1 Last Shot (The Fight Game, #4)

by Nikki Castle

I just rev my bike again and speed off, letting the wind on my skin cool the anger I feel at my own reaction to this girl who’s too pretty for her own good and too different for mine.

It's a familiar emotion, with a familiar result every time. This kind of fury is a result of one thing only: the desperate need to survive.

A shirtless, sweat-drenched, heavily-tattooed man with a scowl on his face that looks like it might be etched into his skin. I’m caught completely off guard by the flash of heat that runs through me at the sight of him.

"They all have to like some violence," I comment. “You can’t fault Kane for a quality they all need in order to get in that cage in the first place.”

I’ve never seen this kind of savagery before, nothing even close to it, and I know I should absolutely be horrified by what I just witnessed. And yet, all I feel is relief and pride that Kane came out the victor.

“Are all fighters this stubborn? You might have a few less scars if you weren’t too proud to ask for help.” The air around us stills. Kane was quiet before, but the quiet that settles between us now is different. It’s stifling in its enormity. Eventually, I feel him turn away from me. “No, I wouldn’t,” he says as he walks away.

I can't help my sudden need to protect Kane.

Then his lips are at my ear, just barely brushing the skin as he whispers, "And for the record, you knew my name first, princess."

I crowd her back against the running washer with my body, so close to her now that I can plant my hands next to her head. But I'm not actually touching her. Until I slide one thigh between her legs. She gasps the second she feels it. The sound makes me grin. "See? That wasn't so hard."

“You have no idea how annoying it is to know that you can do that without even trying.” I let out a bark of startled laughter. Fuck, when was the last time someone made me laugh?

"You're the first girl to ride bitch. Is that what you're asking?" I glare at the back of his head, even though the admission makes the butterflies in my stomach take off. "Has anyone ever told you that you're shockingly charming?" He revs the engine. "It's practically my main descriptor."

Kane's laugh is deep, and booming. The sound rings through my brain and fills my chest with warmth. Of course, he has to ruin it as he starts to pull away from the curb—slower this time. “Hang on and try not to come again.”

seeing the look of excitement on Oscar’s face when I give him some chicken, or grab the leash to take him for a walk, gives me a burst of happiness.

Ugh this is so sweet. Beautiful Broken Boy and his dog.

I can practically see the flames licking behind her eyes—she looks like she can't decide whether she wants to punch me or scold me for teasing her. One of the options clearly wins out when she cocks her fist back and playfully socks me in the shoulder. It’s so unexpected, I can't help it: I let out a loud bark of laughter, clutching the arm she just attacked.

"I got tired of always having to fight,” I add. “I needed to get away from it all." "Or maybe you were tired of surviving," she says absentmindedly, her gaze on where she's twirling her empty mug. "Maybe you wanted to learn how to live, instead."

“Good girl,” Kane praises, those two words doing more to me than my first boyfriend managed to do in an entire year. I think Kane knows it, too, because his lip twitches when I feel my cheeks flame.

"You play the part, but it's just an act, isn't it? Underneath all that lace and sweetness, you're actually a tigress. You're strong, and passionate, and you’re so fucking sexy."

You could be the greatest dancer that ever lived, and I'd still think the rest of you was more valuable."

"You're getting way too comfortable making fun of me, princess," I growl, then spank her again.

I don't want to admit to myself how nice it feels to have her lean on me to keep her safe. The only thing I allow myself to do is drop one of my hands to wrap around her thigh and begin rubbing a soothing pattern with my thumb.

his voice so gravelly it scrapes over my bones. “Now drive the bike over to the side of the building where no one can see what I’m about to do to you.”

"Give me one more, princess,” Kane growls into my skin. “Come all over my bike for me. I want it to be the only thing I can think of every time I ride it from now on."

When he pulls away with an odd look in his eyes, I almost wonder if that translates to I like taking care of you.

I don't think this is just a crush anymore.

"What on earth does unhappy Kane look like?" I wonder sarcastically as I lean down to pull the pan out and set it on the stovetop. I'm so mesmerized by the sight of our cheesy, perfect meal, I don't realize Kane has stepped up behind me until his arms go around my waist. He tightens his grip and nuzzles into my neck, and his voice is quiet when he says, "It's getting harder and harder to remember."

In only ten minutes, I watched him go from a happy, grown man, to a panicked and scared little boy, and now to a completely blank and frozen human being. I can't read anything on his face. He's very obviously overwhelmed by what just happened, and his reaction is clearly to just… shut down.

"Kane, you deserve to have someone care about you," she says firmly. "You deserve to be loved. Do you hear me? Isabella isn't settling for you. She's been choosing you. Every day. Because you're worthy of being chosen."

This isn’t your 1 last shot to get it right, this is us trying, every day. And some days will be good, and some will be bad, but every day, we keep fighting. Together. Because I would rather live in your world, with your arms around me and your heart against my palm, than anywhere else. I want you, Kane. Never doubt that."