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Whether Kota called Tina or Tina called Kota, I don’t know. What I do know is those two girls don’t talk. They don’t hang out. The most they’ve interacted with each other in the last few years took place in my truck under the influence of emotional distress and undiluted vodka. There is no reason why they should be here together…except to blow my shit up. Even if it was Kota that called Tina, Tina is my friend, therefore she broke my trust by spilling the fucking beans. And bringing her here? That’s worse. That’s…unforgivable.

Catapulting right back to me, Borys informs me, somewhat winded, “You talk too much.”

It’s difficult, almost impossible, but I tear my gaze away from Kota to pin Borys with an unapologetic stare.

“Yeah?” I jerk my chin at him. “Listen to this.”

Finding my second wind, I deliver several jabs, pushing him back and back and back until I have enough room to rotate on the ball of my foot while sending my other leg out into a nasty hook kick to the side of Borys’s big-ass face.

Motherfucker’s out before he hits the mat. That’s what I look like on the offensive.

The crowd goes ballistic, but all I see is her. Why did she have to come here? This could ruin everything.

Some asshole bumps into her, wrapping his arms around her to steady himself, then all I see is red. I’m up and over the fence the next instant, jumping down on the other side and barreling my way through bodies until I get to her.

“Get the fuck off her!” I punch the drunk in the nose before shoving him away.

Gripping the top of Kota’s head, I shield her with my arms over her shoulders. She flinches back from me, hurting me more than anything Borys just did to me. She’s scared. Of me. Fuck!

“You okay?”

She doesn’t say a word, just gazes up at me accusingly. This is bad. So bad.

“I’m okay, in case anyone was wondering.”

“Fuck off, Tina.”

“Sailor…she already knew.”

That gets me to break eye contact with Kota.

“She saw.” Tina motions toward the cage. “One of you idiots must’ve butt-dialed her during that opening ceremony thing you fighters do and she saw everything.”

The Camera button. Either I didn’t press it or I did and it got bumped afterward.

“She called me, demanding the address. I didn’t give it to her.” Tina actually pauses for thanks. She’ll be paused all goddamn night because I’m not giving her shit.

Eventually, she finishes by admitting, “But I did drive her here. You know…in solidarity.”

I look back at Kota. “Is that true?”

Our ex-friend answers, saying haughtily, “Yes, it is.”

“Tina,” I growl. This is between me and my girl. If she’s still my girl…

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tina fold her arms, not in an angry way, in a pouty baby way that I’d tease her about if I wasn’t so goddamn mad at her right now.

“Did you want her to come by herself?”

All I can do is shake my damn head. I didn’t want her to come at all, which Tina fucking knew.

Dex finally reaches us, immediately tearing into his sister. Kota still hasn’t said anything and I’m almost grateful. Whatever she has to say won’t be good. This is as far from her world as it gets.

“Killa’ K? Where’s Killa’ K?” comes over the speakers, making me shudder from my sore head to my numb toes. Even though I’ve never liked the nickname, it never embarrassed me until this second.

They want me back in the cage to accept the victory. I don’t need my hand raised to prove I won. Everyone here saw me win. The only person who didn’t is Borys D, but he should be coming around soon.

“Come on.”