Arabella Rivera That night I stayed in my room and listened to the disgusting words father said about me to mother. The warm tears that came from my eyes fell on my pillow, soaking the pale pink pillowcase. I didn't eat nor had the appetite to. The growl in my belly was serving as a distraction as I listened to the shattering of glass, the pounding of a door and the sound of burning tires. He was always one to walk away when things got too tough or he couldn't control the situation. After a few minutes of silence, my door parted. I closed my eyes, easing my breathing as I pretended to be asleep. I knew it was mother, Gertrude left hours ago. Father didn't fire her, afraid she'd speak of what happened. So he had swallowed his pride and apologized for being 'unprofessional'. But he hadn't apologized to me. Knowing him, he didn't think he was in the wrong. The soft touch to my cheek nearly made me flinch. Mother's fingers were cold as she trailed them on my wet cheeks. The cheek that still had father's handprint. I heard her let out a sigh as she wiped my tears with the pad of her fingers. "I'm so sorry Arabella." She whispered in regret before she leaves me and walks away. My eyes opened when I heard the soft thud of the door closing behind her. ___________ Haiden Cross I scratched the light stubble on my jaw as I looked at my phone. It wasn't like Bella to not have texted me back. I sighed, the worry had my fingers tugging at the strands of my hair. I looked at her window, the lights were off but it was still so early. Bella wasn't an early nighter. Unless I wore her out the previous night. I moved off my bed and padded over to the window. Looking down, I noticed the lights were still on downstairs. Her parents must be still up. I couldn't go to her now. I didn't want them to see me climbing through her window. Contemplating if to call her phone or not, the sight of her dad walking towards his car with a stance that roared anger drew me out of my thoughts. I watch him enter his expensive car, slammed the door and drove off. My brows furrowed as I took a step back then turn around. My eyes fall on my phone in my hands. Still hadn't texted back.I groan. Fuck it if I look desperate. I quickly texted her, hoping she was only busy and not something else. Haiden: Cuddle tonight and out before dawn? I waited a few minutes but no response. I bit the inside of my cheek as I turned to her window with a confused stare. Fuck it. Pushing my phone in the pocket of my sweats I walked over to my window and opened it. Throwing my leg out of the window I started climbing down the tree. After my feet were safely on the ground, I looked around to make sure no one could see me or would see me climbing up the trellis beside Bella's bedroom window. I swiftly walked over to the trellis, looking around quickly. I may have or may not be looking like a serial killer or a robber. Hopefully, no one sees a glimpse of me and calls the cops. I had too many records already. My fingers wrap around the trellis and just as I was about to climb up, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Thinking it was Bella, I walked to the side of the trellis, hoping the vines that crawled up were bushy enough to block me. Swiftly taking my phone out of my pocket, I don't bother checking who sent me the message and opened it. I grit my teeth. Snake: Have a match for you tonight. Has a lot of money if you win. I tear my eyes off the phone and lift them to Bella's window. Grunting I rip my eyes away from her window and place my attention on the phone. I typed a quick message, not wanting to spare Snake any more of my time. I wanted to see my girl. Haiden: I can't tonight, I have something important to do. Can't reschedule. His reply came quickly and as my eyes scan over the text I couldn't stop my hands from fisting in anger. Snake: Well cancel that something. You're fighting tonight. And if you don't show up, I'm adding twenty thousand to your debt. Your choice. That asshole knew how to play dirty to get what he wanted. He knew that I wouldn't have a choice but to do as he says. I needed the money, not only to repay Snake but for college. Bella's been working so hard to help me get better at my studies that I couldn't possibly disappoint her. I needed to graduate and make something of myself. Because Bella was my future and for me to even give her what she deserved, I needed to be someone she would be proud of. And the first step was graduating then going to college.Sighing in irritation I texted him back. Haiden: When's the match? He better not fucking tell me it's in ten minutes. "Fuck." I groaned in anger when he replied. Snake: In ten minutes but you need to be there in five. You need to warm up before you fight this one. What the fuck did he mean by 'warm up' for this one? It wasn't a secret that Snake purposely chooses rather bigger opponents than me but I could always take them down. And he fucking knew I could take them down. Those fuckers love seeing a bigger guy get pummeled by a much smaller one. So him saying that I needed to 'warm up', means this fight wouldn't be a walk in the park. Snake: Make that four minutes, less than that I'm adding a thousand to your debt on each minute you're not here yet. Sighing in defeat, I looked up at Bella's window one last time before sending her a quick text. Haiden: Leave the window open for me tonight baby. Grunting I made a run for my truck. He said fucking four minutes. That was fucking impossible. ____________ "You're late." Snake grunted while blowing out a puff of smoke, straight in my fucking face. I clenched my jaw, the urge to punch him was very strong. "I'm not fucking superman." I hissed ripping my eyes from his ugly face to stare at the mass of bodies surrounding two fools fighting like their lives depended on it. It probably did. Snake snorted dryly."Tonight you're gonna have to be." He slaps me on the back and my jaw ticked. "You see that guy over there," He pointed to a tall muscular man who looked dangerous. His entire face was tatted and his body was no different. His eyes though, they were emotionless and cold, bringing a chill to anyone who stared him in the eye. "He's Cristo, never lost a fight in over two years." "Want to know how he never lost a fight?" Snake chuckled, squeezing my shoulder. I wanted to fucking cut off those fingers that gripped me one by one."How?" I gritted out, folding my arms across my chest. "You see Cristo here loves to play dirty. His opponents die by his hands in a few seconds." He chuckles. I wasn't surprised. These guys love playing dirty, but killing? "And lucky for you, he's your opponent tonight." Squeezing my shoulder painfully, Snake chuckled. "I don't play dirty." I grumble. Usually when a fighter has a weapon the other needed one to actually stand a chance. I don't fuck with weapons. I didn't want anyone's blood on my hands. "Who said you were." Snake laughed and his emotionless voice made me snap my head to face him. "You're as clean as they get. People love watching the smaller weaponless guy fight off the bigger one with a weapon. Now that's fucking entertainment. Don't fuck this up for me and try not to die, I need my money." He pushes me forward as the announcer lifts up the bloody winner's hand. I could feel Cristo's deathly stare on me as I walked toward the circle. My turn now.