and they’ve barely begun. Thanks to my weekly summons from my dad to the school office before therapy, I also know Mr. Student Council was accused of peddling Adderall last week. He swings with gritted teeth and manages to clock his opponent in the chin. The other guy stumbles back a step to regroup, then comes in with a quick one-two jab to Student Council’s weakly guarded center.
The underground fighting is about letting out aggression. The betting is fun, but hardly any of us need the money. Ridgeview is a town that hit it rich in the gold rush era and the sun’s been shining down on us since.
Devlin snorts, the sound dark and amused as Student Council successfully takes down his larger opponent, using speed against strength to maneuver the force of gravity on his side. The bigger guy goes down and Student Council wails on him, blood staining his teeth from a split lip, pure murderous rage blazing in his eyes.
It’s violent, unhinged, and fucking glorious.
Landry steps into the ring and blows on a whistle clenched between his teeth. Grabbing Student Council’s wrist and wrenching it into the air, he barks, “Winner. Next challenger in the ring in two minutes, or you forfeit your buy-in.”
The crowd shuffles, waiting for the next person to step forward. Once they do, another match starts. Student Council goes down in two hits, knocked out and sprawled in the dirt.
As the following fighter enters the clearing, my phone goes off in my back pocket. Devlin exchanges a curious glance with me as I step away from the crowd. The name on the screen has me grinding my teeth. Mom.
I debate not taking it, feeling a muscle jump in my cheek from how hard my jaw locks. If I ignore it, she’ll only hound me once I get home. Big fat FML either way. What a pain in the ass.
“I’ve gotta take this. I’ll be back,” I tell Devlin before I jog away from the party. Lifting the phone to my ear, I answer, “What?”
“Is that any way to answer your mother, Connor?”
“I could’ve not answered,” I say dismissively as I pass the cars where some people are still hanging out and talking, and head for the old storage building.
“Where are you? It sounded loud when you answered.” The judgement is clear in her tone.
Rolling my eyes and scrubbing a palm over my face, I lean against the rusty corrugated metal siding, kicking at the weeds popping out of the gravel at my feet. “People from school. We’re hanging out at a friend’s house.”
She hums on the line, uppity even in her non-verbal communication. That socialite upbringing always shines best when she’s disappointed by whatever way I’m embarrassing her now.
I don’t have all night for this. “What do you want?”
“Have you checked the schedule? Angela should have updated the mobile calendar. The children’s hospital dinner benefit is coming up. This is your reminder that the entire family must be present. We have to show a united family front for the voters.”
For the voters. I bring the phone away from my ear to scoff.
Everything she does is for her constituents. It’s the only reason she wants me at this charity event and that dinner, all of these bullshit parties so she can trot out the happy family pony show. Meanwhile, that home-wrecker Damien sleeps in our house and makes Mom breakfast. He stupidly offered me coffee this morning and I threatened to dump the fresh pot over his head.
“Connor,” Mom says on the line. I bring the phone back to my ear. “We’re almost there. We’ve worked this hard and all that’s left is the finish line when elections come up. Understood?”
“Roger.” She can’t see, but I give a sharp salute anyway.
Before she can add any other stipulations, I hang up and stomp back through the parked cars to the clearing in the woods. Adrenaline and anger rush through my veins. My breathing has picked up and my vision shrinks around the edges, focused on the ring.
Devlin steps in my path. His expression tightens around his eyes when he takes me in. “You good?”
“My mom,” I say.
It’s all the explanation I need with him. His dark brows hike up and he stands aside. He knows how I get after a call with her. I strip out of my henley and toss it to him.
“Give me your phone, too.”
I hand it over and spot Landry’s friend edging toward me. Pointing at him, I say, “Nah uh,