Page 192 of Harley & Her Ferals

Yet when Hit Man hefts the bar over his shoulder to kick Harbinger’s legs out from underneath him, I suck in a breath.

Shit, shit, shit.

Underneath me, River is pacing, as worried as I am.

What’s Harbinger doing?

“Why isn’t he attacking?” I hiss.

“Harbinger trusts us.” Laurent’s expression is tight. “He’s betting his life on it, in fact.”

My throat is dry.

Harbinger didn’t fight back in the study for our sake. Now, he’s doing the same thing because he’s waiting for his opponent to become disorientated, before he strikes.

Harbinger was trained by an ex-military Alpha. It’s why he fights with such good strategy. It’s also why he can take pain so well.

But what if this is another one of River’s failed experiments?

“Work,” I whisper. “Work.”

Laurent nuzzles against my neck, desperately.

All of a sudden, I notice some of the other fighters stumble. A couple start to slow their attacks or miss their punches.

It’s subtle but enough.

Yes.

Hit Man’s eyes become glassy. He blinks, before loosening his hold on the iron bar.

The bar slips from his fingers. “What…?”

Harbinger’s expression becomes steely, as he instantly pushes himself to his feet. “My guess? Vengeance.”

I jolt.

Does River know that this man may have killed his parents? Glancing down at River and seeing how intently he’s watching the fight, I realize that he must.

How could he not have investigated it?

I should have guessed that Harbinger would have also put it together.

Has River talked about this with him?

Harbinger has worked out more about how the Underworld works and its dark secrets than I thought was possible.

Hit Man staggers back a step.

Harbinger strolls toward him, catching him with a flurry of jabs that he tries to unsuccessfully block. Then he relentlessly drives Hit Man against the side of the cage, grinding his shoulder into his solar plexus.

Hit Man looks like he’s drowning. He waves his arms around, trying to regain some of the power, but he can’t.

Harbinger grabs Hit Man by the hair and tosses him to the floor. Then with cold military precision, but none of the Feral’s wildness in the kill, he chokes Hit Man out and doesn’t stop until Hit Man stops moving.

Harbinger is breathing hard.

He’s ashen, but when he stands up, he turns to look at River through the bars of the cage.

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