"And ya said yes."

Of course he had.

He'd hoped they'd reached an understanding, that Max had finally realized there was more for him to do, that he was worth more than this....

His fingers tightened, he wanted to shake him again.

But he didn't. He sucked in a heavy breath and forced his fingers to uncurl, swallowing down the hurt and the anger and the fear.

"'Cause ain't an arena unless I get to watch the people I care about die bloody."