“I took the bins out.” She appeared at the doorway to the kitchen, clutching her bread knife a little too aggressively, and I flinched. “Don’t worry, dear. I had my headphones in as soon as I heard you two going at it upstairs.” My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. “I managed to get through three episodes of Sons of Anarchy too. So, it wasn’t a total waste of an evening.” She grinned to herself, patted Brandon on the shoulder like she was proud of him and hobbled down the corridor to her living room.
“I’m off now, Mrs Mathers. Thanks for having me,” I shouted down the dingy corridor.
“Next time bring some iced buns or maybe a Victoria sponge. It’ll go nicely with that cup of tea you never made me.”
I laughed at her cheekiness.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.”
I heard her chuckle to herself then she shouted back. “And it’s Elsie. Not Mrs Mathers.”
Brandon’s eyebrows shot up.
“She likes you. She only lets close friends and the milkman call her Elsie. Even Ryan hasn’t been given the privilege of first name terms.”
“Wow. I am honoured.” I lifted onto my tiptoes to kiss him and broke into a laugh when I heard her bellowing down the hallway again at us.
“It’ll be Mrs Mathers again if you keep manhandling my grandson at the front door for much longer.”
I ignored her and gave him one last kiss. Then I headed back to my car that was parked at the end of his path.
He leaned up against the doorframe, watching my every move, and he didn’t go in until my car turned the corner out of sight. But driving away, I could still feel him tugging on my heart strings, like an invisible chord tethered us together.
We might not be in the same room or building, but it felt as if we carried a piece of each other wherever we were. I felt like that, anyway. Maybe it was because we owned each other’s hearts. I smiled at that thought and then a wash of dread drench me.
He was going to fight for that man on Friday.
He’d be going up against an opponent and I could do nothing but watch and hope, pray that he came back to me in one piece.
I’d never be that girl who dictated what her boyfriend should and shouldn’t do, but the nerves were already kicking in. How the hell was I supposed to keep this locked down until it was all over? I loved him. The thought of losing him was one I couldn’t bear to think about. If anything happened, my heart wouldn’t recover.
He was mine.
I was his.
So why did I feel like the happiness I’d fought so hard to get was starting to drift away from me?
By the time Friday rolled around, I was buzzing and couldn’t wait to get into the ring again. The fight was taking place at a local boxing gym a few towns over. It was a step up from the spit and sawdust I was used to, and that fact alone made me feel powerful, more important even.
Pat assured me this was just the start for me. Once I’d got a few wins under my belt, it’d be stadiums and then arenas. The world was my oyster, and Vegas was my end goal according to him. He’d filled my head with all sorts of stories; even came round to our house to convince Nan that life was about to change for us. She told him he was full of shit. She wasn’t swayed easily when it came to sweet talkers like Pat. She always had her guard up. Must be where I got it from, because even though I felt honoured to be headlining in a place like this, I couldn’t help but keep my guard up too.
“There’s a good crowd out there,” Ryan said as he came into the changing room I’d been allocated. He looked nervous as he sat down next to me. I don’t know why. I had this one in the bag. Defeat wasn’t in my repertoire.
Finn was busy taping up my hands and Zak stood in the corner, biting his nails.
“It’s gonna be a good fight. I’m fucking ready for this.” I grinned back at them, letting them know they were in for a top night. I always delivered on that score.
“Just stay focused. Hit him hard and knock him the fuck out,” Zak added nervously from across the room. Like I needed his boxing advice. Even his music suggestions were questionable in my opinion.
“You worried about me?” I laughed and flexed my fingers as Finn finished up. It’d become a tradition now for Finn to strap me up. I wouldn’t trust anyone else, and he was like my good luck charm.
We heard the door open, and looked up to see Kian waltz in, carrying a crate of water bottles and banging the door off the wall as he nudged it with his elbow.
“It’s fucking mental out there. Who are you fighting?” He huffed and dropped the water onto the floor next to Ryan’s feet, making a dent at the bottom of some of the bottles.
