Chapter Fifteen

RAZE

The stamping of hundreds of feet shook the structure of the holding room walls in The Dungeon’s basement as Durov’s fight took place. I was skipping rope, warming up my body for my fight, when a huge cheer made me look to the door. I skipped harder, waiting for Viktor to come and tell me who’d won.

I didn’t have to wait long.

Minutes later, Viktor walked through, his eyes down. “Durov won,” was all he said, but by the green tint to his face, I could see that Durov had done more than kill. He’d toyed and played with his opponent, again. Probably sliced him apart with his dagger, but in a way that kept him breathing until the last strike.

Durov was “The Butcher” after all.

Viktor walked to the basin at the edge of the room and threw water on his face, then came to stand in front of me. “I got a look at Goliath. Got some stats.”

I kept my eyes on Viktor, but didn’t stop my warm-up.

“He’s Georgian, new this season to the underground. But he’s never lost a match. He’s ruthless, has minimum weaknesses. Has about twenty pounds on you and about four inches in height.”

I formed a picture of Goliath in my mind, visualizing bringing him down.

“Weapon?” I asked.

“A black sai,” Viktor replied.

I stopped skipping.

Freezing, I asked, “Is he Gulag?”

Viktor nodded. “Yeah. Saw one of the trainers from one of the West Coast gulags. He’s one of their prize fighters. They’ve taken him on the road. Entering him in the underground contests around the country.” Viktor handed me a water bottle and gestured for me to drink. “You’re going to have to be smart with this one, Raze. He’s quick. Undefeated. So are you. But by tonight, one of you will be dead.”

A knock rapped on the door, and the familiar words, “You’re up!” were shouted through the wood.

I took off my sweatshirt and slipped on my bladed knuckledusters, smeared under my eyes with Eye Black, letting the hot rage fill my muscles as I prepared for the fight ahead.

I heard the noise of the crowd grow louder, telling me Goliath had stepped into the cage. Viktor opened the door and led me out into the dim hallway. I glimpsed Durov in his holding room, an older man slapping him on his blood-covered chest, congratulating him. He looked like him. I just knew the cunt was his father. He looked just as fucking evil as Durov.

The hallway was dank, filled with the stench of death and trails of blood from previous fighters. I could hear my breathing in my ears, even over the roar of the crowd, and then I heard something else… the calling of my name.

“Raze!”

I looked to the side at the opening to another hallway. Kisa stood in the shadows. Viktor stopped dead and raised his eyebrow. Ignoring him, I rushed to the side and immediately lifted Kisa in my arms and pushed her back to the wall.

Kisa’s blue eyes hooded as my chest pressed against hers, and I leaned forward to run my nose down her cheek. “Kisa…” I murmured as Kisa’s hands played with my hair.

Her palms slipped down to my cheeks, and pulling my mouth to hers, she pressed her lips to mine. Growling into her wet mouth, I pushed my tongue inside until it met with hers. Kisa’s tits hardened against my bare skin.

Her hands pressed harder on my cheeks and she ripped her mouth away, panting. Her fingers stroked at my cheeks and my cock hardened, my hips thrusting against hers.

“Raze… I had to see you,” she whispered.

My nostrils flared as I smelled her scent, wanting to have it on my tongue.

“I want you,” I said, and I saw tears fill her eyes. I didn’t know what was wrong. All I could do was stare at her in confusion.

Kisa’s expression suddenly changed and she smiled at me, running her fingertip down my neck. “I love it when you do that—tilt your head to the side, I mean.”

My brows furrowed, not understanding what she meant, but I ignored it to ask, “Why are you crying?”

Kisa wrapped her arms around my neck and tucked her nose. “I’ve just got you back when I thought it was impossible and you don’t even know it yet.”

I felt even more confused. Then I pulled her back to face me, and, through her tears, she whispered, “I’ve seen who you’re fighting.”

I tensed. “So?”

“He’s huge, Raze. I asked around about him, and he’s never lost a match. He always gets his kill.”

“So do I,” I said tightly, not enjoying her lack of faith in my skill. I was a killer. Undefeated.

“I know, but…” She swallowed, staring into my eyes, leaning in to kiss the left one. “I’m terrified of losing you tonight. Abram had him brought in from under my nose. He’s scared, Raze. I know it’s because you could truly beat Alik in the final.”

My heart turned to steel as her words kindled my determination to beat Goliath. To fuck over Alik and his father.

Pressing my forehead to hers, I promised. “I’ll win.”

A sob escaped her mouth, but I caught it as I pressed my lips to hers.

“Please,” she spoke against my mouth. “I have so much to tell you. So much I want you to know. You need to survive.”

“I’ll win, Kisa-Anna,” I rasped again, feeling her fear for me pulsing through her slim body. But what she didn’t know was I thrived on fear. It pushed me further.

I wouldn’t lose… not when I had Kisa in my mind and her life to save from Durov.