Bryce tried to dodge but couldn’t escape the steel grip of the larger man. Finally he just set his jaw and met Auger’s eyes. A light shine covered his face. Auger’s eyes flickered back and forth as he inspected Bryce’s expression.
He maybe isn’t high, but he is something. Scared? Jonesing for the fight? Or scared of me, maybe?
Bryce twisted meekly, hoping to be let go. “Listen, I didn’t want to mention this, but these sponsorships can get pretty… substantial,” he said in a low voice. There was a light in his eyes.
Auger held his arm until everyone else had left the room, then released him roughly.
“We gotta get out there, man,” Bryce whined.
“This is bullshit,” Auger spat.
“I know, I know, I know…” Bryce said quickly. “But…. two rounds is two grand… Sponsorship is maybe another two grand…”
“That’s fucked up. I’m out.”
Panic flashed across his face. “No! Come on, man,” he pleaded. “It’s for charity or some shit…”
“Oh fuck off.”
“OK, OK… yeah what do I know about charity…. right…” Bryce admitted, backing away with his hands up. Auger hadn’t actually hit him since middle school, but he never wanted to go through that again. He looked around the small room desperately.
Auger shook his head, rage building in his chest like a tidal wave. A sponsor was not a one-time deal. Bryce was trying to rope him into Orion’s crew, and he knew it. Once a sponsor invested with Orion on his behalf they would expect to own him, and he wasn’t about to be owned by anyone.
Never again.
The door burst open and Jimmie stuck his head in. “Get your asses in the line, NOW!” he yelled with a surprising amount of authority.
Bryce spun to face Auger, clapping his hands together in a praying gesture. “Please, man. Please!! I am begging you!”
Auger’s stomach heaved as though he might be sick, but the look of desperation on Bryce’s face tugged at him.
One thousand is better than nothing, he reminded himself. Just tap out, fuck the sponsor, move on.
Nostrils flared, he took a few more breaths to make Bryce suffer. Jimmie bounced impatiently in the doorway.
“Fine,” he growled under his breath and shoved past him.
***
They walked out into a huge room filled with people craning their necks around to get a good look. Auger stood up straight, letting all the fury show on his face and posture as he followed Bryce and Jimmie to the front of the room where Nickie, Trent and Twister were already standing.
Despite everything, his senses were electrified like he was turned on way too high. Every pair of eyes seemed to singe his skin, and even the sensation of not having shoes on bothered him with too much texture. He felt trickles of sweat already falling in crooked paths down the back of his shoulders as adrenaline began its predictable upward surge. He could hear every light buzzing faintly, and every whisper that discussed his brooding, hulking body as he walked past.
A light, leaping feeling swept through his heart and he stamped it down viciously.
Do not enjoy this, he repeated to himself over and over.
But still, just knowing he had to tell himself that felt like a failure.
Shaking his head to clear it, Auger found Twister and scowled at him. Twister curled one half of his lip up and looked Auger up and down, measuring him out. Auger focused on that: watching Twister size him up. It should have triggered his defenses, making him nervous or angry. But instead it reinforced the part of him that really thought this was… fun.
Get serious! he shouted to himself. This is not a game!
Orion grinned widely as he came up, staring at the guys like beauty contestants along the wall. Auger swallowed a mouthful of stomach acid and managed to keep his expression unchanged.
“You made it,” Orion purred in his deep, oily voice.
Auger nodded shortly and looked for an empty spot in the row.
“Bryce tells me you’re going to save his ass… Again,” Orion said.
Auger glanced at Bryce, who frowned immediately and shook his head.
“What the fuck does that mean?” he growled.
Bryce stepped into the line and turned to face the crowd. “Get in line!” he muttered insistently, pointing to the far end.
Auger stepped forward and pushed Trent firmly aside, taking a place beside Bryce.
“You’re supposed to be down there,” Bryce objected, trying to shoo him toward Twister at the end of the line.
“What is Orion talking about?”
Bryce shook his head, smiling thinly at a fat old guy in shirt sleeves and suspenders. “I have no idea.”
“You’re fucking lying to me!”