by London Casey
24.
(Shayna)
I knew we were wasting time together. Day after day, I watched Finn slip in and out of darkness. It consumed him one second and let him free the next. When he was in his dark place, he destroyed the punching bag. The sight was like nothing I’d ever seen before. The way he’d punch it, the way he’d grunt, and the way he’d send the thing swaying back and forth was nothing but sheer anger, pain, and muscle.
He always did it without a shirt on. His back rippled with intense muscle. And the worst part (or maybe it was the best part) was that as he hit the bag harder, he sweat more, and when he sweat his muscles glistened with even more definition.
When Finn was in his dark place, he didn’t talk to me.
He punched the bag and drank whiskey.
During the times he got out of the darkness, he became what I had come to know as typical Finn. Which meant he looked at me with an intense stare, he flirted with me, he touched me, and he left me teetering on the edge of waiting desperately to be thrown over his shoulder and taken to bed.
But he never did.
Finn and I still hadn’t…
I felt stupid as I looked at him, waiting for it to happen. Like we were some old couple who lost their spark. Or we were some new couple with a wild spark but still hadn’t done it. The feeling in my stomach left me feeling wild. I never wanted someone as bad as I wanted Finn, yet the feelings went deeper.
I had to want him. Because of Fiore. Because of what Fiore wanted.
Nothing was normal and I couldn’t allow it to be normal.
So I waited… and watched…
“I’m going to chop firewood,” Finn said. He walked to the front door and left.
I waved and raised an eyebrow. “Have fun,” I whispered to myself.
I had never been so turned on yet so confused in my entire life.
I turned and saw the punching bag. I bit my lip and stepped toward it. I made two fists and brought them up. I put my right hand back and threw it forward. I wanted my chance at the punching bag. I wanted to see it sway. I wanted to see what Finn felt.
My fist hit the bag with a thud.
The bag didn’t move and a sharp pain shot through my knuckles into my wrist and up to my shoulder. I cried out and jumped back. I cradled my wrist and tears filled my eyes.
I hadn’t even moved the bag.
Yet just an hour ago Finn had the thing swaying back and forth like a tree branch in a storm.
He was really that strong. That tough.
“Did you just punch that?”
I spun around and Finn stood there with firewood in his massive arms. He dropped it next to the fireplace.
“Yeah,” I said.
“You hurt yourself.”
“Maybe.”
Finn grinned. “I’ll teach you how to fight someday.”
“Finn… it’s been…”
Finn turned and walked away. He stopped in the doorway and his hands balled up into fists.
“What?” I asked.
I saw the car coming as he said it…
“Fiore’s here.”
~
I stood next to Finn as we watched a big black SUV pull up behind the car.
“What do we do?” I whispered. “He knows…”
“I know,” Finn growled. “He’s checking on us. Just follow my lead.”
“You can’t tell him I have my period again.”
“I’ll tell him whatever I want,” Finn said.
I could sense Finn slipping back into his darkness. I wondered just how he could go and what he would do. If he would put himself in danger with Fiore. Because if that happened, then that meant I was in danger.
The back door of the SUV opened and out stepped Fiore. He took off a pair of sunglasses and pointed them at us. A big smile graced his face as he approached the cabin. He walked right up the steps and put a hand to my stomach. I grabbed for Finn’s hand and squeezed it. Finn didn’t squeeze back at me, or even hold my hand.
“How are we feeling?” he asked. “Nice and full?”
My mouth opened, but I had nothing.
“She’s not pregnant.”
Fiore looked at Finn. “How do you know? Did you take a test yet? It can take some time to show up.”
“We haven’t had sex,” Finn said.
Just like that it felt like the temperature had dropped by a hundred degrees. My spine shivered and sent chilly tingles throughout the rest of my body.
What had Finn just done?
“Say that again,” Fiore said.
“You heard me, Fiore. We haven’t had sex.”
Fiore swung his hand at Finn. He smacked him with it in the face. Fiore’s ring cut under Finn’s lip. Blood started to leak but Finn just stared at Fiore.
“Have you forgotten what I said?” Fiore asked.
“It’s my fault,” I said. “I don’t… I push him away.”
Fiore slowly looked at me. “Well then, Shayna, I have some rope in the back of the SUV. I’m going to tie you to the fucking bed. Legs spread wide open. And then I’m going to watch Finn fuck you until he can’t move anymore.”
“She’s protecting me,” Finn said. “I haven’t made a move. I haven’t tried.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because of what this all means,” Finn said boldly. “What do you expect from us? I’m just a fighter, Fiore. And she’s a runaway. It’s not going to do what you want.”
Fiore laughed. He clapped his hands together. “I know exactly what it’s going to do. It’s going to destroy Zander. It’s going to tear him apart. He’s going to feel the pain I feel when I have something he wants.”
“You need to promise me the protection and care of Shayna,” Finn said.
“What?” Fiore asked.
“You’re not going to do this and then just leave her to die. She deserves more. She never wanted this life, Fiore.”
“Oh, so you’re going to hold me hostage?” Fiore asked. “Do you realize I have three men with me who would be more than willing to tear Shayna apart right now? Right in your precious cabin. Your little home you built, right? Is that what you’re afraid of?”
