Page 48 of My Best Friend's Brother

“You ready?” A meaty hand clapped my bare back, and I nodded, still bouncing on my feet. My head was clear; my gum shield was in, and my body was hyped.

I’m ready.

“Okay, you know the rules. No biting, no elbows, no pissing about. Clean fighting until the other surrenders. Shake hands.”

I climbed over the hay bales, and the crowd around us went wild, cheering and whooping as they waved their money at each other, placing bets.

I shook hands with Tommy, who stared at me stonily, his face utterly devoid of emotion. His body was covered in tattoos, and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him.

“Fight!”

We danced around each other first, and he threw the first punch; his arm was too short and stocky to reach my face, because I’d moved back.

“Keep your feet grounded. Imagine roots growing into the ground. Then, you bounce back up like a fucking yo-yo if you get hit.”

My old man’s words echoed through my memory chambers, reaching my brain as I steadied my feet.

I’m not moving.

I threw my fist out, missing him by a millimetre, but I dragged it back, covering my face as he threw more in my direction. He was relentless, his knuckles smashing into mine as he tried to get at my face, and then he did, his fist connecting with my cheekbone as I fell back, remembering to keep myself as upright as possible. Pain splintered through my cheek and face, but I took the opportunity to sock him in the ribs.

He didn’t expect it, and he groaned, dropping his hands as he went down, allowing me to deliver a few swift jabs into his eye and jaw.

He recovered well, bouncing back with a vengeance, jabbing at me until we sank punches into each other’s sides, fighting like bitches.

The crowd’s screams were going wild now, and I caught sight of Jenna leaning against a bale of hay, shaking her head at me.

His fist landed on my chin from nowhere, and I cursed myself for losing focus. My head was spinning, but I didn’t stop. Slamming my knuckles into his fleshy lips, I surprised myself when a tooth flew out of his mouth, and a spurt of blood followed.

He was down, holding his mouth as he tried to scramble up, but I was on him, my rage creeping up on me as I repeatedly punched him in the sides, not caring that someone was screaming at me to get off him.

With each blow, my smile extended, and it was only when two men lifted me off him that I stopped.

Tommy tried to get up, and I pushed forward to offer him my hand. He took it, wiping his mouth with a grim smile.

“Well done.”

“Sorry, mate,” I said, turning to accept a bottle of water someone was handing me. “About the tooth.”

“Nah, it’s alright. My missus said if I lose another, I can get a gold one for my birthday. So you’ve done me a favour.”

I nodded with polite laughter, wondering if he knew I’d knocked out a gold one and that it was probably already in a pawn shop, knowing this crowd.

“Yes, my boy, here you go.”

Ali handed me the winner’s envelope, which was thick with cash, and I shoved it into my bag. Jenna walked over to me, and I groaned.

I’d rather fight TommyandJack than talk to this twat.

“Logan, why don’t you come home with me?”

“I’d rather nail my cock to a burning building, Jenna. So fuck off.”

She wore a sports bra, tight jeans, and a long open hoodie that revealed her toned stomach. She was hot, but I was so sick of her bullshit.

“You’d do well to remember thatI’mgoing places, unlike you.” Jenna sneered, casting a look at my body. “You can’t fight forever, so what will you do in ten years? Probably be in the ground like your dad.”

I gritted my teeth, tugging my clothes on whilst counting to fifty-fucking-thousand.

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