Chapter 4
Charli
It’s been three weeks that I’ve been here at Micky’s and to say I am on cloud nine is an understatement. For the first time in a long time, I feel that I have control of my own life, that no one in this world will ever have a hold over me again.
I feel free and the feeling is amazing, exquisite… intoxicating.
Micky even helped me to secure a traineeship at a local hairdressing salon which starts next week. Apparently, the owner of the salon is an old friend of his and owes him a favour, so she reluctantly but happily took me on. I don’t even care that I didn’t’ do it for myself, I’m just thrilled it’s happening at all.
It will be a massive change though and I’ll probably be exhausted for a while before I get used to it. I’ll be working in the salon five days a week from 9-5 and then coming home to start my shift at Micky’s at 6. Micky insists that I shouldn’t be working that much but I just don’t care, I owe him everything and I’ll work for him until my fingers bleed.
The only downfall I am finding is that I haven’t made any friends yet but I’m sure that will come, after all, I’ve spent every day working, so that really hasn’t left me a chance to meet anyone but, to be honest, I’m content with how things are, I’m not really sure I need friends right now.
Layla, Micky’s daughter came in for the first week to show me the ropes. I thought at first, we would be good friends but she is a bit older and a bit too classy for me. She is studying to be a criminal lawyer and is super proper. I mean, she is incredibly nice and all, even brought me a bag of her old clothes that I could borrow but I need friends who are super chilled and drama free, and a girl like Layla screams drama.
Layla occasionally works at the bar, like on the nights there is a hockey game, she usually comes in. I thought this place was busy and packed when I first started. There’s always a constant flow of customers and I had finally gotten the hang of everything when the hockey season began and this place was standing-room-only. It was ridiculous. I’d never been so busy in my life but to tell the truth, I absolutely loved it. Not to mention, the eye-candy in the room was outstanding and the tips came rolling in.
The Dragons had won so the drinks were flowing, the fans were in an amazing mood and then the hockey team actually came in. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I’d heard that they like to come in but I hadn’t expected the whole damn team.
The place simply adored them, like they were their idols.
Girls went bat-shit-crazy throwing themselves at the boys while every man in the place basically lined up to congratulate them and shake their hands. It’s ridiculous how adored they are, I mean, it’s just hockey… right?
I don’t really get it, to tell the truth, I’ve never really been a sports fan but the second those boys walked in, it was like sex-on-fire. Those players are simply beautiful. Hmmm, maybe beautiful isn’t the right words, they are sexy-as-fuck, scorching hot, the things dreams are made out of. The kind of guys who are complete playboys and who would break your heart with a click of their fingers. I swear each and every one of them had these bodies that only men dream of having and women dream of being under. It was like muscle porn.
A freaking wet dream waiting to happen.
And then, he showed up.
I noticed him the moment he walked through the door. It was like he had some magnetic field around him and my eyes instantly swivelled in his direction. Though, he is probably the biggest player of them all. Dark hair and dark, smouldering eyes, wearing a black leather jacket that hugged his sculptured body just right, screamed bad boy and made my mouth water. Hmmmmm, just the way I like it.
I watched as he found a seat and talked with his friends though he seemed somewhat separate from the group like he was a bit of an outcast. I don’t know, something about him reminded me of myself.
And then he had to go and raise that magnificent body out of his chair and make his way over to the bar. The guy hardly said a word but I was a bumbling mess of nerves as his friends tried to hit on me. I swear, I must have been blushing like an idiot.
From the moment he left the bar, he sat at his table and never took his eyes off me. It was super intense and made me feel all gooey inside but who am I kidding? He is definitely a heart-breaker, someone I should stay far, far away from.
A boy like him could only be bad news.
Since that night, I’ve seen him one other time. He had come into Micky’s one day during lunch. The bar wasn’t open but I was hanging out with some of the waitresses and helping out where I could, even though Micky continuously demanded that I go and have a life rather than staying holed up in his bar, but I can’t help it. I love it here.
His eyes clocked me the second I came out of the kitchen with a tray full of meals. I almost fell flat on my face and spilled the food all over the place when I saw him. Though, my nerves only got worse when I realised I was taking the food to their table.
