Chapter 13

I steppedinto the ring to cheers. This Smash guy had pretty much kicked everyone’s ass so far.

He was undefeated.

I exhaled, thinking of Trent sleeping soundly in our motel room just a few miles away.

This was for him. This was for us.

“Hey, pussy,” Smash greeted me, wiping the sweat on his forehead away. He’d not been hit hard enough to draw blood. The guy was a prick. I’d kick his ass just because of that.

“Smash,” I answered, giving him a nod, to which he snorted and rolled his eyes at me.

“Your mommy let you out to play, or is she somewhere in the crowd sucking cock?” he jeered at me.

It took everything I had to maintain my composure as I backed away from him, readying to just rip his head from his shoulders.

“It’s Smash versus The Archangel!” the ref shouted. “Winner gets to take home a fat lump of cash if he wins. This is the last fight of the night, ladies and gentlemen, so get those bets in. You have five minutes.”

I stood in my corner, doing some stretches and listening as a few people in the crowd chuckled at me. I’d been doing them in line, too, but now they kept me focused. Smash walked around the ring, amping up the massive crowd.

I bounced on the balls of my feet, my shorts riding low.

It’s easy, Anson. You got this. For Trent.

“Meet in the middle!” the ref shouted over the cheering crowd.

I stepped to the center of the bloody ring and offered Smash my hand.

He snorted at me and didn’t take it.

Fine. I’d fucking break it for him to teach him what respect was.

“And. . . fight!”

Surprisingly, Smash came out swinging. I dipped and dodged his attacks, far faster than he was.

When he couldn’t catch me, he let out a snarl and dove at me.

Perfect.

I brought my leg up and smashed my foot against the side of his head, sending him stumbling sideways.

Fucking idiot.

Too stupid to even live.

Like lightning, I whipped around and landed my fist into the center of his face. Again. Again. Again.

Blood spurted out of his nose, and he stumbled, dazed.

The crowd roared.

I grabbed his hand and bent it, listening to the snap of bones as he let out a shriek.

Finish him! Finish him!

I did a spinning kick and let my foot collide with the side of his head. He went to his knees for all of a moment before falling flat on his face to the loud roar of the crowd.

Ref grabbed my arm and held it high in the air, declaring me the champion.

Smash hadn’t even touched me. The only thing that hurt was my damn pinky toe because I’d caught it on his fucking earring when my foot smacked into his ear.

The adrenaline was ripping through my body.

I climbed out of the ring and was met by people clapping me on the back, cheering for me.

“Archangel! Archangel! Archangel!”

“Nice job, kid,” the man I’d had enter me into the fight said to me. “Boss wants to see you.”

I nodded and swallowed hard, following him through the crowd. On the edge of the parking lot was a blacked-out SUV. A man in a dark suit opened the door and gestured for me to get inside.

I did so, my heart in my throat, and found myself face to face with Everett.

“Anson,” he greeted me.

“Everett,” I said. “Sorry I’m late for work—”

“Yes. You’re fired,” he said smoothly.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

“I really need that job—”

“I have something better to offer you,” he said, waving me off. “I like your style, Anson. Quiet. Respectful. Lethal. My favorite things.”

I ran my hands down my thighs nervously. “What do you want me to do?”

“I’d like for you to be my collector.”

“What’s a collector?”

He smiled and offered me a drink. I took it and sipped it while he drank his. He smacked his lips together for a moment before speaking.

“You’d collect for me. People who owe me. That’s it. I give you my list, and you ensure you get what’s owed to me. Sound easy enough?”

“How much?” I asked.

He chuckled, reached into his pocket, pulled out a stack of cash, and handed it to me. With shaky hands, I took it.

“Here’s a thousand for the fight tonight.” He pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it to me. “Here’s my list. See to it that it’s done, and I’ll double what you have in your hand.”

I blinked at him. “Really?”

He nodded. “Really. I need a good man like you on my team. I’m a bit of a collector myself. Let’s have dinner. I’ll give you tonight to think about it.” He pulled another card out of his jacket and handed it to me. An address was printed on it. “This is where I live. Come join me for dinner tomorrow night. Six PM. Don’t be late.”

“OK,” I said thickly.

He smiled. “You’re a sweet boy. I like that about you. . . Archangel.” He nodded for me to get out.

I did so without another word, the cash clutched in my hand. The man who’d opened the door to let me in closed it and got inside. The SUV took off, leaving me alone in the parking lot with a hell of a lot on my mind.

This had been a wild success.

Or at least I told myself it was despite the fear ramping up inside me. I was getting involved in the same dark world I’d been trying to claw my way out of.

If I couldn’t make it out, maybe Trent could.

That was really all that mattered to me.

My brother. My family.

I’d save him, find out who killed Mom and Tia, kill those fuckers and get my revenge, then. . . well, I guess it didn’t matter after that.

My mind was made up.

My answer was yes.