“If I break you, your men will break my friends. I don’t think so.”
Chen laughed, attracting attention Kellen didn’t want or need. “I like your attitude. Come on. This fight’s nearly done. Your boy’s coming out on top.”
As if he’d choreographed it himself, Chen had predicted the match. Dante took a fist to the chest, stumbling back, but only to take the Roc off balance. When the Roc launched a follow-up attack, Dante yanked him closer and off his feet, then tossed them both out of the ring and body-slammed himself on top of the guy into the concrete.
“Nice.” Chen clapped.
The crowd erupted into shouts and boos, a lot of people apparently having bet on the current champ to take the victory. Undone by a Ravager berserker.
Dante grinned up at them, blood running in his eye. “Now that’s a fight.” He laughed and jumped up to his feet.
“Well? After you.” Chen gestured to the now empty ring.
The crowd grew quiet as they watched Chen waiting on Kellen.
“I said no.” Kellen glared at Chen, not about to be intimidated into complying.
Chen shrugged. “Then we can do things the hard way.” He snapped, and out of nowhere, over a dozen guns were aimed at the Ravagers.
Kellen growled. “You’re starting something you don’t want to finish.”
“Eh. What’s life without adversity?” Over his shoulder, he called out, “Mei Lin, you keep a tally so we know who wins. No cheating, everything aboveboard. Place your bets.”
After a moment of silence, the crowd went crazy, screaming and cheering as they watched the big boss get ready to fight.
Kellen didn’t know how he’d been roped into this, but he didn’t need to look over at Viper to know she was beyond annoyed.
“A hundred on Kellen,” Dante said with relish. “You better win, man. Gotta keep our rep tight.”
Just what Kellen didn’t need. Then he spied Jesse in the crowd. Even worse, Jesse had his eye on Mei Lin—Viper—and he looked ready to kill.
Great. What else can go wrong with my night?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kellen took another hit from Chen, wondering when the guy would actually put some power behind it.
At first, he hadn’t wanted any involvement in this fight. But after trading a few blows with a man who felt comfortable with his fists, Kellen didn’t worry about picking on someone not his equal. Since Chen had been so adamant to fight, he’d get what he deserved. That the big guy could move when he wanted to only made the fight that much sweeter. It would be a challenge, not some easy, boring battle.
Ducking a kick aimed at his head, Kellen dove forward, knocking Chen off his feet. He hit Chen twice, drawing blood, and noticed the dark black smear on his knuckles that now stained Chen’s lower lip.
Everyone stared, in awe.
“Lucky hit.” Chen stood and cracked his neck. And damned if Kellen didn’t hear something whining around the man, a low-level shriek of power? He flexed his fingers and narrowed his gaze. He’d swear the tattoos on Chen’s arms moved.
Jesse moved toward Viper, who stood at one corner of the ring, glaring at her boss.
While Chen glared at Kellen. “What did you two talk about?”
Kellen avoided a punch and kicked out, making contact with Chen’s gut.
Chen sucked a breath and went down to one knee, but when Kellen tried to follow with an uppercut, Chen caught his fist and twisted.
Kellen found himself flipped into the air and hammered into the mats without knowing how Chen had made that happen. But he rebounded instinctively, crouched on the balls of his feet in seconds. He hadn’t yet given in to hisguer, but if Chen kept pissing him off, he might.
“Did she tell you her name?” Chen shot both hands, palm out, at Kellen, but Kellen had arched back and let the flow of energy pass him into the crowd, who flew back as if blown away.
People cheered and cried out with glee, the fight leeching into the audience.
