A harsh laugh. “I’m walking away alive tonight either way.”
Drake inclined his throbbing head. “You may crawl, but I won’t be so confident about walking if you pass on my offer.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, weighing him anew. “Ten times, you said.”
“Ten,” Drake confirmed, and pressed his advantage. “Decide quickly.” The corner of his eye spotted a man pushing through the ring of the crowd, face twisted into a scowl. His gaze landed on Drake with naked distaste, as though Drake was a stain he had tolerated long enough.
Drake’s mouth curved into a savage smile.
Reginald.
This arse had finally made his appearance.
“What the devil are you doing, Baldwin?” Reginald barked at the fighter. “Set him on his damn knees again.”
Drake laughed, holding back a grimace when a sting of pain slung through his head. “There you are,dog. You really are a piece of work, letting another man fight your battles until you can step in for victory. You even rented a crowd for the occasion.”
“Fight!” someone from the ring of people shouted.
“Yes! Fight!”
More shouts rose, until it became a chant of bloodthirsty demand.
The dog stiffened. “You heard them,” he snapped to Baldwin. “Finish it.”
Drake scoffed. “Finish it?” He sent a mocking look to the man, ignoring the haze curling at the edge of his vision. “Done pretending?”
The dog’s lip curled. “I don’t dirty my hands with animals.”
You’re the animal, you arse.
“You should know,” Drake said, raising his voice to be heard over the chorus of the impatient spectators. “My brothers know who you are. Your comfortable life is coming to a bloody end.”
The dog took a step forward, fury alighting his scowl. “You insolent knave. You think yourself, your bastard brothers, impressive?”
“I think you’re a coward,” Drake replied calmly. “And I think you’ve gone to an extraordinary amount of trouble to avoid proving otherwise,” Drake taunted, stalling. “Bravo. Truly. Nothing says courage like an audience paid to cheer.”
“You are dead,” the dog growled, face contorting. He turned to Baldwin. “End him! Now! Or I shall have your life along with his!”
The big beast shrugged, advancing on Drake. “It’s nothing personal.”
Drake rolled his shoulders and shifted his stance. “Coin above honor.”
The crack of a pistol split the air.
Drake’s head whipped to the sound, and he staggered as dizziness overtook him. For a heartbeat, the rising chant choked off abruptly while the shot echoed off the walls. His focus sharpened again, and he smirked at the dog.
Someone bellowed, “Authorities!”
“Run, lads!” another voice shouted.
The room erupted in chaos.
Panic spread like fire on dry straw as people shoved for exits.
“Do not run!” the dog roared. “Guards! Guards!”
Heh.
