Page 74 of Hateful Lies
The crowd starts chanting as we pace around the ring, throwing punches and kicks. I’m barely sweating, but this guy looks winded. He shouldn’t have drunk all that beer. I could tear him up and take the purse tonight, but I want to see Bryce’s face when I hit the mat.
The guy sends me backward with a powerful kick that winds me. It sends me down onto the floor. I could get up, but he’s waiting for me to come back at him. So I don’t stand. I clutch my arm and grimace as if I’m really hurt. The asshole starts whooping and dancing and almost kicks me in the head. I roll away from him and lie on my back, watching Bryce above me, glaring down. He looks as if he wants to jump into the ring and finish me off.
I return to the changing room to get my gear. When you lose, you don’t stick around. I take my bag out of the locker, not even bothering to change out of my sweaty clothes, but before I can walk out of the room, Bryce steps in front of the door. Backing up, I look past him as if I’m annoyed that he’s in my way. He moves toward me with a look of rage in his eyes. Losing money is the only thing that makes him excited.
“What the fuck was that, Wyatt?” he hisses.
I shrug. “Win some, lose some.” When I smirk, his face turns redder.
“There is no way he should have won.” Bryce steps into my space. “He was staggering drunk. All you had to do was knock him down.”
I shrug again. “He got lucky.”
Bryce looks around to make sure that we’re alone. A few people are approaching from the hallway, but he has enough time to whisper. “I told you to win that fight. You threw it on purpose.”
I lift my finger to his face. “And I’m going to keep on losing fights until you give Astrid back her money.”
Bryce steps back while reassessing the situation. He didn’t think I would find out. “That does not concern you.”
“Do you think I’m your employee?” I answer as two of the other fighters enter the room, including Nova. They keep their eyes lowered, guessing why Bryce is here. “Because I’m not,” I continue, not giving a shit who hears. “And I’ll keep losing until you return her money.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Wyatt.” He’s so angry; he is beyond caring. “You need to be here.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t have to be here if you weren’t so fucking greedy. You didn’t think I would want a cut.”
“Don’t do it again.” Bryce glances over at the people in the room. Usually everyone would be talking, but no one is saying a word. “And get that finger out of my face.”
I flick his nose with my fingertips, and Bryce takes a swing at me. He has muscle, but he doesn’t know how to fight. Bryce was on the wrestling team until he started figuring out creative ways to make money without an effort.
I have Bryce pinned to the ground as he starts flailing. Nova starts jumping up and down and shouting, which attracts more attention. Soon the room is filled with fighters and staff cheering for me to kick his ass. Bryce should’ve stayed on the catwalk. His face is dangerously red, so I let him go, pushing him off me.
I stand over him. “I’ll keep throwing fights until you return that money.”
“You’re out!” he screams, standing up. “Get out of here. You’re not coming back in here again!”
I roll my eyes. “And what about the money?”
His face twists into an ugly mask of hatred as he jabs his finger into my face. “You’re not fucking getting my money.”
Grinder walks in and walks straight over to me. He frowns sadly while shaking his head. I don’t give him a hard time because it’s his job. He pats me on the back as he shows me to the door. But no one helps Bryce off the floor.