Leonid
Dmitry's last jab hits my left cheek like a fucking sledgehammer.
Mudakisn’t letting up, even though I’m hisPakhan.But that’s why I like him.
I taste blood, but there’s no time to savor it. I return with a quick one-two, then dive for his legs. The big bastard’s fast, though; too fast for his size.
“Come on,Pakhan! You fight like mybabushka!” Maksim shouts from the corner.
“Shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you!” I snarl, narrowly avoiding Dmitry’s knee.
Maksim just laughs. “Ooh, touchy! Maybe if you focused more on fighting and less on that mystery pussy—”
His words cut off as I flip him the bird, but the distraction costs me. Dmitry’s fist connects with my ribs, driving the air from my lungs.
“Eyes on me, pretty boy,” Dmitry growls, his scarred face split in a feral grin.
I spit blood onto the mat. “Fuck you.”
We dance around each other, trading blows. My arms are covered in scratches, bruises already blooming on my skin. But I give as good as I get. Dmitry’s eye is swelling, and there’s a nasty cut above his brow.
“Use the takedown I showed you last week!” Maksim yells.
“I swear to God, Maksim, one more word—”
But Dmitry’s already moving. He catches me off guard, his massive arms wrapping around my waist. Before I know it, I’m airborne, then slammed onto the mat with bone-jarring force.
“Blyat!” I wheeze, struggling to breathe.
Dmitry’s on me in an instant, his weight crushing. I buck and twist, but he’s like a mountain on my chest.
“Give up yet,boss?” he taunts.
“In your dreams,mudak,” I growl.
I manage to get an arm free, driving my elbow into his temple. He grunts, his grip loosening just enough. I seize the opportunity, wrapping my legs around his waist and twisting hard.
We roll across the mat, a tangle of sweaty limbs and curses. For a moment, I think I have the upper hand. Then Dmitry shifts, and suddenly, I’m caught in a chokehold, his massive arm cutting off my air.
“Tap out,Pakhan,” Maksim calls, concern finally edging into his voice. “No shame in knowing when you’re beat.”
But I don’t tap. I can’t. Red’s face flashes in my mind, that smug smile as she tried to poison me. Ludis’s laughter echoes in my ears. I won’t give up. I can’t.
Black spots dance in my vision. My lungs burn, screaming for air. Just when I think I might pass out, Dmitry releases me.
I roll onto my side, coughing and gasping. “What the fuck?”
Dmitry stands over me, shaking his head. “You’re too proud for your own good,Pakhan. That shit’ll get you killed one day.”
I sit up, wincing at the pain in my ribs. “Yeah, well, not today.”
Maksim hands me a towel and a bottle of water. “You okay,Pakhan? For a second there, I thought we’d need to call the coroner.”
I glare at him, but there’s no real heat in it. “Fuck off.”
As I wipe the sweat and blood from my face, I catch sight of my reflection in the mirror. I look like shit. Bruises are already forming, my left eye swelling. But it’s the look in my eyes that gives me pause. There’s a hunger there, a desperation I’ve never seen before.
“So,” Dmitry says, gulping down water, “you gonna tell us what’s really going on? Or do I need to beat it out of you some more?”
