“Maybe if you let people leave, I’d have encouraged them to join,” I snapped. “They’re already prisoners in this place. I’m not letting them becomeyourprisoner, too.”
I was too pissed to hold it all back. I didn’t care how badly Captain punished me for talking back to him. It felt pretty damn good, considering how hard he’d been pushing me these past few months. I hated that I ever fell for his charm and joined the fight club in the first place.
Captain grabbed me by the shirt and shoved me against the wall so hard it knocked the wind out of me. “You think you’re socool, don’t you, Bandit?” he taunted. “You think you’re in control. Well, get it out of your head right now!”
He smacked me again, and I gritted my teeth.
“You knew what you were getting into when you joined my team,” he growled. “I can’t have you running off spreading rumors about the club, and I sure as hell can’t wipe your memory of the past six months.”
“If you let me out, I won’t say a damn thing,” I promised. It seemed like a fair trade.
“It don’t work like that, Bandit. You want out, you’re gonna have to prove yourself.”
“Then tell me what to do, because I’m done.”
Captain scoffed, then dropped me. “That’s been obvious for months. Is that why you didn’t fill your hours this week?”
“I’m working extra shifts at the factory,” I reminded him. “I told you that when I got the infraction.”
“That’s your own damn fault!” he snapped. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were rigging the fights just to piss me off.”
I scoffed. “Believe me, I wouldn’t care enough to put in the effort.”
He paced several feet away, then whirled back toward me. “Well, someone’s fixing the fights! My best fighters are losing. I’ve been training in combat all my life. I know what a fake knock-out looks like. These fights have turned into sissy wars— nothing but a bunch of pussies. I need action, or the whole club goes bottom-up. The stats don’t add up, and I’m losing bet money. I’m sick and tired of it!”
Captain swiped his hand through the air, and something made of glass flew off his desk and shattered. “I need this guy caught, and I need him caught now. Tell you what, Bandit. You want to leave so badly, I’ll make you a deal.”
My heart lifted. If there was a chance to get out, I’d take it. I just hoped he wasn’t asking me to kill someone or something. Ididhave a moral code, albeit a loose one.
“Here’s the deal. You catch this guy who’s fixing the fights, and I’ll let you walk,” he offered.
My breath caught, but I tried not to let it show. It was a pretty good deal, but I worried there was a catch. “And if I don’t catch him?”
“Then you’re mine for good,” he threatened. “Need I remind you that things aren’t looking good for you right now? You’ve missed a week of training. As punishment, I’ve scheduled you to fight three dragon shifters.”
“I’ve beat dragon shifters before,” I stated.
“Not three at once.”
“What?” I gaped. “That will kill me!”
Captain chuckled, like the idea amused him. “That’s too damn bad. You agree to investigate who’s fixing the fights, and I’ll forgive your missed training sessions. I’ll take that fight off the schedule. As soon as you catch the bastard that’s rigging the ring, you’re done. You can walk.”
“Really?” It seemed too easy.
And that’s exactly what I was worried about.
“What?” he snapped. “Is it too hard a task for you?”
“No. I can do it,” I said quickly. But it wasn’t good enough for me. “If I catch him, you let Chancey and Ghost go, too.”
Captain laughed. “You think you’re in a place to negotiate?”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Aren’t I? Last semester, Ghost was promised two more fights before he could leave, yet he’s still in. The man wants out, and I’m taking him with me, or I’m not investigating.”
Captain went quiet for a few moments before saying, “I suppose I can let Ghost go with the deal, but Chancey won’t want to leave.”
The least I could do wastryto save my friend. “Then I guess we’ll give him the choice. I won’t settle for anything less. Chancey may be your best recruiter, but your whole operation will crumble if someone keeps rigging those fights. You need him gone, and I’ll make sure to get rid of him as long as you let me, Chancey, and Ghost all go free once he’s caught.”
