Page 37 of Stone's Promise

His eyes snapped to me, and for the first time in a long time, I saw the realization that he had lost. This involved more than the ridiculous attempt at posturing, but the hold he used to have over me.

Without another word, he turned and stormed off.

I exhaled, my pulse finally settling.

Oliver, standing beside me, let out a delighted, “Whoa.”

Cody met my gaze, one brow raised, waiting for my reaction.

I let out a breathless laugh. “Well,” I said, “that was satisfying.”

Cody tried really hard to contain his smile and failed miserably. “Guess Family Day isn’t so bad after all.”

Chapter Eleven

CODY

The transition from Family Day to the Intercontinental Battle Royale was a blur of training, media obligations, and late-night thoughts that wouldn’t let me sleep.

But in all of it, one image stuck with me. Emily, standing her ground against Trey.

I’d known she was strong. I’d seen it in the way she handled everything life threw at her, in the way she cared for Oliver, in the way she never let anything break her. But watching her take control, refusing to let Trey manipulate her ever again, that was something else.

The guy had a good suit and a slick way with words, but he was nothing compared to her. He didn’t deserve a woman like Emily.

And then came the harder thought which kept nagging me even as I threw myself into training for this fight.

Did I deserve her?

This thing between us started as a way to handle a situation. It evolved into a real and beautiful thing that shook me more than anything I faced in the cage.

I’d spent so long keeping people at arm’s length, making sure no one got too close. It was easier that way. Emily had slipped past every defense I had. And now, as I stood backstage, waiting for my cue to step into the cage, I knew this fight wasn’t just about taking down Marcus Ray. It was about proving something to myself, to her.

The arena was electric, the crowd roaring with energy as I stepped into the lights. Adrenaline and the pulse of the fight already thrummed through me.

But my focus zeroed in on one thing.

Emily sat in the front row, right where I’d asked her to be. She looked out of place in a setting like this, surrounded by bloodthirsty fans and flashing lights, but at the same time, she belonged there.

Because she was my person.

The realization hit hard and fast, leaving me out of breath before the fight even started.

Marcus Ray stood across from me, a hulking powerhouse of a man, all muscle and brute force. He was dangerous, but I was smarter. I’d spent my career taking on guys like him who relied on intimidation and raw strength.

I had a plan.

The bell rang, and we clashed.

The fight was brutal, a war of skill and endurance. Marcus came at me hard, throwing heavy punches, trying to overpower me. I kept my movements sharp, calculated, dodging, countering, making him work for every inch.

Second round came. He got in a good hit, knocking me back a step. The crowd roared, sensing blood. But I shook it off, refocusing.

By the third round, he was getting desperate, swinging wild. That was my opening. One clean shot.

I saw it the second he left himself open. My fist connected with his jaw, a solid, devastating blow. He staggered, then crumpled.

The ref stepped in.

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