Page 118 of Crush

"What happens to the loser?" Harker barked out with a cocky expression. One I would enjoy wiping from his face with my fist.

"I’m not sure, maybe I’ll reintroduce him to my M9,” he replied, pulling open his jacket and motioning towards his gun. Great. Ooh, choices, choices. For fucks sake, was thisreallyhappening?

Amber growled something which recaptured my attention. I glanced over to where she was frozen to the spot and saw Dexter emerging from the gatehouse. His head was encrusted with blood and he looked dazed; he’d clearly taken a nasty blow to the skull. I owed him my thanks; if he hadn’t stayed conscious long enough to message me, I wouldneverhave known Amber was in danger. She could be halfway across the country by now.

“Dexter, you’re alive,” Amber cried as she moved towards him. The man guarding her looked to his boss for direction.

“Let her go,” Kinlan said, allowing it.

Dexter stumbled slightly as Amber threw herself at him.

“The cocky chauffer, I assume?” Kinlan said, walking towards them. “Move to one side, princess.”

Amber lowered her arms from Dexter and did as she was told. I had never seen her so subdued and I hated it; especially at the behest of another man. My territorial side kicked in but I couldn’t move due to all the weapons still trained on me.

“Turn around and lift your arms,” Kinlan instructed Dexter. The big guy did exactly that and I watched as Kinlan then patted him down, checking for any concealed weapons. I knew Dexter had a gun but as the mob boss straightened empty-handed, I knew he didn’t have it on him. I then realised that that was probably the gun that Harker had aimed at me.

Once Kinlan had finished with Dexter, he shot me a smug look before facing Amber.

“And what about you princess? Have any concealed weapons, other than the two I can see?” The bastard was talking about her tits which were outlined in her top. I clenched my fists.

“Don’t even think about it,” I snarled, which forced one of Kinlan’s men closest to me to point his gun directly at my temple. I shot him a glare and he shook his head from side to side. The smile he was wearing shot my temper up to the next level and I needed to smash something.

Kinlan spoke softly to Amber but I couldn’t hear what he said. Whatever it was couldn’t have been that bad as I was sure I saw a look of relief pass over Dexter’s face. I just hoped he didn’t frisk her in front of me.

After around a minute, Kinlan pointed to Dexter’s head. “You’ll need to get that looked at,” he suggested.

He then pulled out his gun and Amber gasped which forced me to step forward.

“You move, you die,” my guard said.

Kinlan must have heard him as he shouted, “Everyone stays where you are. No need to get excited. You,” he said, flicking his gun at Dexter. “If you try anything, Lewis will put a bullet in both of you.”

Amber started shaking and Dexter wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“You’re an insensitive bastard,” I growled before I could stop myself.

Kinlan lowered his gun, those icy eyes of his meeting my enraged ones. “I’m many things, Max, but a bastard isn’t one of them. My Mam would be crushed if she heard you say that.”

The fact that he said my first name felt strange, as did the look he shot me.

“So, let’s get this done. May the best man win,” Kinlan called out before addressing his men, “Lower your weapons. Give them some space.”

And that was it, the signal I needed. The entire situation sucked balls but I was going to end the prick or die trying. Anticipation surrounded us as they created a half-ring around Harker and me. I wondered if Kinlan had suggested the fight as he’d seen me in the ring. Either that or this was his sick idea of an audition. I remembered his offer to me.

Amber lifted her face, and peered across, shaking her head.

“Please Max, be careful. Don’t underestimate him.”

“Don’t worry baby,” I shouted back, dragging my gaze away. “I’m going to enjoy every second of this,” the latter part I said to my opponent's soon-to-be rearranged face.

Twenty-One

Max

Harker was tall and well-built but wasn’t as big as me or as badass. He was also older, with a slight paunch and would be much slower.

Yanking my sweater off over my head I tugged my T-shirt down and rolled my shoulders before cracking my neck. Throwing my top to the side of the yard, I pumped my fists and warmed my fingers up as I jogged on the spot.

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