I felt Finn starting to shake. I worried he was going to hit Fiore.
“Just give us time,” I said. “So much at once…”
“Don’t speak unless I tell you to,” Fiore said to me. “All I need you to do is be naked from the waist down. I’ll even be nice and have you on your stomach. You just stick that ass of yours in the air and let it all happen.”
“This is my fault,” Finn said. “Be angry with me, Fiore.”
“Oh, I want to put a bullet in your head. But I can’t. Not with the opportunity in front of me.”
“Opportunity?” I asked.
Fiore backed up. “I was really hoping to come here and spread all the good news. I was hoping to find you two tired from fucking so much. Or maybe Shayna feeling pregnant. But I’ve already invested money in this, so I have to ride it out. You have a fight, Finn. Two nights from now.”
“A fight,” Finn said.
“Big money on it. You win and you get a nice cut. A nice paycheck. I’m thinking maybe the heat of the fight and the risk of death will get you fired up, Finn. Either way, I’m going to win. Know why?”
“Why?” Finn asked.
“Because you’re going to win the fight,” Fiore said. “I know that. I trust you. You’re a good fighter. If you lose the fight, I kill you. Right there, right in the circle. So I know you’re going to win. Now, as far as my Shayna problem…” Fiore then looked at me. “I win again.”
“How?” I asked.
“Because I’m done playing this game,” Fiore said. “Starting the night of the fight, Shayna, you become mine. And I’ll make sure I get what I want.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Finn asked.
“I’ll make sure she’s taken care of,” Fiore said. “I have plenty of guys that would love a quick and easy fuck.” Fiore put his su
nglasses back on. “Start training for your fight, Finn. And you might want to think about fucking Shayna.”
Fiore then walked away. He got into the SUV and it backed away.
Finn and I stood in silence together.
I felt his hand move. I thought he was tearing away from me. But he wasn’t. He opened his fingers and interlocked them with mine. That’s when he squeezed my hand. That’s when he looked at me.
I hoped to see his eyes burning with raging confidence and lust.
They didn’t.
I had no idea what Finn was thinking.
And it scared the hell out of me.
25.
(Finn)
My target was a guy called Brick. His real name was Brian. He was a well trained fighter who had traveled the world. He worked open ground and underground. Walking the best of both worlds, Brian was not known for losing fights. They called him Brick because his hands were so damn big that when he made a fist, his knuckles and fingers squared up and it looked like a brick.
Simple as that.
There was a huge crowd at the fight.
Fiore had tons of security there, making sure Zander or his crew weren’t going to try and make an attack. I couldn’t get involved in any of the background noise.
I had a fight to win.
I stood in an empty room and finished taping up my hands. I made fists then stretched my fingers. I threw a few punches to the air, trying to get my body to loosen up. I then stood there and stared at a wall. It was my pre-fight trick to swipe my mind clean. Nothing mattered but winning this fight. Fiore had made his warning very clear. If I didn’t win, I was fucked. Dead. Then Shayna was…
Shit.
Fiore was going to take her anyway.
I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t protect her. I was a fighter. This deep mob and family stuff was far beyond me. I was some punk kid who grew up on the street. Born of Irish descent, never knowing where my family came from or what they did. Like a stray animal just getting through life, that’s all I was.
I felt Shayna behind me. I turned and looked at her. Again, nothing but jeans and a t-shirt and she had my heart racing.
“I’m sorry about this,” I said. “All of this. I can help you run.”
“I can’t go anywhere,” she said. “There’s no reason why we can’t do what he wants, Finn. Just to try. I mean, we have time. We talked about that. We just have to…”
“I never thought I’d see the day where a woman is trying to convince me to have sex,” I said.
“What is it?” she asked. She stepped at me. “Is it me? Is it her? Just tell me.”
“Sweetie, don’t do this…”
She came closer to me. “I am. I’m going to do this.”
“Not before a fight. My mind needs…”
“Am I ugly? Fat? What is it, Finn?”
I jumped at her. I was ready to pounce. A hungry beast looking for a meal. I wanted to sample the sweet taste between her legs. My ears begged to hear her scream my name. My cock twitched and throbbed, desperate to come to life and reach depths in her core that she never felt before.
I lifted Shayna up and put her against a wall. My hands held her waist. Her hands clawed at my arms.
“Yes,” she groaned. “Yes, Finn.”
“Look at me,” I growled. “You are not ugly. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met in my life. You are not fat. Goddammit. I don’t ever want to hear you say that again. As long as I’m with you. Your curves are the most desirable thing I’ve ever touched in my life.”
I had no idea what was happening to me. But right then, I wanted to fuck her. I demanded to fuck her. I lowered her down to her feet.
Fuck the fight… I’m getting-
“Now that’s what I like to see,” a voice said.
It was Fiore.
He adjusted his tie and grinned. “But it’s time to fight, Finn.”
I released my hold on Shayna and backed away.
She had her hands to the wall, eyes wide. She was terrified and turned on.
It’s time to fight…
~
I was getting my ass handed to me.
