Ashton POV

Later that night I stepped down the stained concrete stairs to an illegal underground ring, winking as a brassy blonde ring girl checked me out shamelessly in passing.

"Women were too easy."

Plastering on a dispassionate mask I walked further into the dark and dingy fighting arena, scanning the room for undercover police and informants or anyone who may recognize me.

I had to keep a low profile, if the club owners found out their enemy was within their walls ...I'd be dead in moments and it wouldn't matter who else they took out along side me.

"My fathers words rung in my ears from this mornings emergency meeting. The Russian gang HD6  were stealing our turf and setting up an  underground fight club operation right by one of our biggest weapons warehouses. Infiltrating our clientele."

Yet again another headache my father left me to deal with.

"I'm gonna need to consider disposing of him soon, his antics were getting old  and he was becoming sloppy with his work".

Eyeing the room wearily through my dark sunglasses I sat down in the back of the Dingy ring. This illegal ring was no different then the others, cheap and dirty looking- but it was easy to leave in case of a bust and easy to take down to quickly move locations.

A woman in no more then a black bra and tight spandex shorts sashayed by with a betting box, flirting excessively to the men dropping wads of cash into the container.

Looking into the ring I watched a tall dude littered with cheap looking tattoos getting the shit kicked out of him by

.. a girl?

Almost laughing out loud, I motioned for the ring girl with large breasts to take my bet before returning my attention to the stage.

"Maybe I would have to thank my father later, this was quite entertaining."

The girl took a small jab to the thigh before raising her fist and punching her opponent in the chin. A sickening snap echoed the small room, as the dudes  head snapped back around, blood pouring profusely from his nose.

My curiosity peaked, She was swift and sure footed- she didn't have a single moment of hesitation as she laid out more jabs and kicks. Since when did girls join under ground fight clubs? and since when did they start allowing little girls to fight in the brutal rings anyways?

I watched a little longer, interested at the slender fit framed girl. She raised up her right leg and swung it around kicking the brown haired dude full force across the jaw before ending the fight by elbowing him in the abdomen, causing him to keel over.

He was out for the count.

She was good.. really good, feeling the front of my pants tighten I shifted my position. Our eyes locked for a moment before she turned away.

She threw the hood of her black hoodie up, pacing impatiently around the ring waiting for the referee to started chanting 3..2..1.. knockout! -  and calling out her win.

Cries of disbelief and ridicule erupted from the crowds mingling with the cheers of obvious fans.

A smug look graced her rosy lips before she collected her cash; still shielding her face behind her hood and hightailing it out of the ring towards the back door.

"Smart girl"

I hummed.

A typical survival tactic used by criminals or the rich and famous. Leave before anyone could recognize or really get ahold of her for any type of questioning.

I stood up to leave, walking out of the chaotic building just in time to catch a glimpse of a jet black street bike drifting from the back of the run down warehouse and into the inky night.

Staring down the road after her, I opened my burner phone and made the call.

"Boys meet at warehouse one, its time to show HD6 who their messing with"

                                      • • •

PAYTONS POV

I groaned in annoyance as my alarm shrieked somewhere beside me. Shoving my head further into my pillow I felt around for the source, finding it and slamming down on the snooze button with irritation. I unwillingly slid out of my bed and stumbled towards my ensuite in a daze. I had been too tired to shower after my fight last night, so I pulled over the tap, tested the water before getting in, groaning with delight as the warm water soothed my sore muscles.

Once I was awake enough to start being proactive, I stepped out and started getting ready for my first day back at the community college. i  tied half my dark chocolate hair up in a messy braid and let the rest down in long waves, applying some light make up i nodded my head in approval before turning to my closet to grab my clothes.

I stood Inspecting my toned figure in the mirror first. i was relieved my fight last night was easy enough that it had left no obvious bruising. There were some days I couldn't even leave the house because the bruising was too noticeable. Now though, as i got older the bruising became fewer and farther in between. Ive been fighting since i was 15 and if I hadn't of learnt quickly I probably would have ended up in the hospital more than i would of liked. Now though-because of all the experience and coaching i had received, i was one of the best.

My entire life came crashing down on me when i was 15. Originally my father had trained me, determined to make sure his daughter could defend herself but after he was killed i had to leave home permanently, Moving from place to place, attending different schools.. it was not easy as a 15 year old girl living on her own but until I felt sure that whoever killed my dad wasn't  trying to track me down and finish the job- i couldn't moved back  home.

From there i worked in a local dive bar where i picked up fighting in the underground, fighting occasionally for some side cash until my ring name got around. Once i became fairly well known i was offered a regular show position, and I've been doing it full time ever since. It wasn't the life i had wanted for myself, but after watching the life seep from my fathers stiffening body i had lost all hope.

