Read Online Torn - Part Two (The Torn Series) by Ellen Callahan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ellen Callahan
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asshole than before. “I was scared back then. And I guess your fight just reminded me of that. Of what it was like.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, though the words fixed nothing. I just didn’t know what else to say.
She squinted up at me and grimaced as she asked, “You guys aren’t on steroids, are you?”
I snorted, taken aback by the question. “What? No! Fuck no.” What had made her think that one up? She must have been doing some research online or something. “I swear it, no. It’s just Tony. We have a long history of just… utter shit. And he’s always had the upper hand, and I always fucking lose it. But it’s only him, only because he’s my brother.” I kissed her forehead. “Come to my fight this week. You’ll see. I’ll win my match without becoming some out of control rage monster.”
I was hoping she would laugh; at least she cracked a smile. “All right. I might have to rush off to work after but I think I can make it.”
Good. I’ve got this. I’m fixing it.
○●○●○●○●○
I didn’t see Riley again before the night of our matches. The way I kept chasing after her and she kept brushing me off was making me start to feel like the damn girl in the relationship - if that’s even what it was. I didn’t know what she was thinking anymore.
I couldn’t concern myself with it then - not that night. Lee had us all slipping into a warehouse down near Williamsburg - the basement was too small for the crowd he was expecting, and the fall weather was too dicey for for a rooftop event. It seemed like it was raining every other day. Some of the other guys from the gym were helping him set up the cage in the center of the space. It was a little elaborate if we were trying to avoid notice and I wondered - not for the first time - how Lee kept the cops from getting involved. Money must have changed hands somewhere.
That or I supposed it was possible they just didn’t give a damn. I’m sure they had bigger problems than some dudes voluntarily getting into a ring and punching each other.
“What’s the order?” I asked Lee when I got him aside.
“Surly’s last,” he said, “You’ll be second, I’m pretty sure. Still working it out with your opponents.”
“Who am I fighting?” I almost expected him to say Chet. Chet the Crusher. People still talked about that match from months before, where I fought and beat a guy who was not in my weight class. Crowds loved a good underdog win, and I was definitely the underdog in that match.
Luckily, Lee said, “Vaughn, some guy from Westchester.” I didn’t recognize the name. As long as he wasn’t fifty pounds heavier and a foot taller than me I didn’t care.
I watched the first fight with Surly waiting at my side. We eyed Vaughn through the cage where he stood with an older guy. Probably his coach. If he had a real coach, I might be in a little trouble. I cast my eyes back over my shoulder and took in the audience. They were ready for blood, all leaning forward, teeth bared, barking encouragement at the fighters. Finally I spotted the tell-tale flashes of color as the girls wove their way closer to the front.
And then I spotted him, trailing behind, trying to catch up. Tony. What the fuck is he doing here? I shouldn’t have been so surprised to see him - he’d want to watch me fight, see if I would be much of a challenge when I finally faced him.
Surly saw him as well and placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Don’t.”
He was going to bother Riley and the girls. He’d say something stupid, or something offensive, or something about me and fuck up the whole night.
“Not worth it,” Surly warned, and he was right. I couldn’t compromise the fight, and Riley had the girls for backup. Hell, I’d probably make things worse if I tried to intervene right then. I had to focus.
And if I couldn’t quite focus, well, I could always pretend Vaughn was
“I’m sorry,” I said, though the words fixed nothing. I just didn’t know what else to say.
She squinted up at me and grimaced as she asked, “You guys aren’t on steroids, are you?”
I snorted, taken aback by the question. “What? No! Fuck no.” What had made her think that one up? She must have been doing some research online or something. “I swear it, no. It’s just Tony. We have a long history of just… utter shit. And he’s always had the upper hand, and I always fucking lose it. But it’s only him, only because he’s my brother.” I kissed her forehead. “Come to my fight this week. You’ll see. I’ll win my match without becoming some out of control rage monster.”
I was hoping she would laugh; at least she cracked a smile. “All right. I might have to rush off to work after but I think I can make it.”
Good. I’ve got this. I’m fixing it.
○●○●○●○●○
I didn’t see Riley again before the night of our matches. The way I kept chasing after her and she kept brushing me off was making me start to feel like the damn girl in the relationship - if that’s even what it was. I didn’t know what she was thinking anymore.
I couldn’t concern myself with it then - not that night. Lee had us all slipping into a warehouse down near Williamsburg - the basement was too small for the crowd he was expecting, and the fall weather was too dicey for for a rooftop event. It seemed like it was raining every other day. Some of the other guys from the gym were helping him set up the cage in the center of the space. It was a little elaborate if we were trying to avoid notice and I wondered - not for the first time - how Lee kept the cops from getting involved. Money must have changed hands somewhere.
That or I supposed it was possible they just didn’t give a damn. I’m sure they had bigger problems than some dudes voluntarily getting into a ring and punching each other.
“What’s the order?” I asked Lee when I got him aside.
“Surly’s last,” he said, “You’ll be second, I’m pretty sure. Still working it out with your opponents.”
“Who am I fighting?” I almost expected him to say Chet. Chet the Crusher. People still talked about that match from months before, where I fought and beat a guy who was not in my weight class. Crowds loved a good underdog win, and I was definitely the underdog in that match.
Luckily, Lee said, “Vaughn, some guy from Westchester.” I didn’t recognize the name. As long as he wasn’t fifty pounds heavier and a foot taller than me I didn’t care.
I watched the first fight with Surly waiting at my side. We eyed Vaughn through the cage where he stood with an older guy. Probably his coach. If he had a real coach, I might be in a little trouble. I cast my eyes back over my shoulder and took in the audience. They were ready for blood, all leaning forward, teeth bared, barking encouragement at the fighters. Finally I spotted the tell-tale flashes of color as the girls wove their way closer to the front.
And then I spotted him, trailing behind, trying to catch up. Tony. What the fuck is he doing here? I shouldn’t have been so surprised to see him - he’d want to watch me fight, see if I would be much of a challenge when I finally faced him.
Surly saw him as well and placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Don’t.”
He was going to bother Riley and the girls. He’d say something stupid, or something offensive, or something about me and fuck up the whole night.
“Not worth it,” Surly warned, and he was right. I couldn’t compromise the fight, and Riley had the girls for backup. Hell, I’d probably make things worse if I tried to intervene right then. I had to focus.
And if I couldn’t quite focus, well, I could always pretend Vaughn was
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