I catch his attention by letting my fists fly out for his face and he easily swats them away. Then I fall swiftly to my knees and punch his right knee cap twice before flipping backwards and jumping to my feet.
I watch as he lifts himself up from his knees and flashes me a grin. He runs at me and I lift my hands up to protect my face. He punches me once, the blow landing to my forearm and the pain reverberating up to my shoulder. I falter on my feet when his second punch finds purchase to my left cheek.
The force of the blow has me hitting the mat again and my blood flooding my mouth. I spit it out and watch as the red colour soaks into the mat. I can’t help the grin that takes over my mouth as I try to stand to my feet. His foot comes out and connects with my stomach before I get the chance. Once again, I’m on my back and gasping for air.
I take in air as I feel the mat vibrate with the force of his footsteps, I Kip-Up back to my feet and dodge his fist. My fist comes out and connects with his left ear, then I’m behind him, and my foot kicks out, meeting his lower back.
He stumbles forward but remains on his feet. He swings around quickly and his elbow connects with my left cheek again and I feel the skin split. I’m not sure what exactly triggers it, maybe the slow trickle of blood, or the pain that’s jarring through my head but I roar as I jump and punch him once on the right cheek and then three more quick blows to the soft spot just under his ribs.
He stumbles again and falls to one knee. I rush forward as I feel the blood drip off my chin and roundhouse kick him. My foot connects with his temple and he falls face down to the mat.
I roll him over and he startles, his hands coming up to his face. Before I know it, I’m straddling his midsection and pummeling his face with my fists.
I hear my name being screamed and it breaks through the red fog. I look up and see my family lined up against the cage and it’s Travis’ voice that filters through.
“Ember! It’s done!” He says.
I look down at The Bishop and his face is a bloody pulpy mess but his chest moves. The fucker is still alive.
I get off him and shake his blood off my fists. I can hear the crowd roaring and the MC trying to scream something over the noise, but I don’t care.
I want out of this cage and into Vin’s arms.
“He wants to talk to you.” Carm tells me when I finally leave my room.
Vin had to butterfly bandage my cheek and my ribs are sore as fuck.
“Why?” I ask Carm.
“I’m not sure but he says it’s important. I’ll have a guard inside with you.”
“That’s unnecessary.” I wave Carm off.
“Ember…” he begins his warning but I’m ahead of him and walking towards the room I know The Bishop is in.
“Em.” Vin calls out. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
I nod and turn the corner to where the room door is. Without bothering to knock, I open the door and enter the room.
He’s sitting on the bed and his face looks like a mottled work of purple and blues.
“I remembered what the sight of blood did for you.” His voice is deep. “Forgive me for hitting you but I needed a fair fight.”
“You wanted to talk?” I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the door.
“Yeah,” he nods. “I know what happened the first night we fought, I’m sorry.”
I nod but words escape me. Talking to him propels me back to that night and I feel all the overwhelming sadness and despair.
“I also know it was Raphael. When I was brought on here as a fighter, he was still in jail and I never met him. I heard stories of his ruthless personality and disregard for life. I came here not to fight you but I knew it was the only way to get you to listen to me. Don’t trust a Torres, none of them.”
“I’m a Torres, Bishop.”
“My name is Johnny.” He says and groans as he grips his jaw. “I know what you are and it’s not a Torres. You are not like them.”
“Who?” I walk forward. “Who’s them? I only know Emmett and Carm.”
“I don’t mean the bloodline. I mean this whole organization. Everything under this roof and beyond is Torres. I came here because I heard you were back and I heard how you were connected to this place. I wanted to warn you.”
I can’t say I understand what the fuck he’s talking about but a part of me has already come to this same conclusion. I already know who I can and can’t trust. At least, I’m almost there.
“Thank you.” I nod.
"Here." He holds out a card. "It's my number if you need me. I'm part of a large network of hired muscle. If you need an army, I can bring one."
I stride forward and take the card. "While Raphael was in jail, did you spend much time here at the base?"
"I was here for fights and sometimes called in for meetings. Why?"
I pull out my phone and find the picture of my grandparents. I hold it out to him and point to my grandfather.
"Do you recognize him?"
He takes my phone from my hand and scrutinizes the photo. "No."
I reach out to take the phone when he says, "but this woman is slightly familiar. There's something in her face that reminds me of someone but I don't think it was here
