Free REBEL: #4.5 The Beat and The Pulse by Amity Cross

trying to think of a plausible story for poking around in a filing cabinet at an illegal cage fighting operation, but nothing came out. I had no excuse.
    The man strode forward and grabbed me around the arm. I twisted, trying to break free, but he pulled me tight against his chest.
    “I won’t ask again, pretty girl. Who the fuck are you?”
    Yeah, I was in it big time.

Chapter 13
    Rebel
    I t was an easy fight .
    Torment went down without too much trouble—the guy was way too green for this place. He was the same age as me but inexperienced. He held back on his blows like he was afraid of hurting me, but it was his weakness. If he could get over the fact that it took blood to win, he’d be pretty fucking formidable. He’d be a contender for the top prize. As he was now? He was cannon fodder.
    I took the win out in record time and left the cage, looking for Charlie. Even to me it was strange how much I wanted to be with her. I’d always been solitary, a fuckin’ loner content to have my fun and be done with it, but with her… I wanted to be with her all the time.
    I did a round of the arena, clutching my hoodie in my hand and not giving a stuff that I was wandering around with my shirt off, sweat dripping down my back. The women were loving it, but I couldn’t seem to find the one that I was looking for.
    Where was Charlie?
    Stopping by the bar, Lori hadn’t seen her. The bookies hadn’t noticed her, and she hadn’t placed any bets. On my way out back, I asked the fuckwits on security, but she hadn’t passed for a while. Charlie was nowhere to be found. Usually, I’d just dismiss it and move on, but now that I knew who she was and what she did—something didn’t feel right. Both times she’d seen me fight she’d waited for me right after. I assumed she’d do the same tonight.
    Striding out to the change room, I checked my phone, but the screen was blank. I shot her a quick text and began unwinding the wraps around my hands. Once I was done, I checked the phone again despite it being silent the whole time. Fuck .
    “Rebel.”
    I glanced up at Max as he appeared beside me. He had a grimace on his face, and instantly, my blood began to run cold. There was no reason he’d seek me out unless—
    “What?” I asked, slamming the locker closed.
    “Your girl—”
    “Charlie?”
    “She’s a cop.”
    My expression fell even further. If he knew…
    “What have you done to her?” I asked, getting up in his face. I’d crack his fucking skull open if he’d touched her. I’d kill him with my bare hands.
    “I haven’t done anything,” he replied, staring me down. “But Simon has.”
    “Simon?”
    “You know, Simon, the whiny bastard in charge of bribing the entire police force?”
    “I know who Simon fucking is,” I snapped.
    “He’s making a play for The Underground,” Max said, ignoring me. “He’s using your girl as an example.”
    I knew it. I fucking knew it. I’d told Ryan the other day I’d suspected as much. He’d told me to keep my fingers outta it, but if Charlie had gotten herself mixed up in it, I had to get involved. My hand had been forced.
    Flexing my fingers, I asked, “Where is the bastard?”
    “Let’s make one thing clear, Rebel,” Max said. “I want The Underground. I want Simon out. I’m prepared to overlook your girl being a cop—”
    “You need my help,” I snapped. “Charlie for The Underground.”
    Max narrowed his eyes. “We go now, we might get her back before it’s too late.”
    Turning, I grabbed my keys and phone from my locker before slamming it closed. “Lead the way, but I’m driving.”

    I ’d been through a lot of fucked up shit in my life. A lot of fucked up criminal activity, but nothing got to me more than the drive to find Charlie. Maybe she was already hurt or worse…dead.
    I’d only just found her .
    “Here,” Max said, pointing to a house up ahead.
    It looked deserted, or at least it did from the facade. The garden was overgrown, the