Page 64 of Wicked Oath
“Why the fuck would we let this go?” Owen says. “You fucked up, James. You’re going to face the consequences. You’re already planning another attack. Call it off.”
“I did. Just a few hours ago. Trust me. I don’t want this anymore.” I rest my hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “I just want to be with Olivia.”
Clearly, that was the wrong thing to say because Owen’s face scrunches up even more. “Leave my sister out of this.” He rushes forward and shoves me back. Olivia cries out as she stumbles to the side.
Before I can react, Owen punches me in the face, again and again.
“Owen, stop!” Olivia screams. Patrick places a hand on her arm.
“I always knew not to trust you!” Owen yells as he gets another punch in. When he pulls his arm back to throw another one, I manage to right myself and catch his fist, stopping him from hitting me again. I shove his arm back and throw a punch squarely in his face.
Owen growls as he grips my shoulders, trying to push me down. I just grab onto him, and the next thing I know, we’re in a strange standoff, neither of us letting the other one go, but neither of us able to progress the fight.
“Please, stop,” Olivia sobs. I glance at her to see her crying. Shit. None of this was how I wanted it to go.
I step back and let Owen go. He stumbles forward, and I hold my hands up before he can hit me again. “Let’s pause. Just for a second.” My face is on fire, and my nose feels broken.
“Why should I do anything you want?”
“Because your sister is crying.” I nod at Olivia.
Owen looks at her, his face softening a fraction. “Olivia, are you hurt?”
“No, you stupid idiot,” she snaps. “You’re beating up my husband. How do you think that makes me feel?” Patrick tries to shush her, but Olivia brushes him off.
“How can you still care for this traitor?” Owen points at me. “He’s trying to hurt our family.”
“No, he’s not. He tried to get back at dad for what he did, and then he decided to stop, and now, you’re beating him up. James isn’t the villain here.”
“Oh, and Dad is?”
Olivia glances at Patrick, whose face is filled with shame and guilt. “Dad, do you feel bad for what you did to James’ dad?”
“At the time, no,” he admits. I shove down my anger. “But seeing the chaos it has caused, I regret it now. While James messed up by coming after my product, I get why he did it.”
Owen scoffs, throwing his head back. “This is ridiculous! James blew up one of your shipments, Dad! He made you lose hundreds of thousands of dollars! And you’re not mad at him?”
Patrick places a hand on Owen’s shoulder. “Sometimes you have to let your anger go in this business, son, to avoid unnecessary hardships.”
“This is bullshit,” Owen growls, then turns back to me. “My dad might understand why you did what you did, but you’re going to pay for your crimes, Kelly. I won’t have it any other way.”
I stare Owen down. “What do you have in mind?”
“You and me, we fight in the ring. I want to beat you to a bloody fucking pulp. And when I do, you’ll understand not to mess with a Donovan.”
“This is so stupid,” Olivia mutters.
“No, I’ll do it,” I say. “If this is the only way to get you off my back, Owen, I’ll do it. I’ll prove to you that I’m here for Olivia. I won’t cause any more problems. And once we’re done with this fight, you’ll back off and leave me thefuckalone.”
“You don’t understand, James. This is a fight to the death.”
“What?” Olivia gasps.
Patrick steps forward. “Now, hold on a minute. This isn’t smart. I’m not about to lose my son or son-in-law. I refuse. As your boss, I command you two not to fight.”
I keep my eyes locked on Owen as I respond, “But, Patrick, you’re not my boss, and if I want to fight, I’m going to fight.”
Owen smirks. “That’s the spirit. Let’s do this.”
