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“But it means you forfeited.” Charley’s voice and face announced her anguish. “Oh, Dog, what about Jessie?”
Cutter’s face broke into his classic shit-eating grin. “I got that covered.”
Dog narrowed his eyes. “Yeah? That why the fight organizer was here?”
“I talked himinto coming. Told him the fight was going to happen, just not where he thought. Too many bets had been placed, and if Nate was a no-show, Tucker was going to have to give the money back, including his take. He didn’t like that idea too much. He came up with the idea of recording it. It’s going out to all the people who placed bets. Ain’t as good as seeing it live, but it’s enough to solidify the win. Seventy-five large, my brother. That’ll wipe out Jessie’s debt and then some.”
Dog shoved Cutter’s shoulder. “You little shit. I can’t believe you did that. You’re always thinking ahead, aren’t you?”
Cutter quirked an eyebrow. “There’s brains to go along with all the handsome, brother. It’d pay for you to remember that.”
With a shake of his head, Dog actually laughed for the first time. It hurt a little. Bruised ribs probably. He glanced at Nate, still out on the ground. He was an asshole, but the fucker could throw a punch.
Charley squeezed his hand. “You’re hurt, aren’t you?”
Turning to her, he squeezed back. “Not much. Nothing I haven’t had before.”
Sirens were on them, two cages with flashing lights. The boys in blue scrambled out. The neighbors parted as two rushed to Nate, and two more headed straight for them. Funny how the police singled them out.
“You want to tell me what happened here?” Officer Stanley said as he approached. A rookie walked behind him, his hand on his piece. Stanley was on the club’s payroll. He had been for about a year. This shouldn’t take long.
Dog got to his feet and glanced at Nate who appeared to still be unconscious. “I knocked him out. He deserved it.”
One of the officers pressed his fingers to Nate’s neck. He pulled his walkie talkie and called for an ambulance.
“Wait.” Charley struggled to stand, and Cutter grabbed her elbow. “There’s more to it. That man on the ground, plus another one inside, held me captive in my cottage. They made insinuations about raping me once…”
Charley looked at Dog, and he gave his head a subtle shake.
“Once the one on the ground returned from an errand,” she continued. “The man inside stayed with me when that one left.”
Stanley nodded his head to the rookie, and the man started for the front steps. Stanley turned his attention to Charley and pulled out a pad and pen. “And you are?”
“Charlene Abbott. I live in Charlotte. I own this cottage, and I’m recovering from a medical incident that happened two nights ago.”
Stanley scribbled on his pad. “And how did you come to be out here if you were being held inside?”
Dog was interested in the answer to that himself.
Charley stood a little straighter, and her voice was strong. “I sprayed a fire extinguisher in the man’s face, making sure to get his eyes, nose, and mouth. He didn’t like it very much, screamed a lot, and I was able to escape out the back door.”
Dog and Cutter ripped with laughter. Dog hadn’t known she had it in her. She seemed so sweet and delicate. Huh. Dog would have to remember not to piss her off too much.
Stanley frowned at both of them before his rookie called from the porch. “Door’s locked and the blinds are closed.”
Charley gestured her hand in a circle. “Go around to the back door. It should be open. But be careful. He’s big.”
Dog doubted he’d still be in there unless he was dumb as fuck. He had to have heard the sirens.
Stanley’s attention returned to Charley. “And then what happened?”
She put a hand to her temple. “I left my keys and phone inside, so I was running for a neighbor’s house when I saw Dog and the man fighting.”
Stanley caught Dog’s gaze. “Then that brings me to you, Dog. Why were you fighting?”
No way Dog was letting on about the bare-knuckle fight they’d had scheduled for tonight. Stanley probably knew, but Dog wasn’t confirming.
“The asshole texted me he had Charley. I knew he was bad news, so I rushed over. Caught him as he was getting in his truck.”
