Nehro watched us both, not flinching under her verbal attack. He spoke without any emotion. “Think of me what you will. I still believe in the sanctity of contracts. If you're so keen to free this man, it's fine with me. Tell him not to fight, and it's all over with.” His greasy stare rolled to me. “Your dear savior can walk away and go back to his life, before you dragged him into your troubles.”

Zoe shuddered in my embrace. I squeezed her, and when I heard her inhale, like she planned to speak out and 'save' me from all of this, I cut her off. “No need, I'll be fighting tonight.”

“Huck, no!”

Ignoring her, I held my head high and smiled down on Nehro.

He asked in cold disbelief, “You're really going to do this, let yourself suffer for her?”

“Sure am.” Gently, I disengaged from Zoe. Her eyes were big and wet, ruining her claim that she never cried. “Call me crazy, but I guess I happen to like trouble.”

Covering her mouth, she choked out a small sound.

Nehro looked at the clock, every bit of his humor replaced by a foul mood. He hated that I was going to take his challenge. Good.

That just fueled me more.

“Get ready,” he snapped, whirling away. “You begin in five minutes.”

Watching him go, I started to hand Zoe my jacket. “Please, Huck,” she whispered. “You're going to get murdered.”

“I'll win, babe.” I wished I could grin bigger, but it wasn't happening. “Have some confidence in me.”

I'd worn my gym gear under my street clothes this time, and stripping down to it, I shoved everything else into the bag I'd brought.

Wrapping my hands, I glanced at the crowd. They were milling around, exchanging money and slips of paper. Betting was on, and I realized, it was the first time I'd been at the Dog House so early. I'd never been the first match before. Or the last.

Now, I would get to be all of them.

“Huck.”

Tying off the bandages, I faced Zoe. It was as difficult as standing in that ring. She knew what I knew; tonight, I might not come out alive. “Listen,” I said, curling my fingers into her silk hair. I wanted to rub it all over me... and I couldn't. Not now, and perhaps never again. “Under my bed, there's a box. It isn't even locked, because I figured if someone was going to rob me, they'd get it open anyway.”

She stared at me, shaking her head slowly. “Huck...”

“Take my apartment key.” I shoved it into her palm, closed her fingers. “If this goes bad, you can have my savings. Use them to get another guy to do this for you. That way, even if I'm gone, you'll—”

She silenced me with her mouth, a kiss so rough it awoke the adrenaline in my veins. Zoe clawed at me, demanding more, trying to will me away with her very existence.

Except... it was her existence that I was fighting for.

Firmly, I grabbed her by the forearms. “Get yourself together, sugar.” Lifting my hands, I brushed her tears from her cheeks. My smile was tight. “When I'm standing out there, beating my way to a win...” I winked at her. “I want to hear you cheering your fucking lungs out for your dog.”

I backed away, there was nothing else to do but head to my fate. I'd put myself here, I wasn't going to run. Where would I—we—even go? It was impossible to escape, we couldn't scoop up her Gram; the poor woman wasn't fit for travel. Nehro would hunt us all down. This was all I could do for her.

For us.

Zoe stared at me, dead on and never flinching. Her lips moved, but I didn't hear her. The bell had rung, the crowd drowning her out. Everyone was ready. They were excited to watch me get shredded by fists and teeth.

As I walked with heavy feet to the chalk ring, I repeated the vision of Zoe in my mind. I watched her again and again, seeing her lips curl, reading the shape of them.

She'd mouthed three words.

Words I'd heard before...

But had never believed.

My ears burned, people shoving to get a better view. And in my mind, I thought of that star-child who had captured my heart in ways no woman ever should have.

I love you, too, Zoe.

The bell dinged.

Perching on the edge of the ring, I held my fists high and eyeballed the first man who dared to face me.

It was time.

- Chapter Fifteen -

Zoe

I was screaming, and I didn't think I'd ever stop.

Huck's skin was gleaming from sweat, the muscles highlighted along his ribcage. In jungle-green shorts and handwraps, he finally fit the scene perfectly. Except, to me... the clothes made no difference.

Huxton was a fighter, straight down to his core. I knew that now. If he'd strut into the ring naked, he would have been just as imposing—just as natural. This was his world.

It blew my mind that a man like this could have transitioned into something less violent. With blood now staining his hands, his hair ruffled and damp, I glimpsed hints of the side of him that was so determined to protect me. The shadow in his eyes, the way he could bend me in his arms and make me moan.

With each new opponent, the human aura in him was fading.

He was becoming nothing but a savage beast.

Huck had taken the first guy down easy. The second had gotten a jab or two in, made him grunt, but no more. But by the third... he was struggling.

He faced down a hulk of a man, a guy by the name of Dice. His teeth were black and white, spattered with cavities. He'd been hit in the face so much he didn't bother to keep up with them.

Now, that rotting grimace fixed on Huck, another fist pounding into his side.

Lifting my arms, I screamed harder. Huck swung forward, wrapping his grip on Dice and shoving him to the floor. There, he jammed an elbow into the man's jaw—we all heard the crunch.

It was good that Dice didn't care about his teeth.

Panting heavily, Huxton got to his feet. His chin hung low, hair and sweat in his eyes. Clutching his jacket, I recalled the first night we'd done this. How proud he'd been then, how fast he had come to my aid and won for me.

Even from the beginning, Huck had tried to save me.

His desire was what would get him killed.

“Huck!” I shouted, desperate to be heard over the people roaring. He looked my way, finding me in the mess. Instantly, he perked up—gave me a smile. He was faking the energy.

Huxton was growing tired.

“Next fight,” Nehro crowed, holding his megaphone high. He looked ridiculous, I wanted to slam the device down his cruel mouth. “Rematch, Shrapnel versus Huxton!”

God, everyone went wild.

Massive as ever, Shrapnel moved to his end of the ring. Huck's smile fidgeted at the corner. I didn't know if he was amused or pissed.

Licking his lips, Shrapnel put his giant, meaty fists in the air. “Been waiting to go at you again,” he called out.

Pushing his hair off of his forehead, Huxton adjusted his stance. Some of his smooth confidence had returned, but I wondered if it was real or fake. He said, “You missed me that much, huh? That's sweet of you.”

Shrapnel flared his nostrils, hunching into a ball of sinew and thick neck. That damn bell rang out, and the giant man didn't wait. He flew at Huck, his bare feet making the ground shake—or maybe that was just from the cheering crowd.

Huck was clearly tired. He dodged, but barely. I clutched his jacket so hard, I could have torn it in two.

I wanted to help, but there was no way. I had no options. Not for the last time, I hated that he was in this position. I was falling in love with the man, and it was painful. The tragedy of loving someone that was required to kill themselves wasn't lost on me.

Shuddering, I screamed louder; I was losing my voice.

Ducking out of the way of another swing, Huck tried to take Shrapnel down by the ankles. It had worked in their first fight.