Page 94 of The Carnage We Keep

Galina’s hand flies to her mouth, covering her gasp as my blood-soaked hand shoots out, wraps around Bella’s throat, and yanks her right into my face.

“There’s going to be hell to pay for this, little nightmare,” I hiss through my teeth.

Bella says nothing. Then she slowly smiles again and reaches her hand out, winking as she patronizingly pats my cheek.

“Fight’s about to start, handsome. Try not to get hit so much this time?” She pats my face again before she easily slips out of my grip.

I’m still staring at her when the horn sounds again. Cenzo is right in my face as I turn back to the ring, urging me to stop before I get killed, screaming that he doesn’t give a fuck about his bet, it wasn’t that much money anyway.

Fuck that. She doesn’t get to take me down that easily.

Even Adrik looks apprehensive as I stumble back towards him.

“The fuck are you doing, Barone?” he grunts as I stagger toward him with my arms limp at my sides. “Tap out,” he frowns. “Seriously.”

“You gonna fight,” I blubber as blood pours down my chin, “or talk?”

Adrik’s jaw clenches as he slowly shakes his head and taps his fists together.

“I’m gonna to do you a favor.”

“How, by talking my ear off?” I hear myself say as the world begins to dim around me.

He smiles coldly. “Not exactly.”

The first punch gets me square in the nose, knocking me two stumbling steps backward.

The next one spins me around.

The third brings me to my knees.

The crowd isn’t cheering anymore. People are looking at me with concern and confusion as I try but fail to get to my feet.

“Stop the fight, Dame,” Adrik grunts as he walks closer to stand over me.

“Fuck. You⁠—”

He hits me once more. Twice.

Then I collapse to the dirt.

“Call it,” I hear Adrik’s deep voice rumble. “Fuck this. He’s done.”

Yeah, that’s probably a smart move.

My world is blurring in and out when Cenzo jumps the fence, waving his arms back and forth, officially calling the fight. Before my flickering vision fades to black again, I swivel my bloodied, pulped face and let my good eye land on Bella.

She’s not smiling anymore. Her brow is furrowed as if she’s worried about me.

What a nice thought, I snort to myself. What a pretty fantasy.

She frowns a little deeper, and I swear she’s about to open her mouth to speak.

But she doesn’t. And then she’s gone.

Cenzo loops my arm over his shoulders and lifts me out of the dirt.

“Whatever that was,” he says, his voice laced with concern, “we’ll talk about it later. For now, let’s get you home⁠—”