Every eye in the room turned to glare at me. I knew exactly what they were thinking.
“I’ve no idea. Pat said it was better for me to focus on my training and go in blind.” I knew it sounded like bullshit, but at that point, I didn’t care. I was there for the money.
If I really thought about it though, it was shady. I liked to study my opponents, see where their weaknesses lay. But when I’d questioned Pat about it, he’d shot me down every single time. I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. I was confident enough in my ability and I trusted his judgement call. He said I’d fucking nail it, and I would.
“You know that’s complete and utter bullshit, right? I’ve got a bad feeling about this, mate.” I knew Ryan had my back, but this wasn’t his call to make. I was getting sick and tired of people thinking they knew what was best for me.
“I couldn’t give a fuck who I fight. I’m ready to take anyone on.” And I was. I wasn’t some wet behind the ears punk-ass kid. I was doing what I could to take my career further. I was a hustler, and if that meant I had to do fights like this to claw my way to the top, I would.
“What if he’s built like a brick shithouse? It could be the fucking mountain from Game of Thrones for all you know.” Zak always had the best advice at the best of times. Not.
I wanted to ask him if he thought I’d run away like a loser. I mean, they could have put a bloody lion in the ring and I’d still have had a good go.
“They’ve gotta be in the same weight category as me, dumbass.” He shrugged. “Don’t sweat it, Zak. I’m good to go.”
“How do you know he isn’t setting you up?” Finn suddenly piped up.
Truth was, I didn’t know. I just had to trust in my own ability, because in reality, I wasn’t sure if I could trust Pat.
“Yeah,” Kian butted in, pointing his finger at me. “I heard one bloke outside say it’s gonna be a blood bath. Maybe they have set you up, mate.”
Jesus, these lads really knew how to build me up ready for a fight. Had they forgotten about my undefeated record? Did I need to remind them what a punch from me felt like?
“Blood bath for them, not me.” I was done with this shit pep-talk. They weren’t helping me get into the zone at all and if I was honest, the only person I wanted to be around right now was Harper. “Stop listening to gossip, okay? You’re worse than a bloody woman.”
I started pacing the room. I couldn’t help it. I was like a caged tiger and everything they said and did pissed me off.
“Speaking of women,” Kian answered back, totally oblivious to the fact that he was starting to outgrow his welcome. “Harper’s outside with Em and the others. I told her to come with me, thought maybe she didn’t know where you were, but she said she didn’t want to disturb you. Something about getting into the right headspace?”
At least my woman had my best interests at heart.
I thought about my response before I answered. Part of me wanted to block out the fact that she was here. I knew she’d be worrying. But I also knew she was the reason I was doing this. I loved fighting, but I wanted to make a better life for myself, so I had more to offer her.
Ryan could see I was hovering over my decision.
“Do you want me to go and get her?” he asked, sensing my apprehension.
“Do you mind?”
He nodded and stood up, giving the other three a look that tol
d them they needed to make themselves scarce.
“Good luck, mate.” Ryan stalked past me and patted my shoulder. “I know you won’t need it though. Show these tossers what us Sandland boys are made of.”
I watched him leave, and he beckoned for Zak and Kian to follow him. Finn stood up and grabbed a water bottle from the floor, handing it to me.
“I… I…” He stuttered over his words, so I bypassed his nervousness and gave him a brotherly hug. Actions always spoke louder than words where Finn was concerned.
“You don’t need to say anything. I already know.” The lump forming in my throat wasn’t a good sign, and I swallowed it down. I needed to switch into fight mode, not get in touch with my emotional side.
He nodded, staring at the floor as he broke away, and then he turned to leave. As he opened the door, I saw Harper standing on the other side. Even in her red hoody and black ripped skinny jeans she looked fucking stunning. Her long blonde hair was tied up into a high ponytail and she was biting her lip like she shouldn’t be here.
“Don’t just stand there, get in here.”
