The Subtle Art of Love and War

Chapter 38: The Pit

"Hey, you just missed a turn," I say, frowning. I know how annoying that is having someone tell you what to do while you're driving but we just fucking missed a turn!

"The fight's not at the new club babe. It's at one of our first bars," he says without glancing my way and making a turn.

"Oh, and why is that?"

"Tonight's a special fight. Invites only," he explains but it only makes me more confused.

"I thought the club's already exclusive as it is?" I ask.

"I mean, yeah. But every now and then, we host these fights that are extremely exclusive. Only for the higher ranking, most powerful members of the club. It's just a small circle of twenty and these fights only happen if two of these twenty men agree to fight each other," he further explains. The way the words tumble from his lips is like how he'd sound while he's explaining how a business merger works. Straight to the point. Business-like. No bullshit.

Normally, I'd be quite turned on hearing him talk like this but that isn't the case now. As I listen to him explain this upper and inner circle of the fight club's hierarchy, all I could think about is who the hell are these people and what makes them entitled to this kind of privilege.

"So you're invited to this fight?"

"Yes, baby."

Which means he's part of this inner circle.

"And what about me? Will it be okay if you bring me to this, as you put it, extremely exclusive fight?" I ask nervously.

His hand squeezes mine in reassurance as he throws me a quick glance. "Of course, love. You're with me. And Christopher already knows you so I don't think that would be a problem."

"Oh, okay," I say, my voice just above a whisper as my mind races with thoughts of the man Hero introduced me after the second and last fight I saw at the new club. Felix introduced him as the man who started the fight club. He was definitely creepy and if Hero and Felix weren't there with us, I'd have a huge problem just by being in the same room as him. I'm also reminded by the way Hero looked so anxious for me to go along with everything he was saying to Christopher and I am nowhere near letting that go.

Minutes pass as Hero weaves through traffic until he makes one last turn, entering a basement carpark. I'm quite impressed by the variety of high-end and sports cars parked around us, as well as big bikes. Obviously, this is where the members of this inner circle park their cars. But where's the bar?

Hero leads me to a door revealing two flights of stairs and when we reach the top of the first flight, there's a closed metal door. "This door leads directly to the ring but it's still fairly early so let's meet Felix at the bar upstairs and get some drinks, babe," he tells me, proceeding up the second flight of stairs as I follow behind him, my eyes drifting back to the metal door.

We reach the top of the second flight where there's a very normal looking wooden door and I could hear faint jazz music playing from the other side of it. He opens it up, gesturing for me to go ahead of him as he closes the door behind us. His arm snakes around my lower back, pulling me close to him while we make our way through the tables and chairs. I roam my eyes around the dimly lit bar. It's a good-sized bar. It has two sections-one where there are normal tables and high-backed chairs going around in a U shape then it's cut off by a few steps down where there are lounges, couches and tables surrounding the 360-degree bar where two bartenders are busy tending to the patrons' and customers' drink orders. The focal point of the bar is the stage where a jazz band is currently playing.

"FT! So glad you could make it tonight man," Felix raises his voice and hand for us. He's sitting on the huge white couch right in front of the band and when we get close enough to him, I see that he isn't alone. He's joined by Christopher and two other men, both of whom are aged close to Felix and Hero. I have half a mind wondering who these men are as relief washes over me knowing that Felix hasn't involved Katherine and I hope it stays this way.