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“Let them watch, it will be a good training lesson.” Derek wiped the blood from his face and moved to the training circle. “What do you say, Krieger? Unless you’re worried about what Eva would think, maybe you need to go ask her permission?”
Krieger removed his sweater and adjusted the black T-shirt he’d worn under it. “Show me what you got, Derek.” If he wanted a fight, then a fight he would get.
The leaves crunched under Krieger’s boots as he entered the training circle. The trainees moved around them, soft whispers erupting. Would they think their newcomer trouble to their settlement? Or had they seen Derek in a new light?
Crouching, Derek said, “Luke, say when.”
Luke heaved a deep sigh, then backed out of the circle and motioned for John to go. “Shiiiit, guys, come on...”
John turned on his heels, leaving the arena and disappearing down a bridge as fast as Derek was losing his patience.
“I said, say when, Luke!”
Luke raked his fingers through his hair, shaking his head, and muttered, “When.”
Wasting no time, Derek rushed at Krieger, slamming into him with all his weight. Krieger expected this move and braced for the impact, using the momentum to swing Derek back to the ground. From a ground position, Derek swung his leg to collapse the back of Krieger’s knees. When Krieger’s back met the decking, Derek jumped on top of him and landed a punch to his nose. As Derek was gearing up for another punch, Krieger caught hold of his wrist, and with a firm hold, he yanked Derek’s arm to an awkward angle and tossed him to the ground.
Blood dripped from Krieger’s nose, but he wiped it away and lunged for Derek, lifting his body over his shoulder as Derek pounded his fists into his kidneys. With ease, he launched him over, tossing Derek’s body like a rag doll.
Derek rolled to a stop and lifted himself up onto his haunches.
Krieger approached him and said, “Enough.”
With heaving breaths, Derek spit, then said, “It’s enough when I say it’s enough.”
Before Krieger could even blink, Derek spun and donkey kicked him square in the chest.
Krieger’sbackside hit the arena floor, knocking the air from his lungs. How far was Derek going to take this?
The thought lingered as he readied for another kick from Derek. In one fluid motion, Krieger caught Derek’s foot and twisted, then stood up, holding his leg. Derek’s face kissed the wooden floorboards as Krieger forced him to the ground. Derek bucked and jerked, trying to free himself of the hold. With frustration taking hold, Krieger applied pressure onto his limb—Derek’s groan of pain filled the air.
Krieger tightened his grip as he said, “It’s enough, Derek.”
“Screw you, Krieger,” Derek spat as he tried once more to remove his leg from Krieger’s grasp, with no success.
“Stop! Stop it right now. Both of you,” Eva yelled as she ran into the training circle with John.
Krieger let go of Derek’s leg and waved Eva away. “Stay back, Eva.”
Ignoring him, she helped Derek up. “What kind of example are you both sending to these new trainees? You should know better, Derek.”
Derek spun on her, shrugging out of her hands. “Forget you, Eva. If it wasn’t for you acting like a lovesick schoolgirl, falling all over him, this wouldn’t have even happened. You’re the one that should know better.”
Facing him, Eva said, “Don’t bring me into your shit, Derek. If you want to act like a child, then you’ll be treated like one. As of right now, you’re on suspended duty.”
Derek’s brows dipped, and his hands fisted at his sides. “We will see what your father has to say about that.”
With her hands on her hips, Eva squared her shoulders. “Oh yeah, Derek? You’re gonna tattletale to Daddy on me? That’s original.”
The air was thick with tension, and in that moment, Krieger saw the shift in Derek. Horrified, he watched Derek draw his hand back, intending to hit Eva.
Oh, hell no! Without hesitation, Krieger stepped in front of her, and his fist connected with Derek’s face first.Derek staggered backward, holding the side of his face.
With the immediate threat gone, Krieger turned to Eva and said, “I think it would be better to—”
Eva’s eyes widened, and she shoved him out of the way. “Move!”
Derek held a wooden sparring dagger and aimed his swing at Krieger, but when he swung it, the weapon came down on Eva’s forearm. Crying out in pain, she dropped to her knee with a moan, holding her arm against her body.
