Page 95 of Beautiful Soldier

The world goes blank after that. His fist connects with my temple, and I’m out.

I’ve lost consciousness in a fight before. It was one of my first ones. It lasted only seconds, waking before I even fell to the ground, but I was so terrified. This time, I must be out for longer because when I come to, I’m in Mag’s arms. He drags me away from the circle.

I blink, and in front of me, Jiko faces off with Brawler.

What the fuck?

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“The fuck...” I drawl, actually voicing my confusion at seeing two fighters in the ring where I should be.

No one seems to notice me being dragged off, and Magnum doesn’t say a word at first.

“What happened?”

“You’re okay,” Jacob says.

“I know,” I grind out. “What the fuck happened?”

He hauls me to my feet, his corded arms wrapped around my middle as we watch Brawler and Jiko go at it.

Jiko’s dressed in a low-slung pair of joggers and no shirt. My initial thoughts about him when he held pads for me the other day were correct. Dude’s good.

But he’s no match for Brawler.

I glance up into the VIP box. K leans over, trying to get a better view. Johnny’s eyes are on me, and I give him a quick nod to let him know I’m okay.

“What happened?” I ask again as Brawler’s fist connects with Jiko’s cheek.

“He came out of nowhere,” Mag answers. “Brawler was reeling back to hit you again, and Jiko just tackled him off you. Started calling him out.”

The crowd around us is going nuts. They’re loving every second of this unscheduled fight. They’re clearly on Brawler’s side. Someone in the front row even pushes Jiko closer to Brawler, who takes advantage of the situation by landing a solid knee to his midsection.

Brawler’s on fire, and I might be a little fuzzy, but I can tell the difference in him. His whole demeanor has changed. He’s hitting for damage, and Jiko’s face complies. He splits his eyebrow open with a hook that just glances. The kind of punch that’s great for opening someone up using your knuckles.

“Come on,” Mag says, trying to lead me away.

I shake my head and hold back. “No, I’m watching this.”

“You were just out cold.”

“I’m fine,” I promise, shrugging him off me.

The amount of energy coming off the crowd makes goosebumps sprout on my arms. The feral shouts switch something in me, and I’m yelling with them. “Get him! Come on!”

Okay, I might still have an axe to grind with the way Jiko backstabbed Johnny. I am loving this. I could watch this all damn day.

Brawler gets hit in the mouth. He smiles, showing off blood-stained teeth. He looks like a killer out there, hunting his prey. He’s dominating. That’s not to say he’s not getting tagged, but he moves through the punches. Takes one to give five.

Behind me, Magnum’s low voice creeps in through the screams around us. I glance back to find him on the phone.

The crowd erupts, and I turn to find Brawler wailing on Jiko as he falls to the ground. I start jumping, excitement barreling through me. “Yes!!”

“Fuck!” Jacob yells. Suddenly, I’m being dragged away. I try to put the brakes on as Brawler gets to his feet, but Magnum stops me. “We have to leave.”

I finally pull away from him right before the door that leads to the dressing rooms. “What’s going on?” I grind out.

I turn to face him, and the look on his face is pure panic. Eyes wide and bloodshot. Gaze darting everywhere into all corners of the packed room.

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