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“Looks like Donovan has already taken off—and with all of your money.” I shook my head as the crowd murmured. “You see, I was supposed to lose this fight.” I touched a gloved hand to my blood-streaked chest. “Since most of you all bet on me to win, well, Donovan stood to make a hell of a lot of money if I lost.”
I heard shouts and cursing from the crowd. Open mouths. Shock.
“I was going to do it because he threatened to hurt people I care about. And not just my friends and family.” I swallowed back the emotions in my throat. “Children.” My eyes connected with Anna, and she took a step back from the cage, her eyes widening.
As much as I wanted to hold her eyes with mine, I needed to stay focused. I needed to direct this angry group if this was going to work.
“I know some of you out here are Garda. And you enjoy betting on a good fight, even though it’s illegal.” My fingers curled into my palms, becoming a fist near my heart. “But I’m asking you to go after him. Get your feckin’ money. Take the bastard down!” I moved with slow steps, coming closer to the side of the ring where Anna was standing.
“We can’t let him run this city anymore. There will always be fights, but you don’t need Donovan for that.” People were moving, pushing—fighting their way to the exits. Others stayed, looking at me, listening.
“I couldn’t lose tonight. I was planning on it, though. I mean, if I didn’t lose, what would happen to the kids? To the people I care about?” I looked back at Anna again, and the understanding—the forgiveness—on her face, almost shredded me. I wanted to sink to my knees.
But I tried to remain standing. To remain strong. I unfurled my fist and showed Anna my palm—a message to her. I saw the recognition in her eyes.
“So, please, go after that sick fuck and get your money back. Go after him for threatening to hurt the children of our city for the sake of his own greed. Go after him so no one has to live in fear anymore!”
I dropped the mic as I watched the audience disperse—hopefully listening to me. I waited a minute then approached Anna. I finally kneeled to the ground, and I slid my fingers up the cage to meet hers. “You’re here.”
“I’m here,” she murmured.
“I was going to lose,” I said. “But I saw you, and I—” I released my grip from her hand. “What the hell am I doing?” I dragged a gloved hand down my cheek, still in shock. “Let me come to you.” I tugged off my thin gloves and tossed them, the room emptying as I left the ring.
I moved fast in Anna’s direction, but Frankie stepped up in front of me, blocking my path.
I stiffened at the sight of him, my hands snapping into fists at my sides. What the bloody hell did he want?
“I’m sorry, McGregor. I didn’t know.”
I tipped my head at him, surprised by his reaction.
“Good fight.” He reached out to shake my hand. If Frankie could shake my hand, then maybe everything would turn out okay.
“Adam,” Anna cried, and I craned to look past Frankie to where she was.
I patted Frankie on the back on my way to her. She flung her arms around my neck, and I pulled her tight against me. “You’re going to get all bloody.”
“I don’t care.”
It took me a good minute to finally release her, but when I did, my eyes flickered over to discover Holly standing at her side. “You’re here, too?”
“Hi, big brother.” Holly forced a weak smile.
“What’s going on?” I looked to Anna.
“We thought you’d need someone in your corner. Two someones,” Anna said before biting her lip.
“You still came, after how I treated you?” I almost couldn’t believe it.
She tipped her chin up and looked at me in the eyes. “You fought for them.”
I knew what she meant. “Yes, but when I saw you tonight, I fought for us.”
“You want there to be an us?” she softly asked, her voice breaking.
I cupped both her cheeks with my hands and rested my forehead against hers. “Of course,” I whispered. We remained there for a moment until I took a step back.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
