She pouts, pulling a strand of blond hair forward and winding her finger around it with a coy look. “We can play rough. If you want to.”
“Jesus.” He shoves her away. “Have some fucking respect, Mal. The answer isno.”
When she moves for him again, River darts forward. Mal’s cry is audible as he grips her wrist in the same place as Jenson, his hold a lot tighter and his voice a hell of a lot more threatening. “He. Said.No.”
Jenson almost backs into me, his hands twisting. Setting a hand on his shoulder, I move around him and cross my arms. Mallory glares at me. “The hell ishelooking at, the f—,”
“Finish that sentence,” River cuts her off coolly. “And I will break your wrist, Mallory.”
She twists in his grip, but he doesn’t let go. “You’re banned from upstairs, effective immediately. I see you up there, we have another problem. Doesn’t matter who you get to invite you.”
“Fuck you,” she snaps. He finally lets her go and she stumbles back, her eyes sliding to the man vibrating with tension behind me. “Jenson!”
I sign to River, and he nods. I feel the cool air behind me as Jenson leaves. “You don’t come near him again, Mal. Not in the club. Not on the street. You don’t speak to him. You don’t put your fucking hands on him again.Ever. He’s made his feelings clear.”
“Then he can tell me himself—,”
“He already fucking has!” River loses what patience he has left. “One more word, and you’re banned for life. One fuckingword.”
Her mouth snaps shut. She spends her entire life loitering in Mystic. Fuck knows, it might be kinder to cut her off.
“There’s more to life than this place.” River’s voice is still cool, still angry, even as he faces her.
She laughs then. “You fucking love this place, River. It’s in your blood. You don’tseeanything else.”
He does love this place. He built it from the ground up. But she has no idea how wrong she is. River shrugs. “Suit yourself. You’ve been told. Follow the rules, or you won’t set foot in here again.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket with a reminder, and I glance over my shoulder before ducking around them. River falls into step beside me as I make my way to the ring, stretching out my arms. “Think she’ll listen?”
For her own sake, I hope so. Should we go find him?
River hesitates, glancing over his shoulder as if Jenson will magically appear. “No. Let’s give him some space. You’re on in five minutes.”
I get my aggression out in the ring. I wonder where Jenson will get his out tonight. Not with Mal, or any of the women here.
I get my answer as I duck under the ropes. River swears under his breath, even as the crowd goes fuckingnuts. I eye up my first opponent as he groans behind me. “I’m not cleaning you both up.”
Opposite me, Jenson turns. He’s peeled off his shirt and kicked off his shoes, not bothering to change his trousers. He bounces on his feet, stretching out his neck before he raises an eyebrow in silent question.
This isn’t the first time we’ve done this. I let my anger out in small bursts. He lets his build up until it becomes an inferno.
My smile is a taunt, and he throws his head back with a laugh that breaks through the mask he likes to wear. “Fair warning. I’m not in the mood to fuck around.”
Meaning he wants a real fight.Good.
I curl my fingers at him.Come on, then. If you think you can.
I’m grinning as we listen out for the clock, and then he’s launching himself from the corner, his arm drawing back as the crowd around us roars their approval. I meet him in the middle, ducking his first hit before my fist slams into his ribs.
Game fucking on.
Briar
My veins are buzzing, either from the caffeine or excitement as I take another sip before setting my coffee down on my work table.
Across the room, River’s jacket hangs neatly on the mannequin. Circling it, I brush it off carefully, inspecting the pale fabric just in case I missed anything the first forty-nine times.
Stomach churning, I retreat to my armchair and glance over at the closed door. He didn’t say when he was coming today. It could be any second.
