Very. I turn my attention to the ring, where the fighters are exchanging blood with each brutal punch. I have to take Blakely at her word on this and hope it’s the truth. There’s only one other way to discover that truth, and by then it will be too late.

As I turn to face her, a chilling look in her stone-cold eyes stops me dead.

“I hope you can get over this,” she says.

“Get over what?”

Her elbow connects with the back of the guy’s head in front of us. As he whirls around, face carved in sharp, furious angles, Blakely shoves me forward. Her foot springs out to trip me the rest of the way into the already pissed-off patron.

Shit.

A loud growl emits from his clenched teeth, then I’m yanked up by my collar before his meaty fist plows into my jaw.

10. Outsider

10

Outsider

Blakely

I shove my way through the crush of the crowd as people circle around the impromptu fight. I’m not big on being a part of the action. Hey, that’s Alex’s deal—what he’s seeking. He can’t say I didn’t give him exactly what he asked for.

I’m more of an outsider, a watcher. I prefer to observe my targets…until it’s time to get close and complete the job. Once I reach a side emergency Exit of the warehouse, I climb a tower of crates to see over the horde and do just that; observe Alex and my target.

Amid the chaos, I catch sight of Alex’s light-gray Oxford button-down, which is currently being wrenched in the thick paws of the guy I picked a fight with. Shit, I hope he survives this. The bouncers can’t let it go on for long. The fight is distracting from the money inside the ring.

Come on. Come on…

I look to the bleachers. Money is being exchanged, men laughing and pointing as they take bets on Alex’s fight. Then finally, Ericson descends the bleachers. He’s recognized Alex.

Alex takes a hard hit to the stomach and crumples over. Damn, that probably hurt.

A foghorn blares. More brawny men break through the crowd to separate the fight. Nearly as quickly as it started, the altercation is broken up.

He’ll live. I jump down and head for the main entrance. As I near the door bouncer from earlier, he gives me a curious frown.

“Not my scene,” I say as I pass him. “Too violent.”

I cross the street and find a spot in clear view of the warehouse. Not sure how long I’ll have to wait, I pull up Lenora’s contact and use the time to place a call to my client.

“Lucy—?” Her tone is frantic as she answers. Lucy is the name I gave her. “What happened? I haven’t heard from you since last week…and I thought—”