We turn the last corner in front of where Julian has parked the car and we freeze in position. A man dressed in all black—black suit, black shirt and black pants—is standing in front of our black Bugatti Veyron with his arms folded, waiting for us, thirty feet away.
“Oh my God,” I gasp and quickly clutch Julian’s bicep tighter as he bristles.
Derek smiles evilly at us. He looks larger and more muscularly built than I remember him being. I shiver and suddenly feel so cold.
There is a moment of gripping silence as Derek observes us.
“Derek,” Julian hisses. “This is unanticipated. What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to repossess my property,” Derek hisses angrily through clenched teeth.
“Oh yeah. So you’re going to fight me again?” Julian says intrepidly.
“You’re fucking right.” Derek grins.
“You fucking lose if I kill you,” Julian hisses menacingly.
“Not if I kill you first,” Derek spits.
“You’re really so sure of yourself?” Julian asks as he shoots a fierce penetrating stare at Derek.
“You bet you.” Derek smirks.
“I don’t want to have to kill you man,” Julian warns in a dangerously evil tone.
“You won’t have to,” Derek spits angrily. “I’m here to break every single bone on your body—like beautiful music to my ears it shall be.” Derek laughs loudly. “Then, I’ll make sure all the blood drains from you and the maggots devour what’s left of your rotten body.”
Julian stands taller and puffs up his chest. “Pretty bold threats for a man who couldn’t fucking stand straight at our last encounter.”
“Well, I’m ready now,” Derek straightens himself up, puffs up his chest, and pounds his fists together. He locks eyes with Julian and whispers, “Winner gets the girl.”
I instinctively move behind Julian as fear rips through my body. I can’t imagine Derek hurting Julian in any way and having to go back to Derek. My mind quickly retorts, oh no that is so not happening, Julian is going to rip Derek to shreds.
Julian’s hand comes around behind him and grips my hand tightly to reassure me. “Fuck you. She’s mine,” Julian roars.
Derek tightly compresses his lips, ignoring Julian.
“Cheryl, darling, how are you?” Derek asks as he meets my eyes over Julian’s shoulder. I notice the pain etched on Derek’s face as he studies me. “Did you think I wouldn’t come for you?” Derek asks me softly. “Did you think I would just…let you go?”
“She doesn’t want you anymore,” Julian spits. “She chooses to be with me.”
“Let the girl speak for herself,” Derek snarls angrily as he takes a few steps closer to us.
“Derek, I—”
My throat instantly dries up and my voice weakens as I scan Derek’s face. The last time I’d seen him we were in Vegas having fun. At that time, I had loved this man so much and I was so eager to marry him. However, my feelings have changed now. Julian has completely took over my heart and my soul. I search if there are any traces of love left for Derek and quickly realize there are none.
“Derek, I love Julian,” I finally respond.
“Fuck you,” Derek roars maliciously at me.
I stand back, shocked. He has never swore at me like that before.
Derek eyes me thoughtfully and gains his composure. “I know you love me.”
“I love Julian.” I grip Julian’s hand tightly. “I don’t love you anymore,” I sternly tell Derek.
“You will be with me and you will love me like you did before, end of discussion,” Derek snaps, his face raging red.
“No, I won’t,” I snap back.
An evil grin comes over Derek’s face, his eyes gleam. “When I win and get you back,” Derek snarls, “I will fuck you so good no amount of pain killers will—”
My eyes widen and I’m instantly filled with anxiety.
Julian lets go of my hand and shoots forward to where Derek stands, coming right up to Derek’s face. “You die now,” Julian roars into Derek’s face.
“You first,” Derek growls. “But no fucking weapons. We fight like real men.” Derek pulls out a gun from his inside suit pocket.
“No weapons,” Julian spits and pulls out his gun from his inside suit pocket. I watch as both men toss their guns far aside at the same time.
Derek slides out of his black suit jacket and rips off his black shirt to reveal his bulky muscles. He looks much more muscularly built than before.
