Gifted Connections 4

“Later,” I told him with a wink.

He laughed in surprise.

“It’s time-” Troy began to speak before I heard cheers on the opposite side and saw Adams was up by three. Troy took my face in his hands before he dropped a quick kiss on my lips. “The points don’t matter. You look amazing out there. Take all that anger you’re feeling and use it to your benefit. Put her in her place and keep her there.”

I nodded with a smile. He understood the most what the sparring ring gave us. He had used it for years to expend all his unhealthy energy and turned it to good.

It all came down to the last round. I had us tied in the second round, and once again, she had let me get in her head. I had made her livid. She wasn’t dumb enough to pull some of the tricks she had before, but she was still continuing to hit me with more force than necessary.

Henderson continued to warn her, but she didn’t seem to care, especially after I had landed a three-kick combination on her. Mentally we both were keeping score in our head. She knew I was up by three with less than twenty seconds in the round.

She did some quick footwork, causing me to take a step forward, and I realized my mistake too late as she smiled gleefully before quickly hiding it. She forced me to step into her kick, which conveniently left my left arm exposed. She could deny accountability since I technically traveled in the path of her attack.

Bright white lights exploded behind my eyes, and I couldn’t breathe, the pain was so great.

“She walked into it!” I heard Adams immediately exclaim as she held up her hands innocently.

I gritted my teeth. Digging deep within myself. I was beyond angry. Angry at myself for taking her bait.

Irritated that she intentionally hit me in my arm. Livid that my guys were physically feeling the effects of our loss of gifts. Upset that one man and his infuriating behavior was keeping me in this state of limbo. Fuming that I lost my gifts. Annoyed at life in general. It was time I took control.

She thought the match was won, but I still had it in me to finish it and finish I would.

She didn’t expect my attack, and she barely got her hands up in time. I shuffled my feet to the right, then I used my back leg to push her forward. I took my rear leg and landed a roundhouse kick to the side, and before she could react, I did a double kick ensuring that my second kick landed on her head. I didn’t put my full force behind my last kick, but she was going to remember it.

I was breathing heavy and felt extremely light-headed as the whistle blew. I vaguely noticed the guys were already making their way to me, and, as always. Remy looked angry. Jaxson, Noah, and Drake looked concerned as they looked at my arm. I looked down, slightly woozy, and noticed blood running down my arm.

“You have got to be the most reckless girl I have ever met,” a cool clipped tone bit out to my left after the whistle blew.

I looked up startled to see Lincoln Hudgens advancing towards me, his piercing dark blue-green eyes scrutinizing me as he removed his shirt revealing a white tee under it.

Chapter 14

I barely registered the hush that fell over the room before excited whispers began all around me. Especially from the females in particular. I hissed as Lincoln made contact with my arm. I was wondering if I imagined him there as I looked up and saw Will, Paul, and Leo step behind him.

Will was shaking his head in worried exasperation at me as Leo was looking at me with a new level of respect. I knew he had commended me numerous times for taking a bullet for a client, but I think he still believed I was somewhat of a distraction for his boss.

“Let’s take her to the hospital wing,” Noah stated grimly as he eyed Lincoln. The guys looked like they wanted to take over, but they knew better than to interfere at this point. I think they already knew Lincoln would refuse to relieve the pressure on my arm.

“I’ll follow you,” Lincoln stated in a brusque tone.

“I’ll lift her if you’ll keep the pressure on her arm. I don’t think she should walk the distance,” Troy stated as he lifted me in his arms immediately after Lincoln nodded in agreement.

I was in a state of shock to see Lincoln there. “What are you doing here?” I blurted out as we entered the hall.

He gave me an enigmatic look with a raised brow. “I would think it was obvious. Is this a constant occurrence around her?” he turned and looked at the other guys. “Is she always reckless, with a disregard for her own safety?”

“You may be her connection,” Remy said gruffly, “But that doesn’t give you the right to criticize her.”

I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh in Troy’s chest. I kept my face there since looking at the fluorescent lights above us and looking at the guys was making me feel dizzy and even more lightheaded. Remy was acting so hypocritical right now. He would have given me the same reproach if Lincoln wasn’t here. Especially since I entered the ring against his advisement.

“Blake should come with her own list of cautions,” Jemmy simpered as she caught up beside us. “You’ve probably only seen the tip of her iceberg.”

I was slightly upset by her blatant attack. I never expected it. She usually didn’t hold grudges for this long, either. I also never expected her to openly flirt with Lincoln in front of Gavin.

“Jem,” Gavin said in a warning tone.

“What?” Jemmy said in feigned innocence.