“No.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Leon’s hands were bound like fucking marshmallows.
Eric’s were bare and flexing. His beer-soaked gaze had sharpened too, as though the thrill of the fight had sobered him up.
I turned back to Alexei.
His expression was blank, eyes distant. Then something changed, and I knew he’d sensed Cam’s appearance before I had.
The crowd noise dulled to a low hum.
I forced myself to stay still but heard Cam step into the yard. Felt his approach, and then his presence beside me like an incoming storm.
He filled the space with his fiery displeasure. “What did they say to you?”
Alexei lounged against the post at his back. “Nothing they haven’t said about your sister.”
Cam’s gaze darkened. “Maybe I should fight them too.”
“With one arm tied behind your back?”
“If you tie the rope I’ll walk up on them with a scandalous dick print, so maybe not.”
“It is unnecessary regardless.”
“Oh, I know. Just don’t kill anyone, okay? I got other things I want Saint doing more than digging holes all night long.”
“I don’t dig holes.”I burn those fuckers. Or paid someone else to. Whatever. I didn’t dig holes.
Cam cut me a droll stare. “That’s what you’re taking from what I said?”
“He won’t kill them,” I countered.
“It is true.” Wickedness descended on Alexei, a dark mist he was letting Cam see on purpose. “But not because you say so, and do you know why?”
“Enlighten me.”
“Because you are not my president.”
Nash called the fight before Cam could respond. Alexei pushed past him and yanked his T-shirt over his head, revealing his perfect skin, marred only by the slash on his back I’d taped the first night we’d all been together.
He threw the shirt over his shoulder.
Cam caught it and passed it to me.
I folded it—Alexei wanted to speak our language, but that much of his I already understood—then we backed up, climbing out of the ring.
Cam took his place at the head of the crowd. Half my heart went with him, but the rest stayed put, guarding Alexei’s corner.
Rubi closed the book and flanked me. A heartbeat later, Mateo joined us, a sign of unity Cam acknowledged with a nod.
Nash stood between Alexei and his double dose of opponents. He ran his spiel, but no one was listening, least of all me. I tuned it all out, even Cam, and gave everything to Alexei, tracking his every movement as the energy in him seemed to calm as fast as Eric and Leon grew more agitated.
They bounced from foot to foot.
Alexei stood like ice, hands at his sides, back straight, feet hip distance apart. Even his face was porcelain, pale and still.
Nash brought his hands down, opening the bout. For a second no one moved. Then Leon stepped forward and Alexei dispatched him with cold efficiency, throat-punching him, hard and sharp, a viper’s strike.