Twenty-eight seconds remained.
Derek rushed forward.
Cole shifted aside, caught the attacking arm long enough to redirect Derek’s balance, and released him. Derek went down onto one knee.
Cole stepped back immediately.
He didn’t strike a grounded opponent.
He didn’t celebrate.
He didn’t even look at Claire.
Derek scrambled to his feet, humiliated by the sound of the crowd reacting.
“Stay still and fight me!”
Cole’s breathing was heavy now.
“You want me to fight you, or do you want me to stand still so you can feel powerful?”
Derek swung again.
Cole avoided the blow, but his knee gave a sharp warning. He stumbled sideways and caught himself.
Raymond moved between them.
“That’s enough!”
“I’m fine!” Derek protested.
“I’m not talking about you.”
Raymond turned toward Cole.
“Can you continue safely?”
Cole looked down at his leg.
He could feel the injury worsening. Pride told him to keep going. Experience told him that pride wasn’t worth a lifetime of pain.
