Double Dare (Devil's Fighters MC Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was always implied that both competitors would, if at all possible, walk off the ring alive. Of course, accidents (sometimes orchestrated ones) happened, but—generally speaking—it was an understood rule that it wasn’t a good idea for the fighters to kill each other, and that the people behind the rings needed their men to remain more or less intact.
     
    This rule did not apply to “The Jack.” The man had a reputation for killing his opponents, and it was hardly ever an accident. Taylor Jackman enjoyed killing with his bare hands, and the only reason why he had not yet been kicked out of the rings was that it was the kind of spectacle that made the most money. He had created a legend that people appreciated.
     
    It was savagery at its worst.
     
    “What happens if I say no?” Xavier ventured.
     
    He wasn’t afraid to die, but he felt like he now had too much to live for to just throw away his life like that.
     
    Bennie shrugged as he went about methodically reassembling his gun. “You never get out.”
     
    It was that simple, and that cruel.
     
    Bennie looked up at him, his eyes blacker than hell. “You’re doing this for her, aren’t you? Dr. Kelley’s daughter. You want to be with her.”
     
    “Yes,” Xavier said simply. There was no point in lying.
     
    “It’s your choice,” Bennie said. “If you accept and you win, you’ll make us enough money that we’ll be grateful to you for eternity. If you don’t fight this fight, you stay with us. Permanently.”
     
    “So you’re blackmailing me.”
     
    “No.” Bennie glared at him, and Xavier actually had to fight the urge to squirm. “I’m offering you a way out. You know it’s more than I would offer anyone else.”
     
    Xavier had to admit that it was. “If I fight and I win, you’ll let me and Alyssa go? No repercussions?”
     
    “No repercussions. You have my word.”
     
    It may not make sense to others, but Bennie’s word was good enough for Xavier. Benedict Lenday had many flaws and was undoubtedly a horrible human being, but on the rare occasions that he did give his word, he was known for keeping it.
     
    “You said if I win this fight against Jackman, I’d make the Devil’s Fighters a lot of money,” Xavier began.
     
    “A shitload of money, my friend,” Bennie confirmed.
     
    “Then, I have one more request.”
     
    Bennie stared at him curiously. “Shoot.”
     
    “If I win this fight, you let Rick go, too. No repercussions.”
     
    It was a bold move, but Xavier figured it was worth a shot. After all, he didn’t have much to lose; if he lost the fight against Taylor Jackman, he was a dead man.
     
    Bennie laughed. “You’ve got balls, Wheeler. I don’t necessarily like that in my fighters, but I like it in you.”
     
    “So what’s it going to be?” Xavier asked. He didn’t want to play any more games.
     
    Bennie cocked his head to the side and thought about it. “Fine,” he said at last. “If you win the fight against ‘The Jack,’ I’ll let you and O’Donnell go, and your girl, as well. No repercussions.”
     
    They sealed their pact with a handshake.
     
    Xavier walked out of the room on legs that he felt were shaking—although he very much hoped it didn’t show. He found Rick waiting for him at the bar. There was no sign of Johnnie.
     
    “You’re alive,” Rick said. He said it in a sarcastic tone, but his eyes betrayed his genuine relief.
     
    “For now,” Xavier said. “Let’s get out of here; we need to talk.”
     
    Rick readily jumped off the bar stool and followed him outside. They each climbed in their cars—neither of them wanted anything to do with motorcycles—and Rick followed Xavier back into town and to Lynn’s diner.
     
    Xavier ignored the looks they got as they walked inside; he was used to them by now, and he had long stopped trying to convince everyone that even though he was forced to wear the gang’s leather vest with the red Satan on the back, he was not a