Chapter 21
Max
One of Daniel’s men stands at the door meant for fighters to enter. “Cano, back already? Did you finally figure out those undercard fights pay pennies?” the guy with a deep scar across his cheek says.
He’s not wrong. I’m not here for money tonight. When you’re unpopular and starting out, your pay is a couple of hundred dollars after you pay everyone. With this fight coming up, it’s been publicized as a big fight. Henry says the payout is a very large amount.
“Yeah, bro, I came to see who I can fight with my bare hands. Who can I fuck up?”
He laughs darkly and surveys around me, like he’s seeing if I have my bag. I usually keep it in the trunk, but I took it out to wash it. I’ll have to borrow someone’s. He clicks his tongue and opens the door. “Spill blood, Cano.”
My footsteps pound on the concrete floor, and moans are heard from the closed rooms where Daniel brings women from the strip clubs he owns around the city. I pull out my phone and shoot Xander a text. “Where are you? I’m here.”
He responds with the room number they are in.
I see him before he sees me, and I curse under my breath when I see Leo’s face. Swollen eye, busted lip, and a gash under his eye. When he sees it’s me who walks in, he bows his head. “Leonardo, what the hell did you get yourself into, bro?”
Xander leans up against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
Leo groans when he moves. Damn it, he might have a broken rib. “I needed money.”
I look at him. I gave him everything so he wouldn’t come here.
I run my fingers through my hair. “You left your job, Leo. You packed up instead of talking to me. And if you didn’t want to work with me, there are plenty of jobs out there.
This is not for you.” Leo is different. He might be as young as I was when I started the Underground, but he’s always masked pain with laughter and smiles, unlike me, who used my fists.
“I was upset with you. I couldn’t even talk.” He peers at his feet. “I thought you were seeing Annette. The article is very believable, and then Xander told me the truth. I didn’t want you to hurt Rainey. She’s like my best friend.”
I know he cares deeply for her, and I’m grateful he’s by her side when I can’t be.
“Leo, I’ve told you she means everything to me.
You really think I’d want Annette?” I shake my head, making a face.
“She’s not my type and not who I want. I’m offended you would think that.
But that’s beside the point, so why did you agree to two fights in one night?
This has nothing to do with money, does it? ”
He sighs, and Xander frowns.
“Not really. Of course, the money is good and all, but I don’t need it. Sometimes I just want to feel instead of being numb.” He shrugs. “Life sucks at times.”
“It does,” I agree. “That’s just life. It has its ups and downs.”
“Dude, you just need to get laid. That will have you feeling all kinds of shit,” Xander tells him.
We both laugh. “He’s not wrong. You need a chick. How about Bethany? You have a major hard-on for her.”
Leo glares at me. “How would you know?”
“You told me, and besides, did you forget I own a security company? I see you walk into Sol’s house. You give her fuck-me eyes.”
Leo snorts. “You and Xander are damn stalkers.”
Xander curses.
I jut my chin at him. “Who are you stalking?”
“Some chick who knows how to stir shit up.” I know he’s not seeing anyone right now, so my only guess is that it’s a woman he didn’t see coming. He better not be using the surveillance videos. I’ll have to ask him later.
“Let’s get the hell out of here, Leo.”
The door flies open. Leo’s sneakers hit the floor as he scrambles off the table. Daniel’s silhouette fills the doorframe, flanked by two broader shadows. His eyes remain flat and cold like always.
“Max, what a surprise.” Daniel’s mouth twists into something between a smirk and a snarl. “Or you came to watch your friend win his second fight?” He drags out the word “win,” his voice pitching higher on it before dropping low again.
I hadn’t even asked if he won the first fight after seeing his face.
Something tells me this second fight is nothing like the first one.
Daniel has kids as young as sixteen fighting.
He could have matched him with someone at the same skill level, but offering him another fight means he has a large audience paying to see it.
He only has them fight twice when money is involved.
I stand with my shoulders back, braced for whatever comes next.
The others shrink in the mafia boss’s presence—a smart move if you value breathing.
But there’s one line I refuse to cross for him: I will never cower to him or anyone.
I won’t show fear. Daniel’s grin widens as his hands settle in his perfectly ironed dress pants pockets.
“He’s not fighting again. He’s done.” My voice is dark and demanding. “We’re leaving,” I tell him dryly, my face showing no emotion.
“Remember who you’re fucking talking to. And who runs this place?” Daniel sneers.
