Rushing In (Bailey Brothers #4) - Claire Kingsley Page 0,114

yourself off a goddamn bridge,” Levi said. “And this is after you almost wrecked your bike, lost who the fuck knows how much money playing blackjack, and went rock climbing alone on a day when it might have rained. And that’s just the stuff we know about.”

“It didn’t rain.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal.

Levi lunged at me, but Evan stepped in and put a hand on his chest.

“Not here,” Evan said, his low voice rumbling. “We take him to the Arena.”

My whole body lit up at the suggestion. The Arena was where my brothers and I settled our differences, Bailey brothers style. It had started when we were kids. Gram had given us boxing gloves and made us duke it out when we had a problem. When we’d gotten older, we’d taken it up a notch, and created the Arena. Sure, it was a little barbaric—a sort of gladiatorial test of will between brothers. But it worked.

And right now, getting a chance at one of my brothers in the Arena sounded fucking great.

“You coming, or do we have to hog tie you first?” Levi asked.

I undid the latch on my helmet and took it off. “No, I’m in. Let’s fucking do this.”

Logan shoved me in his truck instead of letting me drive my own, but I’d deal with that little grievance later. If he wouldn’t get in the ring with me, I’d find a way to get in a shot at him.

I was buzzing on adrenaline, ready to take them all on at once. They’d interrupted my bridge jump for no good reason, but I wanted to fight even more than I wanted to jump.

What we called the Arena was a clearing down a dirt road near Lake Tilikum. Stakes marked off the four corners of the ring and grass and weeds provided the only padding. The ground could do as much damage as an opponent out here.

We parked and I flew out of the truck, my hands clenched into fists. I stalked over to the ring and paced back and forth, waiting for them.

I didn’t want to think about the last time I’d been in the Arena. I’d gone up against Asher when he’d been in the middle of his post-prison meltdown. I’d been amped that day too, but it had been different. I’d been in control. Today I wasn’t, and I knew it.

But I didn’t fucking care.

Levi tossed me a pair of padded gloves. I would have bare-knuckled it, but gloves were always one of the rules. Gloves, no nut shots, and no knockouts. Even when we were out here because we were pissed as fuck, we weren’t trying to injure each other.

I’d always viewed the Arena like an ancient system of justice—trial by combat. The guy who was in the right would win. A voice in the back of my head tried to tell me that probably meant I was about to lose, but I brushed it off. What the fuck did it know, anyway.

I shoved on my gloves while my brothers stood along the side of the makeshift ring. I gave them a quick sweep, wondering who was getting in here with me. I expected Asher—he was the oldest. Seemed like an Asher thing to do. And maybe he wanted a rematch, since I’d beat him last time.

But Evan was putting a pair of gloves on his big hands.

Well, fuck.

Asher was dangerous as hell. He was a coach now, and still actively trained. But so did Evan. He didn’t compete, but he’d never stopped going to the gym. And I knew from experience how strong he was.

Fuck it. I’d taken him on before. I’d beat his ass now.

Evan stepped into the ring. “You need to calm the fuck down.”

That was all the warning I got. He lunged for me, going for a takedown, but I side-stepped just enough. Immediately going on the offensive, I surged in and locked up with him. He pulled down on the back of my neck, but I wasn’t giving him anything that easily. We pushed and pulled, testing each other’s strength and balance.

Moving fast, I dipped low and shot in, wrapping my arms around his waist. We hit the dirt with a thud. That was going to hurt later, but for now, all I felt was the adrenaline flowing through my veins. He grunted and spun, almost getting the reversal on me, but I managed to maintain control.

I hooked his arm and leg for a submission hold, but