SAGE novel Chapter 20

Sage Miller

I was buzzing with excitement as I walked inside Styles's SUV. This was finally the day I was going to the Arena as it was fight night.

Finally my summer was looking up. Everything was going as it should've been from the start.

The atmosphere, well, my atmosphere anyway, was buzzing with excitement.

I was literally jumping throughout the day. I felt lighter, bottom line is, I was fucking excited.

In just two hours I'd be fighting and I trained hard for this. Styles did set my match and all I had to do was show up to win. I know he picked an easy opponent for me but that's whatever, I don't care as long as I win.

"Don't react to fast, wait for him to make the first move. And most importantly don't let him rile you up, you'll make mistakes and he'll exploit them. Focus!" Styles gave me what sounded like a pet talk.

"I know." I said to him. He's been telling me all this for the past two days.

"Good. Just making sure you won't forget." He said.

I followed him into the long narrow dark tunnels. Even with all the lightbulbs every 6 feet, the tunnels was still dark and cold.

"Hey Styles!" He hummed. "I invited Sebastian."

"Of course you did." He sarcastically said and I rolled my eyes.

Styles doesn't mind Sebastian but I won't dare say he likes him. I don't know if he does.

"You don't mind?" I asked careful.

"Why would I?" He shrugged. "He's your problem not mine."

I don't know why I thought he'd mind.

But the news of an underground Legend coming to Miami after almost a year of not fighting had everyone excited.

I know a little about him and I've never seen him though. News has it he's the best trained by Booker, the best and most of all, I know he's from New York and they say he's the best.

I know I won't be fighting him. I wouldn't want that. Sure I wanna be the best but fighting him will be humiliating.

The Arena won't be open for another two hours but Styles wanted us to come early because he has some things to take care of or something like that. And as usual I am the tag along.

In some weird sort of way I wanted to impress Styles with a win tonight. I knew I shouldn't feel that way but fuck, he's someone that holds a significant status in this game. of course I want to impress him.

Let's not forget who he is.

I noticed someone coming towards us. I didn't know him though.

"Godfather." He greeted Styles bowing his head a bit.

My eyebrows shot up stunned a bit. The guy looked 30 and it was, I don't even know how to put it, unnerving, shocking seeing him how to a 18 year old.

Then again many people respect the heck out of him, me included, sometimes anyway.

Another weird fact was that he knew who Styles was. Only a few selected knew who the Godfather was but then again apparently The Arena is owned by the Casias Cartel.

"Welcome." The man added. "It's a pleasure to be in your presence."

He gushed in the most manly way possible. Styles nodded at turned to me.

It always catches me off gaurd how different this world views him and how different the rest of the world sees him.

He isn't just a bad boy because of his looks and stereotype. He was really bad. The rest of the world doesn't know it yet.

"This is a close acquaintance of mine. Treat him as you would treat him." His tone was threatening. I blinked a couple of time processing his whole demeanour.

Holy shit! He didn't just introduce me like that.

"Of course." He bowed his head to me and I frowned.

Holy motherfucking crap! That didn't just happen. For the past month, I've experienced the special treatment I got from just walking next to Styles but today topped all of the other times.

"Austin, this is Sin." He gave him my code name. It's a name I got when I joined the gang.

I've went to many places with Styles but he had never ever introduced me so this was mind blowing.

We followed the man, which I now knew as Austin, inside.

I noticed the security detail. Man posted almost everywhere. I've been here before whenever Sebastian was fighting and there was never this much security around this place.

Styles noticed me looking and before I could ask he gave me a vague answer.

"Big night ahead of us. Some people need protection more than others." He vaguely told me. I didn't pounder on it, I nodded and left.

This is an illegal underground fighting ring and with illegal shit, there's always a possibility of cops busting into the place.

So Styles and Austin were mapping escape routes incase of a raid. Styles was protecting his identity so he can never be caught by the cops.

I guess you could say Styles is that type of man. Always planning ahead and taking security measures.

Randomly, he came to me when no one was looking. He had an unreadable expression on his face but I could read him easily. I always have.

"In here you refer me as the Godfather, nothing else, okay?" He warned and I was taken aback.

I didn't know what to say I just nodded and he went back to his business.

I've always knew how to act or address him whenever we were not alone. I knew I had to be respectful towards him and think twice about everything I said to him.

Thirty minutes before the first fight was due to start people started arriving.  It was more people than anytime I've been here.

I got a text from Sebastian that he was here. I was so bored out of my mind since Styles was doing his business.

I stated holes in the back of Styles head hoping he'd feel them and turned around.

I didn't feel like going over there and telling him where I'm going and I didn't want to just leave.

I felt like I needed permission.

Just as I had hoped, he whipped his head and scowled at me.

I opened my mouth to mouth something at him but he nodded in understanding.

I smiled at exited the roomed.

That's what I liked about our relationship. We always understand each other in a wierd sort of way. I can't put it in words but we do.

I found Sebastian right where he said I'd find him but he wasn't waiting for me alone. He was flirting with some chicks.

I smirked at the sight. I missed this little shit. I missed hooking with girls with him by my side.

Styles isn't into the whole hooking up scene. Either he's not doing it on my presence because of Eve or he's just isn't the type. I can't confirm which is it.

