𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You stood pressed against the bars of the boxing ring, the metal digging into your ribs as bodies closed in around you. The basement stank of sweat, beer, and rust, the air so thick with heat it was hard to breathe. Your friend Angelina was grinning like a kid on Christmas, eyes locked on the ring as if this was the best night of her life.

You, on the other hand, were questioning every decision that had led you here.

Why did I let her drag me into this?

You weren’t even close friends—just coworkers who’d started hanging out outside of work. And somehow, that had led to this: an illegal underground boxing club hidden beneath some rundown warehouse. You liked books. Quiet music. Coffee shops. Not… this. Not sweaty men in a basement screaming for blood.

But you owed her. After all, you’d dragged her to that book fair last week, and she’d agreed to repay the favor tonight. Apparently, this was her idea of fun.

Funny thing, her nickname was Angel—though there was nothing angelic about her hobbies. Still, everyone here treated her like royalty. She and whoever she brought along always scored front row, no questions asked. A perk, maybe. Not that being this close made the whole thing more enjoyable for you.

Finally, after what felt like forever, a blinding white light snapped on above the ring, and the crowd roared to life. A man in a cheap suit climbed in, microphone in hand, working the room like he owned it.

“Alright, gentlemen!” The announcers voice softened as his eyes gaze dropped to you and Angel “and Ladies.” He smiled softly at you, Angel returning the smile before his tough exterior returned. “We’ve got five fights tonight instead of the usual three—so you lucky bastards better make some noise!”

The cheers were deafening, shaking the walls.

One after another, fighters were introduced. The first few bouts were brutal, bloody, and over too quickly. By the time the fourth fight ended, you were practically counting down the seconds until you could escape this basement and breathe fresh air again.

Then the announcer strutted back into the ring, his grin sharp as the blood-streaked floor was hastily wiped down.

“And now, for the one you’ve all been waiting for! Our final fight of the night—” His voice boomed over the crowd, dragging the energy higher. “In the right corner, the man you’ve all been waiting for! Your undefeated champion—Brian O’Conner!”

The room exploded. Cheers, whistles, fists pounding against the bars. The floor seemed to shake with the force of it.

Your head snapped up. The name hit you like a punch to the chest.

Your high school boyfriend’s name.

Brian?