Free Risk (Gentry Boys #2) by Cora Brent Page B

EIGHT
    CREED
     
    This shit was over before it started. 
    Three quick blows and the guy was already crawling around in the gravel with a string of bloody saliva running out of his mouth.  As I waited for him to rejoin the fight I was aware of many things. 
    There was the vague sting of my knuckles and the howling blood lust of the crowd.   There was the sight of Gabe Hernandez greedily watching on the sidelines with a handful of stoic men who smelled of money.  There was the yawning blackness of a moonless sky over my head and the hot wind that had kicked up with sudden fury.
    Finally and most importantly, there were my brothers standing nearby.   I could feel the silent strength coming from them.  It was this I chose to focus on. 
    The man at my feet was still struggling to rise.  He coughed a few times and glanced sideways in fear, maybe believing I would do the coward’s thing and move in while he couldn’t catch his breath.  I just waited, mulling over how to finish this.  I knew it was better to make a show of it.  I knew this was what Gabe wanted me to do.  I also knew it was kinder to end it quickly. 
    I looked to Chase and Cord.  They understood my silent question and nodded together. 
    When the man finally staggered to his feet I pulled back and landed a swift hook under his chin.  His eyes rolled into his head and then he crumpled like tissue paper.  The crowd erupted and I bent over at the waist, trying to dispel the sick feeling.  It was the sensation that always overcame me when I inflicted pain on another human being; the fear that if I took even a little satisfaction from the act I would be traveling in the direction my violent blood always meant to take me.  It was what drove me to the bottle and to the furious black surrender of old memories.  It was fucking terrible.
      I felt a hand on my back and then another one.  I relaxed slightly and accepted a shirt to pull over my head. 
    Chase squeezed my shoulder.  “You all right, Big C?”
    Both of them stared at me soberly.  There was none of the jubilant celebration which usually followed a clean fight.  There was a good reason for that.  This wasn’t just a fight.  It was designed as bait for the high rollers to invest in something more violent. 
    Gabe appeared and grinned at me coldly.  “Nice work.” 
    In the background the beaten man was trying to regain his senses and stagger away.  Nobody paid him any mind.  The next fight was already starting.
    “You knew it would be.” 
    Gabe nodded vaguely.  “Yes.  My associates were impressed with your show of obvious power.  You need to learn how to endear the crowd though, Creed.  Make people want to root for you because they know a gruesome reward awaits.” 
    “Fuck you,” Cord spat.   He had moved directly behind Gabe and was glaring at him with hatred.  
    Gabe turned to look at him in surprise.  “Cordero, I didn’t see you there.  You know, I could have a spot for more than one Gentry-“
    I didn’t let him finish.  I pushed into his chest until he had to take an unsteady step backwards, falling right into an equally furious Chase. 
    Gabe glanced at the three of us in turn and the flash of fear I saw in his eyes almost made me laugh.  What the hell did that little rodent have to be afraid of?  He dealt in men’s blood the way others dealt in the goddamn stock market.  But he never had to really risk anything himself. 
    After blinking at us stupidly for a full minute, Gabe pulled himself together.  He cleared his throat and looked at me pointedly. 
    “We’ll be in touch, Creed.” 
    “I know,” I answered and then let him pass. 
    Cord glared after him angrily and Chase tried to nudge both of us to the exit.  “Let’s get the hell out of this insanity.” 
    Chase wanted to drive and that was fine with me.  I slumped in the front seat with my arm slung over my eyes.  The boys were silent and I let the roar of the freeway fill my