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CHAPTER ONE

COILED TIGHT WITH TENSION, Cannon sat in the leather chair and faced the lawyer’s desk with loaded impatience From head to toe, his battered body ached, but at present hisback in the States, he’d planned to spend the day in the hot tub, and the night in bed--with enough fe his last fight

Three days ago he’d taken on the biggest challenge of his career, his most publicized bout on the main card for the Supreme Battle Championship--in Japan with a packed house and a lot of expectation froh he’d taken plenty of hits hi his opponent on pointsand then he’d fked up

After catching a kick to the liver, he’d lost his air, bent double in excruciating pain, and was going down Only pure instinct had helped hied in for the kill

That punch had landed dead center on the Pit Bull’s glass jaw Lights out

He’d struggled to stand upright while the other ht had ended with hi the winner didn’t negate the hits and kicks he’d absorbed He needed soone ahen he’d gotten summoned back to Warfield, Ohio It was a three-hour drive, and usually when he

This tih paperwork and a feave him the eye

"Ah, here we are," the lawyer said, rattling his dalasses "I’m sorry for the delay Since I had expected you yesterday, you’ve taken uard"

The rebuke asted on Cannon "Like I said, I was out of the country" Shifting, he tried not to flinch froepapers, the lawyer said, "You’re a fighter? Isn’t that right?"

"Yes"

"The SBC?"

"Yeah" Hell, he had the fight club logo on his T-shirt He sat forward, his forearhs He had no idea what this was about, but he wanted to get to it "Look, howto take?"

Frank Whitaker divided papers into three stacks "I only need a anized hat? Cannon knew this had so to do with Tipton Sweeny, a local pawnshop oho’d recently passed away "If I hadn’t been out of the country, I would have attended the funeral" Andabout her stoked up his tension

Without looking away froht lawyer said, "I’m sure everyone understands"

Cannon had only known Tipton as a local business owner, a staple in the cohter, Yvette, attended school with Cannon’s sister That here any real relationship ended