“You didn’t give her a chance.” I crack my knuckles. “Let’s take this shit to the mat.
“Gladly,” Mean spits.
Ruthie grips the back of my cut.
I place a hand on her hip. “I got this.” He might be twice my size, but I’m fast, accurate, and pack a hell of a punch. Every time I look at him, all I can see is Ruthie being pressed into a wall. “You okay?” I ask.
“I’m fine,” she says.
I follow behind Mean, pulling her with me.
The crowd parts for the large brother like the red sea. Murmurs go up, giving off a low hum that sounds like the buzzing of bees.
“Whoa. What the fuck is going on?” Shadow asks appearing beside me.
“This brother thought it was okay to disrespect, man-handle, and insult my Old Lady, so I’m going to show him differently.”
“Jesus, did you see the size of him?” Echo asks flanking us.
“You think I’m going to get my ass kicked at my own party, boys?” I ask.
“I think it’s about to get bloody,” Shadow says.
Mean slips off his cut when he reaches the ring and I follow suit. “Hold this and stay here,” I say to Ruthie. I glance at Shadow and Echo. “Watch her?”
“Of course.”
Stone walks up to me. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Mean pushed up on my girl and tried to tell me how to handle my household.”
Stone snickers. “Only you would get into this shit at your own dammed celebration. Some days, I think we should’ve named your ass Trouble.”
I tap my forehead with my fist. “No, I’m pretty sure Skull was dead on.”
Stone chuckles as he climbs into the ring and looks at us both as he raises his voice, “You know the rules, no hitting below the belt and your beef stays in the ring when you leave.”
I climb in through the ropes then roll my shoulders and neck, shaking out my arms to loosen up. I’m tense and too pissed to think strategically. I need to compartmentalize. Boxing as about timing and accuracy as much if not more than it is strength and endurance. I do footwork as I eye Mean. He cracks his knuckles and sends me the death stare I’m sure is the last thing many a person sees in their lifetime.
He comes out of his corner like Andre the Giant, large, imposing, and slow. I dance around him. His swings and I dodge. We begin our dance. He lands a solid right hook. My head snaps back. The skin on my cheek opens. I absorb the blow and take the opening he leaves with a left right jab combo which I end with an upper cut.
He spits out blood.
Not the easy mark you thought, huh? He steps forward and it turns into a slugfest. Left, rights, and body shots are delivered in a furious blurry. I avoid what I can, landing at every opportunity. My sides protest, my left eye is swollen and my hands ache.
Mean is looking black and blue, so I know I’m not the only one in pain.
“That’s enough, brothers,” Shadow calls out.
We lower our fists.
Stone climbs back into the ring and gets between us. “Bump fists and leave whatever grievance you had here.”
We bump fists and he gives me a reluctant nod. I see respect on his face. I go back to my corner and find Ruthie looking at me with lust darkened eyes. Blood thirsty?
“You did that for me?”
“Mine ain’t you? I take care of my shit.” She helps me slip into my cut. I peer down at her and she gives me a smile I can’t decipher.