Page 11 of Knuckles

It was right before graduation, and he struggled knowing how Blaze had to live, and his dad didn’t even look into Candice to ensure she didn’t give birth. He got drunk at Carnage Angel’s, then stupidly made out with Roxy, who was a waitress at the time but is now a dancer.

He admitted to Alexiana what he had done the next morning, being riddled with guilt, and out of anger, she gave him an ultimatum, the club or her.

He chose the club but instead of letting his girl let off some steam then confronting her again, he instead as a fuck you to the woman he loved for giving him the ultimatum because she lost trust in him, he fucked Roxy, then sent her the footage. He was drunk, not that it excuses him from cheating on his girl. He tried to speak to her afterward, instantly regretting what he did, butrightfully so, she ignored him, and then Alexiana disappeared after graduation, and even Trick couldn’t find her.

Blaze didn’t speak to Crusher for months when she disappeared because he saw her as family, her mom, and them being the only people there for him until the truth about his parentage came out.

“Has she, though, or is her mom saying shit to stop you from bothering her?” I ask, and he looks ahead for a moment before he admits, “I don’t know, but I need to let this anger out before I combust and do something really fucking stupid.”

I sigh but nod and admit, “There's the second slot that needs to be filled, your opponent is five ten and on speed and you don’t bring up my missed birthday and for the love of god, don’t forget that you are on the graveyard shift tomorrow night so don’t get too busted up.”

“Fine,” he grits as he starts his bike, and I bite my bottom lip with worry.

Being a paramedic is his calling, it’s what he’s always wanted to do for as long as I can remember but Alexiana leaving the way she did eight years ago, the way he lost his mind and none of us could bring him back from self-destruction, especially with Cage being in prison at the time… I’m worried he’s going to dive off the deep end with news of her moving on with her life, trying to fix her broken heart.

“Brother,” I finally say, and as soon as he looks my way, I remind him, “you fucked Roxy for a year after Alex left as a fuck you to her, don’t be a hypocrite if she has slept with other people to try and fix what you broke.”

His jaw ticks, but he nods before revving his bike as he slowly walks it backward out of his spot, and I sigh as I start my bike up before slowly walking it back.

He won’t give up on her. It’s been eight years, and he’s still trying to find her, still having Trick keep an ear to the ground.He still fucked Roxy for a year, though. Well, before she tried poking holes in his condoms and he stopped whatever was going on between them, whatever void he was trying to fill, he’s still a brother.

Shaking my head, I ride out of the club gate and follow the fucker towards my gym, where he’ll beat the shit out of Mags.

Chapter 4

Kodi

I wince as Crusher takes a punch to the gut, then the jaw, and the crowd goes wild around me while the women behind me all bitch and moan about the name that he has tattooed large on the side of his neck.

I shouldn’t have made the impulse decision to come here, I shouldn’t have snuck out, which, considering I had to climb out of my window while my father and Masters watched the football game, was pathetic. I needed to have an outlet, and I overheard some of the female officers talking about a fight night, and I just, I needed to live a little.

I’ve been feeling like a caged animal.

“Who is Alexiana anyway?” I hear a girl demand behind me, and I roll my eyes and mutter, “Someone you will never live up to.”

“Apparently, she was his high school sweetheart, and he cheated on her, so she left town,” another answers her loudly over the screaming crowd, and I flinch as Crusher's head swings to the side by the power of the punch, the man barely fighting back.

Ouch…

“Did he claim her before or after he cheated?” another asks, and the second woman answers, “Before. Word around the trailer park is that he’s been trying to find her for years, but no one will tell him where she is. I’m close friends with the girl he cheated with, apparently Alexiana rang his phone, and my friend answered and told her to get lost, then lied that they were getting married and having a baby.”

Wait, I’m sorry what?

She has to be lying right?

“Fucking hit him back, Crusher!” I hear shouted as I go to spin around to question the girls behind me, but my eyes go to the corner of the ring instead, and I swallow hard, locking on Knuckles angry form.

He’s in shorts and a tank, minus his cut, his big, strong arms covered in tattoos.

Damn, never thought I’d have such a strong reaction to arms before…

Cheers echo, and I reluctantly look towards the ring and notice Crusher finally fighting back, left, right, left, right, and I sigh in relief.

The man used to be so happy-go-lucky in high school, but he’s not the same Crusher anymore, not since my friend left after he hurt her.

“So, I have a chance then?” the first girl confirms, and I shake my head just as Crusher knocks his opponent out, and the crowd gets louder as Knuckles climbs into the ring and lifts up Crusher's arm causing the crowd to go wilder and bump into me.

I gasp but manage to stop myself from falling as I look back at Knuckles, but as if sensing me, our eyes lock, and anger instantly etches his features in recognition despite never seeing me with my hair down.