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“Let’s fight!” Sebastian says, jumping out of the way as Bear lumbers toward me. In my distracted state, Bear catches me off guard. I just barely avoid his punch and land a kick to his stomach. He doubles over, coughing. I elbow him into the neck, and he roars, attacking me.

Bear grabs me around the waist and holds me in a headlock. It’s so similar to what the Mountain did to me I almost panic. I can’t lose this first round. I just fucking can’t.

Nico shifts in his seat, looking almost … disappointed.

It fills me with fire, and I use it to stomp on Bear’s foot, making his hold on me loosen. With a snarl, I kick up with my foot and land a solid hit to his jaw.

“You got this, Vincent!” Ellie’s voice comes through the crowd. I’m used to women fawning over me. The fighting rings tend to attract a lot of women with loose morals.

But never before have I had someone like Ellie cheering me on. She’s not doing it to get into my bed. Not a good girl like her. So … why is she cheering for me? Why does she seem to care so much when we’ve only known each other for a short time?

Bear punches me square in the face, sending flashing lights across my vision. I wobble and fall face down onto the ring. The crowd boos either at Bear for hitting me or me for falling.

I let my mind wander to Ellie, and now, I’m on the floor. I’ve never had a woman distract me like that.

I try jumping up, but Bear slams his entire body down on top of me, trapping me. I try fighting him, bucking and kicking, but I can’t move. What the fuck is wrong with me? Ever since Igor died, I’ve been off my game.

But I don’t tap out. I’m not going to lose.

Bear wraps his arms around my throat and squeezes until I black out.

When my eyes reopen, I’m staring up at Bear as he’s announced as the winner of this first round. He’ll continue on in this competition whereas I … I’m done.

Mr. Moore stands up and throws down his hat. Ellie stares at me with her mouth open. If a woman like her is shocked I didn’t win, then I really am a fucking loser.

“No,” I growl, jumping to stand.

“You lost, Vincent,” Sebastian says. “Go home.”

I search for Nico in the audience, but he’s not there anymore. When I finally spot him, he’s walking toward the door.

NICO

I was a fool to even believe for a moment that fighter—Vincent—could be my son. My Vincent is dead. I saw his body.

This fighter just happens to have the same name. There are a lot of Vincents in the world. I got my hopes up for nothing.

I could approach the fighter and ask him who his father is. I could just talk to him.

And yet … I’m crippled with fear he’s not really my son.

Or he is and doesn’t know I’m his father.

It’s better this way. I put my son in the past. Aurora and I have grieved together, and now, we’re in a good place. I don’t need to drag the past up.

The fighter didn’t even win the first round, so I won’t be meeting with him.

I push the fighter with the same name as my son from my mind and head home to my wife.

ELLIE

I find Vincent pounding his fists into the punching bag of our home gym. He left the ring before I had a chance to speak to him.

“Are you all right?” I ask.

He’s shirtless, and the sight of his muscles makes me a little lightheaded.

“I’m fine,” he grits out, punching the bag so hard it practically swings up to the ceiling.