Page 49 of No Sweet Goodbyes

I’ve always had to be faster.

With a solid hit to his thorax, I shift back to make sure the wheezing isn’t just an act. But his face turns red, and he drops to his knees just as quickly as he gets up. Just in time for me to step behind him and wrap my arm around his neck and lock it with my other hand.

My body is pressed as close to his as I can manage, which means that his head squeezes between my boobs.

When his hands reach back, pulling the braid that slipped over my shoulder and into his face, I grunt with the force and pain of him pulling.

“Guess he’s playing dirty, even if she’s not.” To anyone else, Linc sounds unaffected, but I’m his little sister. I can feel the rage flowing off him in waves, and the need to protect me fills the space.

But he doesn’t take a step into the space.

Doing so would mean that I lose, even though I can do this.

Thirty seconds.

I only need thirty seconds of pressure to knock him out.

I can handle any amount of pain for thirty seconds.

An elbow to the ribs almost takes me out five seconds in.

But even when he drops back, putting all of his weight on my body, I don’t let up. I don’t release my grip on his neck.

There are shouts now, coming from the people watching, but I have to tune them out.

Seventeen.

Eighteen.

Nineteen.

I told Linc not to watch. It is his fault he has to see me get hurt. But I do feel bad for Dom having to see what’s about to happen.

Another ten seconds. I can already feel the sharp tingling in my scalp letting up as Eddie’s strength wavers.

If we were in front of a mirror, I would see his face turning bright red with the exertion. With the struggle not to lose.

I can’t blame him for what I know is about to happen.

When he arches his back and drives his shoulder into my chest, I gasp, unable to help myself. I don’t let go of his head, though.

I know he’s losing, and I know it’s embarrassing to not only lose to a woman, but to your ex-girlfriend at that.

My arms ache the way they do after being beat by a massage gun after a hard workout, and the fire leaching into every one of my muscles makes it almost impossible to concentrate. Like a spider monkey, I hold on as tightly as I can.

“Holy fucking shit.” I gasp for air when I feel Eddie’s body finally go slack at thirty-seven seconds.

Using my knee and the muscle memory of training, I maneuver Eddie so that I can get out from under his larger body without actually hurting either one of us. Although, his neck is going to be sore as fuck when he wakes up.

“She won!” Avery’s voice fills the suddenly silent room.

Since I’m still gasping for air and trying to breathe regularly, I don’t look up to see what the reaction is.

Instead, I check my scalp for missing hair.

My fingers making contact with the base of my neck stings, and I come away with blood on my fingertips.

“Shit,” I groan. Scabs on my hairline suck, and I know it’s going to suck having to take care of it while I’m at the academy. Washing my hair is the worst.

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