Page 29

SYDNEY

Two days had passed in a blur, and it was the night of the fight where we needed to capture Kaito’s attention.

There was no more time to waste. It was now or never because we were so close to the end of the forty-nine days Kaito had originally mentioned. I had no other way to buy time, except the hope of a match challenge from Kaito.

We parked in the parking garage used for the fights, and I handed AJ his mask and waited for him to slip it on.

“Now, remember. Don’t talk to anyone before the match. I don’t want to take a chance that people will recognize your voice.” I took a deep breath.

My heart was racing in my chest. So much was at stake with this match.

He has to win. I need him to get the opportunity for me to get my revenge.

I felt a warm hand rub against my cheek, and I glanced into the eyes of my demon.

“Chill, baby. It’s gonna be fine. I’m not losing. You’ll get what you want,” AJ said as his finger reassuringly stroked my cheek.

I closed my eyes for a moment, taking one more deep breath to steel my nerves enough to get inside the fight club. I nodded in response to him, and he let his fingers slowly trail off my jawline.

“Thanks. I was really letting my nerves get to me. And I need to have a clear head when we go in. Neither of us can mess up a single step tonight,” I said as I opened the car door and stepped out.

The dim lights of the parking garage illuminated our path as we made our way to the street.

No one paid us any attention until we came to a stop at the front entrance to the club.

A bouncer looked us over, and I told him we had a match tonight.

With a quick check on his phone, he nodded and let us inside.

The sounds of music filled the stairway as we made our way down into the main room.

It was already packed. And perched in his own version of a throne at the edge of the center of the ring was the target of my vengeance himself.

Kaito sat with other men, all dressed in ridiculously meticulous suits with sexy women wearing barely anything hovering around, bringing them drinks and food.

He didn’t even look in our direction as we made our way to the space where fighters warmed up. There were so many faces here I didn’t recognize. I now regretted not insisting I come with Raven when she and Touma had fought here. I felt out of place and completely on edge.

I was taken by surprise when an arm wrapped around my waist and tugged me backward. I twisted to try to see who had grabbed me and sighed when I saw it was AJ.

“What are you doing?” I gritted out as he pulled me to a dark corner behind some punching bags and pinned me against a wall.

“Helping you to not blow your grand plan. You looked like you were about to run across that ring and stab him where he sat. Just chill, baby. Watch me fight,” AJ murmured in my ear as he blocked me from view.

I realized then exactly how much his presence centered my energy and nerves. As much as he could agitate me, I was glad it was him by my side.

“You’re right. I was thinking about how great it would be to take him out right now.

Thanks for snapping me out of that.” I gave his chest a gentle shove.

“I’m good now, thanks. Besides, you should warm up.

Your match is only a few minutes away, and I have a bet to go place.

” I gave him a small smile, trying to assure him I was going to be fine.

He waited another moment before backing away and walking into a space to stretch. I made my way over to the betting cage, placing all the money I’d won on AJ’s last few matches on him tonight. His odds were decent. When he won, I wouldn’t make much more than I was betting. Even so, a win was a win.

The announcer gave a five-minute warning for the start of the match, and people made their way to the seats. I walked over to the gate where AJ would walk out of, finding him there, waiting for me.

“Are you ready?” I asked as I looked him over.

I tried to hand him a bottle of water, but he declined it.

He nodded. “Like I said, don’t worry about me. Relax and enjoy the show.”

Easy for him to say.

I would still try to relax a little more, as impossible as that might be.

The announcer called AJ’s challenger into the ring. He was his toughest opponent yet, and as he punched and kicked the air as he got to the middle, he seemed calm.

And so did AJ as he pushed through the gate as the announcer’s arm swung in his direction.

“The Akumaaaa!”

The cage door slammed behind him with a sound that struck a chord with the crowd. A new fighter, one whose name had slowly circulated in the shadows, was now standing in front of them.

Across from AJ stood a man with scars over his torso. Cold eyes. Bald head. Thick neck. The kind of fighter who didn’t need to puff his chest. He’d been doing this for a long time. They called him Lockjaw, and the second I saw how tight his guard was, I knew why.

The announcer started the fight and stepped back as they circled one another.

The crowd was loud, but my focus narrowed to AJ and his opponent.

Lockjaw didn’t rush. He waited. AJ jabbed first, testing his distance.

