Page 176 of The Hunter's Empire

Nico shakes his head. "No."

He takes several measured steps away from us, rolling his sore shoulder as though shaking off the fight.

"You wanted to prove you were stronger than everyone else." He says evenly. "Here's your chance."

Tobias frowns. "What are you talking about?"

Nico's eyes drift toward me before returning to Tobias. "You're fighting her."

Silence settles over the office. For the first time since I'd met him, Tobias looks genuinely confused.

"You can't be serious."

"I've never been more serious."

Without another word, Nico walks toward the leather sofa near the windows and sits down. He glances toward Sebastian, who is still leaning against the desk, struggling to stay conscious.

"You should sit."

Sebastian stares at him in disbelief. "What?"

"Sit. You've both spent months underestimating her." A faint smile crosses his face. "It's about time someone corrected that mistake."

Sebastian hesitates, his gaze shifting uncertainly between the three of us. Then, with an uneasy grimace, he lowers himself onto the opposite end of the sofa, his injured arm visibly protesting the movement. He says nothing more.

I draw a slow breath and step forward.

Every movement sends pain through my body, but beneath it is something far stronger. Rage. Not reckless rage, but the kind that settles deep inside your bones and refuses to let go. Tobias has taken enough from me. My peace and my trust. He walked into my company believing he could erase everything with fear and violence. Not today.

Tobias begins circling me, studying every movement with the patience of a predator. "You really think you can beat me?"

"I don't think." I hold his gaze, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "I know."

The smile disappears from his face. He moves first. His punch whistles toward my head, but I slip beneath it and drive my heel into the side of his already injured knee. He grunts, stumbling just enough for me to close the distance. My elbow crashes into his jaw, snapping his head sideways before he catches my wrist and yanks me toward him.

I let him.

Using his own strength against him, I twist inside his grip, wrench my arm free, and drive another strike into his ribs before retreating out of reach. Pain shoots through my ankle as I land, but I ignore it.

Tobias spits blood onto the floor and straightens. "You're quicker than I expected."

"You're exactly as desperate as I imagined."

His expression darkens. With a roar of frustration, he charges again. I vault onto the overturned chair beside me, using it to launch myself higher before driving both feet into his chest. The impact sends him crashing backward into the edge of my desk, scattering files and shattered glass across the office.

I land hard, steadying myself as my ankle threatens to give way.

Behind me, Nico's voice breaks the silence. "I have to admit. Watching you beat the hell out of him is incredibly attractive."

I snort, never looking away from Tobias. "You picked a terrible time to flirt."

"I disagree." A beat passes. "I think my timing's perfect."

Despite the adrenaline still racing through me, the corner of my mouth lifts.

Tobias pushes himself upright, his breathing ragged, fury burning in his eyes. "You two think this is a fucking joke?" He snarls. "I'll kill you both and take what's rightfully mine!"

I slip inside his next swing and drive my knee into his midsection, forcing the air from his lungs. Before he can recover, I shove him back another step.