“I didn’t want to tell you, Taren. Now look at you. Look at how you’re looking at me.” She quickly pulls her hand back before speaking again.
“I’m sorry. That’s shitty though, Ava. You don’t deserve that. You’re the best person I know.” Shrugging my shoulders, it is what it is. I can’t change it.
“I just hate it, that’s all. I’m tired of it. Mom stays locked in her room; dad is so demanding. I had to re-clean the house today. He made me a list of things to do.” Blowing out a breath, I turn back to the window and watch as the world goes by.
Everything outside of the house seems so distant. It’s as though it’s so close, yet it’s so far away. You know how you feel like something is within your grasp just to take that step and fall flat on your face? That’s how my life feels.
“Forget about him tonight. Let’s have fun! Eric is paying and he’s getting us into the after party. I heard it was at this big ass club or something.” Knowing Eric, it probably is. He only goes for the biggest and best parties around. I guess that’s one plus to having him as a friend. Taren is the only one that I can truly rely on anymore. I don’t trust easily after Daniel. I don’t have it in me. My life seems to crawl along at the slowest speed ever. I just want to find a way to make it on my own, without the world looking at me as the Governor’s daughter.
Sometimes that feels like all I’ll ever be. In reality, that’s who I am. I’m not allowed to work. I don’t get to attend college. My father wants me to play the part of the loving daughter that does everything she’s told to do without question. I want to rebel. I want to make his life as much of a hell as he makes mine, but with my accounts being locked and my father in full control, there is no way I can do that. Don’t think I haven’t thought of the many ways I could make him regret treating me the way he does but at the end of the day, I am nothing more than his pawn. He can play me like another piece of his puzzle and when I don’t fit, he will toss me to the side. I actually await that moment. I want to be tossed to the side. Maybe then I can finally find out who I’m truly supposed to be in this world, because the daughter of Governor St. Clair is having a hard time sitting idle.
Cordae
My muscles are corded tightly as I roll my shoulders back. They haven’t announced who it is I’m fighting tonight, not that I really care. Ashley, I think that’s her name, rubs my shoulders before I shrug her off. I don’t need her distraction tonight either. Women are just that, distractions. At least that’s one thing I’ve learned over the years with my uncle. I’ve seen them come and go and each time it doesn’t faze me. I don’t care to keep a woman around. I don’t need one. They come a dime a dozen and being who I am, I can pick one up at any given time.
“Why don’t you go find a cock to suck?” I say as I turn to face her. She looks down at my shorts like I was the obvious choice. Too bad I’m not.
“No, no. Not me sweetheart. I’ve had it, don’t need it again.” Chuckling to myself, her face reddens before she storms from the room. I just watch her go.
“What did you do that for? I would have taken her.” Jordy laughs while I shake my head.
“I would have thought you already had her, Jordy.” Chuckling, I wait for Tim, the owner of this lovely establishment to come and let me know it’s my time.
“Shit, I had her sister.” Wiggling his eyebrows, I look at him and shake my head.
“She has a sister? Damn, I didn’t know that.”
“Obviously not or you would have fucked her too.” Jordy’s words fade as the door opens. Tim walks in with two sluts on either arm with a giant shit eating grin on his face. Not that I don’t like Tim, no scratch that. Tim is a fucking prick that takes what he wants but also gives me the chance to fight in his clubs. If it wasn’t for him, no one would touch me. Not with the last name I carry.
“You ready to make some money, Cord?” I narrow my gaze at him as if he was really asking me a question. When am I not ready?
“You know I’m about that money. Who am I fighting?” Shaking the girls off his arms, he moves closer to me, a simmer in his eyes. It’s a fire that I like to see.
“We have you matched up with Spencer. It should be a good fight. Money’s flowing out there like water man,” he says. My grin spreads across my face hearing that word. Hey, money does make the world go around as do other things in my world. I don’t need the money. I have plenty of it, but I like the idea of it. I like that I’m making it and doing something I actually give a shit about to get it.
“Sounds like a good crowd.” Nodding his head, he steps back looking at Jordy.
“You brought that motherfucker in here looking like that?” He asks, as he points at him. I chuckle under my breath as I follow his gaze.
“I told him that he looked like roadkill.” Tim chuckles before grabbing his girls again and heading toward the door. “Get with me after the fight, Cord. We’ll set up some more shit.”
“Sounds good.”
“You’re up next. Get your ass out there.”
This is a high for me. A release of sorts. I can take out my aggression in ways I can’t normally. The feeling of being free, if only for the night is what keeps me coming back. Aside from the blood. That has always been a fascination of mine. If I can make it bleed, I can make it feel. That’s something I don’t know much about anymore. Not in a long time. My emotions aren’t what they used to be. In fact, they are basically nonexistent. Just the way I want them to be. I’ve learned over the years that if you don’t feel, you can’t be hurt.
Ava
The place smells like death. There are people all over from all walks of life. From the rich to the poor, they’re all congregated here to watch some guys beat the hell out of each other. I hold tight to Taren’s hand as Eric drags us through the crowded room. When he finally stops and motions to the seats, I take the aisle seat. I don’t like being pinned in between so many people.
“I’ll get drinks,” Eric yells over the crowd as Taren looks for her potential fuck buddy for the evening. When her eyes catch on one man, I almost lose it. He looks like he stepped out of a sixty’s reality show. Leave it to Taren to spot that one.
“Oh no. Don’t you dare!” I laugh. Taren turns to catch my gaze before I completely lose it. The laughter erupts out of me when the crowd grows quiet. I catch a few stares, but it doesn’t bother me. I just flip them off and follow along with the rest of the crowd. The announcer comes over the speakers, breaking all my laughter and pulling my attention.
“Now that you’ve had the chance to take a break and see some of the fights, we have our main event for you. Get on your feet and welcome to the cage, Spencer “The killer” Hampton!” The crowd goes insane as we all stand. Following everyone else’s gaze to the aisle next to me, I watch as a man comes bouncing down it in red shorts and a hoodie. People reach for him but all the men guarding him swat them back.
“Now we have a favorite tonight! Welcome Cord “Demon” Royals!” The crowd goes louder this time as I watch for the man.