“I don’t really care about fair.” Cobb angled to the side and up toward Denver’s head.
“I remember,” Denver said softly. “You like hitting kids. Just like your loser of a brother did.”
Cobb’s nostrils flared. “My brother gave you a home. Food and a bed. And you killed him.”
Denver scoffed, rage heating through him so quickly his lungs burned. “Your brother was a weak limp-dicked asshole who picked on people smaller than him just to feel better about his loser life.”
Cobb snarled. “It’s not going to work again.”
Wasn’t it? Denver was losing his own temper, and he had a good grasp. The sheriff never could control himself. “No sheriff uniform? Did she make you quit your job?” False sympathy coated his words.
“You’re stalling.” Cobb shifted his weight and slipped the knife into his other hand. His good hand. “Still feeling the drugs?”
Yes. Definitely. “Nope. I’m good.” Yet he made himself sound breathless. “I could do this all day.”
“Sorry. I can’t.” Cobb took another step, his gaze alert. “I need to get to your lady. Isobel should be finished with her soon . . . and then it’s my turn.” He smiled, flashing a jagged incisor Denver had never forgotten. “Isobel is going to be mad at me for killing you, and we’re going to have a big fight. Then I’m going to take my aggressions out on your little bitch.”
Denver smiled then, when all he wanted was to wrap his hands around Cobb’s throat and squeeze. “Noni will kick your ass.”
“We’ll see,” Cobb said almost breathlessly. “I had your brother’s girl—Ryker’s woman—in a cinder-block shed. She smelled like roses.”
Denver bunched his muscles. “I’m aware. I also know that she got free and away from you before you could touch her. That had to hurt you.”
“It did.” Something gleamed in Cobb’s eyes. “I had to find another woman, one off the streets in the city, and I made her scream just to get over losing Zara like that.” He rubbed his dick. “But it was almost worth it. I’m ready again, and this time Noni is going to feel my blade.” He closed his eyes as if savoring a treat. “I can’t wait to make her scream.”
The more Cobb spoke, the calmer Denver became. Dealing with the psycho as a kid had been good training for this fight. “Your brother—what did you call him? Neddy?”
Cobb stiffened and opened his eyes. “Shut up.”
“That’s right. Neddy.” Denver’s lips peeled back, and he showed his teeth. “He cried when the fire started. Did you know that?”
Cobb swallowed and his body vibrated in place. “Stop it.”
“Yeah. The bat to the head didn’t really kill him.” A total lie. When Ry and Heath swung those bats, Ned’s head had exploded like a watermelon. “After I hit him with the bat, he fell, but his eyes were still open.” Denver tensed, readying himself, lying again about who’d killed Ned. “When I started the fire, I guess he didn’t cry. It was more like a pig squealing.”
“Fuck you.” Cobb struck then, going for the throat.
Denver slid to the side and kicked out a leg.
As if he’d been expecting the move, Cobb dodged, slashing his knife down Denver’s torso.
Pain exploded through Denver, and he swiped his free arm down, grabbing Cobb’s wrist. Holy crap. He was losing strength and fast. His armpit to his ribs burned, and then his vision hazed.
He struggled, yanking Cobb down on top of him. A twist of Cobb’s wrist, and the knife went flying across the room.
Cobb levered up and punched him in his bleeding ribs.
Denver hissed, stars detonating behind his eyes. His vision fuzzed even more. He had to gain control and now. Levering his legs around Cobb’s torso, he compressed the man’s arms to his sides. Then, giving in to temptation, he wrapped his hands around Cobb’s neck and squeezed.
Cobb floundered, trying to get in a punch. He made desperate grunting noises.
Denver tightened his hold. Damn it. The man wouldn’t submit. Cobb managed to dig a finger into his fresh wound. Pain exploded throughout him, and only raw fury spurred him on.
Cobb stopped fighting, his chest heaving.
Denver loosened his hold just enough to let the guy breathe. “Where is Noni?” he gasped.
“Doesn’t matter,” Cobb growled, his face trapped against Denver’s chest. Somehow Cobb shifted and dug his fingers in more.
