Page 19 of Heir of Fire
Finn seemed to find the opening he had been waiting for because he dove a punch in, landing it directly against Raphael’s ribs. He doubled over in pain for a moment, but that was long enough to have Finn launching another hit, against his cheekthis time. She could hear every time skin hit skin. The hits he gave were full of power and aggression.
She was fascinated, so much so that her eyes never once drifted over to Raphael. They stayed on Finn the entire time. This was the first time she was seeing him since the incident in her room and now she couldn’t get enough of him. Her eyes ate up every movement he made. Almost like she was the predator stalking its prey now. It was humiliating, but she couldn’t help it.
Finn pushed his hair back, looking up for a moment and locking eyes with her. Her heart shouldn’t have picked up the way it did, nor should she have found satisfaction in the way his eyes widened a fraction when he saw her.
In a split second, he broke their eye contact, landing another painful punch to Raphael’s nose. Blood splattered the already stained ring, nearly getting on her outfit in the process. She would have cursed Finn out, but he managed to get kicked in the stomach unexpectedly.
He groaned, taking a couple steps back. Worry etched in her body. Did Finn know that Raphael knew how to fight? Dammit, she sure hoped he did.
His few seconds of recovery ended quickly when Raphael was back up landing another hard hit against his temple. It didn’t seem to faze Finn, luckily.
They exchanged hits in a heated exchange, each more brutal than the one before. Finn overpowered Raphael, towering over him in a show of pure dominance.
What was this feeling inside of her? Attraction? Sure. Admiration? Maybe.
Pure and raw lust? Absolutely.
It only became more intense when he ripped off his gloves before wrapping a hand around Raphael’s throat. Finn lifted him off the ground, letting him choke and plead for air before slamming him onto the ring.
A gasp left her lips at the absolute show of strength. Raphael didn’t move after that. He could have been dead for all anyone knew, but from the small rise and fall of his chest, Gianna knew he was alive.
Finn stood there for a moment, letting the sweat roll down his body and mix with the other liquids already covering the ring.
He raised his arm, naming himself the winner.
For once in her life, she was truly at a loss for words.
His dark brown eyes connected with hers in a way that had her stumbling back. She wanted to question why he did it, why he fought Raphael, but she already knew the answer. The look on his face, the intensity in his eyes, it told her everything she needed to know.
He did it for her.
That was all she knew and maybe she didn’t need to know any more than that.
Someone grabbing her hand was the only thing that pulled her out of the nauseating gaze.
“Are you ready to go? I think we’re still going to hit up a party with Dante,” Blair told her, seemingly unaware of what was happening. “Luna and Valerio said they would meet us, but I highly doubt it.”
If Blair didn’t notice the intensity of the moment, maybe there wasn’t anything to it in the first place. Was Gianna just imagining it?
She shook her head. She couldn’t decide if a party was exactly what she needed or the last place she should have been at. “I’m not sure.”
“Are you serious? You’re turning down a party?” Blair asked. She raised her brow and had a look in her eyes that said she didn’t buy it for a single moment.
Gianna placed her hand on her forehead, trying to feign sickness the best she could. “I think the mixing of the alcohol plus all this yelling really did a number on me. My head is killing me.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” she said.
She wasn’t sure about anything anymore, actually.
“Okay, well tell Allister so he can get a car for you,” Blair said. “And text us if you change your mind or if you need us to come home.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
Gianna did exactly that but had to work a little more thoroughly to convince Allister she was fine.
“You’ve been sick a lot lately,” he said, walking her out to the car. “I think you should get in to see the doctor.”
