Tapout (The Submission Fighter Book 3) (11 page)

In those few moments, he saw her. He saw every bit of her, from past to present. Each second of their lives together played before him, and every moment of the future came to him as he knew what he came there to do. He was not there to win or to hold a title. He was there for Alice. He was there for their futures however entwined they were to be. He knew that from this second on, no one was going keep them apart again.

The round resumed, as Micah again ducked a quick jab attempt only to fight the man into the corner, hitting him square in the face and the body while his legs kneed and kicked away at O’Day’s lower torso. He had a long way to make up for the earlier match’s dominance by his opponent, but he was determined to win this one punch at a time.

O’Day managed to release himself from the wire of the octagon’s side. Both men began dancing once more, each knowing that there were only a few fleeting seconds to make it decisive. At this point, it was any man’s game. It belonged to whoever wanted it more.

Micah didn’t hesitate. He pushed into the man, grabbing both feet and swinging him wildly to the ground once more.

Alice stood at the sight of her modern day gladiator. She watched him as he punched at his opponent’s body, locking his arms to his side and his head firmly into the ring. She could feel the crowd counting down the seconds with her as Micah refused to relent. 10… 9… 8…

Micah drew blood, his fist landing directly into the man’s temple. 7… 6… 5…

O’Day’s legs attempted to wrap around Micah’s, but he was firm as a rock, unmovable from even the strongest waves. 4...3...2…

A hush came over the crowd. All that could be heard was Micah landing one more, definite punch to O’Day’s face. The man’s neck swinging wildly downward into the mat. ...1.

The bell sounded as Micah released himself. He retreated towards his corner where Chris had come out leaping towards him. His arms wrapped around his body in congratulations. Micah paid him no attention; instead, he remained transfixed on Alice. He pointed her out to Chris, giving him instructions. As the referee signaled for the fighters to join them in the center of the ring, he turned his view from Alice back to his coach, as he commanded him to do whatever he had asked.

Chris slipped out of the ring and walked down the stairs towards Alice. The two stood silently, side by side. Alice would not let her attention leave Micah for a second, not even to give Chris polite hello.

She sucked in her breath and held it in her lungs as the announcer approached with his card. “By unanimous decision, the winner of tonight’s match and the winner of the MMA Associations’ Breakthrough Invitational is…” The referee nodded and then quickly raised Micah’s arm into the air. The crowd shouting and shrieking with pleasure.

Alice could feel Chris let out a sigh and then drop to his knees. He regained his composure just in time to grab Alice’s arm and lead her out the side door, towards the locker room.

“Chris? What’s going on? Let me go back!” Alice began to panic. She was unsure of his intentions, but Chris continued to guide her through the back hallways, past the arena’s staff and security guards. He opened the door to the expansive locker room where Micah’s gear lay in piles. Chris turned his back to her, as he quickly headed out the door. Before he could leave, he turned around to face Alice and winked.

Moments later, Micah stormed in the door, banging the metal against the cinder block of the room. Without a word, he took off his gloves, throwing them to the ground and walked towards her. He lifted her face towards him, circling her hair and neck with his hands. He drew her into his body, as he kissed her, long and deep. She could feel him breathing heavily, as her arms wrapped around his strong shoulders.

“Micah…” She tried to start, but he broke free, releasing her.

“No, Alice. Please, let me talk. I have been a complete idiot. I put this shit before you, before us. I just wanted to give you the life you deserved, and I let that get in the way. I am so incredibly sorry. Please, please believe me.” He looked at her, his hand tracing the side of her face. She nodded silently in return, not wanting to ruin the moment with any more words.

Micah continued, moving away from Alice and heading towards one of his gym bags. “Lucy said something to me earlier about this being about my future, about my responsibilities. And I agree with her.”    

“What? Why? You know that the money doesn’t matter to me…that your endorsements mean nothing. I just want you, Micah. That’s all I need.” Alice tried to walk towards him, but he lifted his hand to stop her, as he spun back around to face her.

“Let me explain. She was right because I was not thinking about my future. I was thinking about everything but that. I was thinking about your lifestyle, how I wanted to provide for you today. But there is more than today out there for us, Allie. There is an entire world out there, waiting.” Micah took a deep breath, as he slowly lowered himself down on to the floor, his knee touching the carpet. “And I want you to be there every single step of the way.”

He opened his large palm, revealing a black velvet box. Alice cupped her hands over her mouth, letting out a shocked moan. He looked up at her with such confidence, the same look he had when he first knocked her down in the sports arena hallways months earlier. Slowly, deliberately, he asked the question, “Alice Cross, will you marry
—
”

Before he could say one more word, she was in his arms, her arms thrown around his neck, as she whispered over and over again, “Yes, yes, yes.”

The two wrapped up one another, not wanting to move from their spot, each realizing that, for once, they both had something worth fighting for. And they’d fight for it together.

Other series by Sophia Hampton

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***

BOOK 1 of the
Satan’s Cubs Motorcycle Club
trilogy

Melanie is at the end of her rope
When she loses her job, Melanie Verratti joins Addicts Anonymous in the hopes of finding a way out of the self-destructive cycle she's put herself on and make something out of her life. 
He's battling devils that haunt him on a daily basis
Being a convoy escort is no laughing matter, and Andy Manners has always been one of the best escorts among his brothers of ink and steel, the Satan's Cubs MC... At least, until he got himself addicted to the very product he's supposed to protect. Now with both his life and job on the line, he must find the help he needs or risk losing it all. 
Often times, different roads lead to the same destination
Their common struggle unites the two lost souls and lets them give each other the strength to resist the temptations of their past. But the shadow of relapse looms above the blissful bubble around them. Can the two see the dangers that lie ahead of their paths, or will Andy's inked brotherhood make everything fall apart and plunge them--helpless--back to the crippling grips of addiction? 

