Page 133 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
There was no doubt in my mind CJ had impressive combat abilities, but my capabilities were stronger. When I peered into his bloodshot eyes, even they reflected his defeat, but Col refused to give in. The only way our fight was going to end was when CJ was stretchered out of the ring. If I were responsible for that, I'd lose Ophelia forever, but I had no choice. Col’s goon was still at her side with his gun drawn. I had to pick between saving CJ or Ophelia. I was always going to choose Ophelia.
Every punch and kick I inflicted on CJ over the next ten minutes were met with Ophelia’s panicked screams or gasps of disappointment. Halfway through the match, I realized no matter what I did, I’d lose her. If I walked away, ending the fight against Col’s wishes, Ophelia would be punished. If I seriously injured her brother, she’d never look at me the same again.
It was a lose-lose situation.
As CJ staggered to the middle of the ring, I locked eyes with Ophelia. Her beautiful face was contorted with sadness, and tears were streaming down her flushed cheeks. “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Her tearful pleas faded into the background when I strayed my eyes back to CJ. He was cradling his broken wrist with his knuckle-busted hand. When his eyes lifted to mine, a sharp niggle hit my chest. He acknowledged my regret with a brief nod, aware I didn’t want to do what I was about to do.
After strengthening my stance, I peered into his dark brown eyes. “I’m sorry,” I murmured a mere second before completing a roundhouse kick to his right temple.
His eyes rolled to the back of his head as he plummeted to the ground in slow motion. The sickening thud of his unconscious body hitting the mat was so loud, it was heard over the screaming cheers of the spectators.
“Nooo!” Ophelia yelled in a blood-curdling scream.
The wild thrashing of my heart lessened when Col’s righthand man holstered his gun before walking away from Ophelia. Since I had done as requested, he no longer had a reason to continue with his aggressive stance.
After diving through the ropes, Ophelia crawled on her hands and knees to the middle of the ring, her eyes never leaving her brother. Once she reached him, she cradled his bruised head in her hands, trying in vain to wake him up. I didn’t kill him, but I did knock him out cold.
When Ophelia refused to relinquish CJ to the medical team assessing him, I wrapped my sweat-drenched arm around her petite waist and pulled her back. She kicked and screamed, fighting against my hold.
“Let them help him,” I whispered into her ear as I dragged her to the other side of the ring.
Once she stopped thrashing against me, I lowered her back onto the ground. She pivoted around to face me so fast, hot air blasted my face. Her beautiful eyes were tainted with hate, and she came out swinging. The first time she slapped me, I was so surprised, I didn’t register it. The second time, its impact was felt more by my heart than my face.
I don’t know how many slaps she inflicted before Cormack stood between us, so his body blocked her from imposing more punishment.“Let’s go.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t leaving without Ophelia.
“She needs time, Isaac. Give her some time, then she’ll understand you didn’t have a choice.”
When Cormack curled his arms around my shoulders to guide me out of the ring,I should have fought harder for Ophelia. I shouldn’t have given up. I should have begged for forgiveness then and there, then she wouldn’t have been in the car the night she was killed. But I was a coward who walked away. I left her crying over her brother splayed unconscious on a dirty boxing ring floor, meaning her devastated, tear-stained face was the last image I had of her.
My memories are interrupted when my phone vibrates in my hand. After unclenching my fists, I answer the call.
“Boss, we have someone in pursuit of Izzy.”
CHAPTER17
ISABELLE
“Iappreciate you doing this for me, Brandon.”
I peer at him sitting in the driver's seat of his car. No words spill from his lips, but a fretful mask has slipped over his usually expressionless face. As his brows lower, his lips form into a harsh line. After coughing to clear his throat, he adjusts the tilt of the rearview mirror. Curious as to what has caused his sudden change in composure, I glance out the rear window of his blue BMW. Air snags in my throat when I spot a dark blue sedan tailing us.
Brandon's foot flattens the accelerator, increasing his speed to well above the signed limit. Burning rubber lingers in the air from his tires squealing from his acceleration. He weaves and darts between a handful of vehicles in front of us, but because it's mid-morning, the traffic isn’t as dense as it would be during peak hour, although there are still a decent number of vehicles on the highway.
Even though the blue sedan remains a good three to four cars behind us, it continues following us down the side streets and back alleys Brandon turns down in an attempt to evade them.
“How long have they been following us?”
Brandon’s gaze drifts to me, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallows harshly. “I thought I’d lost them, but they’ve been with us since we left your apartment.”
My mouth becomes parched.We left my apartment well over two hours ago. “Do you think it’s IA?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
I wait for him to pull down another isolated street before asking, “How can you be so sure?” The drumming of my heart against my ribcage is heard in my voice.
