Page 12 of The Way We Are

Isaac shakes his head. “I never said you should fight. Replay the events of the last thirty minutes, Ryan. Not once did I encourage you to fight. I brought you here so you’d have an understanding of why she is with him.”

I’m more confused now than I ever was.How the fuck can discovering she’s dating a mafia kingpin’s nephew help me in any way?It only makes matters worse.

“You can watch a man for hours and not hear a single thought,” Isaac mutters, squaring his shoulders. “But when you glance into the eyes of a woman in love, the conversation is nearly deafening.”

Bile scorches my throat as my eyes rocket back to Savannah.Does that mean what I think it does? Does Isaac believe she is in love with Axel?

Catching my heated gaze, Savannah reverts her attention to Axel, albeit hesitantly. Although she surveys him with the same panic, her eyes are missing the dramatic flair they had when she was watching me.

“She doesn’t love him,” I mumble under my breath, more for me than Isaac.

The knot in my stomach loosens when Isaac replies, “I never said she did.”

Before I can process his cryptic reply, a man with inky black hair and biceps as wide as my head stops to stand in front of us. “Driver’s license,” he demands, his tone so deep I’m certain he caused a tsunami on the east coast.

When I hand him my license, he jots down my information on a silver clipboard clasped in his knuckle-busted hands.

“What’s that for?” I ask Isaac, jerking my chin to the man three times my size. I’m not overly familiar with underground fighting circuits, but requesting ID from participants seems a little excessive.

“They take down your details in case they need to contact your next of kin. You know... in the event of your death.” Even though Isaac’s tone is mocking, there's a seriousness to it that makes me uncomfortable.

Working my jaw side to side, I struggle to swallow the panic rising up my esophagus. With Axel and his posse of men now standing ringside, the last thing I want to do is vomit. I refuse to give him more ammunition—and Savannah doesn’t need any additional worry. She's shaking so much, even tucking her lip into her mouth can’t conceal its quiver.

When Axel slips under the frayed ropes of the boxing ring, Savannah slings her eyes to me. Her mouth remains shut, but her eyes relay her every wish.Please don’t do this,she begs on repeat. Maybe Isaac is right that this will only lengthen the bridge built between us over the past five years.

I keep my eyes locked on her, ensuring she can read my reply as readily as I heard her wordless plea.I don’t have a choice. If I walk away now, I’ll walk away a coward. I’m not going to do that.

Frustrated, Savannah shakes her head before stalking away from the ring. Not willing to let his girlfriend slip away without a more intimate embrace, Axel’s seizes her wrist, yanks her back, then seals his mouth over hers.

I look away, fighting to ignore the anger burning me whole. Axel isn’t kissing her because he can’t breathe without her lips on his. He's kissing her to rile me up. That's why he doesn’t close his eyes during their embrace. He keeps them locked on me, proving what I’ve always known. He doesn’t deserve her. I wouldn’t care if there were a million men surrounding me, if Savannah’s lips were on mine, nothing else would matter. Not a single thing.

I stand from my seat and make my way toward the ring on Isaac’s heel. The energy thrumming in the air is electrifying, making my skin cake with sweat. I’ve never been an overly showy type of guy, but I can see how these events become addictive. But it’s not the energy inspiring me; it’s the prospect of showing Savannah she's worth fighting for.

When I reach the edge of the ring, I drag my shirt over my head. The group of women filling the cheap seats wolf whistle and cat call when they spot the compact muscles on my midsection. Their flirty comments boost my ego so much, any worry lingering in the back of my mind fades into the distance. If I play my cards right, I can leave this match with something much more valuable than money. I can leave with my girl.

When I enter the ring, Axel prances around the damp-smelling space, his attention never once veering to the chair he instructed Savannah to sit in. He doesn’t care that her eyes are brimming with so many tears they’re seconds away from rolling down her cheeks or that she is biting on the corner of her lip so hard, a tinge of red can be seen from feet away. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

Only now do I see the truth in Isaac’s statement. I know what I must do.

Twisting my neck, I seek Isaac amongst the dense group of men placing bets at the edge of the boxing ring. Shockingly, the odds offered are evenly split. I ask him, “Are there any rules on how long the fight must last?”

His boyish grin has me wondering if he is as old as I first perceived. His face is youthful, void of a single wrinkle, and his don’t-give-a-shit attitude seems closer to my age. It's just his wise eyes that make him appear years older.

“No rules. No limitations. And no fear. Do with it what you shall,” Isaac replies, his voice barely heard over the referee announcing the fight is starting.

“And no getting in the car if you’re covered in blood,” Cormack adds on, his tone half-serious, half-joking.

I realize he's joking when he places a bid on me in the amount of five thousand dollars. I swallow harshly, suddenly bombarded with panic about my decision.

Before I can warn Isaac and Cormack of my plans, a snarky voice at my side commands my attention. “Not gonna place a bet on yourself?” Axel asks, stepping into the middle of the ring. “I can lend you some money if you’re short on change. I’m sure I’ve got a few pennies here somewhere.”

He pats the pockets of his gym shorts, enhancing the pudgy rolls spilling over their tight waistband.

“Nah, you keep it. You never know when Donut King will have another penny sale.” An arrogant wink enriches my snarky comment about his chubby midsection.

Axel replies, “Love handles give the girls more cuddling material. I’m sure you remember Savannah likes to spoon after sex?” He glares into my eyes, knowing I have nothing to come back with. Savannah and I were close when we were younger, but we weren’tthatclose.

A surge of adrenaline roars through my body when the referee taps our hands together, announcing the start of our fight. The rumble of the crowd is deafening; not even the furious thump of my pulse can drown it out.

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