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I dig the keys to the Jeep out of my pocket and hand them over to him, my stomach churning as we make our way through the crowd. The first fight of the semifinals just began and Dalton’s fight will be up next. With any luck, we’ll be able to get out of here without him noticing because I need some time to think. We finally reach the Jeep and I keep my gaze on the glove box in front of me as I slip into the passenger seat.

“Up next,” the man calls from the ring. “Hyyyyyydddddeeeee.”

The crowd roars but I don’t look up at the ring.

I can’t.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rooster

Lennon is gone.

I circle the ring just like every other fight I’ve been in but it’s different this time. The man across from me is looking for an opening, hoping like hell that he can be the one to finally put me on my ass.

But that’s not my focus.

I need to find Lennon.

My gaze flicks over to the crowd, scanning, searching. God, it’s fucking packed here tonight so maybe she’s just over by the bar or in the bathroom. I turn back to the man on the other side of the ring as he lunges toward me and swings his fist.

Absolutely not, fucker.

I dodge and watch his fist sail past my face, throwing him off balance slightly. The sound of the crowd fades into the background as I zero in on him, landing a hit in his face.

He stumbles back.

I pursue him.

The sooner I end this fucking thing, the sooner I can search for Lennon more thoroughly.

He still hasn’t regained his footing when I land another punch to his gut. The air rushes out of him and he folds in half as I take a step back, my gaze turning to the crowd again.

Come on, baby.

Where are you?

Shuffling on the mat pulls my attention back to the fight and I watch his movement as he straightens and begins to circle the ring again.

Fuck this shit.

I don’t have fucking time for this.

My girl is missing and this dick bag wants to sit here and put on a fucking show.

I’m done.

When he takes his next step, I take a step to the left before charging to the right. The move throws him off and makes him pause for just a second, long enough for me to reach him and land another hit to his face. Blood pours from his eyebrow.

Normally, I love this shit.

But, right now, I just want to end it.

With my girl in mind, I land three more quick hits, one to his face and two to his ribs. He’s already dazed as fuck as I throw all my weight behind the last punch to his face. His head flies back and he falls against the cage behind him before sliding down to the mat, passed the fuck out.

The crowd roars as my head snaps to Arnie.

He needs to get the fuck in here and call this so I can go do what I need to do.