Her younger brother, Rafael, was seriously injured during a training session.

The instructor responsible ignored his request to stop.

The gym covered up what happened.

And Lucia discovered that the people who spoke most passionately about honor were sometimes the quickest to abandon it.

She left competition two years later.

Not because she couldn’t fight.

Because she no longer wanted to be part of a world that protected reputations more fiercely than people.

She built a different life.

For nearly three decades, she kept her past private.

Until Damian Cross decided that a cleaning woman would make good entertainment.

“You’re really going to let her talk to you like that?”

The question came from Travis Cole, Damian’s longtime training partner.

Damian glanced toward Lucia.

She was wiping down the edge of the cage.

“She’s got an attitude.”

Travis smirked.

“Maybe she thinks she can take you.”

Damian laughed.

“She’d last about three seconds.”

Victor stepped between them.

“Stop it. Both of you.”

Damian looked at him.

“What’s your problem tonight?”

“My problem is that you’re bullying someone who’s trying to do her job.”

Damian rolled his eyes.

“Here we go.”

Victor lowered his voice.

“The sponsor shoot is over. Go home.”

Damian pointed toward Finn.

“We haven’t finished.”

“Then finish tomorrow.”

“No.”

Victor’s jaw tightened.

“Damian.”

But the champion had already turned toward Lucia.

“Hey, Reyes!”

She didn’t look up.

“Lucia!”

She stopped mopping.

“What?”

Damian grinned.

“Twenty seconds.”

Lucia frowned.

“What?”

“That’s how long you’d last against me.”

She looked at him.

“Congratulations.”

Travis laughed.

Damian’s smile sharpened.

“Come on. One little demonstration.”

“No.”

“Afraid?”

“No.”

“Then why not?”

Lucia rested both hands on the mop handle.

“Because I don’t need to fight you.”

Damian stepped closer.

“Everybody needs to learn where they stand.”

Lucia looked at the championship poster behind him.

Then back at his face.

“Do you really believe that?”

“Believe what?”

“That hurting someone proves you’re above them?”

Damian laughed.