Page 69 of A Fighter’s Love

“Jackson!” Jenny said, rushing to the ropes. “Do something.”

But Jackson was already in the ring. He’d leaped it in one smooth move. He rushed to Dale, wrapped his arms around his waist and dragged him away from Billy.

Dale writhed against him, trying to escape and continue the fight.

Billy slumped to the floor and landed on his hands and knees, head hanging down. His mouth-shield dropped to the ring.

“Oh, shit.” Jenny rushed to him. “Billy.” Much as she didn’t like the bloke, she didn’t want him hurt.

“It’s okay,” he said, raising his head and opening his one seeing eye. He had a trickle of blood running from his brow and his right cheekbone was already swelling.

“It’s not okay. You’re hurt.”

“I’ve had worse. Much worse. You know that.” Spittle collected at the sides of his mouth. “And as I always say, the best man wins.”

“But—” What did he mean?

“We fought for you, Jen. The best man won.” He swallowed and closed his eye again. “I guess that’s the only way to get a guy like me to accept it was over between us.”

Her heartstrings tugged. He’d been good to her once upon a time. “Thank you,” she said.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Michael tugged Billy’s shoulder. “You’re a daft bastard taking him on…over a girl too.” He glanced at Jenny.

Jenny worried on her bottom lip. She hadn’t asked for this. It had hardly been her idea.

Michael helped Billy to stand, then wrapped an arm around his waist and led him to the corner.

“They’re fighting over you?” Mohawk asked, turning to her.

“Er…” She shrugged. “I guess.”

“Fuck. Go you.” He chuckled. “Didn’t see that coming.”

Jenny moved away. Dale was in the far corner, standing. Jackson was unlacing his glove and talking to him as another member of the gym dabbed at a cut on his eyebrow.

“Hey,” she said, looking up at her two men. “You okay?”

Dale spat his mouth-shield out. “Yeah. Glad Jackson pulled me off when he did. Was seeing red there.”

“And it wasn’t just the blood in your eye,” Jackson said.

Dale peered around him to where Billy sat in the opposite corner. “He okay?”

“Yeah, a bit worse than you, but it’s his pride that’s taken the biggest battering.” Jenny sighed. “I’m sure there must have been another—”

“Don’t you dare say there must have been another way to settle this.” Dale nudged Jackson away and squatted down so he was level with her. He reached through the ropes and cupped her cheek. “You’re in our world now, a man’s world. We box, we live for the win. It’s how it is. Get used to it, babe.”

She stared into his eyes. He was right. Shewasin their world now. And it was what she wanted. She’d known both he and Jackson were fighters, great fighters. But that didn’t mean there were no rules. As Michael had said, they had respect for the sport. They weren’t guys who brawled on the street.

She nodded. “I was just worried.”

“He won’t bother us again.” Dale frowned.

She swallowed, remembering Billy’s words. “I know. It’s finally over between us.”

“Yeah, and you’re…” He glanced up at Jackson then pulled her a little closer. “Ours.”

“Come on, man,” Jackson said. “Let’s get outta here.”

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