"You don't waste time, do you?" I chuckled earning myself some eyes on me.

"Sage? Come over here." He called out. "So this is the guy I was telling you about."

He told the girls and they turned to me which made my smirk even wider. I wink at them causing them to giggling.

For a moment I almost forgot about Smurf but their beauty wasn't that mesmerizing to make me forget but I went along with it.

I flirted with them hoping, willing my mind to shut down even for a moment.

I tried forgetting about what happened this morning. The morning started out great yet at the end she left and she didn't look back. She left just like I knew she would.

"If you keep zoning out these girls are going to get bored." Sebastian warned me breaking me out of my daze.

I didn't mean to zone out but my mind is doing it's own thing right now. I was still operating on Smurf brain.

"I don't mean to but I have a fight in less than and hour." I lied... it wasn't a lie but it wasn't the truth either. it wasn't the reason I was distracted.

"I get it, you're nervous." He told me and turned to the girls.

"Ladies. We have to prepare for a fight. See you later." He coaxed them.

"Okay sweet daddy." One of the girls said. I knew they told me their names at some point but honestly I wasn't paying attention and I'm I wasn't bad at remembering names.

"Promise to cheer for us?" He winked and they both giggled.

"We got front row seats." The same girl promised holding her hand up.

I noticed that the same girl was doing all the talking while the other one would giggle and smile.

She caught me staring and her cheeks burned. I winked at her and her cheeks turned more red.

I almost laughed at her but refrained. She was cute.

Once we walked away I turned my attention to Sebastian. Something he said caught my attention.

"You didn't tell me you were fighting tonight." I accused. He shrugged.

"I was going to tell you.." He trailed off and I knew there was more.

I wasn't upset or anything. I was just curious.

"And?" I asked. I knew how much Sebastian hated explaining himself. Sometimes I think he was incapable of explaining anything at all.

"I've been fighting. To take off the edge and all and I wanted to save to get myself an apartment in a better building.. " Once again he trailed off but it was better than nothing.

Sebastian is turning 18 in a couple of months. I guess that's why he wants to move.

Before no building would rent anything to a minor. That building he's living at right now was the only building willing to over look that detail and they were charging him extra.

"That's good." I nodded at him. I didn't know what else to say. I thought it would take him a lot more to get him to talk but I guess he was trying.

We went to the dressing room to change and warm up. My muscles were slightly sore because of the intense training this morning.

Later on we were given time if our fights. Sebastian's was a lot earlier than mine.

Sebastian and I were in a different dressing room than the other fighters. It was only the two of us.

My guess was because Austin listened to Styles and was giving me the VIP experience.

"I could get used to the special attention." Sebastian gushed taking in the dressing room. It was a bit fancy and clean unlike the other dressing rooms.

"Stick with me buddy and all this will be your life." I joked wiggling my brows.

"Is it always like this?" He asked. "I mean with the special attention. Is it always like this when you're with the Godfather."

"Pretty yeah." I shrugged. I was used to this. Spending half my summer with him. I was used to the attention.

"This is so fucking cool." He exclaimed and I went back stretching.

I wanted to be ready. I didn't want to get a cramp in the middle of a fight.

The audience was big. I've never fought on a big stage before. It was scary. I've never fought for an audience at all.

Sebastian didn't seem nervous at all. But him and I were different. Too different.

Soon, sooner than I thought. The fights began. They warmed up the crowd for a bigger fight that was set for tonight.

Legend VS Legend, they said.

That's why all the security was here.

I've never seen shadow but rumor has it that he's the best of the best. His strategy isn't known. I know he's the best because he was trained by the Legend of underground fighting. Night Wing.

When they called Sebastian's name I knew than I would be next. Around The Arena, Sebastian goes by the name Bash because of his strategy and real name. It's also his gang code.

I walked out the tunnel and stayed on the shadows to watch my friend's match.

He was quite popular than me in fact, no one knew who I am. The crowd cheered for him louder than the previous fighters proving just how well known he is in The Arena.

His opponent was also a popular one. He lost a few fights but won most. He was about Styles age.

I noticed that today's MC was Austin which proved how big tonight was.

I've been to The Arena plenty of times and Austin never made an appearance.

I focused on watching the matched.

The other guy lunged too quickly but Sebastian dodged moving away from his opponent.

He was playing it safe. This time his opponent was more careful too. He slowly got closer punching but Sebastian was blocking.

He hesitated but it was international but Sebastian didn't see that. He dropped his hands and was going in for a punch but the other guy landed a solid one on his jaw.

I flinched as Sebastian stumbled back.

The fight went on until Sebastian was over an unconscious fighter and was declared a winner.

Unlike boxing, this fights didn't have a Round 1 or 2. The fight was over when one fighter was rendered unable to fight. Either unconscious or with broken arms and legs or whatever.

Lucky Sebastian's fight lasted only a few minutes but he'll have a whole lot of bruising tomorrow.

I went back to the dressing room and waited for my name to be called.

When I got back I found Styles waiting for me.

He arched a brow when he saw me as if asking about my whereabouts. I shrugged at him.

A sat down and he walked to me but someone approached me first.

"Sin, you're up next." He told me.

I blinked for a few seconds before it clicked that he meant me.