Page 166 of Colt

Roars went up as the men shouted encouragement to their prez.

I lifted my fists in front of my face, going on the defensive. I just needed him to get cocky and slip up. That was Prez’s biggest weakness, sometimes he got too complacent.

The noise from the audience dimmed, and everything narrowed to just me and Dagger. We circled each other, both looking for a chance to strike out. With a grunt he jabbed my kidney making me bend over double with a groan.

I stayed down, waiting for Dagger to come at me. As he neared, I struck upward hard, with the palm of my hand and undercut his chin with a loud crack.

He let out a loud ‘oof’, reeling backward from the force of my strike.

Standing tall, I heaved in a deep breath trying to fill my lungs with as much air as possible. My breath sawed in and out so forcefully, I almost went light-headed as Prez rushed me again with a feral snarl, shooting straight past me as I sidestepped him again.

He lost his footing and stumbled.

Taking advantage, I pulled his head up by the hair and jabbed his face twice.

With a roar, he jumped up, emitting animalistic grunts as he lowered his head and charged at me, flinging me back against the ropes, and winding me in the process.

Dagger kept up his momentum, lunging with a flurry of punches.

I tried to deflect what I could, but before I could recover from the onslaught, his fist smashed into my temple and I saw stars. Pain exploded as my skin split and blood oozed down the side of my face.

He bounced on his toes, smirking.

My head throbbed. I’d probably gotten a concussion, but I couldn’t give in. I shook my head, trying to clear the darkness descending behind my eyes. I couldn’t pass out now, Dagger would kill me.

I swung wildly, hoping for the best. It worked, because I connected with his face, causing him to stumble backward against the ropes.

I followed him, pressing my advantage and landing another pummel to his face. He lurched at me until we began to trade blows. Somehow, I got the advantage again and landed a fist to Dagger’s nose. Blood flew everywhere and he let out a roar, stumbling to the corner where his minions waited for him.

Staggering to my corner, I looked down at Abe who studied me approvingly.

“You’re doin’ good,” he said jumping up to hang onto the ropes while he spoke to me. “You’ve got him on the backfoot. You’ve broken his nose, take advantage of it.”

I nodded, turning back to face the ring where Dagger was already coming for me again. With a bellow, he raised his fist, and I caught a flash of metal glinting in the light across his knuckles as he cracked me across the side of my head, once from the right, then again from the left. The pain shooting through my skull took my breath away.

“You fucker,” Abe roared. “You’ve got brass knuckles.”

His outraged bellow lanced through the haze of my mind, and I groaned out loud at the pain clenching my brain. I tried to open my eyes, but the world spun, making me feel sick, as the blurred outlines of the baying crowd morphed into a single, menacing entity.

Nausea rose through my gut, and I turned my head just in time to retch. The acidic taste of bile burned the back of my throat, and I did it again.

The sounds of shouts and yells filled the air around me. I was sure I heard Atlas go ballistic about something and Cash curse loudly as boots thudded on the floor, making the canvas shake.

A cool hand pressed against my forehead, and I groaned in pain.

“Colt,” Sophie’s voice whispered. “You’re gonna be okay. We’re taking you to the hospital.” I felt her fingers check the pulse at the base of my neck. “I’m just gonna check for any breaks before we move you to the truck. Stay still for me.”

I tried to nod but the pain lancing through my skull made the world tilt on its axis. A groan escaped my lips, and I tried to concentrate on the softness of Sophie’s voice as she checked me over just so I didn’t pass out from the pain.

I felt the sensation of being weightless as I was lifted and carried. After what seemed like hours, I was laid on something soft.

“Someone get in the back with him,” Cash shouted. “Keep him secure.”

My heart fluttered in my chest when Freya’s sweet voice called out. “I’ve got him,” followed by a sob.

“Freya,” I whispered. “Don’t cry, baby. I’ll be okay.”

“I’m here,” she replied softly. “I’m not leaving your side.”

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