I looked away, my hand tightening around Murphy’s neck. He was grimacing, glaring at me with his teeth bared.
It would be so easy...
“If I find out you or your fuckin’ brother went near her again, I will skin you alive,” I growled. “It’s over.”
Murphy grunted, throat bobbing against my hand as his voice rasped, “No—”
I shoved him aside, taking a step back to wait for him to get up. He tried, but the pain between his legs was too much and he fell to his back, shaking his head in denial. "No-no-no-no. I was winning—"
Joe rang the final bell from where he stood on the other side of the pit. He hadn't bothered counting the ten seconds. There wasn’t any point when everyone knew Murphy’s fight was done. He could barely get up without dry reaching. But he still tried, clawing at the ground as he hissed and spat about having the win stolen from him.
I didn’t care, I was done and didn't bother waiting for Joe to announce the winner as I walked out of the pit. Towards Seb and Lily. My attention was fixed on the latter.
Her expression was filled with fear and worry as her blue eyes scanned the state of my body. She quickly wiped at her face, schooling her features as best she could when I slowed to a stop in front of her.
I vaguely heard Seb mention something about a water bottle before he left us alone.
What I was about to do felt worse than the drugs wearing off.
She began fussing, brushing her fingers across my face, and my ribs, as she examined me quickly. “We need to get you an ice pack. And bandages—”
“Lily.” I gently took hold of her wrists, frowning at the bloody handprints I left on her unmarred skin. “We need to talk.”
Her eyes went wide, but not on me as she saw something beyond my shoulder.
I looked back.
Murphy was staggering towards us at speed, something silver and small glinting in his right hand. I didn’t have time to question where he got the knife (maybe one of his supporters had thrown it into the ring) and pushed Lily away. She was caught off guard but the distance meant she was safe.
I lifted my right arm to block Murphy's blow and the knife cut clean, shallow, and long across my skin. My blood barely had time to drip before he swung again like a madman.
“I deserved that win!” he bellowed, tackling me into the dividing wall.
I was tired and weak, and every breath in and out felt like a million needles were shot directly into my lungs each time. I doubted getting stabbed in the chest would feel any different.
Murphy brought the knife down hard and fast, and I shut my eyes, anticipating the blow. But it never came. Just as fast as this night went to shit, Murphy’s attack was stopped.
Seb caught Murphy's wrist and neck and kicked his knees out from beneath him. He didn’t give Murphy the chance to figure out what was happening before he punched him hard across the face.
Murphy’s body twisted with the motion before he slammed face down into the ground. Where he stayed.
“There’s always one dumbass who takes winning too seriously,” Seb said, nudging Murphy’s foot before collecting the water bottle he had dropped to help me. He lifted it in my direction, half smiling. “You look like shit.”
I took the bottle and dropped my head back against the wall. Unable to find the energy to do much else, my eyes drifted to where Lily was standing nearby. Fresh tears welled in her eyes.
I never wanted her to look that scared for me again.
Antonio arrived, flanked by his bodyguards and his respected colleagues as they gathered by the entrance. He too was worried, but more about the outcome of his asset and less about my actual wellbeing.
After a quick assessment of the scene, he motioned for his men to have the unconscious Murphy removed and dumped at a hospital.
Blood trickled from the cut on my forearm. It dripped from my fingertips and splashed in a small puddle beside my black sneakers.
I remained against the wall, slowly shutting my eyes again as I waited for the dressing down from Antonio. But he never asked what happened. Maybe he was too embarrassed to talk about it in front of his friends. I could see the judgment in his eyes though. He thought I was sloppy on purpose.
“Lily,” Antonio said firmly. “Clean him up.”
She nodded in silence, watching me warily.
