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“Not a problem,” I assure her. “I see you are not willing to fully break the rules.”
“You think so.” Her mischievous smile leads me to believe she thinks she will win, and her brother will deny the night.
Little does she know.
With each bruising punch, kick, and takedown, Haven shudders with prickling excitement. Her pupils swell with the brand-new awakening in front of her. She is enjoying the fight. It surprises me. To look at her, you would think she would run from the brutal scene before us rather than jump up and down next to me. The fight doesn’t last long. Haven was almost on point with her bet. Ghost took Rock down, and knocked him out cold, but it was at the beginning of the second round and not the first.
My instincts told me it was coming. I watched the way Ghost worked Rock. He was smart. He let Rock come at him full speed and waited until he tired. When Rock’s arms lost their strength, Ghost moved in. That’s when I knew I had to walk away and meet up with Luca and Giovanni in my office to pay the debts. I had Joseph grab her cousin, bringing him to stand with her while I took care of business. She was so into the fight that she hadn’t noticed I walked away or that her cousin was now standing at her back.
I watch her from the door of my office as the line begins to form to collect their winnings. When the fight ends, she turns around with chin rubbing excitement that falls flat when she realizes I’m not standing there any longer. She surveys the area before turning back to Ciarán. I watch on as he informs her of my location. She turns in my direction. Our eyes lock. Her mouth parts and I can think of nothing else but wanting to desecrate her lips with my own.
We hold an intense stare.
Then I turn away.
ChapterSeven
HAVEN
Ciarán locksthe doors to his rented white on white Mercedes G Wagon after we get inside. I am buzzing inside, floating on a massive high.
“Can we do that again?” My cousin looks at me from the driver’s seat. “Go to another fight? How often do they have them?”
“A couple times a month.”
“I’m sorry I lost your money. I’ll pay you back.”
“No worries, cuz.”
“I almost won. Had I said the second round, I would have. I didn’t think Rock would get past the first one. I was so close.” I vibrate in my seat with enthusiasm.
“You were. Next time.” He turns onto a side street leading to another dark road.
“Thank you for taking me.”
“Anytime.”
“That man, Demetri. He’s sound? You know him?”
“Cillian is working with their organization. I wouldn’t say he is a cool guy.”
“You trust him well enough to let me go to him?”
“Yeah.”
“Would Cillian?” I ask, knowing my brother is very overprotective of me.
He glances my way. “Why?”
“I made a side bet with him. I lost.”
His head snaps in my direction. “What do you feckin mean you made a side bet with him?”
“It doesn’t matter anyways. I was supposed to go on a date with him if I lost. But we left, not confirming it. So, it’s void.” I smile, proud of myself that I bested him.
“Not void, Haven. Cop on!” He slams his hand into the steering wheel. Irish slang rushes out with his anger. “Were you supposed to meet up with him after the fight, Haven?”
“Cop on? I am not stupid, Ciarán. How dare you call me unintelligent.” I glance out the window, my feelings hurt, before turning back to him. “I don’t know. I suppose I was. Maybe? I told him he had to ask Cillian for permission anyway.”