Adrenaline spikes through my body and my heart leaps into my throat. I quickly glance around. There is not even one car parked anywhere in sight. The parking garage is completely empty, there is no one here. It is a completely private street fight between Julian and Derek.
I say a silent prayer for Julian to win, even though I feel confident he will as I watch Julian take off his suit jacket and rip off his shirt.
“Let’s go,” Derek barks, bouncing on his feet, his eyes burning with anger.
Both men are now wearing nothing but black pants. I notice that both men look about equal in build. They are fighting like real men, no weapons allowed, just pure physical and mental skill to prove who is better.
I have no doubt in my mind that Julian will win but I reason that if worse comes to worse I will quickly run over and reach for one of the guns that has been tossed aside.
There is an eerie silence as for a few split seconds, Derek and Julian ferociously stare into each other’s eyes like two vicious tigers before battle.
My heart is beating so fast, I feel like it will explode any minute. “Please stop! Don’t do this,” I cry out in vain, hoping my plea will be heard before they lay their hands on each other but knowing it is hopeless. I already know very well that nothing I say will stop this fight from happening.
“I’m going to break you,” Julian roars at Derek.
Derek aims a punch but Julian easily sidesteps Derek’s strike. Julian steps back just as Derek aims another punch.
It’s only just begin, but I wish it was already over. Secretly, a little evil voice in the back of my mind says, I hope Julian incapacitates Derek so this is over for good. I don’t want to think about it, but this could mean Julian kills Derek. Thinking that I would want the man I was engaged to killed makes me feel guilty. I still have faint memories of how well he treated me, how he kissed me, how he had made love to me. But now, as I look at his grimacing face, a shiver goes through me. Something has changed about him.
All the love that I have and will ever have is now only for Julian and nothing can change that even if Derek wins and tries to get me back. However, there’s just no chance he will. Julian is faster, stronger, and more powerful than Derek. I recall how quickly Julian took Derek down at their last fight.
The dark evil side of my brain speaks now. If Julian does permanently disable Derek today, at least then Derek will stop pestering us. I want all this bullshit to just be over with.
Both men are bobbing up and down on their feet like pro UFC fighters with both their hands formed into fists, guarding their face as they stare wrathfully into each other’s eyes.
Derek charges at Julian, springing forward and trying to catch him off guard but Julian backs away with calm ease. The men circle each other, bouncing on their feet.
Derek takes two springing steps forward and swings a haymaker punch right at Julian’s head but Julian ducks just in time.
Julian’s knee shoots up and smashes Derek’s nose. Blood sprays from Derek’s nose and down his lip.
Yes, yes, my mind screams.
Julian aims a side kick at Derek’s rib but Derek grabs his leg and throws him down. Julian lands on his hands, quickly pushing himself back up.
I see Julian and Derek each landing a few punches on each other. Julian lands a few kicks at Derek’s left and right side.
Come on Julian, my mind cheers.
Derek lands a kick at Julian’s stomach, throwing him off guard. Derek lands
an uppercut punch and I see blood spattering from Julian’s face.
No, my mind screams. Derek looks like he’s been training. He’s faster and stronger than before. Could he have been training hard all this time I haven’t seen him, preparing for this fight? Subconsciously, I sense this is exactly what Derek has been up to all this time. And to think that when I first tried to contact Derek and got no reply, I really thought it was over, that Derek didn’t want me anymore, that he gave up.
Derek lands another few punches and kicks at Julian.
Julian lands a few punches.
Derek lands a hook punch and more blood spatters from Julian’s face.
Julian lands a spinning kick, sending Derek back a few feet.
Derek composes himself and comes forward. Julian lands a few more punches and kicks.
Julian lands a very powerful flying side kick sending Derek stumbling back, almost falling down.
Yes, yes, my mind cheers.
Derek aims a few kicks which Julian easily sidesteps.
Julian lands a few punches at Derek’s left rib and head.
Derek lands a few shin kicks and a kick to the ribs, sending Julian to the ground, but he quickly recovers and gets back up with lighting speed.
Julian’s lands a series of punches at Derek’s face and stomach.
