2
JACE'S POV
The thud of the huge man's body falling made me aware of the silence that now reigned in the circle of death.
Christopher, who also served as a referee, stepped cautiously into the ring, then began to make the customary ten seconds count.
"One, two..five…eight…"
A few men in the crowd desperate to see more fighting groaned.
"Oh, stand up and fight, you coward."
"Wrecking ball of failure."
"Is this your champion, Tennessee?"
The customary ten seconds count ended, and Christopher rushed to me, grabbing my right hand despite the fact that I reeked of blood, dirt and sweat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have our winner. The undisputed Jace Wilder, the people's champion, the man who defies the circle of death!"
I had just defeated one of the biggest opponents of my street fighting career.
All of a sudden, the entire basement broke into applause and cheers.
"Jace Wilder! That's our champion! I bet a hundred on you, Jace."
"You've just made me a hundred dollars richer, man. Thank you!"
I stared at the huge man before me, blood now seeping from the side of his head and onto the floor. There was no need to hit him again. Defeat was by knockout and the inability to arise after the count of ten, and he wasn't rising anytime soon.
I turned to Xander, who entered the circle as soon as Christopher dropped my hand. In his hand was a towel, and some water in a small bucket. Ice would've been preferable, but we needed every penny we could get.
There was no need wasting money on ice when water could be an alternative.
"My goodness, I didn't see that fight ending so quickly."
I began to untie the bloodied hand wraps as I allowed him to lead me out of the circle.
"It's all about strategy. All he wanted to do was hit me until I passed out, and all I wanted was one shot to send him to the floor. It's quite simple…"
Xander slapped my shoulder, a huge smile spreading across his face.
"Oh, to hell with your faux humility, Jace. You just defeated a champion from the streets of another region. Do you know what this means? More opportunities for us. You don't know who might be watching in the crowd. We might finally get that fighting contract we've been looking for."
I shrugged, trying not to get my hopes up.
When it turned out that my mother would never afford my college education, I had turned to street fighting. I made a good amount of cash on good nights, but some nights were bad.
For the past six years of my fighting, I hoped someone would notice.
A scout, perhaps. Someone who would spot my potential and gifts and take me pro. The UFC, or even the MMA.
But so far, no contract had come. A few scouts had watched me, but nothing yet.
I didn't let it make me stop though. I continued fighting, striving to get better. Hoping that it would all click one day.
And tonight wasn't any different.
"Well, first things first, let's get our own share of the dough."
Xander slapped my shoulder once again in excitement.
"Do you know how many bet against you? From the side of the circle, I heard people say no way you were going to beat a man that was twice your size. You didn't only do it, you did it in style."
I smiled hugely, unable to keep myself in check because of all the praises he was throwing my way.
"Oh, that's enough. It's just another day in the circle."
I greeted a few men from the crowd who approached me, congratulating me on my win. We made our way to Christopher's office, the only office in the mechanic workshop which served as a fighter's den on nights like these.
"Here you go. Your drink is on me. The people's champion."
I smiled, accepting the beer Xander offered, somewhat surprised.
We were so tight on finances that we hardly celebrated. A makeshift bar was created in the workshop where a drink vendor catered to the needs of the members of the crowd.
"Do we have enough for this?"
"Drink the fucking beer, Jace. For once in your life, spend some money."
Laughing wholeheartedly, I raised my bottle to his, smiling widely when I heard the clink.
"Here's to me not getting my head smashed in by that giant of a man."
At that same moment, Christopher came towards us from the circle. My bout had been the last fight for the night.
He grinned at me as he retrieved his keys from his pocket, then opened the door.
"Jace. You proved everybody in this place wrong once again. You're one hell of a fighter, boy. I'll give you that."
"Thank you, Christopher. I was only doing my job."
Christopher's office was small. It smelt strongly of grease, and as if to confirm anybody's suspicions that doubted what he was, his soiled mechanic coveralls hung at the wall behind his table.
He settled onto his chair, then opened the bag he had been carrying.
"Let's get another round of beer, guys, shouldn't we? To celebrate your win."
I shrugged cheerfully, smiling at my good fortune. Christopher wasn't the most generous of men, and it was only on nights like these that you knew he had made a ton of money.
An attendant brought the sweaty beers minutes later, and I wiped my hands in anticipation as I dropped the now empty bottle that Xander had bought earlier.
"Good, good. Drink, boys. You've defeated everybody on these streets that we have to find new champions from other regions from you. You're becoming a superstar, boy."
I grinned, scratching the back of my neck.
"Now, let's talk about your pay."
I nodded, glancing at Xander, who seemed to share my anticipation as well.
"As you know, it's fifty fifty. But there's a new development."
I raised an eyebrow in surprise as the beer in my mouth went bland.
"For a while now, I've had to take care of the cops alone. Do you know what it means to host a fight of this magnitude? We disturb the neighbors. And in order to turn a blind eye, we need to grease the hands of the patrol officers…"
"So what are we saying?" Xander interrupted impatiently.
The smile on Christopher's face only annoyed me further.
"Seventy thirty, boys. That's what I'm offering, starting from today."