Always (Next Generation The Skulls 1)

“We’ve got to get married now,” Simon said. Tabitha laughed, and they both ran to their fathers, holding up the roses. “We’ve got to. We’ve got to.”

She shook her head and stepped back right next to Daisy.

“We all know the rules about fighting in the Quad,” the man said who’d marched him right across to this little stadium.

He looked out across the audience.

“It seems we have a new pretty face to mess up, but I warn you, he’s with The Skulls, so I’m guessing you’re one fierce motherfucker.”

“I’m a Chaos.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m part of Chaos Bleeds, I’m not a Skull. My girl is though and anyone who calls her a slut deals with me.”

“So, you heard the man. Who would like to give this punk a lesson? No fighting unless it’s earning money.”

There were cheers from the audience.

Movement across the way caught his eye, and he saw the other guy who’d been the leader back there but hadn’t stopped his boy.

“Well, well, well, this is exciting. Our very own Luke from the Monster Dogs. You guys better get your bets going. This is going to be one fierce fucking fight.”

Luke climbed into the ring and started to remove his jacket and shirt.

“You want to fuck me, is that it?”

“Are you braindead? It’s how the fights are.” Luke glared at him.

“Your jacket and shirt,” Tabby said, drawing his attention.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Hey.”

“Kiss me for good luck?” he asked.

She climbed up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him hard. Cheers and more dirty talk were spewed their way.

“Okay, enough,” the guy said. “If we start shooting a gang bang, we’ll let you up, but we’re not shooting porn, we’re fighting.”

Simon stepped away from his woman and took a step toward his opponent. He looked at Luke but he hadn’t covered his expression. The fucker watched Tabby and Simon understood his look more than anything. This piece of shit wanted his girl. Oh, he was in for a rude awakening. No fucking way was he ever going to allow him.

“You stare at me. Not at my girl.”

“Your girl’s got a pretty ass.”

“Don’t kill each other,” the guy said.

Simon rammed Luke, throwing him to the floor. “She doesn’t even look at you.” He raised his fist, about to land a blow, but Luke blocked it.

Climbing off him, he stood, tense, waiting for the next hit, but Luke just smiled. Back on their feet, the humor was still on his opponent’s face, and he didn’t like it. He wanted to completely rub it out, get rid of it.

“Are you worried that she’ll stray? A little curious to see if she’d rather have me than you?”

“Fucker.” He attacked. Luke blocked him and even as Luke tried to take a shot at him, he dodged it.

As he stepped back, the crowd went silent.

They were equally matched.

“I know my girl. I’ve known her since we were kids. You think I’m going to fuck that up? She’ll be my old lady, by my side, carrying my kids. Not you. Never you.” He lashed out, finally landing a blow.

Luke got a shot into his lower ribs.

It was on.

Hit for hit.

They didn’t kick.

A face blow.

A kidney shot. Neither of them admitted defeat and they blocked each other with equal shots.

The guy who’d been leading the fight came back onto the stadium as they were circling each other.

“It looks to me like we are equally matched and I don’t know about you guys, but I find this all boring. We’ll call this a draw.”

The crowd cheered, especially those who would have earned money from it.

He wanted to kill.

“Come in, boys, show great sportsmanship.”

Simon stepped in close, holding out his hand. Luke took it. They squeezed hard.

“I guess I’ll be seeing you in school,” Simon said, winking at him.

“I can’t wait.”

Stepping out of the stadium, he moved toward his girl’s side, taking her into his arms. He kissed her hard, driving it home that she belonged to him.

Rather than accept his kisses, she stepped back. “Don’t ever do that,” she said.

“What?”

“Use me like that to mark your territory. I belong to you, Simon. Have for a long time, but don’t ever make me feel cheap.” She went to Daisy. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“Tabby,” he said.

She held up her middle finger in a fuck you.

Pulling on his shirt and jacket, he followed The Skulls out into the night. He didn’t realize he and Luke had been fighting for a good half an hour. No wonder the crowd was bored.

“Aren’t you guys going to fight?” he asked, following Miles, Markus, Simon, and Anthony.

“You fought for us.” Miles spoke up when no one else did.

“I’m not a Skull.”

“Coming to the Quad with us, you are. You want to keep saying that shit how you’re a Chaos, go back home. When you’re here hanging with us, you’re one of us. End of discussion. You should be lucky we’re not sending your ass right on back home,” Miles said.