AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Donovan hated me for walking out on him. He had a few of his guys hold me down and beat the shit out of me. And I let them. I deserved it after what happened to Owen.”
“And now you’re back?” My shoulders shrank as sadness overwhelmed me.
“I’m not sure if there will be a way out this time.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “My family might have money, but Donovan has power. He owns half the city. And I’m honestly not sure how I managed to escape him for so long.”
“That’s why you created the center? To try and keep the kids out of his clutches?”
He nodded. “Redemption.”
“You can’t blame yourself—”
“I can, and I do. I remember what I did to Owen every day. And it has kept me from fighting, until now.” He shook his head, and a flash of anger lit his eyes. “You see, Anna, we all make choices. I made mine a long time ago. Now I must suffer the consequences. Now you understand why I’m dangerous for you, why you can’t be with me.”
Adam started to walk away, and I stood there, watching him leave.
“No.” The word escaped from my lips in a whisper. “No,” I said louder and finally moved to catch up with him. “No, Adam.” I touched his shoulder.
He spun to face me, his hands locked at his sides.
“I refuse to accept that,” I cried.
He shook his head, his eyes hard as steel. “Last night was it for us. We can’t—”
“If you don’t want this to continue because you don’t give a shit about me, that’s one thing. But if you’re the man I think you are, then don’t back down. Fight. Fight for yourself! Fight to be the man you know you are, the man you are when you’re with me. Fight for the kids at the center.” My body trembled as his eyes seemed to melt into a blue like the sea. “Do what you have to, to save your friend, and then get away from Donovan and never look back.”
Adam’s chest rose and fell in deep breaths. Then he closed the gap between us and pulled me against him. “Jesus, Anna—who the hell are you?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ADAM
“Absolutely fucking not.”
I looked up at Donovan, whose dark eyes were drilling into me. His arms crossed over his chest, and his shoulders rolled back as his spine straightened. As if that would intimidate me.
“I don’t want to fight. I’m done.” I hadn’t trained or thrown a punch since I revealed the truth to Anna on Sunday. And I didn’t want to, ever again. If she thought I could be better, maybe I could. I owed it to myself and her to try.
“What about our agreement?” He cocked his head, and I focused on the dragon tattoo on his neck. The tongue darted from the mouth whenever Donovan moved.
“Feck the agreement.”
“So you no longer give a damn about Les? Or Anna?”
“You no longer care if I go to the Garda?”
Donovan laughed—a deep, irritating laugh. “You don’t have the balls. You didn’t do it before, and you won’t do it now.”
“Try me,” I bit out.
Donovan closed the gap between us until I could smell his breath on my face, stale and ashy. “Do it, then.” He sniggered and raised his brows. “But you know nothing will happen to me. Anna won’t be so lucky. You can send her back to her little farm in Kentucky if you want, but she won’t be safe there.”
“You won’t touch her.” I tried to remain cool as I called his bluff, eying the three arseholes that were acting as his shield.
“You really willing to take that risk?” He rolled his eyes. “I have a lot of money riding on the match with Frankie. A lot of bets coming in. You’re only two fights in, and people are already favoring you to win.”
My palms twitched at my sides. “And what reassurances do I have that you’ll stop threatening me after the fight in November?”
“I’ll give you my word.”
