Baz’s head flew back, and by the time he hit the ground, it was clear he was out cold. He lay there, limbs staying where they landed, head tilted to the side. Eyes closed.
Shouts and cheers rang loud. Taff let out a whoop and gripped Wyatt’s shoulder, shaking him. “Told you he’d win.”
“I am undefeatable!” Teddy banged his fists on his pecs Tarzan style. “No one can beat me.”
“One of these days.” Rigor chuckled. “Someone will.”
Teddy paced around the edge of the ring, eyeing the crowd. “Who will be next? What? No one. You pansy-assed motherfuckers.” He roared and beat his chest again. His brow was beaded with sweat and his beard even scruffier than usual.
And then he stopped dead. He was looking Belle’s way, but not directly at her.
“You!” Teddy yelled, stabbing his finger forward, his full attention on Wyatt. “You. Asshole. I wanna fight you.”
“Ah shit,” Carter muttered and stubbed out his smoke with a scrape of his boot.
“What?” Belle turned to Wyatt. “No.”
“You,” Teddy bellowed again, “get your butt in here so I can whip it.”
“No fucking problem,” Wyatt said, releasing Belle and dragging at his t-shirt.
“What? No.” Belle grabbed his arm. “He’s a fucking giant, he’ll slaughter you.”
“Nothing like having faith, huh.” Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Thanks, babe.”
“I have, it’s just … don’t go in there.” Her heart squeezed. Teddy was a monster when he got going like this. And he was a head taller than Wyatt and heavier.
Wyatt handed his gun, smokes, and lighter to Carter. “Hold these.”
“Kick his butt,” Carter said.
“I don’t want—” Belle started.
“Belle.” Rigor set his hand on her forearm. “Stay out of this. It’s guy stuff.”
“No, no, it’s not,” she said. “Teddy only wants Wyatt in there ’cause he doesn’t like that we’re together now. He just doesn’t like him because he’s with me.”
Rigor shrugged. “Like I said, it’s guy stuff, and whatever their issue is, it’s for them to sort out.”
Wyatt caught her face in both of his hands and pressed a hard kiss to her lips. “It’ll only take a minute to KO him, then we can get on with our night.”
Her stomach tensed. Nerves threaded through her body, itching, biting. The last thing she wanted was to see Wyatt spread-eagled on the ground, bleeding, bruised, knocked out the way Baz was.
This is all my fault.
Wyatt slipped through the ropes, and the crowd cheered with delight. Money was exchanging hands, bets quickly being placed.
Teddy sneered and wiped the back of his hand over his brow. “Cocky bastard, aren’t you?”
“As cocky as you are ugly,” Wyatt said, hopping from one foot to the other then circling his head left then right. “Don’t hold back. Give me what you’ve got.” He raised his fists.
“Oh, fuck.” Belle clasped her hands beneath her chin. She didn’t want to watch. All she could do was watch.
Wyatt began to move around the ring. He was lighter on his feet than Baz, and leaner too, his limbs appeared longer. The expression on his face was pure concentration.
“That’s it,” Carter shouted. “Focus. Don’t take your eyes off him.”
Teddy hunched his shoulders and stormed toward Wyatt, throwing a left hook as he went.