He stomped on the man’s head, three times, and I heard the break, and the twitch, rendering him dead.

Anger rushed through me. I grabbed Aurora’s hands as cheers rang out.

“You said they couldn’t do that?” I heard the tears in her voice.

She’d seen death before, but this time, she’d tried to save the man.

The crowd parted for me as the men who worked for me cleaned up the mess of the man on the floor.

The brutal one held his fists up in the air as I stepped into the ring.

“Slavik!” Aurora cried out, and my two guards were on either side of her. I felt the hostility of the crowd as they looked at her.

I removed my jacket, throwing it out to my men, and the one who’d just violated my rules turned to me.

“Sorry, mate, no rich pricks in the ring.”

This man clearly didn’t know my name or who I was. “What’s your name?”

“What’s it to you? You need to teach your wife not to come to grown-up games. They’re only going to get her hurt.”

“I will not repeat myself.”

The man scoffed and looked toward the men I allowed to run this event. The room had gone silent. Those who knew me were aware of what had just happened here. I had one simple rule. Once mercy was shouted by one person, the fight ended. No blood, no death, and they still had to pay up.

“I don’t answer to any cunts like you. Get him and his ugly-as-fuck wife out of my ring. This is mine. No one can beat me.”

“Ben,” I said. “What is his name?”

“It’s George, Mr. Ivanov.”

The fighter, George, paled. “Ivanov?”

“Slavik Ivanov. You disrespected my rules. Insulted my wife. You had your chance to make a lot of money. Mercy allows you to have the payment of the kill without making it.” I tutted. “You won’t be leaving here tonight.”

I saw the fear and panic in his eyes, and I felt no sympathy.

My reputation was well-known. Within the ring, I was a monster. I’d killed hundreds of men for the sport, drawing in the wealth we needed.

I hadn’t fought in this ring in a long time, but I made sure I was always ready. This man would know pain.

I struck first, and George tried to defend himself, but he’d said bad shit about my wife and that, I couldn’t allow to slide. Anger rushed through me, and I allowed it to feed my attack.

Silence rang out in the room.

By breaking my rules, no one could shout mercy. One of my guards would tell Aurora that. I was amazed she’d done what she did.

In a room full of bloodthirsty people, she’d tried to help save another. I hadn’t expected it. It was rare for people to surprise me, even more so for a woman. My wife was nothing like I thought she’d be. She was kind, sweet, even when the world had shit on her. In our world, all her merits were nothing but weaknesses. To me, they were a strength. Even knowing what her father had done to her. What her sister caused, she still tried to help. I couldn’t hate that.