I unloaded the tray as quickly as I could with his dark eyes trained on me and the second I could, I disappeared up to my apartment in fears of him getting deeper under my skin.
Hell, the guy is running circles in my mind and I don’t even know his name.
“Earth to Charli,” I hear Lex, one of the other girls who works at Micky’s say as she starts clicking in my face. Shit. Daydreaming about the sexy guy again.
“Oh, sorry,” I cringe. “What do you need?”
We’re just finishing up our shift on Thursday night and wiping down all the tables. “I was trying to ask I you wanted to come out with me tonight?” she asks.
“Oh, sorry, I was completely in my own head,” I admit. “Where are you going?” I ask, not really sure I want to be going anywhere with Lex, she seems like bad news.
“Not sure,” she shrugs. “My boyfriend was taking me somewhere and asked if I wanted to bring some friends along,” she explains.
“I don’t know, Lex,” I say. “It’s already late.”
“Come on,” she insists. “You’ve been here for three weeks and haven’t gone anywhere apart from this old bar. It’s about time you meet some new people, don’t you think?”
Damn it. Why did she have to word it like that?
“I don’t really have anything to wear,” I admit.
“Don’t stress, I have my whole closet in my car. I’ll grab us a few things and we can head up to your place to get ready. It’ll be fun. I’ll get Eddie to meet us here.”
Shit. “Fine,” I sigh.
She gives me a big beaming smile but she is right. I’ve been here for weeks and still haven’t managed to meet any friends or even leave the place for a night, maybe this is just what I need to break out of my shell. A fun night out.
Just as Lex had promised, ten minutes later she ducks out to her car and comes back in with a few different options. We head up to my place and she dresses me in a little black dress and throws a pair of black heels my way. Shit. I’ve never worn heels before and to tell the truth, they look downright terrifying but I pull them on anyway.
Lex insists on doing my hair and makeup. She pulls my hair out and fluffs it up a bit, saying it needs some volume, then proceeds to put black eyeliner on my eyes.
I take a look in the mirror and I’m blown away, I’ve never worn makeup before, well, honestly, I would have loved to but I’ve never been able to afford it but come tomorrow, I’m heading to the shops and buying one of these little bastards for myself.
The black kohl around my light blue eyes makes them ‘pop’ in a way I have never seen before and I absolutely love it. I take my whole look in, my dark hair, the little black dress matched with the heels. Wow.
I’m busy admiring the way the heels make my ass and legs look when Lex gets a message on her phone saying that her boyfriend is out the front before dragging me back down the stairs. I make sure to lock up my apartment before flicking all the lights and locking Micky’s bar.
We get into Eddie’s beat up old car and Lex immediately climbs into his lap and shoves her tongue down his throat. I cringe and look away while I roll down the window, trying to get a bit of fresh air from the stale smell of old cigarettes, a smell that reminds of my step-mum.
Lex soon climbs over to the passenger’s seat and we get on the way. He drives like a freaking maniac through the city and ends up in a dodgy looking area at what must be an abandoned building. There are heaps of other cars around but no one out on the street.
The place has my nerves on high alert but it’s a little too late to back out now.
We all get out of the car and there is a chill in the air, but at least it’s not bucketing down with rain so that’s a positive. Lex loops her arms through mine as if we’re best friends and pulls me along as we enter the building.
Just as I thought, we enter into an abandoned building, which looks as though it’s pretty damn close to falling down. I hear loud music, muffled by walls and wonder where the hell it’s coming from and if it’s some weird party she’s brought me to, which could only be bad news. Crap, I bet this place is filled with the wrong sort of people. “Where the hell have you brought me, Lex?” I ask, slightly freaked out.
“Chill out,” she sings with a big grin. “You’re going to love it.”
I zip my lips as she drags me to the back of the building and opens a door. The sound suddenly becomes un-muffled and I peek through. Lex doesn’t give me a chance to figure out where I am before she pulls me through the door, leads me down a staircase and into a massive room.
The room is swarming with people and my mouth literally pops open with what I’m seeing. There is a bar set up with tables and chairs but that isn’t what has my attention, it’s the big boxing ring in the centre with two guys going at it, blood dripping from a nasty cut above one of their eyes.
“Holy shit,” I whisper to myself.
