Saint sinks his fist into the stranger’s side. He grunts, comes at Saint, who swerves, trips him. The guy hits the ground facedown and lies still. Saint ducks inside the arena, to where Arpad has grasped Dima’s shoulders and shoved him off of Baron. Edward and Saint reach for Baron, haul him up and to his feet. They half drag, half carry Baron out of the arena. The gate slams shut, and just like that, the audience’s attention is back in the ring, where Arpad is hammering Dima with hit after hit—to the head, the chest, the stomach, to the side, the chest, the neck… He doesn’t stop. His fists are a blur of motion as he gets back in the game.
"That guy can fight." Nikolai prowls up to stand next to me. "I should be angry that the fight was disturbed, but hell, this makes for an even better spectacle. The brotherhood to the rescue, the injured being carried off, a new winner in the making." He jerks his chin to where Dima staggers back before he manages to get in a hit.
Arpad ducks, his muscles tense, his shoulders flex, he rears back, then smashes his head into the other guy’s face.
There’s silence. Dima stays standing, a second, then another.
"Ten."
"Nine."
"Eight."
"Seven."
The crowd chants. Yeah, the counting's supposed to start after a fighter falls, normally.Normally.But this isn't a fight played by the usual rules. Here the crowd senses weakness and moves in for the kill.
Dima sways, raises his fist. Arpad blocks him, lands another to his shoulder.
"Six."
"Five."
"Four."
Dima throws a hit, misses. Arpad pulls back his fist, waits… Then touches his finger to Dima’s forehead.
"Three."
"Two."
Dima slumps to the floor.
The crowd explodes. Arpad seems to sway, then gathers himself. He raises his fist, turns and meets my gaze. I jerk my chin at him.
"Seems like you guys won." Nikolai scratches his chin.
"Seems like you owe us some information." I turn to him.
Nikolai nods. "Those behind your kidnapping..." His gaze holds mine. "You want to find out who they are?"
I firm my lips, stare him down.
"Adam Rhodes," He tilts his head,
"Who the hell is Adam Rhodes?" I growl.
"The man who executed the kidnapping of you and your friends." He widens his stance, "The asshole who ruined your lives."
"Where is he?" I take a step forward. "Where can I find the bastard."
He arches an eyebrow, "That's for you to find out."
"If this is some kind of ruse," I swipe out my hand and grab his collar, "I'll kill you, you get me?"
Nikolai’s guards step forward, but he waves them off.
"I'd like to see you try." He tips up his chin.
