Page 18 of King

“The new guys I’m working with.”

“Are they like him?”

I wasn’t about to answer questions about these guys. I’d done my research on them like Barrett told me to, and from what I could tell they were a well-known family in London. Business men it said, I wasn’t so sure. “Look baby, he could quite easily hire someone to finish me off, do you get that? I need to work with him until I can find a way of cutting ties. So maybe do me a favour, keep that savage tongue hidden away.” I muttered as I placed my finger on her lips.

She smacked my hand away, scowling. “You know what, fine. Do what you want, but I won’t be around to patch you up any fucking more. You and your sleazy friend can do what the fuck you want.”

It was probably the wrong thing to do, but I let a smirk form on my lips. “You don’t mean that?” I scoffed, but she glared back and yeah, she did mean that. In fact, Phoenix doesn’t say anything she doesn’t mean. “Phoenix, don’t make drastic decisions.”

“I don’t see it as drastic. Jacob, I can’t do this anymore!” Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t stand by and watch you get beat up all the time.” I could see in her eyes that she meant it. “I’m sick of seeing you like this. We don’t do anything anymore. We don’t go out. Most of the time you’re healing from your fights. What kind of life is this?” Her eyes closed momentarily and as they opened again, a tear slowly ran down her face. “Is this what the rest of our life is going to look like?” she took a breath. “If it is, I don’t want it.” She swiped her fingers across her cheeks. “So, choose. It’s either the fighting, or it’s me.”

“You’re serious?” My brows came together, but as I looked at her harder, I realised just how fucking serious she was. “You can’t expect me to make that decision.”

“Why not?” She gritted her teeth and cocked her head. “I love you, Jacob,” she sniffed briefly and went on. “I probably always will, but if you can’t do this for me, then there’s nothing else to say or anywhere this can go.”

Her eyes never left mine as she delivered her ultimatum, but I didn’t answer straight away. “Well, I guess I have my answer then.” She pushed up slightly on her toes and lightly pressed her lips on my cheek before she dropped back to her heels and turned. I watched her leave and the door slammed a minute or so later. My body jolted with the sound and my eyes closed. I'd just give it a minute, something in my heart told me she just needed a breather. Something jolted me into moving through the house, but somewhere deep in my heart I knew she’d gone. I took the few short steps out into the hallway; it was empty. She’d gone.

Why the fuck didn’t I tell her - why didn’t I choose her?

My head and my heart began an internal debate. My heart knew I should be running out of that door and stopping her from going any further, but my head was telling me that I was a fighter, and just like everything else, I’d win. That included her. I may have lost the fight but I wouldn’t lose anything else. All I had to do was let her sleep on it. What else was I supposed to do? I loved her so fucking much, but this was my future, it should’ve been our future.

Tomorrow was another day.

I was Jacob King.

King of the ring.

I was also the king of her heart and Phoenix Clarke would always need me. Just like I needed her.

Hobbling back through to the lounge, I dropped myself down onto the settee, lay back and let my eyes close. I was hurt physically, mentally and now the pain of Phoenix walking out ripped through my heart and I allowed myself to break.

I’d be back on top again. I’d show everyone.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

PHOENIX

PRESENT DAY

As I sat at the nurse’s desk, my mind whirled as I stared at Jacob’s name on the computer. My chin cupped in one hand as I drummed the surface with my other hand.

“Earth to Phoenix…” I blinked when I heard my name and looked up.

“Sorry,” I stared at one of the other nurses. Jenni had started at the same time as me and we’d been friends since. “Everything okay?” I asked as I shook myself out of my trance.

“Yeah, the guy in number two is asking for you.”

From where I was sat, I couldn’t see the cubicle that Jacob was in. It was why I’d chosen this seat. Every time I’d left the desk, Danny was watching, I didn’t know what he wanted from me, but I just couldn’t deal with it. So, I headed back here after Jacob was taken for an X-Ray and CT and basically hid.

Yes, I was a coward.

“What does he want?” I asked, chewing nervously on the inside of my cheek.

“I don’t know. I asked if I could help and he said he wanted to speak with you as you’re his nurse.”

Fuck. “Have we any results back yet, do you know?”

“I think so,” she answered and smiled tightly before she left to attend to a patient.

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