Page 39 of Crown of Smoke

This isn't going how I planned. The size difference is too much. I can't match his raw power, and my speed advantage is shrinking as exhaustion sets in. But I can't lose. Not with Lucy watching. Not when I need to be able to continue to come around to learn about the Keans.

Blood drips into my eye as I reset my stance. My ribs feel like they're wrapped in barbed wire. But I've survived worse. The Ifrinn in me won't let this mountain of muscle break me.

Through sheer will and desperation, I find an opening in The Beast's defense. My fist connects with his jaw, once, twice, three times in rapid succession. He staggers, finally showing weakness. I pour everything into a final uppercut that sends him crashing to the canvas.

There’s a gasp from the crowd, as if they’re surprised, but then a roar of excitement.Staydown, I chant in my mind. The crowd wants me to hit him while he’s down. No doubt, it’s what he’d do if the situation were reversed, but it’s another difference between Ifrinns and Keans. So I catch my breath as I wait to see if he’ll get up.

He makes it to his knees. Fucking hell, stay down, you bastard. He finally staggers onto his feet, and I move quickly, hitting him again, not wanting him to get set. I catch him in the gut, causing him to bow forward slightly. I follow up my punch with a hook that sends his head twisting back. For a moment, he teeters, and I get ready to hit him again, but then he keels over.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” he says as he tries to get up again.

“You have to stand up to do that,” I taunt, hoping he stays down.

He gets to his hands and knees, and a part of me wants to kick him, but I don’t.

“Get him out.”

I turn to see Ronan Kean’s beady eyes on me and then on The Beast. I puff up, shuffling from side to side.

“Get him out,” he says again. I’m not sure who he’s talking about, and as men enter the ring, I’m a little worried I’m about to be carried out and dispatched. I wonder how much money I’ve caused everyone to lose. Or maybe not. I recall at the pub some of the men remembered me. Even tried to recruit me.

But the men go to The Beast, who isn’t happy. “I’m okay. I can finish him?—”

“Boss wants you out,” the men say, helping him up.

“Maybe next time,” I call out.

“You mother fucker.” The Beast lunges toward me, but luckily for me, he’s slow and off balance now.

I catch Ronan watching me, and I turn away, worried he might recognize me.

“Who are you?” he calls out.

I keep my head down as I turn back. “Me? Just a street fighter looking to make a living.”

“That’s Tine,” someone says to Ronan. “New to our club.”

Ronan’s piercing gaze stays on me for a moment longer and then he turns away. I let out a breath and exit the ring. To be honest, I don’t know how I’m still upright. There isn’t anywhere on my body that isn’t screaming in pain.

"You need a hospital." Lucy appears next to me like magic.

I look over my shoulder, not wanting Ronan to see her with me. Fortunately, he’s already left the area.

"I'm fine." The words come out slurred. Maybe I took more hits than I thought.

"You can barely stand." She slides under my arm, supporting some of my weight.

“I think you have me confused with The Beast. I’m fine.”

“You’re impossible. At least let me drive you home and clean you up."

"Trying to get me alone?" I manage a smirk despite how much it hurts to move my face.

"You wish." But her cheeks flush pink as she helps me toward the exit. "I just don't want you passing out and cracking your skull open."

"Sure, that's the only reason." The world spins a bit as we reach my car. I dig out my keys.

She snatches them from me. "Shut up and let me help you, you stubborn ass."

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