Manhunt (11)

Liam and Ethan stood surrounded.

Hundreds of thugs formed a tight circle around them, their faces shadowed under the dim bridge lights. There was no escape. No civilians. No witnesses. Just an army of enemies and two warriors walking straight into the lion's den.

A black car sat at the center of it all. Henry and Luke sat on the hood, waiting like kings watching their prisoners being dragged in.

Luke hopped off first, stretching his arms like this was just another warm-up before a game.

"So, you finally decided to surrender, huh?" Luke grinned, cracking his neck. "Don't worry. We'll make it quick."

Liam glared at him. "Fuck off."

Luke's grin widened. "Rude as always. I'm actually starting to miss your jokes."

Liam wiped the blood from his lip. "We're not here to surrender."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Then mind explaining to us peasants why the Great Liam decided to walk into his own grave?"

Liam's eyes stayed locked on his. "Luke! I challenge you to a 2v2."

Luke blinked in surprise. "A 2v2?"

Liam nodded. "Yeah."

Ethan stepped up beside him. "And Mark! I challenge you to a 2v2."

There was a murmur through the crowd.

A tall, broad-shouldered figure pushed forward, stepping out from the sea of gang members.

Mark.

A wicked grin spread across his face. "You'll regret it."

Liam smirked. "Me and Ethan versus you and Luke. What do you think, Luke? Scared? "

Luke let out a laugh, looking over at Mark. "What do you think?"

Mark cracked his knuckles. "Fuck yeah, from me."

Luke clapped his hands together. "You heard him, Liam. I love a good fight."

Liam's eyes flicked to Henry, who still sat on the car, watching in silence. Without a word, Liam reached into his pocket and tossed a folded piece of paper at him.

Henry caught it with a scowl. "The fuck is this?"

He unfolded it. A location was scribbled on it.

Henry's eyes lifted, confused. "Have you lost your mind?"

Liam smirked. "Go to the place."

Henry's grip on the paper tightened. "Why the hell should I?"

Liam's voice was calm, taunting. "Someone's waiting for you there."

Henry narrowed his eyes. "Who?"

Liam shrugged. "The only way to find out… is to go."

Henry scoffed, crumpling the paper in his fist. "You take me for a fool? You expect me to walk straight into a trap? "

Liam tilted his head. "What's wrong? You scared?"

Henry's jaw clenched.

His fingers crushed the paper into a tight ball. "Fuck you."

Liam smirked. "Thought so."

Henry hopped off the car, stepping past Luke.

Luke frowned. "Boss, you should take some men with you."

Henry shook his head. "I'm fine."

Luke hesitated. "What if it *is* a trap?"

Liam crossed his arms. "It's not a trap."

Henry shot him a glare before turning back to Luke. "I'll be fine."

Without another word, Henry walked off, disappearing into the night.

Luke sighed dramatically, turning back to Liam. "Well, then. Now we can get to the fun part."

Liam cracked his knuckles. "Till death."

Luke's grin sharpened. "Don't regret it."

Then the fight began.

Luke and Mark moved first.

They launched themselves forward like wolves pouncing on their prey.

Liam barely ducked under Luke's punch, the force of it whipping the air beside his face. Ethan stepped back as Mark's fist slammed into the ground where he had just been standing, the pavement cracking beneath it.

There was no time to breathe.

Liam struck back, aiming a sharp kick toward Luke's ribs, but Luke twisted away with a laugh. "C'mon, Liam! You're moving slow!"

Liam ignored him and lunged again, this time feinting a jab before slamming an elbow toward Luke's jaw.

Luke blocked it at the last second, but the impact still sent him stumbling back.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Mark were a blur of motion.

Ethan dodged a brutal swing from Mark, countering with a sharp knee to his stomach. Mark barely flinched. He grabbed Ethan's leg mid-air and threw him.

Ethan crashed against the pavement, rolling quickly to get back on his feet.

"Shit,"Ethan muttered, wiping blood from his cheek.

Mark cracked his neck. "You're gonna need to hit harder than that."

Ethan scowled. "Oh, don't worry. I was just warming up."

Liam and Luke clashed again.

Luke was fast. Faster than Liam had remembered. His punches came in sharp, precise bursts—each one aiming to break something vital.

Liam dodged most of them but took a heavy blow to the ribs. He grunted, feeling the pain from his past injuries flaring up.

"What's wrong, Liam?" Luke smirked. "Still hurting from our last fight?"

Liam spit blood onto the ground. "Nah. I'm just holding back so you don't cry when I beat your ass."

Luke laughed and launched another attack.

Liam barely managed to block it, but the force sent him skidding back.

Mark came for Ethan again, throwing a devastating haymaker. Ethan dodged at the last second, using Mark's momentum against him. He twisted, landing a brutal kick to Mark's knee, making him stagger.

Ethan grinned. "Not so fun when you're the one getting hit, huh?"

Mark growled. "You little—"

Before Mark could finish, Ethan launched himself forward, aiming a punch straight for his face.

Mark caught his fist mid-air.

Ethan's eyes widened. "Oh, fuck—"

Mark swung him like a ragdoll and slammed him onto the ground with enough force to crack the concrete.

Ethan coughed out blood.

Liam's eyes flicked toward him. "Ethan—!"

Luke took the opening.

Liam turned back just in time to see Luke's fist coming straight for his face.

The last thing he saw was Luke's smirk.

Then—impact.

Everything went black for a second.

Liam's body crashed to the ground, his vision spinning. He barely registered the feeling of the pavement beneath him.

His head pounded.

Luke loomed over him, shaking his head. "Damn, Liam. That all you got?"

Liam grit his teeth, forcing his arms to push himself up.

Luke tilted his head. "Stay down, man. You're already half-dead."

Liam spit more blood onto the ground and looked up, smirking despite everything. "You're talking like you've won."

Luke's smirk twitched. "Haven't I?"

Liam clenched his fists, ignoring the pain.

The fight wasn't over.

Not yet.