Page 63 of Cruel Betrayal

Ezra gasps and rolls away from him, pushing to his feet.

The man lunges to the side, catching Ezra with a hard punch.

Ezra stumbles, still not bringing himself to fight.

“What’s wrong with him?” I shout at Tyson as we reach the front.

There’s no way Ezra should’ve heard me, but he does. And the moment he turns to look at me is the very second the other man is on him again.

The man’s fists are flying, pummeling Ezra’s face in until it looks like he’s more blood than man.

I swallow hard, lunging to the edge of the ring and trying to get past the sick feeling in my stomach.

He’s getting hurt because of me. Because I showed up here, and he was distracted, just like he said he’d be.

Tyson grabs me, hauling me to the side. “Come on, it’s not safe to be here. This is the first time he’s ever lost, and fights are going to be breaking out.”

“I’m not leaving him.” I shove Tyson away from me.

Strong arms band around my waist, lifting me up and hauling me away.

Tyson sighs. “We’re going to the back to wait for him there. Away from the rest of the fighting because his stupid ass would get into the middle of it all to protect you.”

I allow him and Haven to tug me out of there, but Ezra is still taking a beating.

The second we’re out back, I start pacing.

My blood is boiling as I keep pacing, heart pounding, blood rushing in my ears.

There’s nothing I can do right now, but the sound of the shouting finally rises above the music.

Every time the doors open, I pause, waiting for Ezra, and each time, it’s not him.

Then, after what seems like an eternity of waiting, the door opens again, and he comes in, limping, his arm in a sling.

I rush over to him. “I’m so sorry. You’re hurt because of me.”

“Not because of you.” He looks my way, but one eye is stained with blood, and the other is swollen shut.

I don’t know how much he can really see.

“I was losing before you got here. Figured I would be. This is Noah’s punishment for spending time with your family.”

Tears spring to my eyes as I reach up to wipe some of the blood from a cut on his forehead. “I’m sorry. If I had known it was going to be this bad, I wouldn’t have brought you to see them. I wouldn’t have come down here to distract you either.”

He chuckles, but it turns into a wheezing cough. He stumbles to the side, hissing when he lands on the ankle he’s got wrapped up. “That hurt like a bitch.”

“Let’s get you home.” And then I can figure out how I’m going to make this right.

I knew bringing him around my family was going to be a risk, but I thought it would be due to them. Of course, Noah wouldretaliate in some way or another, but nearly killing his best fighter?

Noah arranged this to see Ezra hurt. To remind him what would happen to him if he stepped out of line.

If we were ever going to be together, would he be facing his death then? What would Noah do to him?

Maybe Ezra is right. Maybe Noah will kill him.

I’m not worth that risk, even though he seems to think I am.