Rafe (Inked Brotherhood 5)

He chuckles, dark eyes twinkling with mirth. “A boy with manners. As I live and breathe. Was your dad military?”

I shake my head.

“Ah well.” He pats his stomach and leans out of the door. “Colt! Get in here. Help him get ready.” Then he gives me one long, flat stare. “Snake is a d

amn coward. Just about pissed himself when he found out who his opponent was gonna be. So far you’re holding up better than him. You can do this.”

“Yeah. Thanks for the pep talk.”

Johnny leaves and I bend over, trying to calm my racing heartbeat. Sweat is drenching my back, and I haven’t even left the changing rooms yet. Can’t believe Asher came here to fight when he was just eighteen. That took guts.

I can do this.

“Rafe.” Colt walks into the changing rooms, dressed like me in sports shorts and running shoes, his bare torso covered in tats. His dark hair’s shorn almost to the scalp and a couple days’ worth of stubble darkens his jaw. “We meet again.”

“Colt.” I straighten.

“Sit down, let me tape your hands.” He motions at a bench and I do as I’m told, grateful for the small respite.

“Have you seen him? The guy with the hand tattoo?”

“I have.” He kneels down and tapes my fingers expertly. “He’s here tonight. Placed big bets on your opponent.”

Fuck. “This Bricks… He’s gonna mow me down, isn’t he?”

Colt chuckles. “Chin up, pal. He’ll only mow you down if you let him.” He taps my knee and gets up. “Bricks is huge, but he’s also stupid as a brick. Trip him up, jab him where it hurts, and he’ll go down. Remember to play dirty. Always play dirty when you’re rolling in the filth. It’s the only way to make it out of here alive.”

I draw a deep breath, let it out. “Right.”

“You can’t talk to hand-tattoo guy before the fight. His name’s Nino, by the way. Nino Gaspari.” He frowns. “Finish the fight, get out of the cage quickly, and go after him before he leaves. I hear he’s addicted to betting and owes fuckloads of money. If you win, he’ll run out of here. Run after him.”

If I win. Yeah right.

“Got it.” I nod. “Thanks, Colt.”

“Sure thing.” He scratches his head. “Hey, have you asked Asher Devlin what I told you?”

“Will do tomorrow, man. His girlfriend is having their baby right now.”

Dammit. And I’m not there, by their side. Tyler is, though, and Erin, and that makes me feel marginally better. They’ll be okay. They have to be, even if I’m not there to look after them.

“Didn’t know. You will, though?”

A shadow of despair flits over his face, gone so fast I wonder if I imagined it. “I said I will. Swore it. Told my friends to give him the message if something happens to me. I won’t let you down.”

“Okay.” He turns his face away, hiding it from me, and I wonder what his story is and who this woman is he’s searching for. “Now get your ass out there and beat Bricks. Remember: play dirty, hit him where it hurts. If we’re both breathing after our fights, I’ll see you later.”

“You sure know how to cheer a guy up,” I grumble, curling my hands into fists, testing the tape.

He pauses at the door. “Who are you fighting for?”

“Come again?”

“Who, pal? Who’s waiting for you when you leave the cage? Many men die here because nobody awaits them on the other side. They have nothing to keep living for. So is there a pretty chick waiting to wrap her arms around you when you get out? Because I fight for Mara, and I won’t die here. I’ll win, get out and find her.”

I watch him leave, my fists clenching.

“I fight for Megan,” I whisper. “For Megan.” I shake my head, stunned. I thought her gentleness broke me, but in fact she made me strong. Gave me hope. Gave me a purpose, a reason to survive. “Good luck to both of us.”