“Two fights or twenty Gs.”
I gritted my teeth.
“He’s only fought once tonight. He owes me another fight.” The threat in his tone was apparent.
My heart pounded. I couldn’t let Eli fight again, but I had half a mind to kick his ass myself.
“I need that money,” Eli said.
“Shut the fuck up!” I ordered through clenched teeth.
This greased up Joe Pesci wasn’t about to let us out of that basement without a fight and probably a couple of bullets.
“Ten thousand per fight is the bank?” I asked.
Pesci shook his head. “Nope. You can’t pay his way out of this one.” He pointed to the crowd. “They paid money to see a fight.”
I glanced back at the crowd and the dickhead in front of me. I glared at Eli. “Fine.”
Eli stepped forward, but I held my hand across his chest, keeping him from heading toward the makeshift ring.
“You want a fight. You’ll get one.” I released Lena’s hand and started unbuttoning my shirt, revealing the tank I wore underneath.
“What are you doing?” Lena asked.
“Hey, sweetheart, you look familiar,” Pesci said.
“You don’t fucking know her,” I growled.
His eyebrows lifted, and he held up his hands. “Touchy.”
“I’m taking his place,” I told him and pulled off my tank.
“No way,” Eli demanded.
“I swear if I hear one more word out of your mouth, I’m going to stomp a second hole in your face.” I poked him in the chest with my finger. “Your dumbass shouldn’t even be here.
“Are we doing this or what?” I asked Pesci.
He looked between Eli and me and shrugged. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
“Gabriel, you can’t be serious,” Lena said, fear lacing her voice.
I hated hearing that fear but knew this was the best option. I couldn’t let Eli get into another fight and risk his career. But someone needed to take his place. I was about done with my pro career as a fighter. I’d made that decision recently. Most important, I wouldn’t take any money for this fight.
It was a risk, but right then, I was willing to take it.
“It’ll be over quick,” I assured Lena, pulling her into me to kiss her forehead.
I turned to Eli and threw my shirt at him. He caught it right before it smacked him in the face.
“You watch her. If any motherfucker in here touches a hair on her head, I’m taking his head, and yours clean off your shoulders. You got it?” I glared at him, waiting for an answer.
He slowly nodded.
“Stay with him,” I told Lena.
I moved to the center of the crowd and came face-to-face with my competition.
