Page 131 of Broken Blood Ties

This isn’t what I want. To have her exposed. But I also know Summer, and when she makes up her mind, well, that’s that. It’s one of the reasons I love her.

My hand tightens around hers, and I have to admit her presence grounds me in this chaotic underworld. We walk through the back halls toward the arena, her arms looped through mine. She opted to leave her hair down, straightened to meet her shoulders. The long drop earrings she’s wearing draw my attention where they graze her delicate neck, and all I can think about is devouring her some more.

She’s as calm as ever, her gaze sharp and focused, soaking in every detail. But me? I’m out of place with her on my arm.

The drive to grab her and lock her in my office at O’Brien’s is overwhelming. But I gave her my word, and the very fact she’s willing to step into my world with me—I won’t dishonor that loyalty for my selfishness.

The suit I’m wearing feels almost too crisp for this gritty scene, though many are dressed in them. As a way to show off the money they throw around, hoping to make two or three times that back. I’m regularly in fights, so it’s rare I get to arrive and work the room as boss. Tonight is different though.

As we enter the arena, the crowd flanks the ring, and I lead Summer to one of the reserved leather couches. Cormac sits there sipping his beer, the glint of his gold watch hiding behind his sport coat as he knocks it back.

The crowd grunts and cheers as the sound of gloved fists hitting flesh echo in the underground-like catacombs. Summer turns to sit next to Cormac, and as she sits, the fighter in the ring lands a devastating blow to his opponent’s face. Blood droplets spritz across the ring floor, but not before a few flick across Summer’s dainty neck. Her surprise is palpable, and I reach for her, pulling her into me while Cormac stands.

“This was a mistake. We need to get ye out of here.”

She jerks away from me, ever so slightly shaking her head. Her nostrils flare, and her gaze moves over my right ear. My pulse quickens when her expression steels.

Over my shoulder, through the smokey haze that settles over us like a heavy veil, I spot Riku. He’s clapping, but it’s not in time with the applause around him. This is slow and deviating. Instead of the fighters, he stares at Summer, the low light casting a shadow across his cheek, allowing one of his barcode tattoos to be visible. His posture is arrogant as he smirks at her.

My heart slams up against my rib cage, but it’s not fear or annoyance—it’s rage. Pure, blistering anger bubbles up inside me, hotter than the humid, sweat-licked air. Summer’s fingers twitch in mine, and instead of allowing me to escort her to the bathroom, she holds his stare while the rivulets of blood trace a line down her neck, dark and slick in jagged uneven streams.

She’s not going to let him see her thrown or disgusted. Instead, she shimmies the fabric of her dress up to make sitting easier. Riku continues to watch, waiting like the vulture he is for her to get on the couch. Every fiber of my being wants to launch across the ring and tear him apart just for looking at her.

I lock my gaze on him, but he’s too preoccupied studying Summer.

Summer squeezes my arms, tugging me down to the seat next to her. Still, she stares at Riku, and he relishes it, but I don’t miss the flicker of surprise that flashes across his face as she pulls my arm around her and leans into me.

Damn it. All I want is to throw caution to the wind. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to breathe. I focus on Summer and the cloth Cormac hands her. Finally, she breaks her standoff with Riku in favor of cleaning the splattered drops of blood off her skin.

She looks at me while the roar of the crowd gets louder, and the end of the round draws near. Leaning forward, she captures my mouth, offering me an unbridled, unhurried kiss before pulling away to nip at my ear.

“Breathe, Kieran. I’m fine. Don’t let him see you rattled.”

Her breath is cool against my ear and the hot rage simmering in my veins.

She pulls away, leaning back into the couch, and I drape a hand over her crossed legs. The slit up the silk exposes her deliciously smooth thigh. If it were any other time, I’d tease her until she was delirious with molten need, then haul her to one of the private training rooms to rip that tantalizing dress off of her.

The bell rings, sharp and sudden, and two other fighters circle each other. I glance to Riku, whose face is splotched and red as he stands turning to several of his men with his hands thrown in the air.

When we arrived, I had Cormac talk to Joe and pull each of Riku’s fighters out tonight. My men are instructed to hold him, should he try to leave.

Muscles tense, both fighters dance, coiled back like springs. An electric hum runs through the arena as the first fist snaps out, fast and deliberate. The sound of leather thudding against a chest is brutal and violent.

I glance at Summer, enraptured by her stark beauty in contrast to the intense viciousness on display in front of her. Her mouth is tipped up ever so slightly, like she may be enjoying herself. Each punch reverberating across the ring makes her body flinch, but she keeps her focus locked on each male.

One man moves with fierce precision, stalking like a predator toward his prey. His footwork is tight and controlled, and when he strikes, it’s quick—a sharp jab to the head.

There’s no wasted movement, no hesitation, just raw, calculated force. Sweat glistens on their skin, and I know the sting they feel when it washes into their eyes. Small cuts pepper both their faces already.

The fight is unpredictable, and if anything, the crowd is eating it up. There isn’t a clear winner, which means it’s anyone’s fight. Their bodies slam into each other, the full crunch of bone breaking under a rib shot. I’m so wrapped up in the sheer physicality of it all, I miss Callum leaning down into my ear.

“Boss. Riku has been detained.”

“Aye.” Then leaning over to Summer, I kiss her cheek. “Stay with Cormac.”

Cormac bolts up, seemingly annoyed. He doesn’t like I’ve delegated him to stay here with Summer, but if there’s anyone I trust the most, it’s him. He should be honored.

Her dark eyes glimmer with emotion, those plump pink-stained lips parting almost as if on instinct when I offer her direction.

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