Anton went down on the mats, the crowd jeering.
Cole bounced on his feet, and I watched the sexy flex of the muscles in his body.
I squeezed my thighs together, horribly aware that I was wet. I’d admired fighters before, but watching Cole was something else. Something primal.
He turned his head, his gaze finding me in an instant. The heat in his gaze scorched me.
Anton pushed to his feet. He shook his head, sweat flying, and gave an animalistic roar. Then he rushed at Cole.
That’s when I saw the glint of something in his hand.
My stomach clenched. He’d used his time on the floor. “He has a knife.” I shot to my feet.
“Easy.” Landon tugged me back down.
“Landon, Anton has a knife!” Panic was like claws inside me.
I watched Anton slash out with the blade, aiming at Cole’s torso. Cole reeled back, his face twisting.
God, the knife had missed him by a hair.
But Cole didn’t hesitate. His next punch slammed into Anton’s head. His face flew to the side, blood flying. Then Cole kicked him and Anton staggered back several steps.
Cole’s face looked like it was carved from black granite. He kept coming.
Anton slashed out again and again, but I could see he was getting sloppy. The two men moved across the ring, the noise of the crowd deafening.
Then, Anton got lucky on his next slash.
The tip of the knife skated over Cole’s shoulder, and I saw a line of red appear.
No. I pressed my fist to my throat.
“It’s minor, Lili,” Landon said calmly. “It’s shallow.”
Anton spat something at Cole, but Cole didn’t say a word. He attacked Anton, raining down ruthless hits, avoiding the knife.
Their bodies slammed together, and whatever Cole did, Anton’s body arched and he grimaced. The knife fell to the mats.
They separated, but I could see Anton’s chest working like bellows. He spat something again and Cole’s jaw turned to granite. His arm swung, muscles gleaming, then his brutal punch hit Anton’s sternum.
The bigger man’s head flew back first, then his body. He landed flat on his back with a brutal thud. His chest was rising and falling, but he didn’t get up. His eyes were closed.
Cole leaned down. I don’t know what he said, but Anton jerked and nodded.
Then Cole straightened.
The noise from the crowd was so loud, I couldn’t think.
He shot me another long look, then he was out of the ring and striding swiftly to the locker rooms.
My throat was so tight I could barely breathe. My skin felt hot and flushed. I hopped to my feet.
“I need…I?—”
Landon rose. “I’ll take you. Still too many of Goodyear’s goons around, even if the asshole isn’t here.”
I didn’t look at the others.
