Page 51 of Caged

But, I don’t see Knox, or Kirill.

“He’s not here.” Jax stands behind me, his back pressing against mine as he prepares for the swell of the crowd.

I can’t answer before the first fist flies towards me.

It turns into a whirlpool of arms, legs, and bodies as we try to fight our way through the masses.

One leaps over me and tackles Jax to the ground.

I grab him around the neck and beat the side of his head until he lets go. Then, I keep swinging until he goes limp.

There’s a sharp bite in my side that makes me turn to see another holding a knife, dripping with blood.

Asshole stabbed me.

I reach out as he jabs forward to get me again, but I grab the wrist holding the blade and force it into his own belly.

A tide of red bursts from his shirt when I jerk it further up his gut.

Jax clamors to his feet and swings at a third who runs in at an angle, glancing a blow off of Jax before barreling into me.

He knocks me onto my back and I bounce my skull off the concrete floor.

Stars erupt in my eyes, then he pounds into my face, getting in several solid hits before he’s ripped off of me by a grinning Alexei.

He turns and pistol whips my assailant until he falls into a quivering pile.

“They aren’t here.” Alexei straightens himself calmly while Jax helps me up.

The fighting moves away from us, but it seems like our guys have the upper hand.

Reapers are running out of every exit.

Alexei saunters over to the bar and picks up the cloth bag, tossing it up and down in his palm.

Opening it, he pulls something out and shoves it into the mouth of one of the dead enemies on the floor.

Then, he steps to the next and repeats.

“What are you doing?” I can’t tell what it is, but the glimpse makes it look like he’s shoving diamonds down their throats.

Shaking a few into his hand, he turns, extending his palm.

Marbles.

“They lost their’s. I’m returning them.” He gives me a serious nod before continuing.

Jax and I stand patiently near the door.

“Nikolai, you’re bleeding.” Jax turns, his eyes wide as he glances down.

Fuck.

“It isn’t bad.” Lifting my arm, I can feel the hot, sticky liquid ooze down my chest.

Where that asshole poked me is pushing up out of my vest to leak and soak my sleeve.

His lips purse. “Go. I’ll keep him out of trouble.” He gestures to Alexei before pushing me outside.