Ryley's Revenge

by L. P. Dover

  “Have you hurt people?” Gabriella asked, standing before him.

  Clenching his jaw, he looked away, the vein in his forehead bulging. “I have, but a lot of them deserved it. Maybe if you knew why I did what I did you wouldn’t think so horrible of me.”

  Her expression narrowed. “What do you mean?”

  I was interested in his answer too. Before Paxton could respond, the bald headed guy from the hallway approached us, heading straight for Gabriella. “All right, sugar tits, it’s time. Take your seat with the others.”

  Huffing, she threw her arms around me. “Stay strong. I’ll be fine.” Letting me go, she didn’t get far before Paxton grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, his lips only a breath away from hers.

  “Remember, don’t do or say anything when you’re up there. As soon as the fight’s over I’ll come get you.”

  She nodded and slowly stepped back, her chest rising and falling with her breaths. Turning on her heel, she stalked off toward the ring and looked back once before disappearing into the crowd.

  “Can you see her?” I asked.

  “Yeah, she found a seat. I think it’s best if we stay as far back as we can. We don’t want him to see you. It would be disastrous.”

  Two men strolled by rolling carts toward the ring. I couldn’t see what was on them, but judging by the look on Paxton’s face, it wasn’t good. “What’s going on?” I demanded, grabbing his arm. “What’s on those carts?”

  His face paled and he closed his eyes before turning to me. “I think I know how they’re going to fight tonight. It’s not good, Ashleigh.”

  “Tell me.”

  FOR THE PAST couple of hours, I waited in the tiny cell with my head down. On the other side of the mirror, I knew there were people watching me, deciding on if I was worth bidding on. I didn’t give a shit if they did. All I cared about was getting into the ring.

  “All right, Jameson, you’re up. Ready to go down in history?” Scar chuckled, opening the door wide.

  Keeping my stare straight ahead, I stood up and rolled my neck. I had to block everyone and everything out, even if I wanted to bitch slap the smelly bastard in front of me. When I walked out of the room, there was a long hallway that opened up at the end. As soon as I turned the corner, the people exploded into cheers.

  There were no announcements or music blaring over the speakers, only me walking down to the cage with Scar by my side. It was a fenced enclosure with barbwire across the top and spatters of blood across the mat. Judging by the sounds of the fight before mine, I’d say it was pretty bloody.

  “Ooh, what do we have here?” Scar pointed out, glancing up to the ring. “It looks like your brother finally figured out what kind of weapon he wanted tonight.”

  “Weapon? I wasn’t aware he was going to be a pussy.”

  Scar burst out in laughter. “I’ll have to tell him you said that. No one’s ever been in the ring without one.”

  “Well, let it go down in history, because I don’t need shit,” I growled.

  “Suit yourself, dumb ass, it’s your funeral. The rules are your own.”

  Up in the ring, there were two gray carts, with two men behind them, dressed in black robes. I couldn’t see their faces, nor could I see what was on the carts until I got into the ring. There were three sections with one side being a set of handwraps, the other a platter of what looked to be hot glue, and then the last . . . shards of glass. You have got to be fucking kidding me. There was no way in hell I was putting that shit on my gloves.

  I was led over to one cart and told to stay put while we waited on my brother to enter. I wasn’t a regular, so I didn’t get the introduction that Camden did. The people around the ring shouted out his name. Apparently, he went by Striker now.

  Eyes wide, I stared at the man who used to be my brother—now my number one enemy. He looked nothing like the man I once knew. Steroids had made him bulkier, but size was never an issue. The real handicap came from Camden and I knowing each other’s weaknesses. What he didn’t know was, I’d worked on mine until I’d fucking bled.

  Climbing into the ring, Camden lifted his hands in the air triumphantly, as if he’d already won. “It’s nice to see you again, brother dear,” he chided. “Let’s get this party started.”

  “Waiting on you, fuckface.”

  He wore his usual bright red and black shorts and red robe. When he lifted it off of his body, I couldn’t believe the amount of scars on his chest and back. It was a shame I wasn’t going to stoop to his level and add more. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, even though it was tempting.

