Page 78 of Bad Blood Panther

“I hear you’re a decent guy,” Xander said quietly. “Not insane. Which, frankly, is more than you can say for me. So, hit me.”

Trace stared at him like he was a lunatic. So did Jenny. What was he doing? Hadn’t he taken enough punishment?

“Are you deaf?” Xander said. “Hit me. Right here.” He pointed to the left side of his jaw. He gave Trace his cockiest, most annoying grin. “You know you want to.”

Trace looked around, shrugged, and then hauled off and punched him in the face. The blow spun Xander around and knocked him to the ground.

Trace growled and got into a fighting stance. Xander pushed himself partway up and spat dirt out of his mouth. “Come on,” Trace ground out. “Get up. Get up and fucking fight me!”

“Hell, no,” Xander said. “I submit.” He rolled to his knees and bowed his head, baring his neck for a moment.

Trace froze. “What?”

“You heard me. I submit.” Jenny covered her mouth, choking back a hysterical laugh. Xander got up, dusted himself off and said, “You win. You get to be alpha.” Then he muttered under his breath, “Sucker.”

As Trace stared at him, stupefied, Xander turned around and walked over to his crew. Flynn was shaking his head, snorting with suppressed laughter.

“What?” Xander said. “You always said I never know when to quit. Now I do. Aren’t you glad I learned something?”

Tank clapped him on the back. Jasmin shoulder nudged him. Jenny stepped toward him, carrying Brandon. Xander opened his arms and folded them to him, rocking them back and forth.

“Come on,” he said, wrapping his arm around Jenny’s shoulders. “We’re leaving.” He waved to the crowd, raising his voice. “It’s been a blast, everyone. Fuck you very much.”

He turned around and said to Flynn out of the corner of his mouth, “I hope you can open another one of those fucking doors in the air. Because otherwise, you’ll totally ruin my exit.”

Flynn gave him a crooked grin, touched his bracelet, and tore a hole in space to take them to the spirit world—and home.