Brick matched every move with a move of his own. My right jab was weak and predictable. He knocked it away and smashed his fist into my ribs. I groaned and spit, feeling like my lung had exploded. His hand grabbed the back of my neck and he threw me to the concrete ground like I was a toy.
I turned and he was right there.
One, two fists came crashing down at me, both hitting my face, smacking the back of my head against the ground.
I lifted my foot and kicked at Brick, hitting him in the gut. I put my arms up in a X and protected my face. I blocked his punches with my leg and foot, finally landing a lucky shot to his jaw. His neck snapped back, blood spraying from his mouth. He turned and stumbled, giving me enough time to get to my feet.
As I looked around, I remembered what was at stake. I had to take care of Brick before anything else. I looked up and saw Shayna standing on a ledge. Right next to Fiore. He was sucking on a fat cigar, grinning. His men were all around him. I had an image of those men touching Shayna. Groping her. Trying to…
I looked just in time to see Brick charging at me. I moved and walloped him with a right to the stomach. I grunted and he instantly dropped to his knees. He held his stomach, face red. I swung another right and hit him in the jaw. His head swiveled. I grabbed his hair and pulled him back.
“Get the fuck up!” I yelled. “These people want to see a fight!”
The crowd went wild.
I let Brick get to his feet and take a few swings at me. I ducked and jumped out of the way, letting the people see my footwork. Brick kept coming after me and I kept fucking with him. I even turned and put my back to him, acting like a total dick. It was nothing but disrespect to Brick, but the people loved it. When I turned, he was there again. I saw his shoulder drop and predicted the punch. I moved and threw my head into his. Our skulls cracked together. Brick fell back and down to his ass. I could have tore him up and finished it then.
But Fiore liked a good show.
I walked backward until I was against the edge of the crowd. People threw their arms around me, all grabbing at the sweaty mess I was. I never understood why people liked it, but I let them have their fucking show.
It took Brick a good minute or so to get to his feet.
I then walked forward and stuck my jaw out. I touched my jaw and nodded. “Come on, asshole. Hit me. One free shot.”
The people really loved when I did that.
I knew Brick had nothing left. His eyes were damn spinning in his head. His face bloody and swollen. He looked confused, definitely taken off guard by how aggressive I had become.
He brought his fist back and threw the free punch.
There was never a free punch.
I wasn’t a total moron. Any punch could knock someone out.
I put my hand up and grabbed his fist. The crowd cheered. I threw my head forward again, against Brick’s nose. His nose popped and bled. He stepped back and I was on the attack again. I put my fists up and went in to finish the job once and for all.
I had to give him credit though.
He took ten good punches from me and threw two decent ones before he went down. Even then, he reached for me, trying to pull at me. So I stayed on one knee and hit him three more times before his head fell to the side.
Then I stood and opened my arms.
I fucking won, as expected.
I turned and looked up at Shayna.
Part of the battle was over. Now I just had to battle these feelings for Shayna and where they were going to take me…
26.
(Shayna)
My hands gripped the railing tight as I watched Finn walk around the circle, shirtless, arms opened. I was a second away from climbing on the railing, jumping from it to get to him. That’s how fucking wild my body felt from the inside out. Fuck Fiore and his demand for a baby. Fuck Zander and h
is wasted life of abuse. My world existed for Finn right then and only Finn could make it right and keep it right.
He was so cocky about it, too. He knew he was good and there wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do about it either. He put a hand out and walked the edge of the circle, slapping hands with everyone reaching for him. The guy was famous for what he did.
I watched as he stole a drink from someone’s hand. He pounded it back and smashed the glass on the ground. He then tore some money out of another guy’s hand and tossed it into the air.
“This is my circle,” he yelled.
On the floor, his opponent was barely just starting to move.
Finn walked to the open edge of the circle and looked back one last time. He gave a half smile, sly grin and it sent my body into overdrive. Then he disappeared to another part of the building, obviously one of the bathrooms so he could clean himself up. For as cocky as Finn wanted to be, his opponent had gotten a few good hits on him.
“Pretty impressive, huh?” Fiore asked.
“You wouldn’t have killed him,” I said. “You need him.”
Fiore grinned. “I like to keep my fighters angry. Strong. Ready to kill.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me either. I can help you get to Zander.”
“No, Shayna, I’m not worried about Zander anymore,” he said. “But I will hurt you. I’m not stopping with my demands. I know how to fix my family and you’re going to do it. Because I have you. Now, are you ready to come with me?”
Fiore made a small move and I jumped to the side. I crashed into something. I turned and it was a someone. One of Fiore’s guys.
“Hey pretty,” he said. “I promise, I’ll be gentle the first time.”
“Fuck yourself,” I said and lifted my knee to his balls.
I got him good.
I looked back at Fiore and started to run.
He nodded. He didn’t chase me.
Of course he didn’t chase. He knew I couldn’t get away. And he knew where I was going.
I was going to fuck Finn… whether he liked it or not.
~
I scoured each room until I found him.
He was in an old bathroom, hovered over the sink, washing his hands and face. He stood up and looked in the mirror at me.
