Page 16 of King

“Why don’t we sit?” Barrett announced. Liam led us to a table in the corner, the furthest one away from the bar. As I sat down, I noticed Lewis had stayed at the bar.

Liam remained standing while Barrett and I sat.

“So, Jacob, my brother has been singing your praises.” Barrett said quickly typing on his phone. He slid the device into his pocket and gave me his full attention.

“That’s good to hear.”

“Do you know who we are?” I shook my head. “We own a few places. Pubs, that kind of thing, a gym, and we’ve just delved into the fighting game. I respect my brother a lot, Jacob. If he says you’re good, I take his word for it. Of course, we don’t let anyone in to work for us without looking into them first. I’m sure you’ll understand that.”

“Of course,” I agreed. I looked away from Barrett just as Lewis came across with three bottles of beer.

He placed them down and sat with us. “I take it you two have swapped pleasantries.” Lewis smirked.

“I guess we have,” I replied, chancing a glance at Barrett and he rolled his eyes at his brother.

“Why don’t we get down to business.” Barrett shook his head at Lewis and turned back to me.

Barrett explained about his businesses and the new gym he’d set up; it sounded really good and I was ready to get started with them. I wasn’t sure where Rico fitted in to all this but maybe that was a good thing. By the time I’d got in my car to leave my head was full of the Campbells vision. I wasn’t too sure whether I’d let Phoenix in on the whole business though, she wasn’t happy with the fights, more so, I don’t think she was happy with me. But I’d fight for her. I’m sure she was just tired with all the studying and having to be there to patch me up.

Maybe when I got home, I’d treat her like the princess she always has been.

CHAPTER TWELVE

JACOB

FOUR WEEKS LATER

Punch after punch slammed into my face, before he moved to my body. I thought I had him, but I took my eye off the ball. I saw Lewis at the front, him and Liam had exchanged a look, and I knew I’d disappointed him. I hadn’t lost a fight yet. My body was ready to say no more, but I had to go on. Blood seeped from my nose and poured from the cut on my eyebrow. I spat blood on the ground as an elbow came down on my back. I hit the deck, coughing from the impact as he struck my lungs. As the guy’s foot struck my ribs I rolled across the mat. The next thing I knew I was pinned to the ground on my front with my arm being pushed behind me. I cried out instantly. Pain shot through my shoulder; it burned inside my bones yet he was relentless. I couldn’t get up, the fucker sat on my back and pulled higher until I felt my shoulder pop. I cried out again. I knew the only thing I could do was tap out. I tried to lift him from me, but I had no strength in my body. My energy had left my body. I’d given up. My eyes closed as I lifted my hand from the ground and tapped harder. I did it over and over for him to see that I’d given up. I’d taken enough of a beating, I wasn’t going to let him humiliate me any further. Rico turned his back, that was enough embarrassment.

I was done.

My opponent got up and held his hand out, I gripped his wrist with my good hand and let him pull me up.

When I looked back at him though, I saw he was bleeding as much as me. Ethan passed me a towel as I shook my opponent’s hand and turned to walk off the mat.

“Hey King,” glancing back, I acknowledged him with a chin lift, “if you ever want a sparring partner, let me know.”

I nodded, I wasn’t sure what else to say or do. He’d just beaten me down, the only guy yet to do it. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I didn’t even know if the Campbells would still want me to fight for them. But right now, I needed to get my shoulder sorted, the rest would be sorted later. If I wanted to carry on, of course.

The next few hours were spent at the hospital being attended to. They popped my shoulder back in place, strapped my ribs up and put some stitches in my eyebrow and the fleshy part beneath my eye had a deep gash, too. My face was black and blue, and I could barely open my mouth. They placed my arm in a sling to keep it in place, and I was sent on my way. Well, they did once they realised they weren’t going to get an answer from me in regards to what had happened to me.

As I walked back into the house Phoenix stood in the living room, I knew Ethan had sent her a message to tell her we were going to the hospital, I knew she was wracked with worry.

Over the last few weeks we hadn’t spent much time together, or barely even spoken. I’d spent time at the Campbell’s gym and was training, she had her studies and I didn’t want to get in the way of those. Also, I wanted the brothers to see that I was someone and I was dedicated. I’d seen Rico less and less, but I think that was Lewis’s doing. Although, I guessed he still had something to do with my fights.

“When is this going to stop, Jacob?” Phoenix cried at me as I dropped my aching body onto the sofa and laid myself along the length of it. “You promised just a bit longer and that would be it. Look at you. You need to give your body a rest.”

Sometimes, I was fighting twice a week. Some fights I came away unscathed, others I was beaten and bruised, but I still won. I still had the prize, and up to now, I had some serious money in the pot. That was, and still is, my end game. But as much as I hated to admit it, she was right.

“You know, I actually think you love that club more than you love me.”

“Don’t be fucking stupid. Why would you say that?” I felt the scowl form on my face but it hurt my head. I wasn’t just battered and bruised this time; I’d been beaten down and I’d lost. It was the first fight I’d lost and it hadn’t just hurt my pocket, it hurt my ego. I didn’t think I’d come back from this.I rolled over and went to sleep, ignoring Phoenix, ignoring the world and definitely ignoring every single message that pinged on my phone.

It was early, I was sure, but I heard someone banging on the front door but still I had no intention of seeing anyone.

“Are you going to get that?” Phoenix said, still angry from yesterday as she stood at the side of the sofa. I’d stayed here all night. I didn’t want to put myself in more pain so I stayed here. I shook my head and closed my eyes. I felt the daggers she was throwing me, but I ignored them and kept my eyes tightly shut. The door banged again, whoever it was obviously wasn’t leaving. “Fucking hell, Jacob. I’ll get it, shall I?”

“Tell them to fuck off.”I mumbled; my jaw still ached from the hits.

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