Page 130 of Green Flag
Because he wasn’t done.
The punches kept on coming and Luca took them. His lip was bust, his left side swelling, bruises purpling on his handsome face.
He wasn’t done. He couldn’t be done.
And when the bell dinged to signal the end of that round, I was worried I might be wrong.
Marco was shouting in his face as he downed a bottle of water, sitting on the stool in the corner he’d just been beaten in.
If it went down to points, Luca would be losing that round, without a doubt.
But when he stood and shook out his arms, I knew I had nothing to worry about. Tyler had said something to him to piss him off. But my calm and collected Luca was back with one final deep breath.
For the first part of the round, they circled each other with a couple of jabs, but the second Tyler went to throw a punch that was too wide, Luca pivoted, ducked under the punch, and fluidly slammed his left hand straight into Tyler’s jaw.
The blow knocked Tyler, and his feet wobbled as he stumbled back into the barrier. Luca didn’t stop there. He grabbed him, and I was confused for a second. I was overjoyed by his sudden burst of energy but baffled when hetook him to the floor.
I wasn’t conscious of the pain until blood was dribbling down my bottom lip. I wiped it, uncaring to sort out the mess on my chin when Luca told me he wouldloseif he got on the floor.
He quickly swivelled, wasting no time as he got Tyler on his back, Luca’s legs around his ribs, his arms around his throat, choking him out.
Tyler was sprawling, kicking, trying to grab him with his hands, scratching and clawing at him.
But Luca had no mercy.
Yes, he would be very easy to love.
Any woman in this place would happily take him to their bed tonight and go all the way with him.
Maybe even me.
Then Tyler was tapping relentlessly on the floor and Luca released him. He jumped up, and the crowd went wild, erupting with noise.
I was up, as was half the place, screaming and cheering for him. Because Luca deserved the world.
And I was lucky to be in his for however long this would last.
I was rushing down the stand towards him, to be in his precious company. Tyler was still being interviewed, and Marco was in the ring, patting Luca on the back, beaming.
The roar of the crowd didn’t pause for Tyler’s muffled words.
Because who cared what he had to say?
Luca smiled at me —me— before going into the middle of the ring where the camera and presenter stood, ready to ask him questions.
I would be on the right side when he got out. Nowhere near Tyler’s.
The crowd had moved, some already leaving through the tunnels, some barging to get closer to where Luca would walk through, some running past me in the opposite direction to see Tyler as he jumped down from the ring.
With how busy it was, I stood to the side, letting everyone pass, a current of bodies making it harder to get through to where I could also see Saliha, Nix, Livie and my dad.
Where I should have sat.
“Everly?”
My blood ran cold, spine snapping straight.
I turned, feeling the blood draining from my face.
