They nodded at each other for just a moment. You could feel the bond between them. I don’t even think my bond with my brothers was this strong and I felt a lump in my throat. These guys had formed a family of their own and I badly wanted in. Cal turned to look at me, I walked towards them, feeling a sense of calm. There was nothing we couldn’t handle and if he lost, then we would be here for him. Everything was going to be ok, no matter what. I gave him a searing kiss, trying to convey what I felt, that we were here for him, and we had his back.

He walked into the ring, and we stood close to each other. That’s when I noticed the guy and he was massive. If I thought Aiden was huge, this guy was even bigger, and I was instantly worried.

“He’ll be fine, Jane.” Aiden kissed my forehead.

“Just because he’s bigger means nothing,” Nathan said, scooting closer to us, and looking around.

The ref finished talking to them, making them hit each other’s hands. Callum came to our side and looked around and then back at us.

“Stay focused and watch his right hook,” Aiden called out. The bell rang, and they both went for each other. The other guy didn’t waste any time, dancing around and throwing jabs. Nathan was right. He was big, but Callum was faster. He was dodging punches occasionally, trying to get a punch in, but nothing was landing. Callum kept trying to get on the offensive, but this guy was swinging left and right. After a minute, he finally landed a punch on Callum, and it was enough to make him stumble.

“Fuck,” Aiden whispered as the guy came barreling towards Callum and he barely managed to dodge him.

“Just wear him out!” Aiden yelled.

“Come on, Callum!” I yelled, feeling even more scared.

Callum dodged some more before he finally had an opening, hitting the guy in the ribs in quick succession. It didn’t look like it did much, but he was getting into a rhythm of dodging and hitting.

“Yes, Cal!” Nathan yelled right as he got another hit square on the guy’s jaw.

The bell rang and Callum walked to his corner, but not before the guy swung and hit Callum right on his side. A whistle blew, and I didn’t care if I was supposed to stay out of the cage. I ran in. Callum had fallen to his knees holding his side, looking like the wind got knocked out of him. I reached Callum quickly, looking at the guys arguing with the ref glaring at him.

“That was a fucking cheap shot, asshole.” Aiden walked to the ref.

“Callum?” I laid a hand on his back.

“That motherfucker hit me after the bell,” he said, through clenched teeth.