Page 7 of Always A Villain (Revenge Duet #2)

“ C ome on, Rory! Griffen’s got our seats reserved!” Kyla chirps, practically skipping ahead, weaving through the crowd like it’s nothing. Meanwhile, my muscles scream with every move, but I grit my teeth and push through it, not about to let a little pain slow me down.

Olivia's bitch stunt is still fresh, but Axe’s reaction...that surprised me. It’s stuck in my head, replaying, repeatedly. I'm not sure what to make of it—of him.

The crowd pulses around us, buzzing with that wild, electric excitement only a fight night brings. Axe’s first fight is about to start, and the arena’s packed—bigger than any of the earlier matches.

We weave our way toward the main area, and I spot Griffen waving us down, Arsen next to him. Somehow, they’ve scored the best seats in the house, front and center, for tonight’s battle.

“What did I miss?” Kyla drops into her seat with a casual air, like we’re here to watch a movie and not people bleed out for sport.

“Nothing yet.” Griffen tosses her a bottle. His eyes lock on me, brow furrowing as he hands me a beer. “How are you feeling, doll? I still can’t believe Olivia pulled that shit.”

“She’s a bitch,” Kyla throws in, sipping her drink.

“I’m fine. Pretty sure I broke her nose,” I say, a smirk tugging at my lips, and he grins back, all approval.

“That’s my girl.”

I glance around the packed stands, seeing people crammed in, standing wherever they can in the walkways. “This place is insane.”

“Not every day you get to watch a legend in action,” Arsen says, eyes still glued to the screen showing replays of earlier matches. He doesn’t even look my way when he says it, like it’s a given. But it piques my curiosity.

I turn to Griffen, raising an eyebrow, and he picks up where Arsen left off.

“Axe is a lone wolf—doesn’t play well with others.

” He laughs, like that’s the understatement of the century.

“Barely tolerates me on a mission. You’re lucky if he doesn’t snap your neck just for breathing too loud.

Arsen, Priest—maybe a handful of others—are the only Sovereigns he’ll ever agree to work with.

And now people get to witness him in action—not just hear the stories of the Reaper . ”

The stadium darkens as the music drops, and the crowd surges with anticipation, a low rumble spreading like wildfire. Lights flicker, and the cheers rise as the announcer’s voice booms over the chaos.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for.” The words roll out like thunder. “A fight guaranteed to be a bloodbath. Representing the Generals… Axel Hawthorne!”

The moment “Corpse Collector” by BloodThinnerz blasts through the speakers, the crowd goes absolutely wild. Everyone chants “Reaper! Reaper! Reaper!” like they’re about to storm a castle.

“Oh my fuck,” Kyla shouts, her voice barely cutting through the madness. Yeah, oh my fuck is right.

There he is, strutting in, shirtless and glistening like some Greek god.

His muscles are ridiculous—every movement screams raw power, and it’s almost absurd how perfect he looks.

His black combat pants hang dangerously low on his hips, highlighting that V-cut that should be illegal.

It’s like he walked straight out of a magazine—every muscle defined, sharp enough to cut glass.

His messy brown hair suddenly reminds me of our impromptu fuck session in the medical area… my thighs involuntarily clench.

He's striding to the middle of the ring, his expression sending a chill down my spine. This is the real deal—the man I've heard stories about.

The killer.

The assassin.

The Reaper.

The first fight begins, and Axe moves like a force of nature. It's clear from the start that he's not playing with his opponent.

That poor bastard doesn’t stand a chance .

Axe dodges and strikes like he was born to do this.

He dances around the other guy’s attacks like it’s a bloody waltz.

When he sees his opening, he unloads with a series of punches and kicks that send the guy crashing down, and just like that, it’s over.

The man’s out cold, sprawled on the sand while the crowd explodes in cheers.

Associate paramedics rush in, hauling the limp body away, leaving behind a bloody mess.

The next rounds blur by, each fight a gorefest. I want to look away, but I can’t.

Axe moves like a predator. He’s not just fighting—he’s destroying them.

And the crowd is eating it up. Every snap of bone, every scream—they thrive on the violence.

They can’t get enough—the more brutal the fight, the more they scream for him.

By the sixth fight, the noise makes it impossible to think. A fighter’s jaw is ripped clean off— ripped —not broken, not dislocated, just… gone . Blood sprays across the ring, painting the arena in red. The opponent’s screams cut short as his body crumples.

I watch in frozen horror as Axe, standing tall, lifts the severed jaw above his head for the crowd to see.

