Fighting For Hope (Worth the Fight #1) - Olivia T. Turner Page 0,5

eyes go wide and fill up with… something. I don’t know what it is, but the look fills me with warmth.

He seems to forget all about my brother and the fight he’s in. He doesn’t even move when Scott breaks out of his hold and stands back up. All he does is stare. At me.

Scott takes advantage of his opponent’s distractedness and lands a clean right hook on his chin. Nate’s legs waver, but he doesn’t go down.

I want to scream for them to stop fighting, but nothing comes out of my mouth. I hate watching this. I don’t want either of them to get hurt.

Scott tries to hit him again, but this time, Nate moves out of the way. He grabs Scott’s arm, twists it into some kind of hold and Scott’s face scrunches up in agony. He taps out immediately and the fight is over.

Nate’s eyes are already back on me as he lets him go.

Scott falls to his knees and drops his head into his hands. I know he was really counting on that extra fifty bucks.

“Good fight,” Nate says as he puts his hand on his shoulder. “You’ll get me next time.”

Scott shakes his hand and Nate pulls him up to his feet as the crowd gets bored, already ready for the next fight.

They both head right for me, but Papa Pain steps in front of Nate to pay him.

Scott looks pissed when he sees me as he climbs out of the pool. He charges up to me and grabs my wrist. “Why aren’t you in the car?”

His left eye is already swelling shut. He’s covered in bruises and cuts.

“Are you okay?”

He grunts out something that I can’t hear then says, “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

I turn to glance back at Nate, but my brother is already pulling me away.

Chapter Three

Nate

Now, I’m really wishing I didn’t go easy on that guy. I should have snapped his fucking neck.

That’s what he deserves for touching my girl.

I’ve never laid eyes on her before a few minutes ago, but she’s mine. I’ve decided it so that makes it true. Neither her nor her boyfriend gets to have a say in the matter.

The adrenaline is back, pumping harder and angrier than it did during the fight. I feel it raging through my veins as I watch them together.

He’s grabbing her wrist and pulling her away even though she doesn’t want to go with him.

I see nothing but red and start walking forward until Papa Pain steps in my way. A growl escapes my throat as I glare at him.

“Good fight,” he says as he stuffs my winnings into my hand. “But if you want to fight here again, knock your opponent the fuck out instead of finishing him by submission. The freaks here like to see blood. They want to hear the crunching of bones. The cracking of jaws. This is modern-day Rome and you guys are the gladiators. Give the people a show.”

I let out another growl as I push past him and leap out of the pool. The thick crowd is blocking my way and I have to push through them as they exchange money. Anyone who bet against me is looking pretty pissed right now.

I pay them no notice and push through the bodies, looking for her.

Her stunning image is burnt into the back of my eyelids. I’ll never forget it. I couldn’t breathe when I saw her standing there, looking down at us with a worried look on her face that made me want to die. I wanted to stop the fight right there, rush over to her, toss her over my shoulder, and take her away. I want to take care of her and make sure she’s never worried like that ever again.

I feel myself getting twitchy all over as I desperately look around for her. She was short with blonde hair and black-rimmed glasses that were too big for her adorable face.

“You made me lose twenty bucks,” someone shouts as he steps up to me in a threatening manner. “Give it back.”

I just ignore him, looking from side to side for my girl. She’s too innocent and pure to be in a place like this. I won’t get this anxious edgy feeling out of me until she’s by my side where I know she’ll be safe.

The guy in front of me tries to grab the fifty dollar bill out of my hand and I let him have an uppercut instead. I see