Free Slam: A Bad Boy Romance by Leah Holt Page B

couldn't put out.
    Gripping the neck of my shirt, I pulled it over my head and tossed it to the side. Steel grunted, his vocalization sounded more animalistic than human.
    I couldn't help but laugh. When the chuckle rolled from my lips, the Macro shot a glance at me as he slid between the ropes. Kicking my sneakers off, my bare feet hit the cold surface.
    It was dejavu, bringing me back to my roots, to that day, that time; the one I had tried so hard to forget.
    Shaking my head vigorously, I pushed the images from my mind. I need to be here. Right here-right now. There's no time for that shit.
    The bell sounded, my eyes frozen on Steel. His hands held up, palms open. I watched him move, every limb and where it was.
    His feet hit the thin pad below, crossing over each other slowly. A thick scar tapered across his chest, muscles contracting as he inched towards me.
    I was going to let him come to me, I never go in first.
    “Afraid, asshole?” Steel said. The raspy growl was faint beneath the energy surrounding us.
    “Not in the least.” My hand came up and gestured for him to come in, make his move.
    His face contorted, eyes glazed over. A loud snarl escaped his breath as he charged me, arms stretched out, aiming for my throat.
    This guy was bulky, moving awkwardly across the ring, running at me like a drunken gorilla.
    Quickly, I slapped his arms away, sliding a foot out to trip him. Steel hit the ground, the mat vibrated from his weight.
    His face turned a bright shade of red, eyes popping out with rage. Pushing up from the floor, he wiped the debris off his arms, a mix of dirt and old flesh.
    I wasn't supposed to be here, I wasn't supposed to ever step foot into a ring again.
    Yet, here I was, staring down the barrel of a gun, holding it to my own head.
    Outside, I was fighting with this man; inside, my own demons clawed to be set free, tearing at the surface with the intent to hurt.
    Steel let out a gut wrenching howl, his head cocked back as he charged, one fist pulled back, ready to strike.
    Dodging his blow, I buried my knee into his stomach. His yell was muted as the air was driven from his lungs. My elbow quickly followed, connecting with the back of his head. The deafening crack silenced the onlookers, hushed mouths dropped to the floor.
    Steel fell hard. As he pressed himself up, my heel drove into his face. Gripping his nose, blood poured from behind his fingers.
    I wanted to step back, let him climb to his feet.
    But, I didn't.
    As he rolled to his back, I leaped onto his chest, my fists raining down on him. One after the other, all the pent up rage and hatred I've felt over the years was thrown onto this one man.
    It felt like I was looking at myself from inside a soundproof box. Trying to stop myself, I screamed as loudly as I could, but heard nothing.
    His arms fell limp, body still; and my fists continued to fall. The color red glowed from behind my lids, deafening thuds impinging my ears.
    A set of hands fell over my shoulder, gripping tightly. The voice a murmur at first, began to fill my ear. “He's out! He's out! Stop!”
    My chest heaved, the painful oxygen filled my lungs. Each rib cracked beneath the pressure, my heart pounding so heavily it radiated through my bones.
    Looking up, Cadence stood beside me. Her hand was shaking against my shoulder, eyes gazing down on me as wide as the moon.
    Lifting to my feet, I peered down at Steel. The man now unrecognizable, bloody and battered. I couldn't believe what had happened.
    I lost control, lost sense of myself. I dismissed my rational thoughts to let him up, to let him regain himself. My primal being took over, all my anger was pushed onto him.
    Shrugging her off my shoulder, my head hung low and I stormed out of the ring. Walking swiftly towards the door, a mirror hung on the wall. My reflection caught my eye as I passed by.
    Droplets of blood spattered my skin, trails ran down my chest. Bringing my hands up, painted in red, the warmth had faded to a