Is this destiny?

Aiden entered the circle, and his eyes didn't leave the man opposite from him, who provoked him with lecherous comments directed at Sarah. Aiden knows that the man did it on purpose and he knows that probably Iskra is behind it because of her rivalry with Natalia, but that will not stop Aiden's wrath. No one gets to talk smack about Sarah and goes unpunished. No one.

The man didn't miss Aiden's glare. He smiled and lifted his chin tauntingly. "Did I hit a sore spot, pretty boy? She is a fine woman. I wonder if she screams as good as she looks…"

His next words were covered with the voice that boomed from the speaker.

"The third round begins in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Go!"

Aiden was imagining grabbing that guy and breaking his bones one by one, but when the 'Go!' sounded, Aiden saw red as the fury overwhelmed him.

The man was still sneering when he realized that Aiden is heading his way at a speed faster than expected. He braced himself. No matter what Aiden is up to, they are about the same size and there is no way that Aiden can seriously hurt him.

In one swift move, Aiden's hips rotated, and his foot crashed on the man's chest with power that neither Aiden nor the man expected.

The man gasped as he felt cracking of the bones and the force of the impact propelled him backward.

In the next moment, gasps from the audience were heard because no one anticipated that the man will end up in the fighting area number two, between fighters who were exchanging blows. In that clash of fists and legs, the fighters didn't pay attention if that man belongs there or not; they saw him as an attacker and they started hitting him mercilessly because the rules say that he is a valid target as long as he can fight, and his flailing arms definitely proved that he has some punches left in him.

Aiden wanted to finish him off, but he remembered that stepping out of bounds would disqualify him which would make all this trip for naught. And he also remembered that there are eight other people in the same fighting area he is.

Aiden turned to glance at the others, and he saw that they were busy with their fights. A few competitors glanced at Aiden, but after the kick he displayed, no one dared to come close to him.

On the bleachers…

Hong rubbed his temples in frustration. "I told him not to attract attention…"

"He is doing the same things the other fighters are…", Sarah pointed out the fact that one man got close to Aiden and Aiden punched him in the face.

Hong exhaled through his nose forcibly and didn't say anything. There is no point in talking to Sarah and Aiden because when they get carried away, everything is a game. Youngsters.

The fights ended shortly after, and organizers approached the last three people standing in each of the areas, to ask about their information.

"Your number and name?"

"257, Alex.", Aiden responded.

"Natalia's base?"

Aiden nodded in confirmation.

The man gave a paper slip to Aiden. "Stick around and you will find out about the next stage once all fights are over…"

Aiden understood that the formalities are done, and he is free to go back to Sarah. He glanced at the bleachers and met Sarah's gaze full of admiration that told him she approves of his performance.

After two steps, Aiden noticed that Sarah's smile fell, and he wondered what caused that change in mood. A second later, he got his answer…

"That kick was out of this world…", a girl in a red t-shirt swooned over him.

Aiden glanced at the woman who was blocking his way and he remembered that she is the woman from the first round, who Sarah praised as someone who has good moves. Well, Sarah is probably not going to praise her anymore.

"Thank you.", Aiden responded dryly and made his way around her.

Despite the obvious rejection, she was not willing to give up easily. She walked next to Aiden while talking excitedly: "My name is Vanya. How about a drink while we wait for the remaining fights to be over? We can get to know each other and discuss strategies for the second round."

Aiden gave her a side-glance. "Not interested."

Vanya wanted to say something else, but she paused when she saw Sarah walking toward Aiden.

"Why are you attracting flies?" Sarah didn't try to lower her voice.

Sarah glared at Vanya and wrapped her arms around Aiden's waist, silently telling Vanya that Aiden is taken.

Aiden smiled. "Don't bother with insignificant people."

Sarah snorted. "Really? I just saw you kick an insignificant person to a different fighting field, and you expect me to ignore this wench?"

Aiden chuckled seeing that Sarah is getting ready to fight. He tightened his hold on her, just in case. "I don't want you to strain yourself. How about I take care of her?"

"I am right here!", Vanya hissed.

Sarah looked at Vanya like she said something outrageous. "If you know what is good for you, you will leave. While you can."

"There is trouble…", Aiden interrupted Sarah and gestured toward bleachers.

Natalia and Hong were surrounded by Iskra and a few of her men.

Sarah and Aiden headed up, ignoring Vanya who had an unreadable expression.

"What is going on here?", Aiden asked when he and Sarah approached Natalia and Iskra who was getting into Natalia's face.

Iskra changed her target and turned to Aiden. "What did you do to Dragan? Was there a need to hurt him like that?"

Aiden understood that Dragan is the man he kicked.

"I hit him once. It's not my fault that he is weak.", Aiden said flatly. "Do you have a problem with that? If you do, we can resolve it with our fists."

"Fighting here outside matches is prohibited.", Hong reminded them. "Everyone will be disqualified."

"How brazen…", Sarah clicked her tongue and spoke to Iskra. "You sent your fighter to provoke my man, and when he got his ass whooped, you came here to cause trouble. If this is a competition of entitled middle-aged women, you would be one of the finalists. You are a mother who didn't raise her child right and then you blame others for his shortcomings."

Iskra's eyes flashed in outrage. She was never insulted like this. Middle-aged? She is not even forty years old! "How dare you!"

Iskra wanted to hit Sarah and Aiden grabbed her hand.

"If one hair is out of her place, I will rip your arms off.", Aiden said threateningly.

Iskra tried to get her hand out of Aiden's grip and she was not successful.

One of Iskra's men reached toward Aiden, obviously in an attempt to get Iskra free from Aiden's grasp, and Sarah intercepted his arm with her left hand and squeezed his wrist.

"Why are you interfering?", Sarah asked with a smirk. She enjoyed the shock in the man's expression as paralyzing pain radiated from his wrist to the rest of his body and sweat beaded his forehead. He was confident that he is a fraction away from getting his wrist shattered.

When the man groaned, Iskra realized that something is off. Didn't Natalia say that only Alex (aka Aiden) is a fighter? Why did Sarah react so quickly, and how come her man can't get out of that hold? "OK. OK… I get it. No one will touch anyone outside official matches."

Aiden nodded in approval and released Iskra before speaking softly to Sarah: "Sweetheart, let go of him. You got your hand dirty…"

Sarah and Aiden watched as Iskra and her men walked back to their original spot.

"What happened with not attracting attention?", Hong asked with desperation in his voice. "From that team, four people qualified for the next round and they will be targeting you going forward."

"Knowing Iskra, she will form alliances with other bases.", Natalia added.

Sarah and Aiden exchanged glances before Aiden responded: "We are not here to make friends. One or all, whoever comes our way, we will take care of them."

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