Page 70 of The Two Halves of My Heart

“I’m good. Bruised, but nothing I can’t handle,” I grinned at Leo.

“I’ll take you to the hospital,” Grace’s voice piped up. “You should go to the hospital. You could have bleeding, broken ribs…” She looked over me, and while there was a lost look before, there was now a frantic edge that pissed me off.

“No hospital. Nothing’s broken. I’m good.”

“No, you’re not,” she argued with more force.

“Oh yeah? And how would you know?” I stand, pissed that she’s questioning me.

“Because I saw you get punched. And kicked. God, Maddison, it was horrible.”

“Yeah, I remember. I was there.”

“Why are you being like this?” Her eyes went shiny, and a part of me felt like a dick for what I was saying, but that part of me was buried right now.

“Because I’m pissed, that’s why. I nearly lost this fucking fight, all because of you.” I jabbed my finger in her face, and she took a step back.

“Me?” she asked, confused.

“Yeah, you. You weren’t supposed to be here. I saw you in the crowd, and that moment let him get the drop on me.” As I said the words, I heard the blood pumping in my veins, the rush drowning out any sense of reason.

“That’s not fair. I wanted to show you I was sorry. I thought you wanted me here.” She shook her head at me, denying the truth I knew.

“Well, maybe I don’t anymore. Maybe you’re too much of a distraction if I’m going to win.”

“Is that all you ever care about? Winning?” Her voice cracked as she asked.

I’m about to lay into her again when I feel Leo grip my bicep. “Leave it, man. This isn’t what you want.” His voice of reason seemed to cut through some of the haze floating in my brain, and his eyes turned a little darker with his warning.

He was right. But I was seething, and I needed to get rid of it. Frustration, anger, and disappointment all congealed through my body, taking me over and poisoning me to everything and everyone around me. Grace had always been able to cut through that—my antidote—and bring me back to reality. Grace and Oliver, that was. But he chose to abandon both of us. Well, screw them. Screw them both.

“Take her home,” I called as I turned and headed back out. This fight hadn’t played out the way I’d wanted, but it was still a big deal, and I need to make sure I secured the next step. Zuri’s promises and deals were starting to wear thin.

“Wait? Maddison?”

I ignored her calls and pushed through the doors and back into the club.

Zuri was on me in seconds. “That was close, boy. Not what we planned.”

“I won, didn’t I?”

“Yes. But you must do better.”

“Better?” I shouted, pissed that after knocking the guy out, he still wanted more. “What the fuck, Zuri? How can I be better than winning?”

“If you want in on Mikey’s circuit, then you will do better. I take you. I introduce you, and you will see what I mean.” Mikey was a big shot on the London scene and had connections. Apparently, his fights were the best, and I wanted in. If Zuri ever delivered. I’d heard the same story over and over the last few months, but tonight I wanted answers.

“When?”

“We go next month. You will see, and then you will be serious.”

“Fuck it. I am serious.”

“No.” He shook his head at me. “Your head needs to be in the game. Not with that girl. Lucky charm she was not.”

“How much?” I changed the subject. I didn’t want to talk about Grace.

“Ten. More on the bets, especially after how you started.”

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