For the last 10 years, Cole had worn a trident on his chest. He didn’t train sport jiu-jitsu to win plastic medals on the weekends. He trained combatives to kill people in the dark.
He stepped over the red boundary line onto the mat.
His bare feet made no sound. Derek turned, sizing him up with a dismissive glance. “Sorry, buddy. Class is full.
Open mat is on Saturdays. ” “She tapped,” Cole said.
He didn’t raise his voice. He kept his hands relaxed at his sides. He walked until he was standing 5 ft from Derek. “She tapped and you held it for 4 seconds.
You put her to sleep on purpose. ” The surrounding grapplers stopped moving.
The squeak of limbs on canvas ceased. The gym went dead silent. Derek’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before returning harder and uglier.
His ego was on the line now. “It’s a contact sport, man.
People get caught. Maybe she shouldn’t be on the mats if she can’t handle the pressure. ” “Maybe,” Cole said softly. He didn’t break eye contact.
His eyes were entirely dead. There was no anger in them, just calculation.
“Let’s see how you handle it. ” Derek let out a short barking laugh. He looked at the other students, playing to his audience.
“You want a round? You even know how to grapple, tough guy? ” Cole didn’t answer. He just stepped forward, raising his hands to his chest.
“All right,” Derek said, dropping into a wide, aggressive stance. “Timer’s running. Let’s go. ”
Derek shot forward, reaching aggressively for a collar tie, intending to snap Cole’s head down and bully him to the mat. Cole didn’t backpedal. He didn’t try to strip the grip.
As Derek’s heavy hand clamped onto his neck, Cole stepped inside the arc of the man’s reach.
It happened faster than anyone in the room could process. Cole’s left hand shot up, securing an underhook, digging deep into Derek’s armpit. His right hand cupped Derek’s triceps.
Cole dropped his center of gravity, perfectly sinking his hips under Derek’s belt line.
There was no strain, no grunting, just the precise explosive application of leverage.
