Fight for Her #4: MMA New Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense by JJ Knight

listening to his trainer’s last words too. Definitely more tired.
    The ref motions for us.
    One more round.
    This fight isn’t about winning or losing now. It’s just about the clock, the minutes ticking down. It’s about honor and pride and doing what you set out to do.
    Viper taps my gloves with his. That’s one thing that feels different. It’s almost as though he’s on my side. That neither of us is out to embarrass the other, or trash a career. We’re here to entertain a crowd with athleticism and intensity, to do what they would never dare to do themselves.
    For the first time in the cage, I realize this isn’t just about me. It’s about the sport. And I know I’ve made the right decision to take this to my personal max.
    The round begins.
    Viper hesitates so I come out swinging. He defends, circling the way we’ve trained for years to do on the Muay Thai bags. Six years I’ve been doing this. And just now do I get why.
    I’m an athlete. I’m here to perform.
    I back off for a moment, winded. Viper comes at me with a takedown move. He wants to go to the floor again, probably to catch his breath, maybe try for a pin.
    No way.
    I wrestle out of his grasp and get a few feet away. As soon as he’s upright, I attack again. I know Brazen has said to wait until 4:30, but I think I have to do it now.
    Viper’s defense is still solid, but slow. I speed up, get ahead of his blocks, and now his face is taking the beating mine got in round one.
    I know the minute he gives. It’s a sense I have that the balance of power has shifted. I haven’t been stronger or faster or delivered harder hits.
    I’ve just wanted it more than he has.
    Viper rallies for a few seconds, sweeping my legs with a kick that almost brings me down.
    But I don’t go.
    And when I come back around, I show no mercy. The crowd is frantic again, and I feed on their energy. I hear Lily in my head as my jabs strike him. Pow pow pow .
    But I don’t crack a smile.
    Viper goes down, but I know I can’t stop. Not yet. Not until the ref calls it.
    And Viper won’t tap out, calling the match himself. Not on his last match in the league. I wouldn’t either.
    He wants to go down fighting. Go out bested by somebody, not by quitting.
    For the sport. For a good show. For honor.
    I give him elbows. I give him jabs.
    The ref pulls me back.
    He’s called it.
    I’ve won.
    Viper rolls over for a second. The crowd is insane, jumping and screaming. Brazen runs into the cage, waving his arms and hollering.
    I look around as the house lights go up over the arena and I can see everyone now. Green and silver ticker tape falls over the crowd in a sparkle of color. My colors. This is really something. The big time.
    Viper comes over and the ref gets between us. He takes one of each of our hands. Then he lifts only mine in the air, signaling the win.  
    The crowd noise surges again. The president of the league is here, and he comes in to shake my hand and lift my other arm. It’s a move to show that he’s going to usher me into the league, that I will fight for him.
    Maybe.
    After a hundred photo flashes, the president lets go. It’s the moment I’ve pictured, and Brazen passes me the ring box. But Colt comes up alone. No Maddie. No Lily.
    No moment.
    Brazen talks to the league guy. The ring girl circles the cage. Colt strides up to me. “She’s still here. She just didn’t want the publicity,” he says.
    Actually, that makes sense.
    She’s a smart woman.
    I palm the box.
    The right moment will come.
    We head back down the red carpet and to the back. Doc leads me into the dressing room. “Let’s clean you up enough that your daughter doesn’t think you’re the monster under her bed.”
    I laugh at this. “She’s not afraid of those.”
    “Then you’ve raised her right,” he says.
    Have I?
    He does his thing while I sit on a stool. Brazen is crazed, running around and jumping on furniture. I’ve never seen him like this.
    Colt comes over.