Page 106 of Celestial Combat

She didn’t cower. She slid off the bar stool, closing the distance between them even more.

Kim just watched him, something unreadable flickering behind her dark eyes. And then, slowly, she reached for his hand – the one gripping the glass – and plucked it from his grasp.

“So if I want to take a shot or do a line of coke, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

She downed the rest of the drink in one go.

Then placed the empty glass back into his hand.

“I’ll do what I want, DeMone.”

And with that, she turned away, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she leaned against the bar, dismissing him entirely.

I watched Tony’s face harden.

And for once, I thought he didn’t have a comeback.

“Cancel my fight.”

Everything froze.

The staff stiffened, eyes wide with disbelief. The fight club was a place of absolutes – and one absolute was that Tony DeMone never backed down from a fight. Or lost one.

Never.

Kim’s confident stance faltered. The amusement in her siren-like eyes disappeared. “You’re joking.”

Tony didn’t even blink. “Let’s go.”

Kim didn’t move.

One of the sponsors stepped forward, brows furrowed. “We can’t afford that, Antonio. Bets have already been placed.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” Tony said, voice cutting through the noise like a blade. “I’ll pay them.”

“You’ll be paying a shit ton of money for nothing,” I said, stepping in. “You know that, right?”

I turned to Kim, who was standing unnaturally still. All the playful cockiness from before had drained from her face. She never expected him to actually do this. She had been running her mouth, challenging him, but now – now, she looked completely thrown off.

If word got around that she was the reason Tony DeMone cancelled a fight… It wouldn’t be good for her street cred.

Her long lashes lowered slightly. “Tony…”

I stepped in. “You’re not throwing away your reputation.”

His jaw ticked, glancing at me. “I don’t trust her here.”

“Then I’ll stay with Kim. You fight.”

His expression darkened. “Kali–”

“I’m serious.” I gave him a pointed look.

He exhaled through his nose, glancing between us. Kim’s expression was unreadable now, but there was something different in the way she looked at him.

Finally, Tony muttered a curse in Italian under his breath and turned towards the cage. “Fine.”

I shot Kim a look. “Come on.”

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