Page 3 of Inferno

I shake my head and he presses the muzzle of the pistol between my breasts.

“You could now be my most valuable asset. He’s paid off his debt and more. Perhaps I will keep him alive if you behave. Can you do that for me, printsessa?” he whispers in my ear. The acid burns my throat as I take in his words.

I’m frozen.

I hear my dad’s faint whimpers coming from the kitchen. He’s injured. But alive.

I look into the devil's black eyes and my fate is sealed. Visions of my mom falling to the floor terrorize me. There’s no escape. But I can play a clever game perhaps, my dad’s words of warning fresh in my mind.

I’m trained to survive.

This might be the worst eighteenth birthday in the history of birthdays.

But if my years in martial arts have taught me anything, it’s that I can fight.

So I nod.

Chapter 1

DECLAN

Five Years Later…

Song- Insanely Illegal Cage Fight

With fists clenched and my eyes locked on my brother, Conan, inside the cage, I can hear the frantic beating of my heart above the sounds of the arena.

He’s known for being unpredictable, both in and out of the fight. The youngest of the three of us.

Six feet six inches of pure muscle.

Lethal.

Hence why me and Finn are in this dingy hell hole in Birmingham. We’ve learned to always bring backup to his fights.

We might have a peace truce with the Bowen’s, but a single punch can change that.

This fight is different. It’s fixed. As long as Conan listens to my orders, he will be allowed back in the cage to compete. He’s been given one shot. By proving to the organizers he can listen to instructions and fall when he needs to.

Show them that he isn’t the same man that beat a guy to death after Mom’s death. It might be underground, but there is a limit. And Conan needs the cage like he needs air to breathe.

A sharp impact against my ribs announces Finn’s arrival, making me stagger slightly to my left.

“The fuck?” I turn to him and notice his long fingers wrapped around the scrawny neck of some guy.

“I told you once to get out of my space. Bump into me again, I’ll knock all your fucking teeth out,” Finn seethes.

I grip his shoulder to calm him down. I can’t have both brothers fighting tonight.

“Enough, Finn,” I say under my breath, but loud enough for him to hear.

He releases the wide-eyed man, who gasps for air, clutching at his throat.

“Sorry, man,” he says in a London accent. I roll my eyes in response.

Probably one of the many Bowen cousins.

We run our operations in Dublin, the Bowen’s rule London.

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