And they roar for him—cheering like savages while pieces of teeth and bone scatter at his feet.

It’s like a gladiator arena, only we’re not in ancient Rome.

We’re in the Sovereign's world and Axe is their main event.

“Holy fuck,” Kyla breathes beside me, her wide eyes glued to the gruesome scene.

“Yeah,” I manage to say, though the words feel weak. My stomach churns at the sight. “That image is gonna be seared into my brain for a while.” The next round appears to be delayed as multiple paramedics and cleanup crew rush into the arena.

“This is the bloodiest I've ever seen!” Griffen yells, barely audible over the roar of the crowd. “He’s a fucking beast!”

“You can say that again!” Arsen calls back, his eyes locked on the carnage, totally unfazed.

“We're gonna grab food,” Kyla says suddenly, yanking my arm as she stands. How she can even think of eating right now is beyond me. The smell of blood hangs in the air, thick and metallic, and I feel like I’m about to hurl.

“Yeah, you do that,” I mumble. My eyes stay locked on the giant screen as it replays the scene—teeth and bone fragments flying across the ring in slow motion. Maybe I’ll get hungry when I’m not staring at someone’s jaw being paraded around like a trophy.

Kyla tugs me away, and the moment we step outside the stadium, it's like crashing into a festival.

Booze flows, weed wafts through the air, and food stands beckon with aromas that drown out bloodbath thoughts, making my stomach growl louder than the crowd inside.

Tents are set up everywhere, the chaos buzzing with laughter and music.

She darts off to grab us some food, and I sink onto a nearby bench.

“Hell of a performance today,” a deep, unfamiliar voice cuts through the noise. I glance up to see a tall, muscular guy looming over me. His bright blue eyes are like spotlights, and he’s clean-shaven, wearing a gray Henley and jeans that cling to his fit body.

“Thanks.” I force a smile. I don't know him, but if he’s here, he’s definitely Sovereign .

“Creed,” he says, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I’m friends with Spencer.” Plopping down next to me, he radiates that kind of confidence that could easily morph into arrogance.

“I'm Rory.”

“I know.” He chuckles. “I’m a fan of your Siren performances.” His eyes slide down my body, blatantly stopping at my boobs—typical Sovereign.

“Then how come we’ve never met?” I shoot back, ignoring his stare.

“I’m currently stationed with the North section.”

“Right.” My suspicion grows. There’s something about him that rubs me the wrong way—too cocky for my taste, even if he is Spencer’s friend.

“I’m surprised Axe let you out of his sight.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My irritation flares at the implication that Axe keeps me on a leash.

“Easy, tiger.” Holding up his hands in mock surrender, another obnoxious chuckle leaves him.

“Just messing with you. Axe can be a real asshole.” He leans back, draping his arm across the back of the bench, fingers almost brushing my shoulder.

I shift away, no way am I letting this guy think he can invade my space.

“I'll be sure to tell him you said that.”

He bursts into laughter. “Please do. I’m sure he’d love to hear I’m chatting up his Bond payment.”

I roll my eyes, and his grin only grows wider.

“Is there a reason you’re talking to me?” I ask as I cross my arms.

“Why? Am I making you uncomfortable ?” He leans in, his lips brushing dangerously close to my ear. “Or maybe you’re into that sort of thing.” His voice drops to a low murmur.

“Not even a little,” I scoff, deliberately shifting away from him.

“I’m just fucking with you, gorgeous.” He laughs, clearly enjoying himself. “I’ve known Axe for years, and this is the first time he’s shown interest in anything besides death.”

“You know what they say, every man needs a hobby.”

He throws his head back, laughter spilling from him like he’s just heard the world’s best joke.

“Well played, Bond payment.” He grins, and my lips twitch. Maybe he’s not such a jerk after all.

“How about you tell me something I don’t know about him? Make this conversation worth my time.”

“You are a feisty one, aren’t you?”

I give him a knowing look, and he laughs.

“Tell you what,” he says, snatching my phone from my hand and typing in his number. “Text me.” As if he’s just won some kind of game, he winks.

“And why would I do that?”

“Because you want to know more about Axe.” His smile is infuriatingly charming as he rises to his feet.

“And you’re going to tell me?”

“Maybe.” That grin still plastered on his face. “I’d be happy to chat anytime.” He walks off, cocky as hell, but maybe not the worst.

Kyla appears, holding our trays of food. She drops down beside me, her eyebrow quirking in question.

“Who was that?”