Derek stumbled but recovered.
Raymond stepped closer.
“Keep it controlled!”
“I’ve got him!” Derek snapped.
“Then you shouldn’t need to lose control.”
At three minutes and forty seconds, Derek landed another strike against Cole’s injured leg.
Cole’s knee buckled.
For a split second, he nearly fell.
Claire stood up.
“Stop!” she shouted.
But Cole steadied himself against the mat and raised a hand toward Raymond.
“I’m okay.”
Raymond studied him.
“Are you sure?”
Cole took a breath, tested his footing, and nodded.
“Continue.”
Raymond allowed the round to proceed cautiously.
Derek had seen the stumble, and now he believed victory was within reach.
“You’re finished,” he said.
Cole looked at him.
“No. I’m hurt.”
Derek blinked.
“What’s the difference?”
“The difference is that I know when to admit it.”
Cole moved carefully, protecting the knee rather than trying to prove it didn’t hurt.
The timer showed four minutes and thirty-two seconds.
