The crowd started to murmur and I felt a thrill run along my body. I knew they were hearing me, and more than a few of them agreed with me. I just needed Michael to slip up and admit it. Lately, the money that was flowing into the right people’s pockets from the big drug deals and the gun running was starting to dry up. Michael had been feuding with a few of the minor Russian bosses, which meant more bodies piling up, and less profit. When things were peaceful and prosperous, people were willing to forgive him for dealing with a rival mob. But when people were losing their lives, nobody was interested in letting Michael wage his personal wars anymore. I needed to exploit those feelings and get the crowd on my side.
“How dare you, you little shit. After all the chances I’ve given you,” he growled, and I could tell he was rattled.
“No more bullshit, Michael. You know I had nothing to do with how that deal went down. Let me fight for my freedom, and we’ll be square.”
Michael stared hard at me and the crowd kept mumbling.
“Let him fight!” someone yelled.
“Let the kid fight!” someone else took up the cry, and the crowd suddenly started to yell and chant. I basked in the power of the crowd, their voices all raised on my behalf. Michael looked around, irate and confused, as they continued to chant for me and to jeer him. Finally, he raised his hands, signaling quiet. The noise slowly died down. I knew I had won.
He looked at me hard for a few seconds. “Alright, you little fuck. I’ll let you fight. But I’m upping the stakes.”
I was wary, but felt good. It wasn’t the straight out victory I had hoped for, but it was a chance. Michael could set his stakes in any way he wanted. I’d win whatever fights he threw my way.
“What stakes then?” I said.
“You win or you die. No more staying in debt. You win these next two fights, or else I fucking cut your throat myself.”
The crowd reacted to that. I stared at Michael and he returned my gaze. I knew he meant his threat, and he’d do whatever it took to eliminate me. Before, if I lost a fight, I’d be indebted to him forever, no more easy chances to get out. I’d be stuck in the life of the right people, stuck as his personal muscle. I actually preferred the new deal if I was honest with myself. I couldn’t live like that anymore, no matter what. Better for Darcy too, if I were outright dead. They’d have no reason to bother her with me out of the picture completely.
“And if I win, I’m gone. Home free. No bullshit.”
“If you win, you’re free.”
I looked around. “And all you right people, you thieves and goons and more, you all heard what he just said. If I win, I’m free, no bullshit.”
The crowd cried out, “Aye!”
“Then we have a contract,” Michael said quietly.
I stared him down, my body vibrating with joy and righteous anger. This was the chink that I needed. He thought he had seen the best of me, what I was capable of, but he was wrong. I had pulled punches and took it easy, letting my opponents think they could keep up. But not anymore. I was going to come at his fighters with everything I had.
“That we do,” I said.
Michael grinned his wicked grin then crossed the room and stood close. I tensed, ready for a trick.
“I went to see your pretty little girl,” he said to me quietly, so only I could hear.
“If you hurt her—”
He interrupted me “Relax, son. She’s fine. All we did was check to see if you were there. Didn’t even rough her up.” He paused and stared at me. “But I know where she lives.”
“You motherfucker.” It took everything I had not to attack him then and there. It would have meant death, but breaking his disgusting pig nose would’ve felt sweet.
He smiled huge and held his hand out. I took it, and we shook hard. I stared at him and he returned my gaze, grinning the whole time.
Finally, we let go, and he returned to his side of the circle. I had no people on my side, but I didn’t need any. All I needed was the will to survive, and I had plenty of that.
“Well, lads, who wants to see a fucking fight!” he yelled, and the crowd went insane, high on blood lust and fear. It wasn’t often that Michael made a blood pact like the one he just made, but it sure as hell made for an exciting night. The people were ready for some violence, and I was ready to give it to them.