  Camden walked over to his cart and held out his hands, letting the robed guy wrap them. The man behind my cart reached for my hands, but I backed away, snarling my lip. I didn’t want anyone touching me. Camden tilted his head back in laughter when the hooded figure looked over at him.

  “That’s his choice, leave him be,” Camden insisted. “It’s just a shame I don’t feel like playing fair.”

  “Like you ever did,” I snapped, marching to the center of the ring. “You always felt the need to cheat to win against me. What makes this any different?”

  Camden’s leer faded and he turned away so he could finish getting his fists prepped. He knew I was right. The brother I used to know before my father died would’ve fought me fairly, but that boy was long gone. In his place was a man full of lies and deceit. How the hell did he get so fucked up?

  When all was said and done, Camden dropped his robe on the mat and one of the black robed men picked it up on their way out of the ring. The glass on his fists reflected the lights around the room, reminding me I was without a weapon. I only had my fists to protect me. In that singular moment, I hated him with every fiber of my being. He’d tried to fuck up my life and then challenged me to this fight. It should’ve been the other way around.

  Scar joined us in the center of the ring, his eyes gleaming in delight. “It looks like this is going to be an interesting fight. Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked me, looking down at my gloved fists.

  I wanted Camden to hurt, and feel the pain. I wanted to be the one to inflict the damage. “No,” I growled. Lifting my hardened gaze to my brother, I undid my gloves and handwraps, letting them fall to the floor. “This is what I want.”

  Gasps erupted through the crowd as I dared my brother to challenge me fairly. We stared at each other, brother against brother, but the coldness in his demeanor still remained. I was completely unarmed, and he didn’t waver . . . he kept his glass fists. Fucking bastard.

  “This just got interesting,” Scar announced. “Do you want timed rounds, or no interruptions?”

  Camden and I said it together, “No interruptions.” As soon as I started, there was no way I was going to stop.

  Scar strolled out of the ring and shut the cage door, locking it with a chain as thick as my wrist. It made me wonder what happened if someone tried to break out before the fight was over. “You know the rules. No one leaves until the other is down.”

  The energy crackled like fire, but I only had my focus on one thing . . . revenge. I blocked everything out and kept my sights on my brother, ready to strike when we were told to attack. Nothing else existed, except me and him.

  “Fight!”

  RYLEY ATTACKED FIRST and pummeled Camden, striking him hard on the side of the face. Camden laughed and spit blood onto the mat. However, Ryley didn’t stop there, he kept going. His brother reciprocated by rearing back and kicking Ryley in the shin, before slicing his hand across his back, blood pouring out in rivers and catching at the waistband of Ryley’s shorts.

  Gasping, I tried to charge forward but Paxton tightened his grip on me and leaned down to growl in my ear. “If you don’t stop trying to run away, you’re going to have bruises all over your fucking arms.”

  Fighting against his hold, I gritted my teeth, watching Ryley’s blood pour freely. “This has to stop. It’s not fair,” I shouted. None of my screams could be heard through
the deafening noise of the people surrounding me.

  “I know it’s not fair. None of this is. But he agreed to this, Ashleigh. Now, let him do it.”

  I didn’t want to let him do it. I wanted him safe and away from this place. The world moved in slow motion as I watched Camden and Ryley battle it out, blood blinding my vision. All I could see was red as Camden sliced Ryley’s skin over and over with the glass. Ryley never flinched, just kept striking and kicking like nothing was amiss, like he wasn’t bleeding out all over the mat.

  My breaths were all I could hear. I almost felt as if I was in a different world. Hell would be the best word to describe it. I was in the dungeons of hell, having to spend the rest of eternity watching the only man I loved bleed to death inside a cage. As much as Ryley was ready for the fight, he still needed me. Every fighter needed something to fight for. He always told me he fought better with me by his side. How could he do that if he didn’t know I was there?

  Lifting up on my tiptoes, I found Gabriella with her hand over her mouth, her stare full of torment. It wasn’t until I looked back up into the ring that everything spun out of control. Both guys were on the mat, grappling. My current location hindered a clear view.

