Page 60 (1/2)

CHAPTER 1

Dax

I was eight years old when I broke my first bone My older brother is the one who did it, while ht stance as it snapped

If you’re male and born in the Davies household, you have one and only one job—to fight My parents have four boys, whichthe absolute shite out of each other As the youngest, and for a long time, the smallest brother, I’ve had so many fractured bones I’m not sure if there are any left that haven’t been cracked at least once

“C’mon lad, you’re up”

Out of the corner of my eye I see round fight club, his bushy eyebrows raised as he waits for sbreaths

“I’ll be out in a second”

He glares atcrowd and a lot of ry face breaks into a grin “I got a nice reward for ya afterwards, aye?”

Fuck calm

A blaze of heat rushes up my chest and neck “I said I’d be out in a second!” I’ gone, the doorway he was standing in is empty

I can’t help my short temper My dad wants me this way, molded me to be this way, the same he did my three older brothers Pent up frustration leads to do you frustrated He dictates everything—what I eat, who I fight, he even has a systeet laid

The rules

I’ told what to do I ache for the day that I can be in charge—dictate, and be as bossy of a prick as I want

A loud roar surrounds y seeps intofor some kind of release—physical release—whether sexual or not, I need relief

Heavy hands slap my shoulders and back, sharp voices wish me luck or yell at me to fuck up and lose so they can collect their fifty quid I stretchon my toes once I hit the se I’ to set the beast inside me free

My opponent tonight is hideous Not just any kind of ugly, hteen, black hair, black beady eyes, acne scars all over—and the meanest bastard I’ve ever met

“Ya ready for me to pound yer arse into the floor, Davies?”