Page 36 of Freeing Emily
I meet Declan’s eyes for a second before throwing a right hook. He dodges it and jabs me in the ribcage. I grunt from the force and jump back.
Dropping down, I swiftly sweep his legs from under him.
The ground shakes from how hard he hits the mat. Moving quickly, I straddle him and slam my fist into his face with enough force to cause his head to bounce off the mat.
He gives me a wide bloody-toothed grin before slamming his head against my nose. I feel the crunch and fall back.
“Feck!”
“Shouldn’t have left yourself open like that.” He cackles.
I growl and spit out the blood that now flows down my face.
He spits the blood from his mouth and then we collide once again.
We continue to grapple on the floor – fists and elbows meeting flesh – before Declan manages to pull me into a triangle chokehold. One thigh presses down on the side of my neck whilethe opposite cages my other arm and shoulder across his pelvis and stomach. His hold tightens, squeezing me like a vice. I grit my teeth from the pressure building in my skull due to the circulation being lost.
“Get yourself out of it, Liam.” Declan orders.
My eyes feel seconds from popping out of their sockets.
Using my trapped arm, I drape it over his hips, lock my hands together, and press down. In rapid succession, his hold loosens, I bring my knee upward, and ram it into his side.
When he lets go, I push away. The blood rushes to my head, and my vision is momentarily blurred.
“Good.” Declan praises through panted breaths.
He stands and I remain seated on the mat. My nose is still throbbing from his head crashing into it. Sweat streams down my chest and back.
Someone tosses each of us a rag, followed by a water bottle, and we wipe the blood from our faces.
“You good?” Declan asks with a raised brow, gulping water.
“I’m grand,” I say between panted breaths.
He gestures toward my face with a nod. “Go get your nose checked out by Dr. Robbins.”
I nod and he reaches out a hand to help me up.
We clap each other on the back before walking out of the gym.
The closer we drive to the venue where my father is hosting the banquet, the harder it is to breathe.
It’s been a month since I moved to the penthouse. A month since Liam walked away from us. A month of shoving my feelings down so I could tolerate Ryan’s presence.
And each day has been just as hard as the last.
Tonight, my engagement will be announced to the underground world. I’m hoping with everything in me that Liam won’t be here. I won’t be able to handle seeing his face while knowing I’m to marry someone else.
“I. Don’t. Want. You”
His words echo in the back of my mind. Cutting deeper into me as if he’d just said them.
I need to remind myself that he walked away. Thatheleftme.He ripped my heart out and threw it in the dirt without hesitation. Without any sign of regret.
I meant nothing to him.
Ryan sits next to me with his face buried in his phone – as usual. Aside from talking about himself nonstop, he’spleasantto be around.