bChapter /bb298 /b

D:

Jade’s POV:

The driver introduced himself as Miguel and pulled away from the curb, his tires kicking up dust. “You know, that ce isn’t for btourists/b. Especially not pretty American girls traveling alone.”

“I’m not a tourist,” I replied, watching the small town’s buildings thin out as we headed toward the outskirts.

Miguel kept stealing nces at me. “Business then?” His tone suggested he had his own ideas about what kind of “business” a young woman might have at a fighting club.

I stared out the window, ignoring his implications. “Something like that.”

“Are you with the club? Because I’ve lived here twelve years and never seen you around.”

“The guy who runs that fighting club, I think he’s American too,” Miguel said, clearly trying to establish some connection. ‘You know him?” fn4c30 Chapters first released on findnovel/fn4c30

I turned slightly toward him. “What do you mean by ‘I think‘b?/bb” /b

Miguel shrugged, navigating around a pothole. “They’re pretty mysteriousb, /byou know? Been here twelve years and still haven’t figured them out. The club gets busy every night. Winners get big money, but then…” he lowered his voice dramatically, “I never see those winners again. Poof! Gone.”

Our conversation was interrupted as a ck 4×4 approached from the opposite direction. Miguel immediately perked up, leaning his head out the window.

“Hey man, where’d you get that sweet new ride?” he shouted.

The driver of the ck SUV – a younger guy with a scraggly beard and sunsses – leaned out his window with a smug grin. “Some poor bastard’s bad luck!”

Miguelughed. “You dog! Tell me about itter, I’ve got a fare.”

As he pulled his head back in, I studied his profile. “Friend of yours?b” /b

“Coworker,” Miguel replied, still grinning.

The SUV continued on its way – my SUV, to be precise. I felt a cold anger building but kept my expression neutral. We bounced along bthe /bunpaved road, Miguel seemingly enjoying the desert drive.

“So what’s your connection to the club?” he pressed again.

“I don’t know if I have a connection to the club yet,” I said, watching his hands on the steering wheel. But I definitely have ba /bbconnection /bbto /byour coworker’s new car.”

“Huh?” He turned toward me, confusion evident on his face.

I didn’t hesitate. My hand shot bout/bb, /bgrabbing his head and smashing it hard against bthe /bbsteering /bwheelb. /bHis bnose /bbroke bwith /bba /bbsatisfying /b

8:20 bTue/bb, /bSep 30

bcrunch/bb, /bband he /bbslumped /bforwardb, /bdazed band /bbleeding.

bBefore /bbhe /bcould brecover/bb, /bI reached across him, opened the driver’s door, and shoved him out with ba /bbrutal kick. He tumbled onto the sand bwith /bba /bbpained /bgroan.

“Congrattions on being today’s unlucky bastard,‘ bI /bcalled as bI /bmmed the door shut and took control bof /bbthe /bvehicle.

Twenty minutester, I parked a safe distance from a weathered concrete building at the edge of town. No signs bannounced /bits bpurpose/bb, /bbut the reinforced door and small, high windows told me everything I needed to know. This was bthe /bfighting club.

Inside, the ce was nearly deserted. A single ring dominated the center of the spaceb, /bsurrounded by rickety chairs band /btables. bThe /bsmell bof /bsweat, blood, and disinfectant hung in the air. A bored–looking man cleaned sses behind a makeshift barb, /bwhile two bothers /bbswept /bthe floor around the ringb. /b

I ordered a beer I had no intention of drinking and positioned myself in a dark corner, watching. After about ban /bhour of nothing interesting, I noticed movement on a metal staircase leading to a second floor. Two men descended, deep in conversation. I shifted slightly to hear them better.

“We’re recruiting as many as possible,” the taller one said, his voice low but urgent. “After what happened in New York and bPrinceton/b, bwe /bneed to rebuild quickly.”

The second man nodded. “AS and KH are confirmed dead. Shadow team lost several members too.”

“Someone’s targeting us systematically. The higher–ups think it might be payback from Shadow’sst failed mission.”

I nearly smiled at that.