“I think I know exactly what you love,” he laughs. He’s taunting me, and I just have to ignore him.

I take a swing, but he dodges it and comes up with an uppercut to my side that knocks the wind out of me. The crowd reacts, and I move away to get my head right before he can swing again. He can’t throw a strong left. I’ve caught onto that much, but his words are still swirling around in my head, and I can’t make a plan.

“I didn’t need to take that from you, did I? I knew you’d lose her all by yourself.” He sneers, and I go in for another hit to the face. This time, I make contact with his cheek, but he swings back at me, and suddenly, we’re wrestling.

I hear yelling before he shoves me away and swings again, smacking me so hard against the side of my head, I crumble to my knees.

“Rafe!” she screams just before pure chaos breaks out. Quickly, I get back up even though I don’t hear the ref counting. There are red and blue lights reflecting off the cement.

“Ezra, stop!” she screams again, and I look up for her. Why did she come back? I didn’t want her to see this. Jumping to my feet, I try to find her, but everyone is scattering around.

My vision blurs, and I turn just in time to see Ezra’s angry eyes as his fist comes down on my face.

Then, everything goes black.

Shelby

I saw the patrol cars before I pulled off the street. In a panic, I turned around and rushed back to the lot just in time to see them flash their lights and the crowd scatter.

By the time I get to the scene Ezra is laying punch after punch down on Rafe who looks to be struggling with the blocks. Not even I can get him to stop as I scream and beg, but after he lays a kick into Rafe’s gut, I ambush him, tearing him away with every bit of strength I can muster. As he looks back at me, there is betrayal in his eyes.

There is no more crowd or boxing ring. It’s just my brother beating my boyfriend within an inch of his life, but all he sees is me picking Rafe over him.

When they finally yell for him to freeze, he stops. Putting his bloody fists up, the cops are quick to ambush him. A moment later, he’s in cuffs.

Gritting my teeth, I run over to Ezra who’s now wearing a steeled expression with his lips pressed into a tight line and his eyes glazed over, facing forward in the back of the patrol car.

“I’m going to go post your bail right now.”

“The judge won’t be there until the morning. Go home, Shelby,” he says flatly. Tears start to spring out of my eyes and down my cheeks.

“I can’t just leave you,” I cry, but he looks at me without emotion.