“The Predator accepted the fight.” Amanda stands on her tiptoes and waves Jake over. “He’s been moping around my office for the last few weeks, so when he said he had a fight tonight, I was happy he would have something to pull him out of his funk. But when I found out he was going to fight Fuzzy, I tried to convince him to drop out, but he wouldn’t do it.”

“Can’t Torment stop it?” Jess, still in total awe and fear of Torment, breathes out a sigh as he cuts a path through the crowd with the ferocity of his stare.

Shayla shakes her head. “Underground has its own rules. Only thing Torment can do is threaten to ban the fighters from training at Redemption if they decide to participate.”

“I think that’s his plan,” Jake says, coming up behind Amanda. “He’s worried about Fuzz. We all are. He’s just not been himself lately.” He looks at me. “Do you know what’s wrong?”

“He won’t talk to me.” I drop my voice so only Jake can hear. “Redemption is the only thing in his life outside of work that keeps him going. If Torment bans him, I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“If he steps into that ring with the Predator, there won’t be much he can do.” Jake’s voice tightens and then drops low. “Ray’s wound up like I’ve never seen him before. I don’t think he’ll be able to pull back.”

A whistle blows and the crowd gathers around the makeshift ring in the center of the parking lot. The air is thick with the scent of gasoline and cigarette smoke. Floodlights have been set up around the perimeter, but there is nothing on the ground to cushion a landing if the fighter falls hard. Already the organizers have had to drive three fighters to the hospital. I hope they won’t be driving any more.

Tag steps into the ring wearing a pair of red fight shorts. I am momentarily stunned by how lean he is. Although not fat, Tag has always been solid. But he’s not solid anymore. Although his muscles are well-defined, his skin doesn’t seem to sit right on him, and he looks gaunt and pale. He’s not my Tag anymore.

A murmur in the crowd heralds the Predator’s arrival and I hold my breath waiting for my first glimpse of him as he climbs into the ring. Over the last few weeks, I have imagined every inch of him, touched every part of his body, held him in my arms. But when he steps into the ring, he takes my breath away. He’s even more beautiful than I remembered. Emotion wells up in my throat. I miss him so much I ache inside.

The ref stands between them and holds up a red flag, but before it drops, Ray holds up his hands and gestures Tag to the side of the ring. I push through the crowd until I’m close enough to hear but behind Ray’s back, unable to be seen.

“I’m not gonna fight you, Fuzz,” Ray says, keeping his voice low. “I’m here so you wouldn’t fight anyone else.”

Tag startles and then growls. “You aren’t getting out of this fight. No one leaves the ring unless they tap out or can’t tap out.” His voice rises to a shout. “You almost got Sia killed. I trusted you to protect her. I gave her to you, and you let us both down. You hurt her, betrayed her, and lied to her. You broke her, and I’m gonna make you pay. For once in her life, she deserves real justice.”

A sob rips from my throat. “Tag. Please. Don’t do this.”

Ray spins and sees me. His jaw tightens and his eyes turn to ice, sending daggers through my heart.

If Tag heard me, he doesn’t acknowledge my plea. He and Ray join the referee in the center of the ring, and the moment the flag drops, Tag charges and hits Ray with a right uppercut. Ray’s head snaps to the side, but he does nothing to defend himself. Tag hits him again in the face and then in the chest, his punches hard and fast—relentless.

“Tag.” I am at the ropes now, so close I can hear the smack of flesh on flesh, hear Ray groan. But my scream is swallowed by the cheering crowd.

“Fight, dammit,” Tag bellows, and knees Ray in the stomach. “Why won’t you fight?”

“Because it will kill Sia if I do,” Ray mutters.

Tag backs off, panting, and snorts a laugh. “You couldn’t possibly hurt her any more than you already did.”

Ray wipes the back of his hand across his mouth, and it comes away covered in blood. “I was trying to protect her.”

A fight official clamps a hand on my shoulder and tries to pull me away, but I won’t let go of the ropes. Even if they won’t stop, I can’t leave them like this.

With a howl, Tag launches himself again at Ray, this time sweeping his leg. Ray goes down. On purpose. I know this because I’ve seen him defend this move a hundred times. If he doesn’t want to go down, he won’t.

The moment his back hits the concrete, Tag is on him, pummeling him with elbows and punches. The crowd goes quiet. There is no sport in beating a man who is down, especially when he’s made it clear he won’t defend himself.

“Enough, Tag. He’s down.” I slide a leg through the ropes, but one of the fight officials pulls me back.

“Rules say no one goes in and no one goes out until someone yields.”

“You don’t understand.” I pull at the official’s blue shirt. “He won’t yield. That’s not who he is.”

“Nothing I can do.”

“Fuck you.” I shove him aside and step into the ring.

“Tag. Stop. Please. You’re going to kill him.” But Tag doesn’t stop. He sees me, but he doesn’t. Eyes glazed with bloodlust, he swings his arm back and pushes me away.