Page 19 of Lies Like Love

“As long as it takes.”

That’s what I’m worried about.

Jude drops onto a stool in the corner of the ring, and someone starts applying Vaseline to a cut on his eyebrow. They’re talking to him about something I can’t make out over the roaring crowd, but he’s not paying attention. His head is tipped back against the ropes and his eyes are focused on me.

“You a friend of Jude’s?” The fighter beside me leans closer, and Jude’s jaw clenches.

“Not exactly.”

“Girlfriend?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Definitely not. I’m Fel, his stepsister… or I was his stepsister. Not anymore.”

“Interesting.” He pulls back slightly, and his gaze darts between me and Jude.

I’m not sure what crosses his mind at my confession, but he seems to be thinking it over quite a bit. He stares across the ring until Jude finally spares him a glance. A silent conversation bordering on a battle as their gazes narrow.

“Well, I’m Sage.” He drops his arm around the back of my chair with a dark grin, not looking away from Jude when he does. “A friend of Jude’s.”

It’s clear he wants a reaction, and he must get what he’s looking for. Because Jude stands, turning his back on us, while Sage smirks.

“You did that to piss him off.”

Sage shrugs, removing his arm from my chair now that Jude’s no longer looking. “Maybe.”

“Why?”

“Curious if it would.”

I open my mouth to ask him to elaborate, but the referee stops in front of me before I get the chance.

“You’re up, redhead.”

I grit my teeth and want to tell him I have a name. That I’m not just some piece of meat walking around for their entertainment. But right now, it feels like it would be a lie. Between the men in the room watching me as I walk back up to the ring with the sign for the second round, and the silent war Jude and Sage were waging from across the room, I feel like a toy in a game of tug of war.

Stepping to the edge of the ring once more, I pull my shoulders back and snap the round two sign overhead. But this time, when I pass Jude, he lets me. He doesn’t so much as look up as I make my way around. Instead, his eyes are closed and he’s rubbing his knuckles.

Focused.

Peaceful.

Deadly.

I make my way back to my seat, but Sage doesn’t say anything to me when I sit down, so I stay quiet. They obviously know each other, and Sage called Jude a friend, but right now they don’t feel like it.

The buzzer sounds and round two starts.

This time, there’s no pause. The fighters immediately collide as knuckles meet bone. I can only imagine the sting from the sheer force of the hits.

Jude’s opponent only gets in one good punch this time, giving Jude the clear advantage. But when I expect Jude to finish him, he pulls back. Circling, almost taunting the other fighter and dragging it out.

“What’s he doing?” I lean toward Sage, watching Jude retreat when he could end it. “Why isn’t he finishing it?”

A dark grin crawls Sage’s cheeks as he slowly shakes his head. “He’s proving a point.”

The bell dings to end the round and Jude looks over at me, smirking, before turning his back and making his way to his stool in the corner.

“Eyes on me, Red. Watch what you make me do.”

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