Fuck.
Nero steps away as well. He grins as he pulls the knife from his boot. The woman standing beside him gasps.
“Let’s play, shall we?”
So it’s a game to him, is it? I’m guessing he’s been in the killing business so long that his mind has lost a few screws.
Best not to let a man like that walk around. Besides, I still have some questions for him.
“Fine.” I pull the knife out from my thigh.
The people around us move back to give us some space. I can smell their excitement, their thirst for blood. In another club, they might have already run or called the cops. Not here.
I ignore them and focus on my opponent. He’s younger than me, and slimmer, but I can tell he’s formidable.
He lunges first, blade pointed at my chest. I thwart it with my knife. Blades clash.
He attacks again. This time, he tries to grab my arm as he goes for my stomach. I switch my knife to my left hand and try to cut across his chest. He jumps back so I only manage to cut his shirt.
He looks down at the damage I’ve caused and grins.
“Left handed, huh? You’re just as good as I thought.”
I don’t answer. He ain’t seen nothing yet, but I’d rather show him that than say it.
Nero pulls the knife from his other boot so that he now has two, then gives me a wider grin like he knows he has the upper hand.
Fool.
He tries to go low. I jump and swing a leg at him. He dodges. He goes after me with both knives. I send one flying out of his hand with the one I have, then block his other knife with my arm. It cuts through my skin, drawing blood, and he gives another grin. I switch my knife back to my right hand and stab his side.
He winces and steps back. I remove the blade from my arm and attack him with the one still in my hand. Since he no longer has a weapon, he has no choice but to try to dodge me, and he manages – up until I cut his arm.
The next time I attack, he grabs my wrist. His other hand tries to free the knife from my fingers. I pull my hand up, drawing him in so that I can hit him in the forehead with mine. Then I send my knee towards his stomach to knock him off his feet.
As soon as he’s on the floor, I climb on top of him and hold the knife with both hands above his throat.
“Who are you?” I ask him again.
Instead of answering, he grits his teeth and tries to push my hand back.
Why, the tiresome son of a bitch. He just doesn’t know when to give up, does he?
“Cain!” I suddenly hear Allie’s voice from the crowd.
It distracts me for just a second, just enough for Nero to take one hand off mine and deliver a strong punch to my arm, right where I was shot before.
Pain shoots throughout my arm and shoulder. They grow weak, then numb. I get off Nero and jump back as I grip my arm with my other hand. I rub it as I wait for the sensation to come back so I can regain control.
Nero gets back on his feet and gives me a smirk. He knew about my weak spot. How?
I don’t have time to figure it out. Nero picks up the knife he dropped earlier and comes at me. I only have the use of one arm, and I use it to deflect his blows and counter at the same time. He uses both hands and delivers a punch to my gut, then a second one to my injured arm.
I wince. The pain causes me to go still for a second, and in that second, Nero knocks my knife out of my hands. In the next moment, he swings his leg and causes me to take a step back. Then he lunges with knife in hand, aimed at my chest.
“Cain!” I hear the panic in Allie’s voice.
I duck and send my fist right into Nero’s diaphragm. The knife falls from his hand. He stumbles back.
I grip his hair and lift my knee to crush his face. His nose bleeds.
When I let him go, he falls to the floor. I climb on top of him and wrap my hand around his thin neck. When he lifts his arm to try to punch my weak spot again, I twist his wrist. He yelps.
“It’s over,” I tell him as I tighten my grip around his neck. “Now, tell me who you are and who you’re working for.”
“Cain!” I hear Allie’s voice again, but this time I don’t let up.
Nero doesn’t answer. His bleeding lips form another grin as he looks into my eyes.