Go Julian! Knock him out, my mind shrieks.
Julian lands an axe kick knocking Derek down to the ground.
OMG, yes, it’s like Julian heard me, which is not a far off possibility, the mind reader that he is.
Derek speedily lifts himself up.
Julian’s foot smashes into Derek’s side causing Derek to groan and move away.
Derek aims a few punches, while Julian expertly ducks each punch.
Julian lands a series of kicks and punches, causing Derek to stumble and lose balance. Derek escapes a few feet from Julian, quickly regains his footing and pounds his fists together as he focuses on Julian.
Julian lands a series of kicks at Derek’s left and right side.
My adrenaline is pumping to the maximum, my heart is beating so fast I feel like it will come out of my chest. Go Julian, go Julian, my mind cheers.
Julian lands a few back and front kicks.
Yes!
Derek grabs Julian’s kicking foot and pushes him down to the ground.
No!
Julian quickly arises and sends a series of jabs to Derek’s head.
Yes!
Derek lands a few crazy spinning kicks and Julian appears to lose his footing, stumbling over but he quickly regains his balance.
Julian lands a severe kick to Derek’s head. Derek loses his footing and falls to the ground.
Derek quickly gets up and aims a series of kicks but Julian easily blocks them.
Julian continues to expertly block all of Derek’s kicks and punches.
Derek aims and lands a punch to Julian’s head. More blood splatters from Julian’s face.
Derek lands a strong kick to Julian’s side, knocking him down.
No, no!
Julian quickly gets up as Derek aims a kick at Julian’s side, but Julian grabs his leg and pushes him down.
Go Julian! Get him!
Just as Derek gets up, Julian lands a powerful kick to Derek’s side, knocking him down.
Yes!
Derek gets back up rapidly from the ground.
Derek strikes Julian in the face and Julian’s hands come down from defending his face. Derek takes the opportunity to land a few punches to Julian’s face.
Oh no!
Julian loses balance for a moment, but snaps out of it—shakes his head. Julian aims a few kicks but Derek blocks them.
Derek does a crazy flying kick that knocks Julian to the ground.
Julian gets up and blocks a series of punches and kicks by Derek.
Julian lands a few kicks to Derek’s left and ride side.
Derek lands a punch to Julian’s face blasting more blood from his face, causing his head to turn back. Derek rams his foot into Julian’s stomach, sending Julian stumbling back.
Wow, Derek came prepared. Come on Julian! Get him!
Julian regains his footing in no time at all and lands a kick to Derek’s head. Derek groans loudly as he hunches over but quickly raises himself straight up.
Both men stare savagely into each other’s eyes. Derek growls loudly before kicking Julian, causing Julian to back up a few steps.
Derek aims a front snap kick. Julian grabs Derek’s leg and throws him down.
Julian has to win. There is no other option. Everything hinged on this moment, the brawl that was quickly turning more serious than anything I’ve ever seen in the Octagon.
Derek gets up. Julian lands a tornado kick.
Both men are a bloody mess, deep-colored red blood is dripping down their faces and onto the ground. I notice huge, large spots of blood staining the concrete of the garage. I comprehend how dangerous this fight has become, one wrong move and one of them will be seriously hurt or dead in seconds.
My heart patters faster as I start to worry about Julian, considering that Derek appears to be prepared and is doing better than at their last fight.
Both men stare at each other with glazed, violent eyes, as they take a breather. Julian swiftly wipes away blood dripping from his nose, and Derek follows suite, wiping away blood and sweat from his face with his forearm and hand. Both of their chests are heaving with extreme exertion as they try and take in as much oxygen as possible before continuing the fight. Both men look badly wounded, but appear to be ignoring any pain they feel.
Julian once told me that when he was fighting his Grandmaster trainer in Japan, his leg broke during the fight, but he felt absolutely no pain until after the fight had finished. Julian told me that he has learned to master his emotions and block out any feelings of pain. I recall his words. When a man masters his mind he can do nearly anything. That understanding, that extreme mastery of his emotions, was what made Julian so good. As much punishment as Julian took during a fight, as much violence as he faced, he never felt the pain.
