Samira took a step forward but Jeremy grabbed her, unleashing fury within Ivan – he span Jeremy round and punched him hard. Danny launched himself at Ivan, keen to get his revenge for yesterday, but Samira twisted and kneed him in the balls. He keeled over, letting go of Ivan’s arm as he dropped to the marble floor.
Jeremy recovered from the punch and rubbed his cheek. “You’re dead-meat.”
Ivan glanced up and saw two burly bouncers bounding over to help the boss’s son. They were huge – width and height – and they were now on a mission to pay Ivan back for what he’d just done to Jeremy.
Ivan grabbed Samira’s hand. “Let’s go.”
They hurried out of the hotel entrance where the night-time humidity smothered them like a rubber curtain. It was dark out here and unfortunately the taxi hadn’t yet arrived. Shit.
Ivan and Samira turned back to face the hotel and saw that Jeremy was jogging down the granite steps with the bouncers – and they were seemingly under his command.
“Get him,” Jeremy said, like an owner releasing the rottweilers.
Ivan stood in front of Samira to protect her as the bouncers approached. He hoped to fend them off until the taxi arrived – surely it shouldn’t be too long – he ought to be able to handle this; it was just another scuffle. Ivan didn’t go out looking for trouble, but a lively childhood of fighting dirty had taught him plenty of tricks. He knew how to flatten people fast; when Ivan got in a fight, it wasn’t to make the other person submit – there was no ego trip involved. His style was ‘punch their lights out and get away unharmed’. It was simple: fight quick, as if your life depended on it. Punch, kick, gouge… if you get them on the ground, keep them on the ground. Hit hard, hit fast…
He rooted his feet to the floor, tucked in his elbows, and lifted his fists up to shoulder height. He intended to let those two artless meatheads come to him – the closer they were, the easier it was to jab an elbow in the nose, a knee in the balls…. Rip off an ear – that always stopped a fight pretty damn quick.
He’d brawled with guys like these before – corporate thugs who were technically not supposed to rough you up. But all that pent-up unspent testosterone had to go somewhere. They were like chained dogs, desperate to get in the ring.
The bouncers launched themselves at Ivan to grab him. He managed to land a few jabs on one guy, before the other punched him hard in the stomach, winding him. He forced himself to stand upright – he needed to stay on his feet – but the tank-on-legs slugged him in the face, sending him backwards. He quickly re-centred. Those two blows had pissed him off; he wasn’t going to lose this. He pulled back his fist and punched one of the guys hard in the face, making him stumble.
He didn’t want Samira involved in this, but she’d now thrown herself at the other guy, gripping onto his back and wrapping her legs around his waist. He flailed around, trying to throw her off. But Ivan knew how strong those thighs were. He ran to help her and slugged the struggling bouncer hard on the nose. He jolted backwards at the force of Ivan’s blow, knocking Samira off with such power that she crashed down to the ground. Ivan crouched to help her stand.
She grabbed his proffered hand. “Ivan, look out!”
Both thugs grabbed Ivan off-guard and pinned him to the wall. Ivan panted for breath, struggling against them, refusing to let them win. But they were strong and he was tiring.
“Hold him still,” Jeremy called. “I want to make sure this guy knows not to mess with me.”
Jeremy pulled back his fist as the bouncers held Ivan – one on each side. Where were his f**king brothers when he needed them? But Ivan wasn’t going to allow this spoiled brat to punch him. He struggled in their firm grip, kicking his legs wildly so Jeremy couldn’t get close. Ivan glanced around for Samira, and he grinned as he saw her coming up behind with a ceramic plant pot, which she smashed down on the back of one of the bouncer’s heads, causing him to topple like a felled tree. Ivan scrabbled up and punched the other bouncer hard in the face with a crunch of bone against his fist. But the guy was made of tougher stuff than Ivan had hoped – he’d obviously been trained well. He grabbed Ivan by the front of the shirt and pulled back his fist.
“Looks like you’ve won,” Ivan said, bluffing for time.
The bouncer smiled triumphantly. “Looks like it. Surely you didn’t think that we – urgh!”
Ivan’s knee caught him hard in the balls, making him collapse to the ground like a pathetic little boy. He rolled in agony in the fetal position.
Ivan stood over him. “Rule one of street-fighting, buddy. No stupid little speeches. Get in and get out.”
? Also By Julie Farrell
· The Billionaire's Heart · The Billionaire's Affair: Billionaire Brothers · The Billionaire's Secret: Billionaire Obsessio... · The Billionaire's Revenge: Billionaire Brother... · The Billionaire's Kisses: Billionaire Brothers · The Billionaire's Heart: Billionaire Brothers · The Billionaire's Heir: Billionaire Obsession · Billionaire Brothers ? Last Updated