I couldn't allow myself to fall so far again, not for anyone or anything, illegal fighting wasn't something i originally wanted to do but it covered my bills and I was finally able to support myself.

I Hopped out to the garage and pulled out my motorcycle. My pride and joy, there was nothing like racing down the freeway, shifting gears going faster dodging cars...it was one of the only times i felt so carefree. Almost like i was flying.

Kicking my bike over it rumbled to life beneath me. Steering it off the driveway i shot out onto the street and headed towards my new school.

"15 minutes. That's how long it took me to get to my school.. that's was maybe 30 minutes away."

Letting out a small chuckle i pulled into the busy parking lot, parking my black beauty next to a couple of expensive, brightly coloured sport cars.

How Typical.

Hopping off my bike I pulled off my helmet shaking out my long dark hair. Hoots and hollers came from a couple groups of guys as i sashayed past them towards the front doors.

Everything was so stereotypical.

There were varsity Jocks, the nerds,  the mean girls, cheerleaders, artists...you name it there was a group for it and of course I as the new girl was Centre of all the unwarranted attention ..so cliché.

I headed towards the main office to collect my schedule for my classes. I had a previous tour of the school so i wasn't completely unfamiliar with the layout, but the university broke up into four campuses with the office in the front, science and math classes were in building B, English and arts Hall A and socials and humanities down building C. Library, gymnasium and cafeteria all in the main hall with the registration office.

Pulling back the old wooden door I plastered a well rehearsed smile on my face.

"Hello my names Payton Rivers, I'm here for my schedule, I wasn't able to access it online previously" I explained to  the receptionist as politely as i could muster this early in the morning without my coffee.

"Here you go sweetheart, hope you have a great semester and welcome to the school" she smiled sweetly before i waved a goodbye and headed out of the office.

Weaving my way in and out of busy crowds i wandered down building C to my first class. Catching glimpses of guys winking and girls glaring, i just rolled my eyes.

"Its not like i had a choice being born good looking, take that up with my dead parents."

Staring down at my schedule, i turned around slightly confused  at the number categorization of the classes. A hard shoulder knocked me off balance causing me to drop my books.

"Hey watch it asshole" i yelled over my shoulder before crouching down and picking up my books. The hall went weirdly silent as a pair of  black timberlands stopped in front of me.

"Excuse me?" A deep voice snapped making me suddenly irritated at the human. Breath in ..breath out i mentally chanted to myself. I could not lose my shit this early in the day.

Standing up after a moment i snapped my eyes to his and my breath caught in my throat. Deep chocolate eyes stared harshly back at my blue ones.

"This dude was hot as hell."

"Are you blind or stupid?" He asked again clearly irritated (even his voice was sexy as hell in that soft demanding rumbly way) but That was all it took to snap me out of my wayward thoughts.

"Are you blind or just an asshole?" I retorted blankly my eyes unwavering from his gaze.

Gasps and whispers rippled throughout the crowds that had somehow formed around the hallway. A look of cold anger swam in his eyes reminding me of a black hole, just dark inky voids.

"Thats what i thought, fucking prick" i shrugged my shoulders and walked away leaving the asshole to deal with the cluster of people gathering in the hallway.

Once i was far enough away I decided to scan the paper once more before huffing with resign, i leaned against the wall twisting the map around in my hands only to find myself even more confused.

"Lost?" Someone asks.

Raising my eyebrows i looked up to the person over the sheet of paper whistling lowly to myself.

"Damn whats with the men here?"

Standing in front of me was a tall muscular guy with green eyes and thick light brown hair. Gulping i nodded before handing him my schedule.

"Looks like your first class is right next to mine" he nodded at the paper before handing it back. "Its right this way".

I smiled slightly and followed him down another hallway that was oddly empty.

"These classes are at the back of the school, nobody usually takes an interest in these courses so its usually a pretty small class" he explained before knocking on a wooden door labelled 20C.

"Thanks um.." i trailed off realizing i don't know this guys name.

"It's Matthew, Matthew Black" he shook my hand while smirking at me. A blush rose to my cheeks at the huge warm hand engulfing my own calloused ones.

"Well Matthew, I'm Payton, Payton Rivers it's nice to meet you" i smiled before turning open the class door and dumping my stuff on the closest available desk.

"Rivers? As in..." he trailed off almost as if he was talking to  himself. "Sorry, never mind it just sounded familiar" he explained still looking slightly confused.

"Anyways Payton i got to head to class, catch you later" he excused quickly before walking off down the corridor.

Still curious about  Matthew's strange reaction i headed back into the classroom to settle in.

First day of university here i come.