Love Punched | COMPLETED

25. Backstory

My heart skipped a beat and I wondered if I would one day see myself in cuffs too. Willing or not, aware or not, I wasn't innocent either.

Michael flexed his jaw and looked away towards the ring where the Wildcat–in all her glory–was about to win her second match of the night too.

She swiped her opponent's legs from under him and his precarious balance made him fall instantly. The Wildcat, decked in purple and smooth skin, didn't spare a second before she caught him in a choke hold.

The change in the fighting style was apparent and I'd heard a few people mention it during the time we were waiting for Michael at Blue & Black. I would like to believe it was Diego being generous because of me and my inherent talent in MMA but I was sadly neither naïve nor stupid.

The reason behind this change bugged me too. 

In fact, the very existence of the two masked figures and this establishment was shady in itself but it looked like everyone was so accustomed to its presence that they took its functions as limited and for granted.

"It's okay." Nora's murmur almost went unnoticed but Michael's back stiffened.

Warren drew my attention back and I inhaled deeply, getting my nerves under control and fiddling with the lighter in my pocket. I was itching for a smoke.

Sorry, Kitkat. But I think I'll be smoking tonight.

"Why did you want to meet here though?" Warren had his eyes narrowed in suspicion but it was a question we all knew the answer to.

Unwrapping his arm from around Nora who was staring up at him apprehensively, Michael stood up tall and gestured towards the ring where the Leopard was having a slightly challenging fight with a different opponent.

"I wanted a fight." He unbuttoned the cuffs of his light blue shirt and rolled up the sleeves. "I got it." 

Since the Leopard was fighting her last opponent, it had to be the Wildcat he'd gotten a fight with.

I snickered and War shot me an amused glance.

I couldn't help it because Nora was totally eating it up. Her eyes were glued to Michael's revealed skin and as much as I'd like to think it, Michael was not some skinny boy. With corded forearms and a swimmer's lean body, he was probably suggesting something Nora would enjoy.

I mean, at least my ex-girlfriend used to enjoy seeing me in the ring and truth be told, I grew addicted to the feeling. Later on, it was just one of the many ways to score girls aside from the adrenaline I appreciated from the fighting.

I was looking forward to my debut as The Wolf tomorrow at Blue.

When Nora noticed our eyes on her, she turned a hundred shades of red and glared. Michael chuckled softly and the mood shifted amiably. I don't know if I was imagining it but Michael seemed more reciptive of Nora's feelings today. Perhaps because he had a loose hold on his emotions too.

Kinda like Lila today.

She hadn't replied to my messages yet but I'd hoped to have gotten a reply. Not having checked up on her state had left me feeling unnaturally anxious and that sent my hackles up. War and Nora had already told me we might not be able to reach her–a case worse than Michael's so I didn't go in blind.

However, I sure as hell was hoping I'd be a different case.

I don't know. Maybe someone special to her or something.

Fuck, no. No, that was a random thought with no backbone.

Get your head straight, Derek! You're more interested in the Wildcat you can see up close tomorrow. Focus on those amazing tits and that tight ass and that damn skill that can get you on your knees.