Page 65 of Declan

He was gonna run to the cops.

A rat.

And there’s nothing I hate more than a man who pretends he can handle what we offer, then runs crying to the law the moment things get heavy. He thought he could play the game, rack up debt, profit off our violence, and then just snitch to save his own skin.

Watching him get the ever-loving shit beat out of him? That was an adrenaline rush I hadn’t realized I needed. Every crack of a punch, every sickening thud of knuckle meeting bone, it all settled something inside me. A calm. A sense of order being restored.

He deserved it.

I glance over at Wesley, who’s nursing a beer, eyes locked on the ring like he’s watching the best movie of his life. He catchesme watching and nods once, nothing but grim satisfaction on his face. We did what we had to do.

The fight ends when the guy crumples. No bell needed. Just the silence that falls when the body stops moving. Blood pools beneath him, painting the canvas a darker red under the harsh glow of the lights.

The crowd erupts, a mixture of cheers and laughter. Bets are exchanged. Some celebrate. Others fume. But no one says a word because that’s how this is played.

You win or you lose. That’s the chance you take when placing a bet.

But to us, this was justice.

And more importantly, it was final.

He’s not walking out of here. He’s not going to open his mouth to a single cop. He’s not going to threaten the life we’ve built with his cowardice. The relief is instant. It settles deep in my bones, even as the chaos swirls around me.

He’s gone. And that means we can breathe a little easier. At least for now.

I grab a bottle of whiskey off the bar and take a long pull, letting the burn coat my throat, grounding me.

Then my eyes flick to the exit.

Lena’s coming tonight.

She doesn’t know what this place really is. Not yet. I didn’t tell her everything. But I need her to see it, to understand the world I live in. I need to know if she can handle it. If she can handle me.

And maybe selfishly, I want to see her here. Among my world. In it.

My world’s full of violence, secrets, and men who live by their own laws.

But it’s also full of loyalty. Brotherhood. Purpose.

I want her to see all of that.

I want her to see me.

Because for the first time in my life, I’m not sure I could handle her walking away.

It can’t happen tonight, and if I’m honest, it really can’t happen until Wesley finds out.

But once he finds out, Lena might see me in the ring instead.

Chapter 19

Lena

You can feel the excitement the second we step inside Twisted Souls. It wraps around us like a live wire, pulsing through the thick air, crackling with anticipation. The lights are low, tinged with blue, casting a sultry haze over the crowd. Music thumps from massive speakers, making the floor vibrate under our boots. The buzz tonight is undeniable. Killer is supposed to show up, and everyone knows it.

When Declan texted me earlier, inviting me here, I admit I was surprised. The logical part of me figured he’d want to keep me as far away from Wesley as possible, especially in this world.

But when I read the message, my heart skipped a beat. He wanted me here. That had to mean something.

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