweep over his back. He’s still shirtless and sweaty from his fight. His jeans hang low on his hips, showing off two dimples at the bottom of his slick back. I watch the muscles tighten before he slowly turns around to face me.
“I came here to help you. I’m not leaving until you walk out of here with me.” I sound like I’m very confident in those words, but my knees wobble at the way he’s glaring at me. He looks around the dark chapel for a second, cursing under his breath after patting down his pockets, realizing he doesn’t have his cell on him while he was fighting.
He comes forward, closing the small distance between us. “The only reason you’re staying is because I don’t have anyone else here to drag your ass out. Understood?”
I nod, hiding my smile by biting my bottom lip.
“Don’t fucking drink anything or talk to anyone. Keep your hat on and head down,” he adds. “I’ve got four more fights, and then we’re done.” With that, he turns and leaves me alone.
GRAYSON LAW
My eyes sweep over the crowd, and I see Henley over in the corner, watching. I want her down here by my side, but she’d stick out. People would see her, and at this point, I don’t want a fucking soul to know she’s here.
As far as the Founders are concerned, Henley Nicolette Greene is dead. And I want it to stay that way.
“Get ready,” Matthew says, slapping my back.
I nod, throwing back a bottle of water. I’m exhausted. Four fights down. All I gotta do is win one more, then I’m grabbing my doll and getting the fuck out of here. “Down with the Sickness” by Disturbed starts playing through the speakers as I watch them drag the loser of the last fight out of the ring.
My eyes go back to where I saw Henley last, and I let out a long breath when I see she’s still there. She gives me a head nod, and I tune her out, knowing that I need to get this over with and get her out of here.
“Ready?” Matthew hollers at me.
I nod.
He steps into the ring. “Ladies and gentlemen, he’s won four fights tonight. Can the Reaper make it five?”