Page 15 of Fury

“Xanthe,” says Donnie, looking concerned.

“I need some air,” she tells him, and he places a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“I’ll come with you.”

Once they’ve gone, Grizz holds the bag still for me to hit. “What was that about?”

“Nothing.”

“Didn’t look like nothing.”

“I used to know Xanthe,” I admit. “But Donnie doesn’t know that.”

“And you’ve met up again through him?” he asks.

“No. She was the nurse who treated me after Donnie’s men laid into me.”

“Fuck. It’s a small world. She mean anything to you?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

Fletch opens the door. “They’re ready for you,” he calls to me.

Axel hits me on the back. “Good luck, brother.”

We walk out to the ring together, my brothers behind me. A few people cheer, but most are too busy getting last-minute bets in. I climb into the ring and glance around while Axel removes my robe. I spot Xanthe in the front row with a few femalefriends. Donnie is at the next table with men I don’t know. He tips his head my way, a warning that I am expected to win.

I jump about and stretch my legs while the other boxer gets into the ring. He’s big, bigger than me, and I haven’t seen him before, which is concerning seeing as I’ve been working the circuit hard these last few weeks and have met most heavyweights in my league.

Axel leans close to my ear as he shoves my mouth guard in. “I wouldn’t put it past Donnie to have fixed this so you lose,” he whispers. “Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

The referee calls us to the middle and tells us the usual rules. Then he wipes our gloves down his shirt before signalling for us to go to our corners. The bell rings, and my mind focusses in on the beast opposite me. His footing is off, and he’s holding his left arm closer to his body like he’s in pain. As I get closer, I see faint bruising under his eyes, which means he’s fought recently, like me.

My first punch lands on his left side, right to the ribs, and he winces. I follow it quickly with two more punches, and he stumbles back. “Fuck me,” I mutter, “are you even a boxer?”

He dashes a fist towards my head, and I dodge it, ducking down and hitting him in the ribs again. He almost doubles over, and I land a couple to his head. I back him to the ropes, caging him in the corner and hitting him continuously. The crowd is loud, cheering my name as I lay into him. I glance at Xanthe, who is yelling too, making me smile. And then the bell rings, and I head back to my corner.

Xanthe

“I thought you hated violence,”says Jorja, laughing as I lower back into my seat.

I laugh too. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Bloodlust,” says Julianna. “It sends women into a frenzy.”

“Especially when the guy fighting looks as good as that,” adds Jorja.

I glance over to Donnie’s table to make sure he’s not listening. “Remember what I said,” I whisper.

“Relax, he’s not paying any attention,” says Julianna. “How much of a coincidence is that?” she asks. “Your ex working for your new man.”

“He isn’t my new man,” I say, rolling my eyes. “And can I class Fury as an ex? We were teenagers.”

“How old exactly?” asks Jorja.

I shrug. “Fourteen until we were about sixteen.”

“Two years?” she hisses, her eyes wide with surprise.

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