Free On the Ropes 2: Insidious Obsession by Michelle Cary

lifted a hand. “Okay.” She motioned Amber on.
    Amber emerged into the arena, and the crowd cheered. In the month she’d been here, she’d really begun to win over the fans. Hopefully, they’d still like her after tonight.
    She walked toward the ring, slapping hands with the fans along the way. Dressed in her typical two piece blue paisley ring gear, Scarlett waited for her inside the ring with Maverick and Reed Ryder lurking on the outside. The Ryders were another of the many three person teams management put together in their bid to offer something different than their competition. Only this was a singles match between Amber and Scarlett, which meant currently she was outnumbered. The urge to look up and scan the crowd nearly overpowered her. Cole and company were somewhere within the sea of people waiting for their cue. She just needed to keep her cool and stick to the script.
    Amber stepped into the ring, and Scarlett made some rude comments for those fans close enough to hear. Then the ref started the match. For several minutes the girls exchanged blows. Amber clotheslined Scarlett, only to have her opponent leg sweep her. Amber hopped to her feet, and Scarlett ran at her. She ducked, turned, and kicked Scarlett in the stomach on her return. Scarlett bent forward, giving Amber the perfect opportunity to hook her arm around the woman and perform a perfect bulldog finisher.
    She went for the cover, only to have Maverick grab her by the leg and pull her off. Playing her part, she turned and stared at Maverick with a look of shock on her face. Scarlett grabbed her by the hair, and Amber let out a scream. That was the cue.
    The Tribunal music began to play, and everyone froze as Cole and Jason appeared from one side of the stage and Logan on the other. With her broken arm Lexi had been ordered to steer clear of the ring. Much to Amber’s surprise, it appeared that for once her friend was actually listening. Of course, it was always possible that Logan had duct-taped her to a chair to ensure she followed orders.
    Trying to look sufficiently frightened at their appearance, Amber waited in the ring as the men raced down around the ring to attack Maverick and Reed. It didn’t take long for the men to make quick work of the Ryder brothers. Then they climbed up on the apron. Cole motioned to Amber.
    Once again playing her role, she looked apprehensive as she slowly walked toward the three men. Cole reached out, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her to them. He made exaggerated motions with his arms as he told her loudly to finish Scarlett.
    Jason and Logan both nodded their heads and motioned for Amber continue with the match. Amber glanced to her opponent and back. “Get her. Show her what revenge feels like,” Cole yelled.
    Amber turned and launched herself at Scarlett, taking her to the mat. She beat on her opponent, making it appear as if she was hitting Scarlett about the head and face.
    Finally she pulled back and stepped away from Scarlett, who didn’t move. Amber glanced at Cole, waiting for her cue. He climbed into the ring, followed by Logan and Jason. Cole moved in behind Amber, took her hand in his, and raised it above her head. “Long live The Tribunal,” he yelled to the crowd.
    “Long live The Tribunal,” Logan and Jason repeated.
    “Say it,” Cole prompted, and Amber glanced from him to where Scarlett still lay. She looked up at her hand, then over to Logan and Jason. A slow grin claimed her features. “Long live The Tribunal,” she yelled. The crowd went wild, reminding her of why she’d chosen this sport. Everything she said and did meant something to the fans, and she loved the immediate response they gave, the passion they carried.
    She made her way out of the ring along with her new team. Cole wrapped an arm around her, and together they started toward the back. Logan and Jason followed close behind. Fans cheered and others booed; some even yelled at Amber not to do it. Their passion and