Julian told me that most men are controlled by their emotions. When they’re hit, it makes them angry and they begin letting their anger take over their body and they begin fighting like an animal. Julian told me that once you turn the opponent into an animal you have the upper hand.
As I gaze at both the men, noticing the wrath and pain in Derek’s eyes, I know Julian will win. I watch Julian bobbing on his feet, a look of fearlessness in his eyes as he circles Derek.
Derek puffs up his chest, growls and bursts forward, trying to close the distance with an impatient charge.
Julian leaps back on his left leg and snaps a roundhouse kick that crashes into Derek’s bicep.
Derek bobs closer to Julian, throws three jabs that Julian easily shrugs off with his forearms.
I’ve never seen such a crazy fight in my life and perhaps it’s because I’ve never been as interested in the outcome. My stomach is in knots and the palms of my hands are sweaty and clammy. Come on Julian!
Julian hurls himself into Derek with incredible speed I’ve not seen before, landing blows to Derek’s throat that drives Derek backwards. Derek sweeps Julian’s leg out from under him and they both fall hard onto the concrete with a sickening slap.
That must be so painful!
Julian has managed to quickly get himself on top and is throwing punches at Derek’s head.
“Julian, get him!” I scream.
Julian twists his legs into a scissor lock around Derek’s waist. Julian throws punch after punch at Derek’s face.
Derek lifts his forearm, trying to block the flurry of blows. Julian roars as he twists his legs tighter around Derek’s waist while bashing Derek’s head with brutal blows.
Blood gushes forth from Derek’s face and stains Julian’s knuckles. The beating seems only to make Derek angrier and he gathers his legs, bucks his hips forward, throwing Julian off him, skillfully flipping straight u
p from the ground and in no time at all he is back to bouncing on his feet.
Julian approaches, bobbing and weaving toward Derek, ready to strike again, but milliseconds before each punch would have landed, Derek rocks backward, avoiding Julian’s fists.
Derek shoots forward, trying to tackle Julian to the ground but Julian lands a powerful kick to his stomach. Derek howls in pain, but despite the obvious pain, he rears forward, tackling Julian down to the ground.
Derek is now on top, landing punches to Julian’s stomach. With nowhere to retreat, Julian has no choice but to absorb the blows. Julian lands a few potent punches of his own, but in his raging state Derek appears not to even feel the blows. I observe Derek and realize that I’ve never seen a man who looks so filled with rage.
Julian suddenly flips Derek around and grabs Derek in a chokehold. Derek tries to get out of Julian’s grappling hold, but Julian has his strong arms around Derek’s neck. Julian is strangling him and Derek appears to be struggling for air.
Yes, yes, go Julian! Adrenaline pumps through me like it never has before, filling me with incredible energy. I know he can win this!
Derek is gasping for air, helplessly flailing his hands in the air trying to push Julian away.
“You’ve got him Julian,” I cheer loudly.
Derek’s eyes widen as he hears my cheers and he gets a renewed strength and energy. He vigorously grabs ahold of Julian’s arm and peels it off and then he peels off the other arm.
Those cheers weren’t for you Derek.
Derek swiftly pulls himself up off the ground. Julian follows suite and flips himself up off the ground.
When will this ever end?
Both men are bobbing up and down, staring each other down. Derek is breathing heavily, trying to regain his oxygen content.
“Julian you almost had him,” I cheer loudly.
Julian quickly glances at me and kisses the wedding ring on his finger.
“Round two,” Derek growls. “Ding, ding.” He raises his left hand into the air, miming ringing a bell. Derek cracks his neck from one side to the other side. “I’m warmed up and now it’s time to kill you,” he rasps. He appears angrier than ever and ready to strike.
Purple and red bruises cover Julian’s back, the wounds sprinkled with dirt from the concrete. His hands are swollen and bruised. Julian’s determined face declares that he will never stop fighting until I am safe and he defeats Derek once and for all.
Rapine 2: Ravished by the Billionaire (The Trophy Wife) Page 23
