Crushed, I sigh and meet Amanda’s sympathetic gaze. “See. Nothing serious.”

We join the crowd in a cheer as Torment and Ray enter the cage. Torment is about an inch taller and two inches broader than Ray, but Ray’s muscles are sleek and more defined. He’s wearing purple fight shorts with yin-yang symbols down the sides, an odd choice for a fight. Doesn’t Taoism advocate unity?

Shayla blows a whistle and Ray throws a few jabs at Torment, then follows up with a hard shot that drops Torment to his knees. The crowd gasps, and so do I, but for a different reason.

“Something’s wrong.” I grip Jess’s arm. “He’s not fighting the way he usually fights. He never feints, and his punches weren’t controlled. Usually he feels out his opponent. Dances around the ring a bit. And look how tense he is. His face…his stance. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s angry, but usually in a fight he keeps his emotions contained.”

“Then maybe Makayla’s right.” Her gaze is fixed on Tag and not the fight. “Maybe Torment said something else to him, wound him up on purpose.”

Torment rises quickly to his feet and returns fire, coming after Ray with a dizzying barrage of fists and feet. Ray dodges every blow and snaps off a kick to Torment’s midsection that sends Torment staggering back two steps. But Ray follows him with another vicious kick, followed by a massive punch that drops Torment to the mat.

Makayla shoots out of her seat, her hand clamped over her mouth, and then descends the bleachers and runs out of the gym. My heart squeezes and I stand to go after her, but Amanda pulls me down.

“Don’t worry about it. She’s a paramedic and can handle blood and trauma, knife wounds and broken bones, but she can’t handle watching actual violence. Torment likes her to watch him fight, so she shows up, stays for a few minutes, and then has to leave. Usually, he gives her a bucket.”

Torment is up again, his face curled into a scowl, but before he regains his balance, Ray thrashes him with a brutal knee. An ache forms in my chest. This isn’t him. This isn’t the way he fights. There is no artistry in the way he is moving today. Only anger and pain.

Doubled over, Torment wavers and Ray follows up with a hard left and then a right, dropping Torment back to the mat. He follows Torment down, dropping hammer fists until Torment taps out.

The room stills. No one has ever beaten Torment on home ground before. And no one could have imagined the fight would be over in only one round. Finally someone claps. And then everyone is clapping and cheering. But Ray doesn’t take Shayla’s hand for the victory salute. Instead, he kneels beside Torment, says a few words, and pats him on the back. Then he leaves the cage, stepping to the side for Makayla to rush in with her medical kit.

“He’s not himself,” I say to Jess.

“Go talk to him. He needs you.”

I twist the ring she gave me around my finger. “What if he doesn’t want to see me?”

She gives my arm a squeeze. “Then I’ll be here to pick up the pieces. Just like you’ve always done for me.”

Chapter 14

Soothing the savage beast

“Sorry. Rules are rules. I can’t let you into the men’s changing room, and especially not the VIP area.” Rampage points to the bench. “You can wait there.”

“Is he alone?” My nails dig into my palm as I try to think of a way inside. If I wait until he comes out, it may be too late.

“Yeah. We closed the gym for the fight, and Torment’s in the first-aid room with Makayla so there’s no one else there.”

“Please.” I grab Rampage’s hand. “He shouldn’t be alone. I just want him to know I’m here.”

“I can tell—”

“Don’t make me beg. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

Rampage hesitates, then shakes his head. “Even if I was inclined to break the rules, it’s probably not safe for you right now. Never saw him so wound up before. That was a vicious fight.”

“I can take care of myself.” I sigh and throw down my only chip. “I could do a piece for you for free. Something on your arm. Maybe a symbol that represents your fight name…”

He mocks a frown. “Are you trying to bribe me?”

“Yes. Absolutely. Whatever it takes.”

A grin spreads across his face. “A bull. That’s what I want. With a ring through its nose.”

Relief washes through me and I have to hold back from giving him a hug. “You tell Rose when you want to come in.”

He pushes open the changing room door and his face softens. “I’ll be right here ’case you need me or ’case someone tries to get in.”

“Thanks.”

Rampage gives me a wink. “See ya, Sia.”

When I walk into the changing room, the scents of sweat and unwashed gym clothes make my nose wrinkle, but I forge ahead and find the VIP room through a red door at the top of a small flight of stairs. Clean and bright, and smelling faintly of sweat and lemon cleaner, it houses two rows of beige lockers, wide benches, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and shelves of fluffy towels.

Ray is at the back, facing away from me, a towel wrapped around his narrow hips. He must have just stepped out of the shower because his hair is wet, and the air is thick and fragrant with the sharp scent of the shower gel I have smelled on his skin.

Seemingly oblivious to my presence, he mumbles something to himself then pounds on the locker. The loud bang makes me gasp, and I step back into the door with a soft thud.