A/n Righty ho people, here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. But first a few messages. To Psychopathic FanGirl and I Hate Jam thanks for the reviews and Im glad you're enjoying the story so far. To WORMoverBOOK, here is the chapter pleas hold off on the spoon poking :). To xAngelReaperx funny you mention Eye Of The Tiger cause that is the exact song that got me writing this story, I love it! Thanks to Reviewmaster101, bluegreypurple, TMI and FunkyIsMyMiddleName for reviewing and wanting to be characters, unfortunately all of you wanted to be fighters which I can't do, but you will all be used in my story at some point, some more than others, but that's the way it goes. Hope you're okay and understand this. And to the rest of my fantastic reviewers, you are the best! You keep me going.

Chapter 7

Max POV

The fist was too quick to dodge after the others, I spun, ducked and weaved, stepped to the side and bam, another hit snuck under my defence and into my side. Making the air rush out of my lungs, I backed off trying to draw air and work a way around this guys blocks, he was damn good. Didn't expect any less from the Russians, Lucas had a long line of business with them and all of them were the toughest of the tough. I had to make sure I was tough enough to handle them.

Another hit made my arm move and an opening came up, Belikov didn't even hesitate as his fist smacked my head to one side, dots danced in my vision and he danced back out of my jabs. I turned my head and spat blood out of my mouth, the jolt had been so strong that I had bitten the inside of my mouth, the metal tang of blood flooded my taste buds.

That's when my anger started to spike, the adrenaline of it over riding the pain. I snarled and took a hit to the stomach, refusing to block as I used his hit to breach his defences. I landed a punch at his sternum that stunned him, I stepped to the side and roundhouse kicked to his ribs, knowing something snapped I started hitting the bruised spot the skin went beyond purple markings to angry red lines of burst blood vessels.

It was Belikov's turn to start coughing up blood, his wasn't from a cut mouth though, I had landed some serious damage. Still the bugger wouldn't give up. On one of my hits he grabbed my arm, twisting till he had it in a hold to bring it up and backwards, I gasped at the pain the strain caused, my arm bending over my head, at an angle where I was unable to pull it back or twist to get leverage. There was a loud popping grinding sound and my arm went limp, pain blossomed all the way from my shoulder, down my neck and through my body.

I caught sight of Lucas's face and for once I saw worry, he thought I wasn't going to win the fight. And if I was being totally honest, there was a chance I could lose. But I couldn't, one knockout and Angel and Gazzy's lives would be in turmoil again, things were finally getting to normal, I needed to win this. As I yanked my useless arm back I saw a head of wild curly hair dash through the crowd and away. Whoever it was obviously couldn't handle the sight of a gruesome fight, the rest of the guests watched eagerly. They were about to see Maximum Ride either triumph, or fall.

Fang POV

I rattled the gates so that the chains clinked and strained, but even I wasn't strong enough to break metal links. I couldn't believe it. Max had literally knocked me on my ass, locked me up and left. As if it wasn't uncommon or unusual for her to leave guys stranded. All I was trying to do was help her, she was in the fights with my dad, she could get seriously worse.

I heard the rumours about her in school, that she had a rough home life, her mum apparently worked two jobs, but did Max really need the money from the fights that badly? No wonder she slept through school, no wonder she was said to be the toughest kid in school, she was. But feeling warmth and caring for her, wanting to hold her and protect her, for no obvious reason other than at first she intrigued me, and now she fascinated me. Yeah, I cared about Maximum Ride, I couldn't just let her carry on in fighting for Dad, she'd land in the hospital at this rate.

Minutes had passed and I had given up on the gate, the padlock was too strong and the chain to thick, the gate itself was sturdy. They glass was double glazed and refused to break. But I wasn't giving up that easily. I started kicking the wooden panels of the marque walls, grinning when I found one that shifted just slightly at my kick. It was better than nothing.

Drawing my foot back and slamming it down repeatedly I stomped and kicked at the wood. First it cracked and split, a couple more and it shattered into splinters, my leg punching through. I carried on kicking nocking another two planks out so the gap was wide enough to fit me through.

A slide and shimmy later I was sprawled on the grass outside the marque glaring at the starlight sky. Damn Maximum Ride for being so …..so her. I got to my feet and brushed myself off.

I hadn't been stuck that long, five, maybe ten minutes. Max was probably already babbling to Dad, trying to convince him that she should stay fighting no matter what I said. If worse came to worse, I'd find a different, safer way to help Max get the money. How long had she had to do this for? Did her Mum know what she did? Did she allow it?"

"Fang!" I turned at my name and caught Nudge as she flew into my arms. Panting, her hair wild all over and her dress rumpled so looked like she'd run a mile.

"What is it? You okay? No one tried to hurt you have they?" Instantly my mind ran in to big brother mode. If some guy had laid a hand on her, or tried to force her into something, I'd break his damn fingers.

"No, it's Max. The girl you were with. Dad's got her fighting one of his new clients. She's taking a beating, it looked like the guy broke her arm. It's horrible. Can't we stop it?"

I froze. It wasn't unusual for Dad to have a demonstration at his parties to show how well his fighters were, it was like an advertisement. Normally I'd take Nudge up to her room cause she didn't like all the violence, and sometimes I'd come back and watch with Dad, learning the family business. So I knew how bloody these fights could get. And Max, who was slightly shorter to me and had nothing but sleek muscles and looked slightly malnourished, was up against the big brutes my dad worked with. That wasn't good.

"Come on." I said grabbing Nudge's hand and walking quickly back to the party, I tried not to go too fast not wanting to trip Nudge over in her heels. But it wasn't fast enough. The music had been turned down to a low hum, the crowd was fixated on the fight in the middle. They were shouting and cat calling, making bets and taunting. I forced my way through to where I could see Dad, I elbowed the tall guy next to him, a few years older than me and he was part of the Russian business/ Sergei something whatever. I didn't care, he was watching the fight avidly.

