Hidden Depths

Chapter 12 - Fearless Fighter

Trixy was in full Muddiva mode and Muddiva was on form. Once again the crowd loved her showmanship and, as she pushed her final opponent's face into the mud, Nikolai pounced into the spotlight to loudly laud her performance.

Rich was in the wings waiting for his bout. As usual, he was last to fight so he and Brodie had spent the evening so far peeking through the curtains to watch the girls do their thing. He loved watching them fight, but couldn't help himself from stealing jealous glances at Layla, who was, as normal, looking amazing.

Tonight she was hosting her richest guest so far and was wearing unusually high heels with a sparkling silver dress. Her long dark hair was down, displaying its full silky glory. She looked like a different girl to the one who had taken Muddiva down with a double kong-vault dropkick eight months earlier. Although Rich was now used to seeing her on a near daily basis, she still never failed to take his breath away.

The man who was sitting next to Layla was looking as happy as Rich had on the first night he met her. Rich could tell that the man realised he was sitting next to the best-looking woman in the club, but he didn't think he knew that he was also sitting at the top of Rich's hit list. Rich and Layla were still only friends, but it took him a great deal of willpower not to just march out there and flatten the smug-looking git. Brodie interrupted Rich's fantasy to ask if he had met the guest fighter that Nikolai had brought this evening.

'Nope, I tell you one thing, though, Rich replied. 'I do think they've been getting tougher each time.'

'Yeah, I suppose they have, I've never seen someone take a punch like that last guy. It's a good job you've picked up a few grappling moves along the way, or else you'd have been hitting that one all night.'

Brodie could tell that Rich was a bit nervous and changed tack. 'Still, as long as this one keeps it in the ring,' he said, 'it's such bad form when the new guys ignore the rules.'

Rich smiled as he remembered his first fractious fight, when he'd dragged Gazza out of the ring by his ankles.

'They deserved everything they got,' said Rich, 'and I didn't hear Kappa and Gazza complaining when Nikolai cut them in on his winnings.'

Only Rashid, Layla, Trixy and Nikolai had backed Rich that night, and the four of them had made an absolute fortune.

'Speaking of those two,' Rich continued, 'how are you feeling about going up against Gazza again?'

Brodie hadn't fought the vicious little nutter since Rich's first night.

'Piece of cake, he hasn't had you as a sparring partner for the last eight months,' Brodie replied.

'Yeah, those muscles of yours aren't just about beach body beautiful anymore, are they big man?' Rich grinned.

Nikolai was back in the spotlight now and running through Brodie's standard 'ladies' favourite' introduction.

'Well, looks like it's time to put them to the test again,' said Brodie, kissing his guns with a grin. Then he stood up straight as Rich moved out of his way.

'My public awaits,' he said as the curtains were pulled open and he raised an arm to acknowledge the crowd.

'Give him hell,' said Rich encouragingly as Brodie stepped out and made his way towards the ring.

***

Rich was surprised when he didn't hear Gazza's usual gory, gritty and grievous introduction. Instead, Nikolai's tone was even more excited than normal.