"Don't fuckin' push me sister, you big bastard!" I snapped and tried to hit Ryder, but he ducked out of my reach.
"Get lost Branna, we're done," Ryder then hissed to Branna, clearly mad that she hit his little brother.
Branna laughed as she grabbed my hand. "Believe me, sweetie, I'm goin'. I'd kill your pervy little brother for doin' what he did to me little sister otherwise!" she growled.
I didn't get a chance to give Dominic the finger again or even rat off an insult in farewell because Branna pulled me away with her.
I hugged her when we were back at the dance floor. "Holy shite, Bran, you were amazin'. You punched Dominic in the face; I'm so jealous!" I gushed in awe and delight.
Branna smiled and hugged me tightly. "Nobody messes with my sister, especially not a pretty little batty boy."
She was brilliant, she seriously was!
I was about to ask her how she knew Ryder, but she cut me off by shouting, "Now, let's dance!"
I didn't need to be told twice; I let Branna lead me into the crowd of swaying bodies. I was a little nervous at first, but I literally just let go along with Branna, shoved my hands in the air, and got lost in the music. It was so much fun, possibly the most fun I had ever had.
I knew I needed to get out more, but this, being here right now, was a huge step from hiding behind my Kindle at home or behind my iTouch at school. It was progress, and I was happy about it.
After five songs and some serious carefree dancing, Branna and I were parched. She ordered me a small vodka and Coke because I didn't feel any drunken effects from the three glasses of WKD that I had already drunk. She was pretty buzzed by the time she finished her fifth glass of vodka and Coke. I was still on my first one, because it tasted strong; I was sipping it every few minutes instead of gulping it down like I did with the WKD.
Branna and I were laughing at a joke she told when lights from our right suddenly lit up the darkened side of the club, earning loud cheers and screams. The majority of the dance floor and bar area emptied as everyone ran towards the lights. I focused my eyes and noticed there was a round platform up a few feet in the air in the centre of the now lit up area. A single black line went around the edges of the circled platform that looked important, so I asked Branna what it was.
"It's just showin' the no cross point of the circle. If a fighter gets knocked out of it, it's an automatic knockout. It's a pretty big circle, so no strong fighter ever falls off; it's usually the weak fighters who get beat up so bad they unknowingly move backward makin' it easier for them to be knocked off," Branna explained.
I widened my eyes and pointed. "What about the people standin' around the platform?" I questioned.
Branna snorted. "They usually move back quick enough to avoid a body landin' on top of them."
I gasped. "That's horrible!"
"That's the sport." Branna shrugged. "It's a mixture of different things, the main things being hot, sexy, sweaty, dangerous, fierce men-"
"Oh, shut up," I muttered, making Branna chuckle.
"Ladies and gents, welcome to Darkness!" A deep voice suddenly blared through the speakers around the club where music was playing just seconds ago.
The voice caused loud cheers to erupt around the club.
"It's Friday night here at Darkness and you all know what that means…"
"Fight Night!" The crowd that surrounded the platform screamed out in answer, making the deep voice chuckle through the speakers.
"That's right, it's Fight Night, but tonight is a little different. Instead of our usual three fights, tonight we have four."
More cheers.
"The first two lads up are still newcomers so go easy on them, because they sure as hell won't go easy on each other. They have both fought a few of times over the past few weeks so you may recognise them."
Cheers and screams came from next to me, causing me to roll my eyes; Branna was so into this.
"Make way for our new boys, you all get to choose their fight names durin' the fight tonight so for now, welcome Nico and Drake!"
I widened my eyes.
No.
No fucking way!
"Bronagh, it's Nico, your Nico!" Branna gasped.
My Nico?
What the fuck?
"He isn't mine!" I bit out.
Branna waved me off because she was watching the show, so I turned to look as well and watched as Dominic pulled himself up onto the platform and sort of bounced on his feet while he shook his limbs out. He was shirtless, and even though I hated him with a passion, my mind automatically flashed back to when that shirtless body was pressed against mine, making me shudder before shaking my head and the thoughts away.