Page 76 of Rebel

His eyes flickered -- the first sign of uncertainty.Good.I wanted him off-balance.

“Put the gun down,” I said.“Face me.Or are you only brave when your victims are drugged and helpless?”

His jaw tightened at the taunt.Pride.His weakness.

“You want a fair fight?”he asked.“Fine.”He placed the gun on the nightstand -- still within reach, but a gesture of confidence.“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I moved into the room, aware of Renegade and Rebel spreading out behind me, blocking any escape.This was my fight, but they were my backup.

Denton lunged without warning, faster than Ellis had been, more coordinated.His fist caught my jaw, sending me stumbling back.Stars exploded across my vision.

“Rio!”Rebel stepped forward, but I held up a hand.

“No.I’ve got this.”

Denton smirked.“Do you?”

I spat blood onto his pristine floor.“Yeah.I do.”

He came at me again, but this time I was ready.I sidestepped, slashing with the knife as he passed.He hissed as the blade opened a cut along his ribs.

“I’m just getting started,” I said.

His face contorted with rage.Gone was the cold calculation.Now he attacked with fury, throwing punches and kicks in quick succession.I blocked some, took others, giving ground strategically.

He was good -- better than Ellis by far.But he was older, slower.And I had rage fueling every move.

I ducked under a wild swing and drove my knee into his stomach.He doubled over, and I brought the knife down toward his exposed neck.

He caught my wrist at the last moment, twisting hard.Pain shot up my arm, and the knife clattered to the floor.

“Not so tough now,” he growled, forcing me back against the wall.

I headbutted him, feeling his nose crunch under the impact.Blood gushed down his face.

He staggered back, cursing.I followed, landing a solid kick to his knee.Something popped, and he went down hard.

I scrambled for the knife, but he grabbed my ankle, yanking me off balance.I hit the floor, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs.

Denton crawled over me, his blood dripping onto my face as he wrapped his hands around my throat.

“I should have killed you that night,” he snarled, squeezing.“Should have snapped your neck when we were done with you.”

Black spots danced at the edges of my vision.Behind him, I saw Rebel step forward, ready to intervene.

No.This was my fight.

I drove my thumbs into Denton’s eyes.He screamed, releasing my throat to protect his face.I bucked, throwing him off, then rolled away, gasping for air.

“Fucking bitch!”He lunged for his gun on the nightstand.

I wasn’t fast enough to stop him.But Rebel was.He kicked the nightstand, sending the gun skittering across the floor.

Denton changed direction, diving for the weapon.I tackled him from behind, driving him into the floor.We wrestled for control, rolling across the room, leaving smears of blood on his perfect white walls.

My muscles burned with exertion.My lungs ached.But I wouldn’t stop.Couldn’t stop.

“You’re dead,” Denton panted, managing to flip me onto my back.He pinned my arms with his knees, exactly as I had done to Ellis.“You hear me?Dead.”

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