FIGHT NIGHT:
DEACON “THE HITMAN” LOVE
VS.
BRUNO “THE DEVIL” TAMASINO
Sitting on the table in the dressing room I look down at my girl standing in between my legs wrapping my hands and wrists like she’s done a thousand times before. She has her hair down tonight, a little braid in the front keeping it out of her face. Hot pink heels that match the lettering on my shorts perfectly put her head even with my chin, allowing me to take in the coconut smell of her hair. She has on this black strapless one piece shorts thing that is beyond sexy. It leaves her shoulders completely naked except for her ink and a light dusting of freckles, and her tanned legs smooth and bare. Who cares that it’s cold as fuck outside? Not me…my cock is about to break through my fucking cup I’m so hard. Plus I love that she always makes sure that she’s wearing the gym’s colors, my colors. What a fucking pussy I am.
Lips pursed in concentration, I let the sure and steady movements of her hands hypnotize me and concentrate on not having a goddamn hard on right now. I’m not one of those fighters who gets anxious, throws up, or paces liked a caged animal before a fight. I don’t need to be talked down or massaged to loosen up. Before stepping into the cage, a sense of calm takes over my body. It’s one of the only times I feel completely at peace and then when the door slams closed leaving me standing in that Octagon, I’m home. My mind and body go into warrior mode, my training kicks in. This is what I was built for. I shut out the outside world and go hard.
Glancing at the guy in the corner sent in by the Federation to make sure there’s nothing against the rules going on, Frankie asks, “Blue or red?”
“Red tonight, Miss De Rosa.”
Nodding, she takes the roll of red tape and tosses it to Sonny. When we get out there, my taped up hands, mouth guard, and gloves will be checked. Once I get the okay, I can put my gloves on and the red tape will then be wrapped around my wrists over my gloves, indicating that I am the fighter in the red corner.
Looking up at me, I can see that she’s nervous in the way that she keeps biting at her lip and the tight smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
“What’s wrong? You worried about the crowd? Reggie and Trent are both with you, tonight. You’re safe here, baby—this is my house,” I tell her, raising my arms to encompass the room and wink at her.
Laughing at me, she shakes her head.
“Shut up, you dumbass. I’m nervous because this is your first fight in a while and Tam is no fucking joke! He’s mean and I don’t like him,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting a little.
Now it’s my turn to laugh at her.
“He’s mean? Really? That’s all you got, huh? Okay, I’ll give you that. He is mean, but I’m better than he is in every way that counts.”
Not caring who is in the room with us, I pull her in closer, forcing her to drop her arms, and whisper in her ear, “Bet you sex in the cage that I beat him by the second round.” Smiling at her gasp, I nip her ear and pull back.
Her face is tinged pink with both embarrassment and lust. I need to get out of here before I forfeit this bout too just to be inside of her.
She doesn’t get a chance to snap out of her stunned silence before Mav walks in with my dad.
“It’s go time, boys,” my pop says, smiling at Frankie.
He doesn’t know what’s going on between us, but her being here like this is the norm so nobody thinks twice about it.
“You too, Princess. Guy is already out there schmoozing.”
Giggling, she says, “Sounds about right.”
Turning back to me, she takes both of my hands in hers and with a serious look crossing her face, flips them palm side up and places a kiss on each of my wrists, leaving soft pink lipstick stamps on the white surgical tape.
“Take him out, Deac, and don’t let up until he’s out. If he gets you on the ground, don’t let him get you on your back. Go for his legs, and he’ll submit – just make him do it before he gets too mean.”
I nod my head and she squeezes my hands, dropping them, and goes to the door where Reggie and Trent are standing.
“Hey Frankie?” I call as she’s walking through the door.
Shooting me a questioning look over her shoulder, she stops in the doorway. I just smirk and hold up two fingers, reminding her of our bet. Shaking her head, she tries for a reprimanding glare that falls flat when her lips twitch into a flirty smile. Reggie gives me a nod as he shuts the door behind the three of them, leaving me alone with my dad and brothers and our chaperone over in the corner.
“She’s right—if you go for the submission, do it before he starts to get mean. He has weak legs. Don’t let him take you to the ground though, Deacon, because once you let him have control, he’ll wear your ass out.” Sonny is in trainer mode now, gone is my brother. This guy is all business.
“If you don’t think that you can get him to tap out, let him up and stay on your feet—do not let him take you to your back. Go hard at his upper body and take the KO.”
My dad and Mav stand quietly and let Sonny and I go over the war plan. Rolling my head on my neck, I feel the pops and pulls, allowing them to loosen me up. Sonny lets me down from the table, and I stand twisting at the waist and stretching my arms and shoulders. This is our ritual—my brothers and dad let me do my thing while they watch. Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I feel the adrenaline course through my veins. Closing my eyes and breathing deeply I chant my mantra silently to myself, “That’s my cage. I’m a warrior. I dominate because this is who I am. I will win. There is no other option. I am a warrior.”
Opening my eyes, I clap my hands together,
“Let’s go boys…OORAH!” I yell.
Leaving the room with my entourage, we head down the hallway toward the tunnel that leads into the arena. As we are passing, the door to my right opens and Tamasino steps into the doorway.
“Nice shorts, you fucking pussy,” he shouts, snickering.
Looking back over my shoulder, I smirk, which throws him off.
“I’m always in the pink, motherfucker.” I continue toward the opening, a smile on my face. It’s fucking good to be back.