The Chauffeur [Complete]

Chapter 47

Rade lied. He wasn't just good at fighting. He was amazing. I couldn't look away. Even if at moments, I desperately wanted to look away. Underground fighting is far more gruesome than I imagined.

Crowds of people stand around a huge caged ring, spewing vulgar insults and demands. The majority of people here were men. Men looking to bet money on who they think would win.

Several people chanted Rade's name, cheering louder whenever his fists made contact with his opponent. My face twisted when Rade landed a right hook to his opponent's rib cage.

Andi and I were standing with Ace near the front. You could practically hear the guy's ribs crack. I kind of wanted to throw up.

His opponent, I think he goes by "Ripper," stumbled before managing to get his fist in the air.

Ripper looked anything but. He was big but not as big as Rade. His body was free of any tattoos, -that I could see- and he had a mean mug on his face.

Rade didn't move. He let him strike him in his face. A tiny trail of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. His lip was busted. Just like before when I found out this is what he does when he's too angry and overwhelmed with emotions he doesn't want to deal with.

He smirked and licked the blood from his lip. I wasn't sure what was exchanged between them, but Rade's smirk had suddenly faded. His eyes soulless, and his fists balled tight. And right when Ripper tried to lunge again, Rade dodged and started pummeling him.

I thought maybe I knew what he was thinking about. His father. Maybe my ex-husband. But then it occurred to me that someone else was on his mind.

Seeing him like this was foreign to me. He appeared so unhinged despite how controlled his attacks were. He knew exactly where to target and when.

I caught a few people in the crowd. Some cheered and hollered. While others seemed confused and even a little concerned. It was clear this wasn't like him to take it this far with his opponents.

In all the time that I've known him, he's always kept himself under control. I've never even heard him raise his voice. And now he's beating this guy unconscious, blood splattered on his face and painted onto his hands.

"Something's wrong," I heard Ace say.

"Oh God," Andi said in horror. "He's going to kill him."

Ace pulled away from us, ordering us to stay where we were as he made his way closer to the ring.

What is going on?

What did that guy say to him?

Ace opened the door and slipped inside. He had a security guard with him. They both immediately rushed in and tore Rade off the guy.

Ace pushed Rade back, angrily shouting, "What the fuck? Calm down."

The security guard checked the guy's pulse. He nodded, and everyone cheered louder. Rade was declared the winner, and the fight was over.

It took three guards to carry the guy out. Ace said he was barely alive but would be fine once his doctors patched him up.

"I don't know what the fuck was going through your head," Ace said angrily at his friend.

After Rade cleaned up and changed into a pair of jeans, we went into Ace's office. We were trying to figure out what happened for Rade to snap the way he did.

"I paid him ten grand. Twice as much of what he would have gotten if he'd won." Ace paced the floor. "For fuck's sake, Rade. You almost killed him."

Rade held a bag of ice on his bruised hand, slowly bringing his gaze to me. He was still fuming with rage, though his eyes had softened when they settled on me. "You were right. This isn't healthy. So I'm done. No more fighting."