Page 63 of Bride By Initiation

He grinds his molars. Things have been off between us since he showed up at the fight. He was trying to protect me, but he's gotten us both into a situation where I don't know who the players are or what the possible outcomes could be.

There are only a few things I do know. Dangerous people hold the cards in whatever game we're in. We're not privy to the rules. Plus, Brax almost got us killed.

He adds, "That wasn't just a normal underground fight, Sean, and you know it."

My pulse bangs between my ears. Nothing he's saying is incorrect. It took me a month to heal after I killed all those men. A few times, I've woken up in a cold sweat, hearing their bones crack.

I finish the bottle of beer and set it on a table. I motion for the bartender to bring me another one.

He quickly opens two and then hands one to Brax and one to me.

"Thanks," I say.

He nods and leaves.

"Well, don't just go silent on me. Say something," Brax orders.

I drink a third of the bottle, then step back against the ledge, staring at the city, wishing I could tell Brax the little I know about The Underworld, yet I can't.

Before I left the building, the woman with the mask warned in my ear, "You tell him nothing."

"Okay, fine. At least tell me this. If you're not upset with Zara, why are you avoiding her? Every time she comes near you, it's obvious you're mad. Did you two finally fuck or something?"

"Stop talking about things you know nothing about," I reprimand, then drink another large mouthful.

He eyes me over.

I shake my head. I'm angry at so many things. The thought that I might have been in a situation where Brax and I died because I refused to kill him makes me ill. We don't get into those types of situations. We were taught better than to take uncalculated risks. But in fairness, I've never been in a situation like this.

Brax's expression turns sour. He crosses his arms over his chest, scowling, his anger matching mine. He asks, "When will you remember I'm your best friend and you can trust me?"

I stay silent.

He continues, "I want to know what we got ourselves into."

"I told you it's just an underground fight. Stop making it more than it is, and remember that you're in it because you inserted yourself into a situation you had no right stepping into!" I snap.

His eyes darken, and he snarls, "What did she mean when she said 'initiation by rings'?"

My insides tighten, and I shrug nonchalantly. It's a question that's haunted me ever since that night. I don't know what it means. The more Brax questions me, the more dread fills me.

"Tell me what you know," Brax pushes.

My anger boils over. I grab his shirt and tug him toward me, catching him off guard.

His eyes widen.

"Let it go," I seethe.

His expression hardens, and he pushes against my chest.

I release him.

He fumes, "I can't, man. You're involved in something, and I know it."

I blurt out, "Yeah, well, it looks like you stepped into it as well."

"What does that mean? I think I have a right to know," he barks.

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