Page 60 of Bound By Ink

“Go with Jerry,” he snarls as his face contorts. Blood trickles from the split on his lip, and I nod. When I turn towards Jerry, Derren has stopped dead in his tracks, but the older man crosses his arms over his chest.

“You’ll pay for this, you fucking weasel,” Derren bellows over Jerry’s head, and I cower. He turns and walks back to his friends. Jerry grips my arm, and I flinch as he tugs me away from the side of the cage, away from Killian. When I try to pull back, he glares at me.

“He’s got a lot riding on this, kid. Don’t fucking destroy everything.” He pulls me harder. I lose sight of Killian when I’m yanked past two burly bouncers and pushed down a corridor. Jerry pulls me into a room out the back. “Stay here. Don’t fucking move.”

“Please,” I gasp.

“I said, don’t fucking move, Scott.”

I nod, wrapping my arms around myself as I step back and sit in the chair in the corner. My eyes flit aroundthe dull, grimy room when Jerry turns on his heels and leaves me sitting there, all alone.

The roar of the crowd reaches me as tears start to roll down my sore face. Hugging myself tighter, I lift my feet onto the chair and pull myself into a hug, trying to hold everything together. The dull roar repeatedly startles me as it builds and ebbs off, leaving me terrified in the dark.

Killian

Chapter 31

Jerry drags Scott away from the cage, and I turn to stare at Derren. I lift my thumb to my neck and slide it across it, looking at him. His eyes widen as he snarls, his bravado waning, though, while I promise he will pay. The bell rings, and I try to cover my ribs. He got that shot in while I was distracted, maybe breaking my rib. I dance out of his way again, licking at the split in my lip, which is hard with a gum shield in.

No second chances now. This fight is about to end. I’ve got a lot of money riding on me, anonymously, of course, but I have to win. Jerry is relying on me, too. This was meant to give us both a fresh start. I dive at Widowmaker, punching him square in the jaw. His head swings back, his eyes rattle and glaze, becoming unfocused and glassy. I lash out again. He stumbles, trying to swing at me, but I uppercut him. His head flies back. He staggers before he lunges for me. I step to the side, and he trips, momentum causing him to lose his balance from his lack of coordination, yelling out as he goes down, crashing to the mat.

I dive forward, taking advantage of the situation, wanting Dickhead to truly see what I’m capable of. I band my arms around Widowmaker’s neck as he tries to roll onto his back with me underneath him. I roar out as he pushes onto my ribs. I wrap my legs around him.

Once I’ve got him held tight, I use my free arm to punch him, raining blows against his ribs and face as he tries to block me. His body grows heavy, his grip loosening. He’s about to pass out, and the referee slides across the mat before signalling the end of the match. I relax, letting go of Widowmaker, but he’s out of it. I thrust my hips and push him off me. When he rolls onto his side, gasping for breath, he mentally shuts down. I jump to my feet, and the referee steps over to me, lifting my hand and announcing me the winner.

I stare out at Derren, his eyes wide as I mouth, “Run, motherfucker.” I don’t wait to watch him leave. I storm out of the cage, towards the corridor, where I know Jerry will have taken Scott. I make a beeline for him.

When I reach the room. I rest my head against the door, my hand sliding to the handle. I stand there for a second, taking a breath, trying to calm my feelings and my racing mind.

“You good?” Jerry’s voice trickles down the corridor, and I nod. Staring back at the door, I click it open and step inside.

Scott’s gaze flicks to mine. He’s curled up in the chair, his arms around his legs. He flinches as the door opens, squinting as the light trickles into the room.

But when he sees me, he breaks, the tears that were silently flowing down his cheeks turn to sobbing as hejumps up. I’m bloody and sweaty, but he wraps his arms around me, clinging to me as he sobs into my chest.

“I’m so sorry.” He leans into me, and I grit my teeth at the pain searing through me, but I can’t bring myself to care.

He’s here, he’s clinging to me. From here on out, he will be mine. When his sobs die down, I push him away from me. Lifting his gaze to mine. My fingers skate gently over his purpling cheek, and I cup his face.

“You okay, Nerd?” His lip quivers for a second before he smiles a shy grin. I envelop my arms around him, pulling him to me again.

I hug him tight before I lean in and whisper, “You’re mine. No more going back to him, you hear me?”

He nods against me. I pull back and lift his chin. “Look at me.” He blinks before gazing at me. “You listening? You’re it for me, Nerd. No more messing around.”

He gives me another small nod, and I crash my face into his. The split on my lip stings, but I kiss him harder. His tongue slides against mine as he melts for me. Unable to still his hands, they roam over my bare, sweaty chest and around my shoulders. He digs his fingers into the back of my head, wet with sweat, and tugs my hair at the roots, and I growl. He whimpers against me, and I back him towards the wall.

There’s a knock on the door that breaks us apart, staring at each other as I yell, “Yeah.”

“You guys good? It’s time to leave; everyone’s packing up.”

“Two minutes, Jerry.” I step back from Scott, ripping my mitts off and yanking at the strapping binding myhands. After throwing everything in my bag and tugging out a hoodie, I toss it on and slide my feet into my trainers. I grab Scott’s hand, yanking him towards the door. When I get there, I turn, and he crashes into me.

“I’m gonna be needing my key back.” I lean in.

He just nods, grinning at me, the slight cut on the bridge of his nose from where his glasses dug in weeps. The purple bruise will probably look worse before it gets better, but he’s here with me, and that’s all that matters. He has more glasses at home. They’re replaceable. He’s not.

I pull him through the door and the almost-empty warehouse. As I pass Jerry, he gives me the nod, and I throw him a wink. He knows I’ll be around tomorrow to collect my winnings, although I guess that apartment I saw in the city isn’t needed anymore.