Page 119 of Knight
“No, thanks.”
He tucked the cig between his lips and lit up, taking a long draw in before blowing out smoke. “So, here’s the offer,” he said, cigarette still dangling between his lips. “Wehave a big fight coming up. We could use a big payday. We need to raise 50 large in a hurry. You’re our best bet.”
“I’m not coming back. I already told Puck that.”
He nodded, puffing smoke. “Right, right. You’re done with this life. Blah-blah-blah. That means we have to give you another beatdown. Maybe one you won’t walk away from.”
I tensed. “I’d rather take my chances getting jumped out than being a prisoner to this club.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, all the pussy, beer, and power you want. Such a hardship.”
He had no idea.
Thepussywas not fun when you were gay and had to hide it from the guys. Women threw themselves at me and Puck, and we’d had to put on a good show. Even if I wasn’t gay, I wouldn’t want to live that way, treating women like expendable property to be passed around.
The thought of it turned my stomach. I could never go back to that.
“Are we done here?” I asked.
He pushed out of his chair, pissed now. “No, we’re not fucking done. Show some goddamned respect.”
Hector was a mercurial guy. He could be easygoing one minute and a fountain of rage the next. I needed to tread carefully, no matter how pissed I was with these guys.
“No disrespect meant,” I said. “You’re a damn good club prez. I’m just a little unsure of what we’re doing here. Why didn’t you just send some guys to jump me again?”
“Seems a waste of good fists,” he said. “I need a fighter. You’re the best fighter the club ever had.”
“But I’m not coming back to the club.”
“We could jump you out, but neither of us have much to gain by that. Give me one fight, Knight. Then we can part ways as friends.”
“Just like that?” I asked, suspicious. “You won’t ask me to fight again?”
“Just the one fight against the reigning champ.” He lifted two fingers to pull the cigarette from his mouth. “You win, then you’ll get me that 50k. That’s enough to buy your way out.”
“I haven’t fought like that in a while,” I said carefully. “What if I lose?”
He tsked. “Well, then, I guess you’d better die in the ring, Knight, or we’ll finish the job.”
I blew out a breath. So it still came down to me fighting for my life.
My odds against one man—even a brutal fighting champ—were better than my odds against the whole club. I really didn’t have a choice.
“Fine. One fight. I win, and I walk away.”
CHAPTER 25
AIDEN
A cold nosejolted me awake. My eyes snapped open as a wave of doggy breath hit my face. A sandpapery tongue followed.
“Ugh.” I sat up and ran my hand over my slobbery cheek.
“Waffles,” Knight scolded from the doorway. “We were supposed to surprise him with breakfast in bed, not bad manners.”
Waffles gave a sharp yip and jumped up into the bed. He was obviously well-spoiled by Larry. I’d stayed at the hospital for a few hours last night, until he was conscious, so I could tell him his pup was safe and sound. Larry had damn near cried over the dog. He was a little too accepting of his own near-death experience. But he wanted better for Waffles.
I stretched. “What time is it? Has my alarm gone off?”
