One second, I was bouncing on my toes, stretching my neck from side to side, trying to clear my mind after seeing Regi again, then all hell broke loose.
My opponent was standing there in front of me, mimicking my movement as his manager, Kane Maxwell, stepped out of the cage—and then crumbled to the floor.
Within seconds, screams echoed off the walls. I dropped into a crouch at the edge of the cage, making myself as small as possible to avoid being shot. I couldn’t chance it if the shooter was out to kill random people.
I quickly scanned the row of chairs where I’d seen Regina, but she was gone. A measure of relief coursed through me, knowing she had left and was unharmed. I hoped.
After a good minute, I cautiously rose just enough to rush to the cage door. There on the edge of the outer mat, blocking the door, was my brother. Teke was in a fetal position; his arms covered his head as though that would protect him. Fucking idiot.
Just beyond, Kane’s body lay lifeless. No doubt about it, he was executed and it sent a clear message.
I didn’t know any of the shit the man was into, other than what little Teke had told me about the fight manager. Only that Kane Maxwell was in some nasty business with big players. I wouldn’t be too surprised to find out my brother was tangled up in the dead man’s affairs.
I nudged my asshole brother with my foot. “Get up.” When he didn’t move, I pushed the door open and exited the ring, leaving Teke still lying on the mat.
I assumed the cops would eventually come, so I hauled ass toward the makeshift locker room where my clothes were stored. I had to pass Kane’s body and got a closer look at the bullet hole in the middle of his forehead. I didn’t stop, though, and focused on getting out of the building.
I changed and was sliding my feet into my shoes when Teke rushed in, oral guns blazing.
“You left me out there to fucking die.” His white-knuckled fist cocked back and swung, nailing the side of my head. “Do you want me dead?”
Teke wanted to fight. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction—not now. He’d gotten in a lucky hit. Normally the strength of his punch was like a mosquito bite. No power. Yet, he landed good this time, and the pain radiated from my temple.
“Do you want to go at me now?” I bit out, wishing I could rub the ache away, but I wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of knowing he’d hurt me. Teke would take advantage of my small weakness and attack. “I warned you, Teke, if you hit me again, we’ll go rounds and we both know who’ll win.”
I glared at my brother, at the fury in his eyes, and knew instantly he was hopped up on some shit. Teke must have snorted something before coming in here. I lowered my gaze and there it was—a telltale dusting of white around his nostrils.
Choosing to ignore him instead, I turned away, which only incited Teke’s anger more and he barreled around to stand in front of me again. But I didn’t give a fuck. I wasn’t in the mood to be my brother’s punching bag tonight. I wanted out of this building, and if possible, to track down Regina before she disappeared on me. Again.
“Get out of my way,” I demanded, towering over Teke by a good four inches.
“No,” he hissed, holding his jittery hands up in clenched fists.
“The cops are coming.” Those were the magic words. Teke dropped his hands and quickly looked around. “Do you want to be caught with shit in your pockets, while at an illegal underground fight, where a guy was shot in the head?”
That did it.
His eyes widened. “Fuck. Kane.”
“Yeah, Kane,” I snarled to reinforce his panic.
Teke swiftly spun back toward the doorway and raced out like hellfire was licking at his size ten shoes.
I grabbed my bag and hauled ass, but not before I quickly looked around again for Regina in the melee. Though, it was a wasted effort.
Outside, there were people still exiting the scene. Some getting into vehicles, while others were on foot. I rounded the building on the west side, looking for Teke and didn’t see him. I should just leave him. That bastard pulled me into this fight with no regard whatsoever to my feelings. I was done being his damn meal ticket and money for his drugs.
I decided right then I’d leave his ass here, when I saw Teke trying to climb into black BMW where two blondes were sitting inside it. Stupid son of a bitch. Did he forget we drove here?
Teke drove off with the women.
Since I had Teke’s car keys, and with a felony on my record for grand theft auto, I got the hell out of there rather than risk being caught by the cops.
I took shortcuts between buildings, not caring where exactly I was heading. I avoided the busy streets, weaving through alleys and lit up sidewalks. It wasn’t until I was nine or ten blocks away from the chaos when I finally slowed my pace.
With another four blocks under me, I found myself at an intersection with no street signs. The streetlamp blinked on and off in an eerie way, which gave the derelict area even more of a creep factor. And I felt like I was being watched.
“Show yourself,” I called out, ready for anything.
