Page 119 of Crush

At the ring, the fights were still bare-knuckle but tape was usually used to stop the skin splitting. My fingers were scarred from catching them on my past opponent's teeth and I saw Harker’s gaze drop to them fleetingly.

“Max!” Amber yelled almost hysterically.

Without breaking eye contact with my opponent I shouted, “Don’t worry baby, it will all be over soon.”

Harker’s expression darkened as I called her baby and his lip curled as he raised his fists before spitting on the floor, aggressive waves rolling off him.

“You’re right about that you fucking pussy,” he growled.

I watched as he assumed the position, his fighting stance suggesting he was experienced, but he hadnothingon me. I did this shit for fun.

Then Kinlan’s men started to egg us on, one shouting for us to get on with it. There were a few claps and shouts and then it was game on. Their guns were lowered and they were now spectators.

I had the element of surprise and decided to rush Harker. Even in illegal fights, there were rules, but there were also those grey areas. Without further ado Ichargedthe fucker, my shoulderslamminginto his stomach, sending us both to the ground. The breath was knocked out of him with anOoofff!

Whoops and catcalls erupted around us.

We rolled over, jolting from side to side and I got in a punch, hitting him directly in the ribs before he shoved away and shot upright. I too pushed upwards as Harker lunged, catching me on the jaw and I fell back slightly before rightening myself, painexplodingthrough my face.

As I hoped from foot to foot, he threw a couple more punches before I round-housed the fucker, my knuckles connecting with his nose; the sound of bone breaking echoed in that small space. Harkersnarledwith rage, falling forwards grabbing my tee, andwrestlingme to the floor. As he climbed on top of me, he rained punches into my ribs and face and I attempted to block him with my elbows as more pain shot through my side.

I could hear Amber screaming.

Pulling back my arm, I upper-cut him, smashing him under the chin and he fell back. I shoved him off me and he nimbly darted to his feet.

As I sprawled to the side, I made to stand up but the fucker kicked me in the stomach winding me.

“Stop it, you’llkillhim!” Amber yelled. And that sound gave me strength. With a roar, I rolled towards him, and kicked out my feet, knocking Harker’s out from under him and he went down like a sack of shit.

Pushing up on my elbows, I dragged my body over his, smacking him in the face several times. His skin was becoming bruised and bloody with each contact my hands made but he wasn’t beaten yet. Harker pulled his arm back and jabbed me in the rib; the one I suspected he’d already broken. My breath whooshed from my body as I doubled over, dazed. I could hear Harker shouting curses as he dragged himself out from under me.

“Max!” Amber screamed and I turned, seeing her through one bad eye as she fought against Dexter to get to me, which would have put her in danger.

I rolled over again and shoved to my feet, “Don’t let her go, man,” I barked at Dexter and he nodded, holding her thrashing body tight.

Harker was bouncing back and forth, now assessing me for weakness. Which was of course my ribs. Fuck knew how badly busted they were. He’d also partly opened the wound I’d received the night of the fire and it burnt like a bitch.

The crowd continued encouraging the fight, with thrilled voices, and vocalised winces as we pummelled each other. They were enjoying the show.

I shot a glance at Kinlan who was leaning back against his car with one foot crossed over the other. His face was expressionless, almost bored.

Dragging my gaze back to Harker, I spat on the floor as we circled each other, “My eighty-year-old grandmother hits harder than you,” I snarled prancing from one foot to the other, as I taunted my opponent; a must in the fighting ring, it made your opponent angry which equalled loss of control. Harker was unsteady on his feet but holding his own. His nose was fucked and the blood I saw there gave me a perverse satisfaction.

He threw a punch and I easily avoided it.

“Come on you, you can do better than that,” I baited in a menacing voice. My hands throbbed and I clenched them tighter.

Harker swung another, but I dodged it again, coming back with my right, and cuffing him on the cheekbone. He fell back a step and then roared like the bitch he was, his control was fucked.

More shouts from the men with Amber’s cries thrown into the mix erupted around the yard.

And we danced. I led which was to be expected, darting away from each blind punch he threw at me, it was only a matter of time now, I knew I had won. Drawing my fist back I hit him in the side of the head, the skin of my knuckles busting open from the impact.

Spitting more blood on the floor, I cricked my neck and then went for my signature KO move. Pulling back my left, which was my winning arm, I smashed my fist into his melon fucking head, bloodspurtedfrom his mouth as his teeth caught on the flesh inside.

And he went down like a ton of bricks,smashinginto the gravel. I omitted a war cry, my side was in agony, one eye almost closed and I bent over. My hands on my thighs as I dragged air into my lungs, my ribs on fire. My body ached like hell but I was wired.

The crowd of around nine men whooped and chanted.

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