“Let’s go make history,” Que-lo said, bumping my shoulder. I nodded my head as he started rapping.
“KO got next!”
“KO got next!”
“Got the whole crowd yelling, KO got next!”
I cracked my neck and tapped my gloves together. The nerves I’d carried backstage disappeared beneath the adrenaline rushing through my veins.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena as I started down the ramp toward the ring. “Making his first championship title appearance . . .”—the crowd got louder—“with a professional record of twenty-nine wins and one loss . . .”—I stepped into the lights—“fighting out of Azalea County . . .”—my music got louder, and so did the crowd—“Dakota ‘KO’ Knox!”
Blue flashing lights bounced across the arena as I made my way down the tunnel with Que-lo rapping beside me and Pops and Jaylen on either side of me. My eyes found Lyrius and Dakoda immediately. They were exactly where they were supposed to be, in the front row behind my corner with two security guards at their sides. Dakoda was standing in his seat, waving that shiny ass sign over his head, and Lyrius was laughing, smiling, and screaming my name.
A smile pulled at my mouth. This match was for them, for our future. I reached the ring a few seconds later and climbed through the ropes. My opponent, Hollywood Lou, was already across from me, bouncing on his toes and shadowboxing for the cameras. He was undefeated, the biggest name in boxing, and he was the ticket to it all.
The ref called us to the middle of the ring and started going over the rules. We touched gloves and then turned and started back toward our corners. That was when I felt something hit my palm by way of the ref. I looked down at the folded piece of paper that was small enough to disappear inside my glove. By the time I opened it and scanned the words written across it, the ref was already halfway across the ring.
Throw it.
I read the words probably a thousand times in a matter of seconds. My expression never changed. I knew what this meant. I’d gotten the same note back in my underground boxing days, and every time I’d gotten one, I folded, showed it to Jaylen, showed it to Pops, and tossed that motherfucker in the trash. I didn’t take orders, and I didn’t lose.
“Fight your fight,” Pops said, and I nodded as the bell rang. I made my way to the center ring. Dude came out aggressive immediately, throwing combinations and trying to make a scene. I slipped the first punch and then the second, then I stepped out of range before the third one could land. This was easy, too easy, and the crowd loved it. Every time he threw a punch, they reacted, and every time I made him miss, they reacted even louder.
A grin pulled at my mouth. The truth was, I could’ve dropped him already. Maybe not with one punch, but I could see his mistakes. I could already see exactly how this fight was going to end, but the people had paid a lot of money to be here. The sponsors had paid a lot of money to be here. Hell, I’d gotten paid a lot of money to be here. So I might as well let them get a show first. I kept moving around the ring, kept touching him with a jab. By the time the first round ended, his breathing was already heavy.
The bell rang, ending the first round, and I headed back to my corner. Before Pops could even hand me water, my eyes found Lyrius. She was still sitting behind me, and Dakoda was standing in his seat, screaming.
“Go, Daddy!”
“He’s loading up every time he throws that right,” Pops said.
“I know.” I smirked.
“Then stop letting him do it.”
The bell rang before I could respond, and I made my way to the center of the ring for round two. This time, he came outtalking shit. Something about him being the champ. Something about ending my career and fucking my bitch. I wasn’t listening, just moving around the ring. I slipped another punch. Countered with a jab. Then a hook. His head snapped back, and the crowd exploded.
Whoever had sent that note should have known by now that I wasn’t abiding by their rules. Whatever the consequences, so be it. If somebody was dumb enough to come after me again, they’d better bring a motherfucking army this time. The bell rang again, and I went back to my corner. Pops handed me water.
“You done playing?” Jaylen leaned against the ropes, and I looked across the ring. Dude was exhausted. His nose was bleeding, and his confidence was hanging on by a thread.
“Yeah.”
“Thought so.” Jaylen nodded, and the bell rang. I walked toward the center of the ring, no dancing this time. He threw a jab and missed. He threw a right hand and missed again. I stepped inside his space and landed a clean left to his jaw. His balance shifted, and a right hand followed. The crowd came to its feet, already knowing what was about to happen. The hook sealed it, and Hollywood Lou hit the canvas so hard the bitch rattled. The entire arena exploded, and I backed away while the ref started counting.
“One. Two. Three.” The crowd counted with him. “Four. Five. Six.” Hollywood rolled onto one knee, attempting to get up. “Seven. Eight.” His legs gave out again. “Nine. Ten.” The arena damn near blew the roof off the building as the bell sounded, and cameramen, promoters, and commission officials all flooded the ring immediately. The ref grabbed my wrist and lifted it into the air.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your winner by way of knockout . . .” The crowd was already losing their minds before the announcer finished. “. . . and the new Heavyweight Champion of the World,Dakota ‘KO’ Knox!” Confetti exploded from somewhere above us, and a championship belt appeared around my waist along with microphones.
“KO! Biggest win of your career! How does it feel?”
“Feels long overdue,” I answered without really hearing myself because my eyes were busy searching the crowd, searching for Lyrius and Dakoda.
“Come on. We need to get you to press.” Cherry came over, practically pushing me over to the edge of the ring. I ignored her. My eyes found Jaylen instead.
“Where Lyrius and Dakoda?”
“They around here somewhere.” Jaylen glanced toward the front row, and my eyes followed. Something wasn’t right. Dakoda should have hugged my legs by now and been bouncing through the ring with excitement.