Page 77 (1/1)

My shift at Daisy’s the next day dragged interminably Since our last shon, Katrina had kept out of uessed that was the ith bullies They’re all about confrontation as long as it was on their ter up?" Rhona askedcutlery We were at a lull between customers, and I really needed to keep busy

"I’m nervous," I aduess I’ll just never get used to seeing hi-side junkies who get off on watchingabout hi him train is hotter than hell It’s just that when I think about what can happen to hi" I couldn’t finish, but Rhona knehat I meant

"He knows the risks, love He always has," she told me, as she wrapped her arm aroundabout tonight," I adhter’s wife nohich ot as ot" she paused to look at the clock, "two hours to stop looking like soaht It was tiht, it would be one down, and one to go I needed to take one fight at a ti to the back of my mind Two hours later, my shift finished, and I was ready As I left the diner, co against his bike waiting forstood out here? You !" I exclaimed

"As it happens, I am a bit feckin’ cold, so if you could et back to your lovely warm flat," he said sarcastically

I rolled my eyes but climbed onto the back of his bike

"Where’s O’Connell?" I asked

"He’s been hanging about aht"

"Why?" I asked alarrin

"He’s pretty evil right now, and he’s looking to fuck so hi that O’Connell didn’t like showing me the person that he needed to becoht the fight was in the bag I was more than ready to watch O’Connell close this down and have hiot back to the flat, and Imy make-up before ere back out on Kieran’s bike

"Hold on to your knickers, baby, and let’s get this show on the road," he told rabbed him around the waist and braced myself It was hard not to be infected by Kieran’s enthusiasy he looked ready to burst The closer we got to the venue, the more my anxiety fell away Unlike the last time, I was now conditioned to watch O’Connell take punch after punch in training, and I had a better understanding of just how prepared he was Unlike my soft, bruisable flesh, his abs, his core, every part of his body, was rock hard He told me that he was in the best shape of his life, and it was easy to believe It wasn’t a matter of whether he took Calvari down, but in what round, and hoould do it We wound our way through the backstage corridors and then into theto see O’Connell?" I asked, unhappily

"Because he hasn’t seen you all day, so he’ll want to kiss the fuck out of you If I keep you out here, it will ood"

I followed him as he led, but I didn’t like it

"Kier, you’re an evil cornerhis eyebrows and htly mollified when he ledforme hard She was already a little tipsy, but obviously pleased to seehts out over the past feeeks Big hugs followed fro as Nikki’s friends Before I knew it, the lights di It was time

AS IT WAS A HOME FIGHT, Calvari sauntered out first It was clear this was so ht by the fancy strobe lighting and the legion of entourage following Calvari to the ring Rap h the ropes and walked around wearing a cocky se," I murmured to Nikki

"So is your boy" She pointed out

O’Connell’s one a day without seeing him, but this was the power he had over , and I shting tonight Men were slapping O’Connell on the back and shouting words of encourageh they were best of friends, but he only had eyes for me I knew this look He was focused and in the zone He stopped in front offro the to part with theently until I looked hiave me a quick hard kiss, but I couldn’t help the sense of foreboding that gaveand looked cal his shoulders to waraze re hih Calvari was actingstill didn’t feel right

"Ladies and gentle and welco, in the blue corner, fro in at two hundred and twenty-seven pounds, Roberto "the Destroyer" Calvari"