He didn’t flinch. When AJ stepped in with a feint and tried to catch him with a hook, Lockjaw swatted it and countered with a leg kick that rattled AJ’s side.

He grunted as the crowd cheered, and then he adjusted his stance.

I gripped the edge of the gate as I watched the first two minutes—fakes, movement, light shots.

Then Lockjaw switched it up and shot in low.

AJ sprawled, but not fast enough. He caught his leg and slammed AJ into the mat.

I flinched as AJ’s spine hit the concrete under the thin padding on the floor and Lockjaw’s fist came down like a hammer.

I gasped as AJ blocked the first hit, then ate the second on his jaw. My ears rang, and my blood pounded as I watched them.

AJ twisted and reversed, using momentum to throw him off just enough to scramble to his feet.

Something in AJ changed. His body language went loose, and there was no doubt about it—now he was pissed.

Lockjaw attacked again, throwing a fast combo—jab, cross, elbow.

AJ ducked under, pivoted, and landed a body shot so clean that it echoed, and the crowd went silent.

Lockjaw grunted and threw a knee that nearly took the wind out of AJ, but he gritted through it and cracked Lockjaw with a right that made his head snap.

He blinked, backing up. AJ pressed in, using his advantage.

AJ had found his rhythm. Body, head, body. Slipping Lockjaw’s punches, weaving around him.

Lockjaw was strong, but AJ was faster, sharper. Every miss Lockjaw threw added to his fatigue, and every hit AJ landed started wearing Lockjaw down. His breathing got heavier, his stance looser.

Then Lockjaw tried to clinch.

Bad move, buddy. AJ is much more deadly up close.

AJ jammed his forearm into Lockjaw’s throat and shoved him back. Two fast punches followed—one to the ribs, the other a fake to the head that drew his guard up just in time for AJ to deliver a brutal elbow to his temple. Lockjaw staggered, but AJ didn’t stop.

I cringed as I watched him send a hook to the liver. Then a knee to the gut. And when he doubled over slightly, I saw it—the second everything gave.

AJ’s fist drove up into Lockjaw’s chin like he was trying to break through the top of his skull. He flew back, arms limp, body hitting the mat like deadweight. The ref stepped in, hands waving.

Akuma had won.

The bleachers erupted, boos echoing in the crowd. He hadn’t been the favorite to win, so most hadn’t bet on him. A lot of money was exchanging hands by some very dangerous people.

As AJ turned toward the gate, I caught him—Kaito. He had watched the fight and sat, arms folded, that unreadable look on his face. I’d worry about him as soon as I made sure AJ hadn’t gotten really injured in his match.

I opened the gate for him and handed him a towel and some water.

“That was something to watch all right,” I said as he took them from me. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

He turned his back toward me, hiding his face, and tugged his mask up before chugging the water bottle in one go. After he lowered the mask, he faced me once more.

“I’m fine. Go get your money. I’ll be here when you get back,” AJ said as he wiped his forehead.

I quickly went and collected my money, and just as I tucked it into my crossbody bag, I heard footsteps stopping behind me.

“Well, well. Not who I thought I’d see here tonight.”

Kaito’s voice from behind me caused goose bumps to erupt all over my skin.

I turned slowly as AJ came up beside me and stood face-to-face with him.

“Kaito, have you met my newest student?” I gestured to AJ and turned toward him. “Akuma, this is the man who claims he has the best fighter around. What do you think of that?” I said, putting on a show of coming off as arrogant and dismissive to Kaito, knowing how that would get under his skin.

AJ played the part perfectly and followed my lead. “Funny, because I’m standing right here,” he said with a chuckle.

Kaito narrowed his eyes, and for a split second, I thought we’d been found out. But then he stepped into my space and gripped my chin roughly.

“Adorable display. But if you’d like to put that statement to the test, I could entertain a match with my new fighter. Know this: your man will leave in a body bag, so if you’re prepared for that, then by all means, accept my offer, Sydney.”

His grip tightened, and I glared back at him, keeping a smile on my face.

“That’s cute. I could say the same to you. Only I’m not in this for nothing,” I said, baiting him further.

His eyes twitched. “Let me guess. You want me to bet the title of your family estate on the match? Typical—so much like your dearly departed sister. No, you will cease attempting to get it back. I grow tired of your family’s inability to honor your debts,” he said as he aggressively released my face.