Fire and Ice

Chapter 9

Kaden

This basement was hot and stuffy and I wanted nothing more than to be anywhere else.

"That technique was bullshit." Dad spat angrily. "Go again."

I avoided shooting him my death glare and squared my shoulders. I attacked the punching bag with force, putting all of my anger into my kicks and punches.

Sweat dripped down my body as I moved. Dad circled me, studying my movements like a vulture studying the corpse it was about to devour.

I hated it, I hated him.

"Stop."

I stepped back, panting from the workout.

"If you fail me tonight, you will surely regret it, Kaden. I will not tolerate a loss."

"I haven't lost yet, have I?" I snapped.

"You would do well to keep your mouth shut around me, boy."

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to keep my mouth shut, as I was told.

"Tonight, you're going against Raymond. He is undefeated like you, and bigger."

"I can take him."

"You better." Dad moved toward the stairs. "You leave in five minutes."

I grabbed my water bottle and sprayed it over my head to cool myself down. I chugged the remaining water.

Underground fighting was tough on the body and mind. Especially when you didn't fight voluntarily.

My father had a love for violence, but he could never fight himself. So instead, he used me.

I started fighting when I was fourteen. The first fight, I broke my collar bone. I still had a scar from that lovely experience, and it reminded me of what could potentially happen to me if I lost again.

My phone beeped and I froze. Who could be messaging me? Mike knew not to message me on the weekends.

I finally grabbed my phone to read the text.

Ha. I found your number, Mr. Wolfe. There is no escape. - Alyssa Crane.

My lips twitched up in amusement but I quickly shoved it down as I responded.

How the hell did you get this number?

I'm super human, alright? It's magic, and it's a secret.

This girl was unbelievable. My own father didn't have my number, so how did she-? Mike. She somehow got past Mike.

Did you do something to Mike? Is that how?

Maybe, maybe not. See you on Monday, best friend.

I rolled my eyes, as I did a lot now when it concerned Alyssa. I grabbed my black duffle bag of my things and grabbed my car keys.

Most of my fights took place on the weekends, though I would fight every Tuesday and Thursday night.

If I hadn't gotten that detention on a Friday, I would more than likely be a black and blue mess from my dad's thugs. If not nearly dead.