Blood and Horsemen

The Calm Before the Storm

The sun was barely up when River's phone buzzed on the nightstand. She had barely slept, her mind replaying the events of the night before like a broken record. Damon, Kai, Michael, and Will—each of them had made it clear that the games were over. This was war. And River wasn't about to let them catch her unprepared.

She reached for the phone, her muscles sore from the tension she'd been carrying since leaving Bloodsport. Glancing at the screen, she saw a message from Rafe.

**Rafe:** *Meeting. 8 AM. You need to hear this.*

River exhaled, pushing herself out of bed. Rafe didn't send messages lightly, which meant whatever this was, it was important. She got dressed quickly, throwing on some baggy jeans, a gray hoodie and a brown north face puffer on top.

Winter was in the living room, though she wasn't pacing anymore. Her expression was calm, her earlier worry having faded.

"Anything new?" Winter asked casually, glancing at River but making no move to follow.

River shook her head, grabbing her keys from the counter. "Rafe wants to meet. Says it's urgent."

Winter didn't say anything more, but there was an unspoken understanding between them. Winter had already dealt with Damon in her own way—her involvement in this mess was over. The four of them—Damon, Kai, Michael, and Will—weren't after her. River was the target now.

Without another word, River headed out the door. The streets were quiet, the city still waking up. But River felt the weight of what was coming, an invisible pressure tightening around her. She couldn't shake the feeling that every move she made was being watched, every decision she took measured by unseen eyes.

She arrived at Rafe's usual spot—a dingy garage tucked away in the back streets, away from prying eyes. Rafe was already there, leaning against his car, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.

"You're late," he said, though there was no real edge to his words.

River didn't bother with pleasantries. "What's going on?"

Rafe sighed, glancing around as if to make sure they weren't being watched. "The Horsemen are moving faster than we thought. Will's pushing for a full takeover of Bloodsport. It's not just about you anymore, River—it's about control of the whole underground circuit."

River's jaw tightened. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed sent a ripple of anger through her.

"What's their plan?" she asked, her voice low.

Rafe met her gaze, his face grim. "They're setting up a fight. A big one. They're bringing in outside talent, heavy hitters from other circuits. The kind of fighters who don't play by any rules."

River's mind raced. It was a calculated move, one that went beyond just getting rid of her. Damon, Kai, Michael, and Will wanted to dismantle everything she'd built, piece by piece, until there was nothing left. And they were willing to burn the whole place down to do it.

"So, what's your play?" Rafe asked, his eyes locked on River's.

River's fists clenched at her sides. "We fight back. But not on their terms."

Rafe raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking we hit them where it hurts," River replied, her voice cold and calculated. "They want to bring in outside fighters? Fine. We'll do the same. But we bring in people who are loyal to us. Fighters who know what Bloodsport is really about—not the money, not the power, but the fight itself."

Rafe grunted in approval. "It's a solid plan. But it won't be easy. The Horsemen have deep pockets, and they've been making deals behind the scenes for a while now."

"I know," River said, her mind already working through the details. "But I've got some connections of my own."

Rafe pushed off the car, unfolding his arms. "Then you better use them. Because if we don't stop them now, there won't be anything left to save."

River nodded, her resolve hardening. "I'll start making calls."

As she turned to leave, Rafe's voice stopped her. "River, be careful. Damon, Kai, Michael, and Will—they're playing for keeps this time."

River's expression darkened, but she didn't reply. She knew all too well what the stakes were. The calm before the storm was over. The Horsemen had made their move, and now it was her turn.

Driving through the city streets, River's phone buzzed again. This time, the message was from an unknown number.

**Unknown:** *The clock's ticking, Dervishi. Time to make your move.*

River's grip tightened on the steering wheel, her eyes narrowing at the message. She didn't know who had sent it, but the message was clear. The game was still on, and the stakes were higher than ever.

As the morning light began to break through the skyline, River knew one thing for sure:

The real battle had just begun.