Muddy-Blond sneered. “I’ve had enough to drink when I say I’ve had enough to drink. Now fuck off.”
Then, without warning, he swung at me.
I caught his fist in my palm and shoved it aside like swatting away a fly. I could fight this fool with one hand tied behind my back and not break a sweat.
His face twisted in frustration, and he charged, slamming his head into my abdomen like a wild boar.
That was it.
I drove my fist into his jaw. Once. Then again.
He staggered back, shook his head like a stunned ox, snarled, and lunged at me again.
This time, I brought my knee up hard.
His howl split through the bar as he crumpled to the floor, clutching himself.
Patrons screamed, chairs scraped, and voices rose in alarm—but it was all background noise to me. This was nothing compared to the roars of a Colosseum crowd.
I dropped to my knees, straddling him, and drove my fists into his face. Again. And again.
Loud footsteps pounded toward me.
“Roman! Roman!” Lee’s voice cut through the haze. “You can’t do that here.”
He grabbed my arm just as I pulled back for another blow.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Sensei Lee,” Muddy-Blond drawled.
Lee’s expression darkened. “When will you ever grow up, Tristan?” He shook his head in disgust. “No wonder Olivia left your ass. You’re a weak, pathetic worm of a man.”
Tristan.
His name alone was enough to send me a vicious surge of rage, pounding like war drums in my veins.
Tristan spat blood onto the floor—then turned and spat again, this time directly onto my shirt.
“Fuck that shit,” he sneered. “Olivia was a cunt. I was glad she disappeared.”
Something inside me snapped.
“Don’t you dare talk about my wife like that,” I growled.
Tristan’s expression faltered. “Your wife?”
By now, the bar had gone silent, the crowd thickening around us.
“I’ve called the cops,” the bartender announced. “They’ll be here any minute.”
“Roman! We have to go!” Lee’s grip tightened around my arms, trying to pull me away.
But I wasn’t leaving. Not yet.
My fist clenched, my body moving on instinct.
I shook off Lee’s grip, drew back, and slammed my fist into Tristan’s nose.
The impact was swift. Brutal.