***

BOOK 1 of the
Knights Disciples Motorcycle Club
trilogy

Laura Mills isn’t asking for much.
Laura Mills wants only three things: keep her little brother Lucas out of trouble, finish her part-time degree in criminal justice, and do her best to not feel flustered every time she catches the sight of William Shriner riding out of the Knights Disciples MC club house. 
William Shriner doesn’t forget a thing.
Laura is an old friend of the club who’s helped change the outlook the rest of the community had about the Disciples. Will—as the club’s sergeant-at-arms—is more than thankful for all that Laura does. The club still owes her a favor, and Will’s determined to see the debt paid. 
A tiny spark comes alive in the endless sea of darkness
When Lucas gets into hot water with an out of town gang, Laura turns to the Disciples for help. But what she doesn’t expect is William Shriner taking a personal interest in the case, staying up with her late at night, and comforting her as her little brother flirts dangerously close to the fire. 

***

BOOK 1 of the
Headless Reapers Motorcycle Club
trilogy

He's a Tribesman--and a sworn enemy
The VP of the Mountain Tribesmen MC, Rafael is a man that's lived his whole life in the fast lane. Having had more hot girls than hot meals, his need for reckless adventure and adrenaline causes him to end up in Headless Reapers territory. 
She's just another club girl for the Headless Reapers MC
Just another club girl for the Headless Reapers MC, Emma Walsh is starting to get real tired of the life she's chosen. But once you were a Reapers girl, you had no other choice: it was a job for life. Her devotion to the Reapers is about to be seriously questioned when she spots a mysterious stranger at one of the Reapers' parties. 
Their lives are about to change forever
Though both of them are fully aware of the consequence of their coming together, some temptations in life are too hard to ignore. A new connection will be forged--but only if Emma and Rafael can withstand their trial by fire.  

***

BOOK 1 of the
Broken Alpha
trilogy

Rose innocently believed her life was perfect
She had it all: a job she loved, a beautiful home, a fiancé who was prince charming himself, financial stability, and a caring family. Rose Greyback’s life was a dream, and nothing could wake her from it. 
Beckett is on the run and ready to take down anything in his way
Beckett Abruzzi was on the fast track to becoming Alpha of the infamous Adolfo Pack… until the once-defunct Del Diavolo Pack stages a violent uprising. Against all his instincts, he forces himself to lay low while he plans his revenge. But they’re not giving up so easily, and Beckett is running out of places to hide. 
The last thing they expected was to crash
Relying on a total stranger who couldn’t be more different than them was never in the plans. But sometimes, fate has a way of changing things for the better, even if it’s in the form of an unassuming bride-to-be unintentionally saving the life of one vengeful Alpha, who belated realizes she is much more than what she seemed to be…

***

BOOK 1 of
The Hardell Gang MC
trilogy

Chelsie knows everyone in Mountain Grove, and they know her.
It comes with owning the only bar within thirty miles. She’s in everybody’s business whether she wants to be or not - usually not, particularly with the violence that’s been taking hold of her town. She considered leaving once, but she couldn’t leave her bar behind. 
Special Agent Garrison is finally closing in on the remnants of Hardell’s gang.
Garrison has tracked the Hardell Gang to a backwater town. The only problem? Small towns don't trust outsiders, even when the alternative is a brutal motorcycle gang, and he's having a hard time piecing together everything he needs. 
He’s got to try.
When Garrison arrives at Chelsie’s bar looking for intel, Chelsie can’t get away fast enough. She’s seen what happens when people get involved in gang business and shows Garrison the door.. 
Chelsie never was a fan of cowardice.

When her friend falls victim to the violence she agrees to guide Garrison, and in the process catches a glimpse of true bravery, a quality the town has been sorely lacking. But how can one man take on a whole gang? Is Chelsie falling for a man who is not long for this world? 

***

BOOK 1 of the Love Ain’t Easy trilogy

Shella Langston has done everything she can to leave the hood, but the hood won’t ever let her go.
Shella Langston has spent her entire life fighting hard for community conventions to help addicts and give them resources they need to combat their addiction. The only blemish in her otherwise perfect world is her junkie brother Shaun, who has a habit of making life difficult for Shella and whom Shella has done her best to keep out of both trouble and the public eye. 
Dr. Marius Rich is a drug addict counselor. Too handsome for his own good and a brilliant psychologist, he has been working closely with Shella to ensure that the best possible care reaches those who need it the most. 
Every time she’s around Marius, Shella finds herself in jitters and the cool calm persona she’s built crumbles at his touch. As Shella gets closer and closer to Marius, she is determined to keep her junkie brother a secret from him. 
But what she doesn’t know is that Marius has secrets of his own, and the biggest one of them all could destroy everything between them. 

***

BOOK 1 of the
Highway Reapers Motorcycle Club
trilogy

She’s the woman Murphy’s Law was made for.
Ella Louise firmly believes that it’s trouble that finds her, and definitely not the other way around. After a trip to prison for a crime she didn’t commit, too much rehab, and a year of completed probation fresh under her belt, she’s ready to finally start fresh. If only things were that easy…
He’s the man who’s about to learn what desperate really is.
Tyson Adler had everything under control, until the shit hit the fan. The Highway Reapers are asking for  money he doesn’t have. But it’s just a matter of time – if he can avoid them long enough, he’s sure he can get his hands on some cash, and all of his problems will go away. Problem is, the Reapers are his gang.
And they’re about to taste the dangerous mix of temptation and trouble…
When an offer is made that Ella just can’t refuse, she jumps at the chance. All she has to do is find some guy in town and turn him over. Simple. Everything goes according to plan, but when she meets her ruggedly handsome target, things get out of hand
hard
and
fast
.