I clap his shoulder once. “You’ll find her,” I say as he stares down into his drink.
By the time the fights finally end, the Dungeon smells like blood, sweat, and burnt cash. People stumble out drunk and grinning while cleanup crews drag bodies and broken pride out of the back exits.
Another successful night in Daggerspoint.
I stay long enough to make sure the money’s counted and nobody’s stupid enough to start another fight after the main event.
Then I leave Caspian to lock everything down while I head for the parking lot.
Exhaustion settles heavy in my bones the second I climb onto my bike. The city is quieter now but still dangerous and ugly. Neon lights flicker against the wet pavement while distant sirens echo somewhere far across the town.
Normally, after a night like this, I’d want to go sneak in Firefly’s window or at least attempt too.
Instead, all I’ve got waiting for me tonight is an empty apartment and too many thoughts.
The ride home passes in a blur of cold air and headlights.
By the time I finally crawl into bed, my body feels like dead weight against the mattress. I barely close my eyes before sleep drags me under hard.
Unfortunately, morning still comes. And morning means Flynn, which automatically ruins it.
“Follow Jade today,” he orders while adjusting his cufflinks inside another stupidly expensive SUV.
I lean back against the seat. “You paying extra for stalking now?” I ask, and he ignores me completely.
“Watch who she meets with,” he says.
So that’s exactly what I do.
Most of the day Jade hangs around Whitestone Academy looking bored and dangerous while those three idiots orbit around her like trained attack dogs.
Interesting dynamic.
Especially Jameson.
The senator's son looks at Jade like he’s one bad day away from killing somebody for her.
By nightfall, Jade goes to the Mill, and suddenly, everything clicks.
Fight night.Not Dungeon style.
Something darker.
Invitation-only underground fights hosted by Jade herself.
The Mill feels feral compared to the Dungeon. Less organized. More blood thirsty people around a concrete fighting pit beneath flickering industrial lights while music shakes rusted walls overhead.
Then the announcer calls for Jade and she steps into the pit, eyeing her opponent, then removing her holsters.
And Jesus Christ. She’s terrifying.
The blonde girl fighting her doesn’t stand a chance. Jade moves like violence wrapped in skin.
Fast. Precise. Merciless.
The crowd screams while she taunts her opponent, then the unthinkable happens, and the girl takes out a knife, trying to slash at Jade’s face, but she’s too quick and dances out of her way only to get nicked in the shoulder.
Jade taunts the girl but this chick doesn’t back down. She gives it right back.
