Page 143 of Forbidden Romeo

“Jack Duffy, ladies and gentlemen!” The commentator’s voice booms down the speakers as Jack does a lap of the ring.

I watch in horror as he looks up at the VIP box to find us. He must see the concern on our faces because a frown furrows on his brow before he retreats back to his corner. His coach mutters final advice as Jack keeps glancing back over to us as if trying to decipher our thoughts.

“Kate,” I whisper—how she hears me in the crowd, I’ll never know.

“It’s going to be okay,” she says in my ear.

I shake my head, “It can’t be true.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

In front of us, Padraic tears himself away from his mafia companions to offer me the most horrifying grin I’ve ever seen.

He did this.

“Aaaaannnddd in the other corner….” The commentator roars as a figure emerges from the other locker room, a towel hanging from his head.

With every step he takes toward the ring, the more I have to suppress the urge to vomit. Kate’s hand tightens around mine as he ducks under the rope and removes the towel.

Standing a half foot taller than Jack and at least a few inches wider than I last saw him. Arms dangerously huge and without an inch of fat. A fuzz of beard is trimmed to his tight jaw. Chocolate eyes laser focused on Jack.

His shoulder-length red hair is tied up in a messy knot.

The commentator doesn’t seem to believe it either.

“... Connor Maguire?”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Jack

It’s like tunnel vision.

One minute the crowds are cheering my name; the next, there’s only silence.

And Connor fucking Maguire.

I’ve not seen him since that night in the alleyway. But he’s still wearing that crooked little grin on his face.

There is nothing that could cool the fires that rage inside me. Anger courses through my very veins as I watch him enter the ring. The man I swore I would kill for ending my brother’s life.

“You better fucking kill them for this.”

This is the man that murdered Graham. This is the man responsible for all the torment that followed. Every shitty thing that’s happened since that night ishisfault. I was disowned because ofhim. Aimee’s life now hangs in the balance because ofhim.

“Surprised to see me, bastard?” Connor leers as he stretches out his tree-like arms.

In the silence of rage, clarity hits me like a freight train.

Because how could Connor be here? In a Duffy establishment?Myestablishment? Not only that but in the ring as a competitor?

It doesn’t make sense until it does. Memories storm through my mind so quickly it’s almost painful.

“It’s not my alliance with Connor you should be worried about.”

“You’re weak. Everyone can see it... They saw it in the ring, and they’ll see it again when you face your next opponent.”

“People have been hearing rumors about a Maguire/Duffy alliance.”

---