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CONAN

Song, Coming Undone, Korn.

I stride to my team. Keller’s already on me, wiping blood from my face.

I spit out my mouthguard and gulp water.

“You’re doing a good job, Con. Use that brute strength. He can’t take it. And those kicks? Beautiful.”

“Thanks.” I rub my jaw. “That fucking knee to the jaw hurt like a bitch.”

“Yeah, I bet. Don’t leave yourself open like that again.”

Before the bell rings, I glance at that beautiful girl in the front row.

“I need to finish him this round,” I tell Grayson.

“You know what to do.”

I nod.

For five minutes, I need to be the man I don’t want Hallie to see.

The faster I end this, the faster I get to my date.

“I’m on it.”

Grayson slaps my bicep.

“Not too far, Conan,” he warns.

“I’ll try.”

I head back to the center of the cage. Dan’s eyes lock with mine—cold, dark, smug.

“That your girl?” He smirks, glancing toward Hallie.

“Oh, I wouldn’t go there,” I hiss.

“I can. I’ll knock you clean out and take your girl. I bet her pussy tastes?—”

He doesn’t finish.

A clean uppercut shuts his mouth and drops him to the mat.

Seconds later, I’m on top of him.

The more he tries to fight, the harder I hit.

Fist after fist after fist.

I grab his throat. He gasps, flailing. His hits go weak.

I let go.

It’s not enough. I want him to hurt more.

He charges. I kick his thigh out from under him.

“I’ll still fuck your girl and make you watch. Might even share her with my friends,” he spits.

There it is.

The switch flips.

I’m going to kill this man.