The Imperishable Flame⎪✓

❨27❩

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Waiting for Dakota outside the underground building, I feel myself getting excited for tonight. I asked her after our adventure in the woods if she wanted to join me for a fight. Now Friday is here and she should turn the corner within the next minute or so. It surprised me how willingly she agreed, but I'll fucking take it. Anything to have her here with me, I've convinced myself I fight better with her in the room. At least when I'm prepared that she'll be there.

Her silver Mercedes drives into the parking lot and she parks closest to me, this is a dark area and I don't want her out here alone. She stubbornly denied me when I offered to come and pick her up, this is the next best thing. 

She steps out of the car and I'm completely struck by the sight of her. Her tight black jeans hug her beautiful curves, a silky black top with a lace rimmed at the top tucked into the fitted jeans, the leather jacket she has in her hands compliments her black heeled boots and all of that with her curls falling down perfectly. She's fucking stunning.

After locking the car, she comes in my direction and my feet move on their own accord, grabbing her head softly my lips land on hers. I'm not able to control myself. She seems surprised, but kisses me back a second later, her delicate hands grab my wrists and her lips move against mine with as much passion. 

Pulling away lightly, I smile down at her, "You're beautiful."

She smiles at me, grabbing my hand she walks with me towards the stairs, "And you're getting soft, Lij."

I laugh at her reaction and squeeze her hand lightly, "Only for you, love."

We walk down the long flight of stairs, she hasn't let go of my hand and I find myself wanting to stay like this. It's crazy how much she's changed since high school and yet she still has that fiery side to her that I adore. There is nothing sexier than a strong woman and Dakota is exactly that. 

Stepping into the building, I hide beneath my hoodie and guide her away from the crowd. The fight will start in a minute or two and I have to be behind those two doors before Simon, the referee, calls my name. My hand is tightly clutched in hers as her widened eyes search the huge crowd for tonight, it's a big fight which is part of the reason why I want her here. 

Finally reaching the doors to the hallway, we step inside and shut it behind us. I don't have the time to grab my stuff from the room, but I will manage and win anyway. My opponent isn't the biggest guy, he is approximately my size, his speed is going to be the reason for me losing. I refuse to lose though.

My eyes meet Dakota's as she gives me a small smile, "Thank you for being here tonight."

She waves me off, "Of course I'm here if you want me to be, even though my heart is in my throat from the very thought of seeing you fight again."

I squeeze her hand lightly and let go of it, preparing to walk into the storm of people, "You have nothing to worry about."

"And yet I do it anyway," She teases with a playful glint in her eyes. 

I smile at her and pull her in for a small kiss, the surprise is clear on her face when I pull away, "For good luck, now I'll most definitely win."

"Bullet!" Simon screams through the speakers and the doors open in front of us. I start my walk towards the ring and ensure that Dakota follows, I made sure to save her a seat next to my corner and I already explained to her where it is, fittingly so, she sits down in that exact spot and I step into the ring. My opponent is already standing in his corner, smirking at me and raising his eyebrows at Dakota behind me. Of course, this is the cheapest move they do down here. 

Something in his eyes makes me wary, I'm used to these pathetic tactics, but something doesn't sit right with me, at all. My eyes meet Dakota's over my shoulder and she gives me a supportive smile, the sight of her here makes me doubt my decision of inviting her. This guy has something up his sleeve and I won't fucking be here for it. 

Simon blows his whistle and the two of us scan each other, daring to be the first one to move and risk missing the target. He takes the first step and I block his right fist, my right one punching him straight in his gut. The sight of his hunched over body weirds me out, this is too easy. He lazily tries to deliver another blow to my face and I twist his hand away before punching him straight on his nose. Blood drops down from his face and covers his lips, Simon hates the mess from blood so he calls the round and urges him to get cleaned up. 

I sit down in my corner and stare straight at my opponent, he talks to his coach in a very low tone, and his eyes immediately cut to my stomach as a smirk falls onto his face. Once again, I have this fucking weird feeling in my gut, this is stupid, he's up to something. No way am I reading him this way without him having some sick plan with me. 

Simon urges us closer and we meet in the middle where he begins the second round, we circle each other as the bad feeling eats up at me. This is wrong. My thoughts distract me as he lands a punch on my face, the shock makes me aware as I look at him. He pretends to aim for my head, but instead, he redirects in the last second. His fist makes rough contact with my ribs, the sound of a bone breaking roars through the air as I fall onto the floor. Gripping the fucking painful force in my stomach I know exactly what he did. 

Word must've been distributed and he knows about me breaking my ribs a few months back, this is some crazy shit. Simon calls the fight, but my opponent isn't done as his foot suddenly connects with the same area on my stomach. We aren't fucking allowed to kick, bitch ass move. The force of his kick makes me fly backward, suddenly it's hard for me to breathe. The pain screams in my stomach and I gasp for breath, willing oxygen to go into my lungs again. Nothing fucking helps. 

My mind slowly drowns in a heavy layer of fog and I see Dakota run in my direction, her eyes are frightened and it pains me that I'm scaring her like this. Simon squats down next to me, the concern is written all over his features, "We need to get you to the hospital, son."

"I'll take him," Dakota says when she grabs my hand. Her eyes look at Simon, "Help him into my car now, please."