  “Paxton,” I ordered, “let me go. I need to be up there. He needs to see me.”

  “No. It’ll only make him lose focus.”

  Facing him head on, I stared up into his sea green eyes and nodded toward Gabriella. “Is that how you would feel if it was Gabby who wanted you to see her? What if you were fighting for her? Imagine how alone Ryley must feel being in a place that is clearly not on his side. We make each other stronger, Pax. Neither one of us is good without the other.”

  Focusing on the ring, he huffed and took my hand. “Fuck, I’m going to regret this. Let’s go.” He charged toward the ring and pushed us through the crowd. The closer we got, the more scared I became.

  Gabriella spotted us and got to her feet, tears streaming down her cheeks and eyes wide. It was then I noticed Ryley on the mat with Camden on top of him . . . a shard of glass at his throat.

  AFTER THE FIRST slash to my back, I grew immune to the rest of the gashes littering my skin. Everywhere I looked, blood poured down my skin, soaking my shorts and getting into my eyes. I didn’t regret fighting defenseless, but I did regret losing my focus. My anger clouded my judgment and I made a wrong turn, over anticipating Camden’s next move.

  His fist was at my throat, but I could feel the glass jabbing into my skin. I held him at bay, my muscles shaking, and I didn’t know how much longer I could hold off. If the glass cut into my neck, I’d bleed out and fucking die. Is that what my brother wanted? To not have to compete with me anymore?

  “Why don’t you tap out, o’ brother mine? And show these people how much of a pussy you are. Now everyone will know who I am. Your time is over. It’s a shame Ashleigh isn’t here to see you fail.”

  Grunting, I pushed his fist back, giving me another centimeter of reprieve. “Don’t you say her fucking name, asshole. Not after what you did to her . . . to me.”

  “To you? You should be thanking me. I could’ve fucked her and she wouldn’t have known the difference. She’s a goddamn money-grubbing whore who’s knocked up with another man’s bastard child.”

  Staring up into Camden’s eyes, it was strange to think I was looking at my reflection. Well, my reflection if I was all jealousy and anger. God, I hated him; hated who he’d become. Ashleigh was my family now, not him. I would choose her over him any day, even if that meant putting him out of his jealous misery. I couldn’t watch over him anymore, or change him like I thought I could after our father died. He was gone and he wasn’t coming back.

  “Tap out, brother,” Camden grunted. “I’m close to that carotid artery of yours. Only one slip and you’re done.”

  Would he actually go through with it? I didn’t know, but I wasn’t about to find out. The sound of Ashleigh’s voice in my mind brought back my strength, it was almost like she was there, driving me on. If I didn’t win this match, my revenge would forever consume me, eating me alive from the inside out. I had no choice but to fight until I had nothing left.

  Gritting my teeth, I pushed as hard as I could, Camden’s arm giving way inch by inch. His smile disappeared and with one swift move, I jabbed his hand as hard as I could to his cheek, slicing his skin open. Quickly, he jumped off of me and slammed his hand over his face, blood oozing out between his fingers.

  Instead of waiting on him to recover, I powerhouse kicked him in the side and watched his legs buckle beneath him. All of the hatred swarmed through my body, giving me the ammunition I needed. As soon as his knees hit the mat, I wrapped my legs around his and my arm around his neck. His blood poured down my arm, but I didn’t care. If I had my way, I’d see more of it.

  “You’re wrong, about everything,” I growled low in his ear. “I know what you had planned with Colin.” I held him harder, jerking my arm up so that it would choke him. He tried to speak, but he couldn’t. “After I had to rush Ashleigh to the hospital, he came clean. I almost lost my fucking kids because of you.” His fight started to fade and his skin began to turn blue, but I wasn’t done. “We’re having twins, you arrogant piece of shit. You were going to rob me of my own fucking family. For that, I want to put you out of your misery. You have no one now. No family . . . nothing. You’re dead to me.”

  “Ryley.” Her voice echoed in my head, snapping me back to reality. I heard it again and again until finally her face came into view, almost like an angel, as she stood there staring at me with tears in her eyes.