“Tell me about it,” Lex grins. “Isn’t it awesome?”
Sure, it’s awesome but it’s totally illegal. I could get in so much trouble if I get caught here. Well, I don’t really have anyone to get me in trouble except for maybe Micky but he would just say he is disappointed in me and give me the ‘look’.
I hold onto Lex’s arm a little tighter as I realise this place is filled with all the wrong sorts of people and to be honest, I don’t know whether to be freaked out or intrigued by the place.
“Oh look,” Lex squeals in my ear. “He’s here.”
“Who’s here?” I ask.
“Your date,” she grins.
“My what?” I ask, horrified.
She lets go of my arm and races forward towards a guy who looks like a complete and utter sleaze-ball and also reminds me of the guy who tried to get a little too friendly my first night in the city. He looks me up and down and I see the interest in his eye as Lex drags him back towards me and Eddie. “You can thank me later,” Lex says as she leans into me.
“Hey,” the guy says with hooded eyes. “I’m Chris.”
“Um, hi,” I say reluctantly. “I’m Charli.”
He steps up beside me and throws his arm over my shoulder while dipping his head towards me. “Let’s find a seat, baby,” he whispers in my ear right before running his nose up the length of my neck and sniffing me.
Ugh, I slide out from under his arm and cringe at the feel of his damp nose on my skin. What a freaking creep.
I turn to leave but the next fight is announced and the crowd all push towards the ring, giving me no chance at escape. I follow along with the crowd and find a space close to the ring with a perfect view. Lex shuffles in beside me with Eddie hugging her from behind. Chris attempts the same thing but I push him off me and send a wicked glare his way. “Dude, you have no chance. Don’t even think about it,” I warn him. He holds his hands up in surrender but I see the challenge in his eyes. He isn’t finished for the night, this fucker is certain I’ll end up in his bed. What a twat.
A voice is heard over the speakers and a man announces the fighters. The first guy comes out in nothing but a pair of shorts and he looks angry, especially with the scar that leads from his right eye, straight down in a jaggered line to his lip. The crowd cheer for him and then the announcer brings out the guys opponent, which is when the crowd goes nuts. Bets are made and people are screaming out for their favourite fighter.
The fight starts and I can’t tear my eyes away. This shit is brutal. The fighters are quite literally beating on each other. Blood is spilled all over the ring as the guy with the scar really lays into his opponent. Scar guy gets the other guy on the ground and basically sits on top of him while his fists pummel into him.
“Crap, aren’t there rules or something?” I ask Lex, who watches the fight with wide eyes.
“Pft, no,” she scoffs. “Not in the underground,” she tells me.
Holy cow. This is sort of terrifying but I can’t tear my eyes away. Scar guy knocks his opponent out and a guy wearing black comes into the ring and holds his hand up to the sky declaring him the winner of this round.
Fight after fight is held and I’m amazed at how much blood lines the floor. The last guy who went down, tried to move his arms and legs as he attempted to get up and unconsciously made a snow angel or... a blood angel? I don’t know but it was damn gross.
The alcohol is flowing around the place and bets continue to be made but my eyes remain solely on the ring. The announcer calls the final fight and introduces a new guy to the ring, explaining that this is his first time in the Underground.
I see the interest in people eyes as they see new-blood for the first time and I feel I’m starting to understand it. They are excited that it could be someone much better than the other or he could be used as a punching bag. Who knows? But the crowd seem interested.
The announcer introduces him as ‘The Widow-Maker’ and the crowd do their usual cheering and chanting as the guy enters the ring.
The guy is wearing a black robe with a hood as he walks into the ring. He pulls it off and my eyes notice the body first, it is like a work of art but then he lifts his head to the cheering crowd and my heart stops.
It couldn’t be him. He’s a hockey player, not a fighter. Strange feelings course through me, intrigued to see him fight but terrified he will get hurt. But why do I care?
Damn it. I wish I knew his name.
As if sensing my eyes on him, he looks straight up at me, focusing those smouldering eyes right on mine. I see the surprise clearly written on his face but also something else that I can’t quite explain. It’s almost as if he’s happy I am here like I’m giving him a reason to show off, to be better.
I don’t know but either way… I’m damn curious.