This woman could shatter any wall I put around myself. She fucking owned me. Forget dampening down my emotions, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and show her how much I loved her. The minute I laid eyes on her, every feeling inside me intensified. I stalked over to where she was and grabbed her arm, pulling her into the room and slamming the door behind her. I need to touch her, smell her, feel her in my arms to quieten the angry voices in my head.
In the privacy of my changing room, I held her close to my chest, buried my face in the warmth of her neck, and let the softness of her breath and her steady heartbeat focus me. She clung onto me like this was the last time we were ever going to see each other. When we eventually parted, she ran her fingers lightly down the hardened muscles of my chest and stopped when she got to my lion tattoo.
“I’m only gonna say one thing, Brandon.” She traced her finger over the bumps of my scar and then looked up at me through her long lashes. The hurt she held behind them almost crippled me. “Come back to me.”
Damn. Hearing her say that tore a hole down the centre of my heart.
“I’ll never leave you.”
I pressed my forehead against hers. If I could find a way to tuck her inside of me I would. Sounds weird, I know, but she was so much a part of me that it didn’t feel right when she walked away. I needed that constant contact. I wanted her with me, always. She was my lifeline.
“I probably shouldn’t say this.” She bit her lip again, and I reached up to pull it free, then lifted her chin. I wanted to kiss her so badly. I wanted to take her mouth with mine and steal every breath, every word. But I held back, letting her say her piece.
“What is it? Come on. Don’t ever hold back on me.”
She breathed deeply before she spoke again, taking a steadying breath so she could get her words out. No doubt she was deciding whether what she was going to say was right or not. But I never wanted her to second guess anything, not when it came to me.
“I lost one soulmate to this sport. I don’t want to lose another.” Her eyes glazed over with the tears she was desperately trying to hold back. “I shouldn’t have said that, should I? I’ve made things worse.”
I held her face in my hands and looked her in the eyes. I needed her to not just hear what I was about to say but feel it too.
“You could never make anything worse. You make everything better.” She nodded, but I could tell she wasn’t convinced. She tried to shift her gaze to the floor, but I wouldn’t let her. I needed her to listen, to accept what I was saying. “When this is all over, I’m taking you away somewhere. Just you and me. I’m gonna treat you like the queen you are. Everything is for you, Harper. Every fucking thing.”
She smiled and shook her head.
“I don’t need fancy holidays or nights away, Brandon. I just want you. Maybe you could send your nan away, though. So we can have a bit of privacy.”
I threw my head back and laughed at her cheekiness. Not that I didn’t agree. My nan, God bless her, could be a thorn in my side at times.
“And that’s why I love you so fucking much. You’re the only person in this God damn world that wants me for me.” I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead as she grinned and wrinkled her nose.
“And I’ll kick anyone’s ass if they take advantage,” she said proudly, looking up at me from underneath her long eyelashes.
I loved that about her. My firecracker. My little warrior. She wasn’t scared of anyone, and she probably would kick their asses. She had become my biggest cheerleader, and I don’t know what I’d ever do without her. I hoped I’d never have to find out.
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I grabbed the backs of her thighs to lift her up and her legs locked firmly around my waist. I slammed my lips over hers, pushing her back against the wall and plunged my tongue into her mouth. Tasting and teasing, sliding my tongue over hers and feeling my need for her grow as our teeth clattered together and we panted out the same breath. Kissing her was everything, and yet not enough. I needed more. I needed to be inside her.
I pushed my hips into her so she could feel what she did to me, how hard she made me. Even when I faced an important fight, this woman had managed to blindside me and make me her prisoner. The switch in my head that turned off most of my humanity, the one that made me the machine I needed to be to stay focused in the ring, it didn’t work around her. She’d ripped the wires out and short circuited my system. I was still feral, but I needed something else to quench my thirst now. I needed her.
Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door that pulled us from our lust-filled bubble. The door swung open, interrupting our moment, and Pat’s head appeared from behind it, shouting at us.
