Page 35 of Dublin Brute

For charity matches, we fight three rounds instead of the five rounds of a professional MMA match. Still, Bryan and I train for five, so we’re well-conditioned for three.

I’m ready for this.

I’m focused.

I’m lethal.

I repeat my manifestation mantras in my head and keep my head down as the announcer runs through our stats and the match details.

“Give it up for the Dublin Brute, Brendan Quinn!”

I step over the steel wall of the cage and bounce on the balls of my feet, raising my hand to greet the crowd. Adrenaline surges through my veins and it’s like a shot of pure electricity coursing through my muscles, lighting me up from the inside.

“And to take on our Dublin Brute, we have Paddy the Predator!”

The crowd roars for my opponent, and it’s on. This may be a charity fight, but it matters. Coming out here like this is about respect, about proving myself—not just to my family, but to anyone watching.

Inside our chain-link fortress, Paddy and I have something to prove. The heavy door clangs shut behind me and the cheers of the audience hit me like a drug.

The referee finishes rattling off the match rules, but I’m only half-listening. I scan the crowd, searching for that flash of blonde hair I caught earlier. The woman had her hair up in a different style than Nora, but something about her presence lingers in my mind like an itch I can’t scratch.

For fuck’s sake. Focus!I stretch my neck and fight to shake off the distraction.

This isn’t some street brawl—it’s an arena filled with people who expect a show in exchange for their support—and right now, they want blood.

The bell rings, slicing through my thoughts like a blade.

I circle Paddy, sizing him up. He’s tough—everyone knows he can throw down—but he’s also cocky. His nickname is well earned. He is a predator, but there’s no fucking way I’ll be his prey.

The two of us settle in, bouncing on the balls of our feet, sizing one another up.

He’s hunting for an opening.Have at it, fuckwad, you won’t find one.

We exchange jabs, each punch landing with thuds that reverberate in my bones. My shoulder takes a solid hit, and it spins me onto my back foot before I shake it off and respond with a sharp kick aimed at his thigh.

He evades, but this dance is just beginning. I sweep my foot, but don’t expect him to fall for it. He doesn’t. His gaze is locked, and he comes at me with force. I meet his attack and duck, swinging low to catch him with an elbow to the kidneys.

The grunt he lets out is nothing but sweet satisfaction.

The crowd lets off a roar and I give the fans a wave.

I’m not sure how I pick her out of the hundreds of anonymous faces staring at me, but it’s like the heavens are glowing down and she’s the light in a sea of darkness—Nora.

The swells of her breasts are testing the resolve of her bodice, and I’m not the only horny fucker to notice. Asshole One sitting behind her smirks as he points her out to Asshole Two beside him.

My blood boils and a rush of fiery rage makes me want to smash their fucking skulls together for even thinking they can look at my girl.

My girl who is staring at me, her blue eyes wide with something I can’t quite read. Fear? Horror? Confusion? Betrayal?

Whatever it is pulls me in deeper than any fight ever could.

Paddy takes advantage of my momentary distraction and lands a breath-sucking hit against my ribs. The force spins me sideways, and I lose sight of her. I’m down and my head cracks against the mat of the floor. I get my arms up to block the hammering of fists that follow, but don’t escape unscathed.

I take one to the face and my vision fritzes, another bringing the sting of my lip splitting open. The buzzer sounds and the ref taps Paddy. He gets off me and I roll to my feet and walk the hit off.

“What the fuck was that?” Tag grips the metal of the cage, pushing in like he might peel the bars back and come at me. “You nearly got your block knocked off. Piper said you were distracted, but I didn’t believe it. What the fuck, B?”

I lean in and swallow as he holds up my water bottle and shoots water into my mouth. “I’m fine. I’ve got this.”

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