166 Chapter 166

Seraphina’s POV 1

“I knew you’d call eventually. They always do.”

The smugness in Rico’s voice made something cold and angry twist in my gut.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I snapped. “I’m calling because I have questions. That’s all.”

“Fair enough.” He sounded amused. “Ask away.”

I paced my tiny apartment, my free hand clenched into a fist. “This underground fighting thing. How dangerous are we talking?”

“Dangerous enough to be interesting. Safe enough that most fighters walk away in one piece.”

“Most?” My voice went up an octave. “What about the ones who don’t?”

“Injuries happen. Broken bones, concussions, the occasional knockout that requires medical attention.” He paused. “But we have doctors

on site. Good ones. And insurance.”

“I want to see it first,” I said. “The venue. A fight. Everything. Before I make any decisions.”

Silence on the other end. Then Rico laughed.

“Smart girl. I like that. Most people are too desperate to ask questions.”

“I’m desperate,” I admitted. “But I’m not stupid.”

“No, you’re definitely not.” Papers rustled in the background. “Alright. There’s a fight tomorrow night. Nine PM. You can come watch, see

what you’d be getting into. No commitment.”

“Where?”

He gave me an address in the industrial district. “Look for the blue door. There’ll be a guy named Tommy outside. Tell him you’re my

guest.”

“I’ll be there,” I said, and hung up before he could say anything else.

I stood at the bus stop, staring down the street at abandoned warehouses and broken streetlights, seriously reconsidering every life

choice that had led me here.

A text from Mr. Peterson lit up my phone: *“11 hours until eviction. Hope you’re packing.”*

I shoved the phone back in my pocket and started walking.

The address Rico had given me was three blocks down, tucked between two buildings that looked like they’d been condemned sometime

in the last decade. The street was empty except for a few cars that probably cost more than my yearly salary.

166 Chapter 166

The blue door stood out like a beacon. And beside it, exactly as promised, was Tommy.

He was huge. Not just tall–massive. The kind of size that made you think twice about everything you’d ever done wrong in your life.

someone who looked

invited me. To

expression didn’t

“Sera.”

then nodded. “Go on

you.”

was cleaner than I’d expected. White walls, fluorescent lighting, the distant thump of bass–heavy music. It could

not for the sound growing louder with

Shouting. And something else that made

sound of fists

hand trembled as I reached for

the doors

loud it felt physical–music blaring, people screaming,

all like a knife.

rigs hanging from the ceiling, casting everything

And finally, the ring.

the warehouse like an altar to violence. Professional ropes, padded corners, bloodstains

quite

Two women were fighting.

a word.

maybe five–foot–nine with muscles that suggested serious gym time. Her opponent was smaller,

they collided it

sprayed from the blonde’s nose. She staggered backward,

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Rico standing beside me, his eyes fixed on the ring with the kind of reverence most people reserved for

museums.

choked out. “That woman is

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166 Chapter 166

making three thousand dollars tonight,” Rico said calmly. “The winner takes home

Five thousand dollars.

stuttered trying to process that number. Five thousand dollars.

vicious elbow strike to the blonde’s ribs.

blonde went down hard.

her nose, her eyes wild with something that looked like rage and

their feet now, screaming encouragement and curses in equal measure. I

drop.

her knee into the blonde’s solar plexus. The blonde doubled over, gasping, and took

snapped her head back.

blood. So much

swung wildly, catching her opponent in the jaw. Now both women

lives depended on it.

Maybe they did.

The referee stepped in, separating

in with water and towels, trying to clean them

Rico explained. “Three minutes each, one minute break between. Unless

woman was spitting blood into a bucket. Her corner man was shouting instructions I

drink of water, and

Ready for more.

“Time!”

t

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