"Dad what the hell? You said there'd be no fight tonight."

Dad glanced at me with the same dark eyes I had. "Ah there's been a change of plans, wanted to show off my latest prize fighters and she was all eager to take on the Russian. She's taking a whack though, this one's actually a challenge for her."

I finally gave in to my curiosity and turned my head to see the two grappling fighters in the centre. Max was there alright. Her dress ripped all the way to her hip, and yeah I was guilty of sneaking a look at her legs, no shoes, her hair tied back and blood coated her face, bruises blossoming on her arms. One arm I noticed swung loosely, it hung uselessly at her side, the shoulder dipped lower than the other. The damn sod had yanked it completely out of the socket.

Taking in the other guy's appearance, I had to admit, Max was a damned good fighter. I could understand why Dad had nabbed her. The guy towered over Max, but she had nailed his face so many times his skin had split leaving open wounds on his face, one side of his ribs was black and deep green with lines of red, the bones under the skin looked mashed and caved in with every movement he made. Max had done a number on him alright, but the guy had two arms handy, Max had one out of commission, surely she couldn't hold her own any longer.

I turned to my father trying to use a business tactic to get him to call it off. "Dad call it a quits, the girl needs medical help, anymore of this fighting and she'll be out for ages. How will you fill in her slots if she can't fight? You'll lose profits."

I saw my words register in his eyes, his brain working over that he would lose quite a bit if Max was out on long recovery time and he had to cancel his line up. People paid and requested to see certain paired fights, they paid a lot, you couldn't change things on a whim without reimbursing that money.

He turned to the Sergei guy next to him. "Would you mind if we called the fight a draw, seems these two will keep going till ones in a coma."

Sergei, tilted his head, enjoying watching the fight a while longer, I hated the way his eyes followed Max, she could hardly block with one arm and she took some strong hits to the chest and stomach. Still she stood, the woman must have had a stubborn streak a mile high.

Finally Sergei gave an agreeing nod. "Agreed, Belikov won't back off even if he's crawling and it seems your girl is just the same. A rather decent show they both give."

Nudge gave an audible sigh behind us glad that the fight would come to a close. I had to admit I was relieved myself. Just as Dad opened his mouth to give the order that the fight was over, Max's scream drew everyone's attention.

It wasn't a scream of pain and anguish, no, it reminded of the scream of an enraged wild cat in a zoo I'd been at once. It was a scream of fury.

I watched as Max, despite her useless arm, practically flipped in an entire circle, her feet flashing in quick succession, performing the most incredible butterfly kick I had ever seen, the first hit snapped Belikov's head to the side, the second delivered a hit to the temples that had Belikov falling flat on his back. He didn't even twitch as he laid there.

I think we all stood there blinking, stunned. I know I darn well did. I couldn't take my eyes from Max, heck no wonder Dad had grinned watching the fight. He had gotten a girl that didn't know how to even consider backing down.

I watched still as Max walked over to the unconscious, possibly comatose, Belikov and spat at him. "You pathetic, steroid taking, pig head ass! Next time you try and take me on, I'll make sure I have a headstone ready for you. Fucking Russian." She glared, giving a kick to the guys side for good measure.

I cleared my throat as she turned to Dad, catching sight of me her eyes narrowed. Dad spoke before she could curse me too probably.

"We have our winner! My reigning champion Maximum Ride. That just a little demonstration of what this years season of fighting will contain. Better start considering who you're backing." He chuckled, shaking hands with Sergei.

Sergei indicated for two of his buddies to go help the KO'd Russian on the floor. Max, walked to Lucas glaring all the way. "Next time you make me where a goddamn dress, you'll end up like him Lucas. I had playing games, remember that when you trick me into another one of these shin digs."

Dad just laughed. "Ah Max, a sweet talked as ever. If you'll excuse me I have guests to mingle with. Go get yourself checked out." He walked off and joined the people who had easily stopped watching the fight, conversation buzzing as they casually ignored the bleeding man on the floor.

Sergei grinned as he reached out to shake Max's hand, not giving her a choice to offer it or pull it away, he snatched it and shook. "Nice moves kid, I look forward to seeing you in the next few fights." He walked off as Max wiped her hand on her dress.

Then it was my turn to face her wrath, but despite the anger I knew she directed at me, I could see the pain every time she shifted, her wince every time she breathed, and her arm that must've been screaming with agony.

"You got out of there quickly. Before you start you're obnoxious lecture, tell me, is there a doctor in the house? Literally."

I nodded. "There's normally medical staff on standby for this, come on. I'll take you there." I reached out and gently wrapped an arm around her waist, helping her take pressure off one side that seemed to hurt more, she cursed under her breath, but the fact that she allowed me to help her let me know just how much pain she was in.

Nudge trailed behind us, for once silent. She always hated the fights Dad did, but simply accepted them. I'd grown up seeing them, living among them, it was casual for me. It was part of what we did. But I had never known a sixteen year old to be so actively in the top league fights, even Dad rarely allowed me to take on the top guys. So I felt it was entirely wrong that he was allowing her to do this.

Yeah, and I could so this conversation going over so well…NOT.

A/N well its past midnight on Friday and in my books that counts that technically its up on Friday as I said hehe. Hope you enjoyed this, and the first person I have chosen to BE a character in my story will be introduced next chapter, I will tell you this, they damn well deserve it, seeing as they put so much effort and thought in. So it will be a surprise. Next chapter MAY be up by Monday if not Friday. R and R please people.