“Showtime, lad. Put her down and get your head in the game. I’ve got a lot of money riding on this one.”
Harper wriggled out of my hold. Her lips were red and swollen from our kiss and she smoothed her hair to try and control the stray wisps that had fallen free from her ponytail. She’d never looked more beautiful than she did now. I ran the back of my hand down her cheek and she held my hand and kissed inside my palm, then reached up on her tiptoes and placed a delicate kiss on my lips. A gentle goodbye kiss. Only it would never be goodbye, not where she was concerned. I meant it when I said I would never leave her. This was forever.
“Knock him out. For me,” she whispered and then walked out, not once acknowledging Pat’s presence. She slid past him like he was nothing and left me without a backwards glance. Pat and his mates stood in the doorway like a pack of hyenas ready to feast on the spoils of my victory. From heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.
I jabbed my arms out in front of me, punching the air and getting myself psyched up. As I did, I spotted Ryan, Zak, and Finn a little way down the corridor. Then my head almost fucking exploded when I saw who they were talking to.
Jensen Fucking Lockwood.
Only he wasn’t dressed like the rest of them. He had his hands taped up and he was wearing a pair of blue shorts. The peace and serenity that’d cloaked me when Harper had been here was swiftly and cruelly stripped away. All I felt was pure, unbridled anger.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” I gestured down the corridor to where Lockwood was facing-off with my friends.
“Yeah. It is.”
I turned to glare at Pat, hoping he could feel the torture of my gaze penetrate through his rhino thick skin. He hadn’t stitched me up, he’d ripped a massive fucking hole through any shred of trust I might’ve had.
How could he keep something like this from me?
He held his hands up in defence, but his face showed no remorse, only crinkles of mirth from the way his eyes wrinkled as he spoke. “After your last fight, with all that talk, this is the showdown the punters wanna see. You’ve got nothing to worry about, lad. You could beat him with one hand tied behind your back.”
I could beat Pat too. A prospect that was looking more in
viting by the minute.
“A heads up would’ve been nice.” My blood was boiling already.
“If I’d told you he was back in town, you’d have gone off like a bloody firework and kicked his ass. Probably got yourself thrown into jail for the pleasure too. At least this way everyone gets to see you pound his face in, and you get paid for it. It’s a win-win.”
I couldn’t concentrate on what Pat was saying over the pounding in my head. All I could see was him acting the big man down the hall. All I could focus on was getting into his face and knocking him the fuck out.
“It’s a fucking set-up. Finn was right.”
“It’s business!” Pat raised his voice and waved his fat finger in my face. “And it’s money. The people out there want this fight. You bragged about it yourself at your last match. This is what we do, lad. We give the audience what it wants. We take their bets, and we go off laughing all the way to the bank.”
Some things were worth more than money.
Trust.
Pride.
Love.
“He hurt my girl.”
“And now you’re gonna hurt him.” Pat chuckled to himself and muttered under his breath that it was a genius idea to get Lockwood on board. Whether it was genius or a fucking fool’s mission was yet to be seen; for Pat, at least.
So, I guessed Lockwood already knew he was fighting me. I was the only one that’d been kept in the dark and I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like being lied to. I wouldn’t stay in the dark and on the back foot for long though.
I let Pat walk out first, wandering off to talk more bollocks to his cronies. I waited for him to be far enough away, then I kicked the door off its hinges and marched down to where Jensen stood shouting his mouth off. He spun around when he saw me coming towards him. I was surprised he stayed rooted to the spot and didn’t bolt like the pussy he was. Mind you, he had his crew behind him to make him feel like a somebody. It was a different story when he was on his own. Then, he was a nobody.
“And here he is. The man of the hour. The shitty king of Sandland.” Jensen was back to his ballsy self, giving me all the bravado he could muster. He was fucking delusional. “Disappointed?”
Tortured Souls (Rebels of Sandland Book 2) Page 27