  She was frantic, yelling something I couldn’t understand. It wasn’t until Camden’s body fell limp in my arms that I realized what she had been yelling.

  Let him go.

  RYLEY WAS IN another world. Even when he looked at me, he wasn’t seeing me. I wasn’t going to give up though. He couldn’t do this. I stood there screaming, demanding he let his brother go. Paxton even had to punch a man when he tried to put his hands over my mouth and drag me away. They wanted to see death, to see Ryley end his brother. It was chaos and if I didn’t stop it, Ryley would regret it for the rest of his life.

  As soon as Ryley let his brother go, Camden collapsed onto the mat. Knowing the shit was about to hit the fan, Paxton grabbed my hand and pushed us through the crowd until we got to Gabriella.

  “We have to go right now,” he commanded. Eyes wide, Gabriella took his other hand and jumped over the seats, but not without the notice of Scar, who was now barreling through the crowd on a directed path. Luckily, we made it to the entrance of the ring where Ryley stood bloody and full of rage. He glared down at us, fuming.

  “Paxton!” he thundered. “Me and you are going to have a big, fucking problem when I get out of this godforsaken cage.”

  Pax glanced over at Scar who was almost there. “I don’t think that should be our main worry right now. We have incoming.”

  Scar grabbed a hold of Gabriella and turned her around. “And where do you think you’re going?” he asked. When he got a good look at her and at us, he finally put two and two together and realized who we were. However, he didn’t take his hands off of her. Paxton tensed, but I pinched his arm and kept my focus on Gabriella. I was afraid to look at Ryley.

  “Ryley won, so we’re leaving,” she challenged. “I belong to the winner.”

  When she tried to pull away, Scar held her tighter. “You’re not going anywhere, princess. The fight’s not over.”

  “Like hell it’s not,” Ryley shouted. He beat against the cage, but the door was locked shut. Unless he could break through the chains, he wasn’t going anywhere. Behind him, Camden slowly started to get to his feet.

  Scar grinned wide and nodded toward Camden. “See for yourself. The fight doesn’t end until you both agree, and I was given strict orders that your brother refused to tap, no matter the circumstances. So either you finish him off or look like the coward you are and tap out. It’s your choice. However,” he taunted
, putting his arm around Gabriella. “This sweet ass will belong to your brother. Surely, you wouldn’t want that, now would you?”

  Behind Ryley, Camden swiped his forearm over his cheek to wipe away the blood, but more flowed down. When he spotted Gabriella, he licked his lips and grabbed his groin. “Tap out, fucker,” he sputtered, his voice gravelly. “I’d love to see how much of a fight she gives me.”

  And right then, everything had changed. Ryley’s eyes no longer looked like the crystal blue I loved so much, they were dark and cold. He had hit the breaking point and it terrified me. Snarling, he charged his twin and brought his left arm up as if to strike. It all happened so fast, I didn’t know what I was seeing. Camden tried to block on his left, but then Ryley sprung into the air and came down on him with a hard punch to the right. It was something you’d see in a kung fu movie. I had never seen Ryley do that before, and neither had Camden by the surprised look on his face before it struck him. He went down . . . out cold.

  Ryley stood over him, his rapid breaths making his chest rise and fall. Camden was done and he wasn’t getting up anytime soon. Storming back to the gate, Ryley beat against it and shouted, “It’s over. He’s done.”

  “And so it is,” Scar remarked dryly, letting Gabriella go. After walking up the steps, he put the key in the lock and opened the door wide.

  Ryley thundered out and came straight for me, his dark eyes unreadable. “We’re getting out of here,” he growled, taking my hand.

  Paxton put his arm around Gabriella and before we could start toward the exit, Scar stepped in front of us, blocking our path. Even though Ryley was covered in blood, he put his arm protectively around my waist. Scar noticed the gesture and leered at both Ryley and Paxton. “Remember, stay quiet about all of this and all will be well. I’d hate to see something bad happen to one of your women.”

  Ryley stepped forward and met Scar head on. “If you so much as breathe on them, I will kill you with no hesitation.”