The crowd parts ways for Aaron as they cheer him on as he steps into the cage to fight. He’s wearing a bright red shiny satin robe.
It seems fitting since I’m the bull that will decimate his ass.
“There can only be one winner. The man who comes out alive,” Carlos says and chuckles. He’s enjoying this a little too much.
He doesn’t know that I’ve fought men twice my size, murdered and slaughtered criminals who betray me. I don’t need a weapon to take his life. I have my bare hands.
Aaron drops his robe at the edge of the cage against the metal wire.
“Five!”
The countdown begins.
I’m quick on my feet, and Aaron throws a punch in my direction before Carlos reaches ‘one.’ No one seems to care that he’s a cheat.
But I anticipate it because I’d do the same if I thought I was going to get my ass kicked.
Lucky for me, I have the advantage. While he’s taller by a few inches, I’m more muscular. I’ve fought dozens of men. While he was Pakhan, my father threw me into the ring to learn to defend myself.
I dodge his shot and catch a glimpse of metallic shining under the light in his hand.
Aaron has a blade in his palm.
“Didn’t think you had a chance without a knife?” I mock him.
The chaotic noise of the crowd surrounds us and jeers at me, cheering his lame-ass on.
Aaron’s gaze flinches at my remark.
Oh, he heard me.
A spectator launches a beer bottle at the cage. It crashes against the metal wire but startles me long enough for Aaron to scratch me with the tip of his knife.
The wound is superficial. I’ll survive. I’ve suffered worse at the hands of men who had a reason to want me dead.
What’s his reason?
Is it because I slept with Madisyn, and he’s a jealous ass?
“I want you dead,” Aaron says, and his top lip snarls as he stares at me with disgust. “You’re never going to lay another finger on my girlfriend.”
“Your girlfriend?” I’ve had enough of dancing around with him in the ring. It’s time to knock his ass out. “Madisyn isn’t your girlfriend. She doesn’t want anything to do with you.” I throw a mean right hook that’s bound to leave a mark tomorrow.
He doesn’t go down, but I didn’t expect him to go after one punch. He’s probably taken a beating or two when he trained at Quantico.
He likely knows how to fight like a federal agent, not a Russian.
He will go down. I’ll make sure of it.
Through the noise and the surrounding chaos, I catch a glimpse of the bright red robe that Aaron wore moments earlier.
Madisyn has it wrapped around her body. She’s swimming in the satin material.
She’s cheering for him.