Crash and Burn (Back Down Devil MC #2)(32)

Blaine walked back to the fight just in time for Gaige to stroll over and sit next to Landon.

“You going to give me shit about Avery?” Landon asked.

“What? Oh, the chick? I don’t give a f*ck, bro. No offense. What you do… that’s you, man. She and Emily seem to be getting along.”

“Are you picturing them going down on each other?” Landon asked.

“Fucking right I am,” Gaige laughed.

“Me too.”

“Hey, about Strokner… man, I thought my message…”

“The eyes,” Landon said. “Fuck it. It was a good message. Fuck him, too. Did you talk to Miller yet?”

“No.”

“We’ll get him at the table then,” Landon said. “It might do us good to keep Strokner on a leash. He wants us to kill some f*cking business guy. Not a problem. He’s dumb enough to trust us, you know that, right?”

“Yeah, I do,” Gaige said. “But where’s the end in this?”

Landon jumped off the table. “The end in all of this? Death. Between then and now is life. What happens in life… well, that’s up to us, I guess.”

Gaige hugged Landon.

A few minutes later the call came for Landon to fight again.

His third and final fight. The fight that was quite literally for all the money.

Landon walked through the crowd again. Guys screamed for him to win, some screamed for him to lose. One guy called him a ‘f*cking *’ and before Landon could turn to rip the guy’s throat out, Blaine was right there knocking the guy to his ass. A little fight broke out, but Landon didn't stick around to see how it played out.

He went to the circle and stood there. His opponent entered the circle. He was about his size. The only difference was that this guy hadn’t fought yet. And the guy had his rings on.

“What’s this?” Landon pointed.

“I’m keeping them,” the guy said. “You can f*ck yourself.”

The middle man remained between Landon and the other guy. There was a tattoo across the guy’s chest that read DECK.

“Are you Deck?” Landon asked.

“Fuck you,” the guy said.

“You can’t wear those rings,” the middle man said.

“Then the fight’s off,” Deck said. “Everyone collects their bets back…”

“No,” Landon said. “I’ll fight.”

“The rules…,” the middle man said.

“Fuck the rules,” Landon said.

“Fuck them,” Deck said.

This guy was a complete idiot. Even if Landon lost the fight, Deck would get his world rocked by other crews on the way out. Leaving the rings on was a sign of disrespect to the fight. If Landon lost, all those with money on the fight would be pissed because Deck left his rings on.

None of that mattered to Landon because he wasn’t going to lose the fight.

“Let’s get this going,” Landon said.

“Are you sure?” the middle man asked. “If you get hit…”

“I don’t give a f*ck,” Landon said. “Call it. Now.”

The middle man backed away and it was time to fight. Deck was the first to throw a punch, hitting Landon in the gut. The hard rings against his bare skin hurt, but it was nothing compared to the first punch Deck landed against Landon’s face. The rings were like knives, slicing and cutting. Landon stumbled back, to the crowd’s dismay, as they ooohhh’ed over the sight. Deck was ruthless, charging right at Landon, hitting him again, taking him to one knee.

The next hit sent Landon to the ground on his back. Deck had a hand to Landon’s throat and he squeezed.

“Fucking loser,” Deck said. “Trying to be some kind of f*cking hero.”

Landon sucked on his bottom lip as much as he could, collecting his own blood. He spit blood into Deck’s face. Deck screamed and let go of Landon, trying to wipe his face. Landon rushed to his feet. Enough was enough with this *.

A quick one-two punch, ribs and chin, sent Deck spinning backwards. When Deck swung at Landon, Landon moved. He slammed a fist into Deck’s ribs and felt something crack. Deck dropped to one knee and clutched his side. He put a hand out. He was gasping for air. As a sign of respect, most guys would have held off for a second, but Landon was out of patience and care. Especially if Deck was going to keep his rings on.

“Fuck you,” Landon said.

He swung hard and hit Deck in the side of the head. Deck spun and hit the ground. He put his hands out and pushed up, keeping himself in the fight. Landon looked back and up, and saw Avery standing, her eyes wide. He couldn’t stop looking at her, even when the crowd cheered and yelled for Landon. Then came the warning cries. He ignored those too.

What the f*ck was it about this chick?

Landon never felt this way before…

A ring filled fist connected with his left cheek as Avery pointed and jumped, trying to warn him about Deck.

Landon spun and was on his hands and knees a second later. Deck kicked him in the ribs - once, twice, and the third time sent Landon to his back. Deck placed his foot on Landon’s chest and raised his arms. But this wasn’t a f*cking victory, not by a long shot. Pissed off even more, Landon grabbed Deck’s foot and twisted it. His ankle snapped like a twig and Deck let out a horrendous scream. He stumbled back and yelled each time he tried to put pressure on his ankle. Landon got to his feet to finish the fight.