“Oh, I know exactly who I’m talking to and that you own it. All I’m saying is Leo is not fighting now or for the foreseeable future.”
He hmms, his finger gliding up and down his jaw. “That’s not how it works, Cano, and you know it. The crowd is waiting. He agreed to it, and he can’t go back on his word.”
“It’s okay,” Leo says, standing beside me.
“Who’s he fighting?” I ask.
Daniel lifts a shoulder. “Someone way less skilled.” His smile is sinister.
I don’t believe a damn word coming out of his mouth.
“It’s time.”
Leo holds his side as he walks toward the main entrance of the arena, where fighters stand and wait to be announced. “Did you break a rib? And are you sure, Leo?” I rub my cheek. “This doesn’t feel right. We can leave. I’ll handle it.”
Leo shakes his head, the movement causing him to wince slightly.
His forehead creases with pain he’s trying to hide, eyes darting away from mine whenever they threaten to reveal too much.
“I’m fine. I didn’t break anything. I’m just sore.
You worry too much.” The words come out strained as he chews on his lower lip.
I glance over at Xander, who stands with his back straight as a rod, eyes surveying our surroundings.
I should never have brought him here to watch me fight. Leo is young and easily influenced.
“Let’s give it up for Leo ‘Steel Hands’ Rubio,” the announcer yells.
My eyebrows quirk. Steel Hands?
Leo’s lip twitches slightly at my facial expression.
He walks up to the ring, and his opponent approaches.
This guy is well-trained. He’s fought here a couple of times.
He’s skilled. I’ve fought him twice and knocked him out both times.
He would do more than knock out Leo. He could kill him or seriously injure him.
Fuck that.
I unbutton my dress shirt. “Take off your hoodie,” I instruct Xander. “I’m stepping in. I’m not letting him walk into a lion’s den.” He immediately takes it off and hands it to me.
“I’ll go in. The WBC will disqualify you.”
“I got this. I’ll use the hoodie to cover up, besides no cameras are allowed.” Xander takes my dress shirt while I slip on his hoodie.
“I’ll go get gloves.”
Xander turns, but I grab his shoulder. “We don’t have time.”
The audience erupts into chaos. Their feet hammer against the aluminum stands, sending vibrations through my bones like aftershocks. Their voices merge into a single hungry command: “Fight. Fight. Fight.”
The six-foot-two man gets into the ring. His wide shoulders square when he hypes the massive crowd with his hands, forcing them to cheer for him. Tattoos cover his body more than mine. From head to toe. Leo turns to a shade of white.
I square my shoulders and bounce on my feet, alternating my weight from one foot to the other. I slip my hood on and jump in the ring. “Get out,” I shout at him.
He shakes his head.
“I got this. Out.”
“But.”
Xander reaches for Leo, pulling him out.
All the cockiness he’s had is gone when he sees it’s me.
His patterns are burned into my memory—same combinations, same footwork, every damn time.
The first jab catches him across the bridge of his nose.
His head snaps back, surprise flickering across his face before the professional mask slides back into place.
He comes back harder—those meaty fists aren’t decorative.
Three minutes in, he’s already gassing out.
The second one clips my ear, and the world tilts briefly sideways.
I use it. Let him think he’s got me. He over-commits on the follow through, and I’m already gone, already turning, already bringing the uppercut up from the floor.
I ignore the raw scrapes of my knuckles from not wearing gloves.
I punch the side of his face right in the jaw as he falls to the floor.
I wait for him to stand on his feet. Blood oozes out of a cut under his eye.
I work the body first. Chest. Stomach. Back him to the ropes.
He’s covering up. Waiting for me to stop. I don’t. When his guard drops, I go in for an uppercut. He falls to the floor. The bell rings. He’s out cold. The crowd erupts in cheers.
The air around us lingers with sex, blood, and sweat as we walk down the long hallway.
My face drips, and the skin over my knuckles throbs where it split.
We come to a halt. Daniel is already at the door.
Arms crossed over his chest. He looms in front of it.
His eyes cut into slits. His nostrils flare.
I knew he would give me trouble, but I wasn’t about to let Leo be his punching bag.
“What the fuck was that?” Daniel barks.
“That was me.” I point at my chest. “Saving my brother because you fucking lied like I knew you would.”
The grin on his face is diabolical.
“Keep the money. We’re out.”
He tsks. “This is not how it works. Leo was supposed to fight, not you. He came to me begging to fight.”