“They’ve gotta be in the same weight category as me, dumbass.” He shrugged. “Don’t sweat it, Zak. I’m good to go.”
“How do you know he isn’t setting you up?” Finn suddenly piped up.
Truth was, I didn’t know. I just had to trust in my own ability, because in reality, I wasn’t sure if I could trust Pat.
“Yeah,” Kian butted in, pointing his finger at me. “I heard one bloke outside say it’s gonna be a blood bath. Maybe they have set you up, mate.”
Jesus, these lads really knew how to build me up ready for a fight. Had they forgotten about my undefeated record? Did I need to remind them what a punch from me felt like?
“Blood bath for them, not me.” I was done with this shit pep-talk. They weren’t helping me get into the zone at all and if I was honest, the only person I wanted to be around right now was Harper. “Stop listening to gossip, okay? You’re worse than a bloody woman.”
I started pacing the room. I couldn’t help it. I was like a caged tiger and everything they said and did pissed me off.
“Speaking of women,” Kian answered back, totally oblivious to the fact that he was starting to outgrow his welcome. “Harper’s outside with Em and the others. I told her to come with me, thought maybe she didn’t know where you were, but she said she didn’t want to disturb you. Something about getting into the right headspace?”
At least my woman had my best interests at heart.
I thought about my response before I answered. Part of me wanted to block out the fact that she was here. I knew she’d be worrying. But I also knew she was the reason I was doing this. I loved fighting, but I wanted to make a better life for myself, so I had more to offer her.
Ryan could see I was hovering over my decision.
“Do you want me to go and get her?” he asked, sensing my apprehension.
“Do you mind?”
He nodded and stood up, giving the other three a look that tol
d them they needed to make themselves scarce.
“Good luck, mate.” Ryan stalked past me and patted my shoulder. “I know you won’t need it though. Show these tossers what us Sandland boys are made of.”
I watched him leave, and he beckoned for Zak and Kian to follow him. Finn stood up and grabbed a water bottle from the floor, handing it to me.
“I… I…” He stuttered over his words, so I bypassed his nervousness and gave him a brotherly hug. Actions always spoke louder than words where Finn was concerned.
“You don’t need to say anything. I already know.” The lump forming in my throat wasn’t a good sign, and I swallowed it down. I needed to switch into fight mode, not get in touch with my emotional side.
He nodded, staring at the floor as he broke away, and then he turned to leave. As he opened the door, I saw Harper standing on the other side. Even in her red hoody and black ripped skinny jeans she looked fucking stunning. Her long blonde hair was tied up into a high ponytail and she was biting her lip like she shouldn’t be here.
“Don’t just stand there, get in here.”
This woman could shatter any wall I put around myself. She fucking owned me. Forget dampening down my emotions, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and show her how much I loved her. The minute I laid eyes on her, every feeling inside me intensified. I stalked over to where she was and grabbed her arm, pulling her into the room and slamming the door behind her. I need to touch her, smell her, feel her in my arms to quieten the angry voices in my head.
In the privacy of my changing room, I held her close to my chest, buried my face in the warmth of her neck, and let the softness of her breath and her steady heartbeat focus me. She clung onto me like this was the last time we were ever going to see each other. When we eventually parted, she ran her fingers lightly down the hardened muscles of my chest and stopped when she got to my lion tattoo.
“I’m only gonna say one thing, Brandon.” She traced her finger over the bumps of my scar and then looked up at me through her long lashes. The hurt she held behind them almost crippled me. “Come back to me.”
Damn. Hearing her say that tore a hole down the centre of my heart.
“I’ll never leave you.”
I pressed my forehead against hers. If I could find a way to tuck her inside of me I would. Sounds weird, I know, but she was so much a part of me that it didn’t feel right when she walked away. I needed that constant contact. I wanted her with me, always. She was my lifeline.
“I probably shouldn’t say this.” She bit her lip again, and I reached up to pull it free, then lifted her chin. I wanted to kiss her so badly. I wanted to take her mouth with mine and steal every breath, every word. But I held back, letting her say her piece.
“What is it? Come on. Don’t ever hold back on me.”
She breathed deeply before she spoke again, taking a steadying breath so she could get her words out. No doubt she was deciding whether what she was going to say was right or not. But I never wanted her to second guess anything, not when it came to me.