Page 65 of Briar

He’s not going to stop.

He’s too fucked up to care that he’s about to hit—

No.

I fling myself forward, physically shoving Briar out of the way and taking the full punch across my cheek. Pain explodes across my cheekbone as I spin, my body smashing into the thick, unforgiving ropes.

Shit, that fucking hurt.

ButBriar. I almost launched her across the ring. I’m on my feet before the thought clears, searching.

What the hell are you doing?

Jenson is there –fuck. She’s fine. Unhurt. My fingers shake as I turn to face the man who would have fucking killed her if he’d hit her with that much force. Something in his tiny, beady eyes seems to get through that he’s in a world of shit, and he takes a step back.

I’m on him before he can do much more than blink, my shoulder pulling painfully as I slam my fist forward. His nose crunches. Again, blood flowing freely as I annihilate him.

His face is almost unrecognisable when I rise to my feet. I still feel unsteady.

But they drink it up, like they always do.

Enough. Tearing off my bloodied wraps, I toss them on top of his limp body and twist.

I storm up to where she’s squaring up to an absolutely livid Jenson. She doesn’t back away, barely an inch from him. And she’s yelling.

Dressed in a shimmering green jumpsuit and heels, she’s clearly here for the club. Or… my heart thumps. Maybe not.

The buzzing in my head clears, letting me hear exactly what they’re shouting.

Briar jabs a finger in my direction. “Why would you let him fight like that? Four times?”

Jenson is just as furious. “You’ve been here that fuckinglong?By yourself?”

“Dove invited me. That’s not the point – he’s killing himself up there, and you’re letting him!”

I stop. She’s fighting with him… overme.

I touch her arm to get her attention. She slams one finger up in front of a wide-eyed Jenson before she turns to me.

This is what I do.I try to reassure her.It’s fine.

What I’ve always done, since I was old enough to climb inside a ring and realize I could earn good fucking money doing it.

This isallI can do.

Briar glares at me.Why?

Jenson’s voice is icy. “Because Kai is anadult. He enjoys it, and he decides what he does with his time—,”

“But hedoesn’tenjoy it.” She whirls to me. “You don’t. I’ve been watching you. It’s just – it’s a job to you. Like you’re going through the motions because you feel you have to.”

Her brow crumples as she stares at my face. “And it’sdangerous,Kai.”

I know what I’m doing. You could have been hurt. Worse.

“Is that true?” Jenson’s voice cuts through the panic clouding my mind. And then ramps it up. He searches my face. “Fucking hell, Kai. She’s right. Isn’t she? You don’t even enjoy it. Why the fuck are you doing it, then?”

Because—