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The truth irl’s heart But it helped with one thing: it gave , froht I told my story, Zel ca, and I hoped life pered for the better

I hoped I was cured

But hope is a fickle thing It ht and pure when really it did nothing but cae the dark and dirty truth

Truth Zel kept from me

Truth that ruined ress and hurtled ht, after Zel retired with Clara to bed, I spent a few hours overseeing Obsidian

The tier fighters Men swarerness on their faces for a chance to excel in a fight Every cage,beside the rigging Seats held blood-hungry spectators Girls circled the crowd delivering drinks and offering themselves for entertainment while private rooms were in hot demand

Another busy day at the office

I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Zel had looked at th to stay there and not stor her out of bed to take her I’d never needed sex so badly--never needed the affirether

Yousoripped the balustrade harder Her secrets were drivingas one revolved around Clara I wanted to know I deserved to know

"You alright, Fox?" Oscar appeared at the top of the stairs His blond hair was spiked tonight, dull ax His tan deeper, browner, as if he spent the day in the waves under a bea, I was I’d survived telling the truth It hadn’t been as terrible as I i of it,for space It was hard to ignore since I invited the past back intoeach other in the boxing ring The urge to fight filled ht of a session I nore , and the se I needed, but I wanted the joy ofhard I wanted the thrill of taking so a pussy and cutting himself like an addict

You’ll never be fully free

I’d never be taentle Violence was as much in my DNA as my brother and past It was fruitless to pretend otherwise

"I didn’t think you’d be working tonight Ever since that little girl arrived, you’ve been distracted" Distracted by chasing a better life Focusing on other things to turn

I flashed hinore hi my life’s history at Clara’s and Zel’s feet My entire body was bruised, ,about such atrocities

"Yeah, had a few things on my mind lately"

Oscar ca the lowered "Why? What’s it to you?"

He faced ht blue eyes pinnedhtly crazy, the next you’re brought to your fucking knees by a kid--and not just any kid--but a kid belonging to a wo a hand over his face "I know it’s not any of my business, but are you truly okay?"

I bared my teeth "I’hters who’d left etiquette behind and turned into royal uproar in the MMA cage The crowd salivated at the brutal punches and the first spray of fresh blood

The angst and love of pain filtered into e

Oscarfor you, isn’t she?"

I balledmy private life It wasn’t any of his business

When I didn’t say anything, he added, "She’s good for you, Fox I got it wrong when you first brought her up here I thought she was another floozy only after yourto readin her veins and blades for fingernails"

Despite ued "Whatshe was Her courage was the reason I chased her Her strength was the reason I was in thisfor a woht she cared like I did, the next I couldn’t tell

Oscar’s eyebrow rose "Well, for one thing, she doesn’t put up with your bullshit Thanks to her help with the paperwork, she’s increasedsmoother than ever" He smiled "She keeps her , and she’s loyal to you If you think she’s the one, then I agree--she’s perfect"

I searched his eyes, wondering if Zel had ever spoken to Oscar about ht I never saw theether, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have ti, Oscar had softened and welco when Clara appeared in my office at odd times in the day