"I've always put my life on the line to save yours, Blur." His use of my nickname clogs my throat and breathing becomes difficult.
Then like a tornado of limbs and fists, he's in my face. I have just enough time to dodge him and it's difficult because anger has him punching hard and in quick succession.
After a few minutes of his punching and my dodging, I realize two things. One, I am tiring him out and his hits are becoming slower. Two, his anger is only getting worse with each dodge. If this is going to work, I realize I need to take a few blows.
"Haven't really been on your game for the last few years huh?" I taunt him. "Looks like you're about ready to pass out."
"Recovering from a head wound would do that." He growls and comes at me again.
This time I let him and when his fist connects with my jaw, I'm jarred with the force of the impact. Yeah, he's fucking pissed.
I stumble back and move my jaw back and forth, checking to see how bad the damage is. It'll be bruised but that'll be the least of my worries when I leave this cage.
"That's it?" I chuckle. "Those arms need some extra gym time."
His dark eyes flash with a dangerous glint as he bares his teeth and spit flies from his mouth. I've seen this look before but it was never directed at me and to be completely honest, it's a little startling.
"Do it." I nod at him encouragingly. "Do what you need to."
He doesn't hesitate as his taped knuckles slam into my cheek. Even anticipating the impact, I'm still thrown to the mat with his force. My vision blurs but I still get back up to my feet, this isn't over yet.
"Hit me back!" He roars and his fist sinks into my stomach, effectively stealing my breath. I fall to my knees as I try to suck in air.
"I'm not angry with you." I say slowly, still trying to get a mouthful of air.
He hits me again in the same spot on my cheek and my body meets the mat. My vision fades to black but I take a few deep breaths to stave off unconsciousness. My mouth is filled with blood and I spit it out, bright red against white.
I get back up to my knees and wobble slightly as my world tips on its axis.
"Hit her one more time, motherfucker, and I will kill you!" I hear Vin screaming from outside the cage.
I hold my hand up towards him, asking him to stop because this isn't his fight. This has nothing to do with him. I know he wants me to care more about my life because him and I are forever tied as one, but I know Tommy doesn't want me dead, just hurting.
Call me masochistic.
My head is pounding with the blood swelling under my skin. I never let myself get hit this often so I don't ever feel this way during a fight.
"I got this." I say loud enough for Vin to hear.
"Do you?" Tommy chuckles and the sound coats my blood in ice water.
I raise my face so we can look at each other, eye to eye.
"Yeah," I nod slowly. "You don't want to hurt me."
"Think again." He snaps as his fist flies out again.
This time when he connects with my head, he hits my left temple and blackness erupts behind my eyelids before I even hit the mat.
35
"It's just what we do." I hear Tommy's voice as I'm coming to.
I can feel myself laying on a bed and someone is pressing a cold cloth against my face. At least he sounds a bit remorseful and less angry, closer to the Tommy I know and love.
"What happened to you isn't on her." I hear Emmett say to him. "If anything she should be pissed at you for being such a good soldier to our father."
"She was a good soldier to your father, too, remember? She has been a Rampage fighter since she was thirteen years old."
Their arguing is giving me a worse headache and I groan as I try to open my eyes.
"Blur?" I hear Tommy and I exhale with relief.
"Are we good now asshole?" I ask him and savour the sound of his chuckle. I thought I would never hear that sound again.
"Sorry but I'm not sorry." He laughs and again it's like music to my fucking ears.
"You never are. Did you make me ugly?" I reach up and hiss when my fingers touch my tender cheek.
"Impossible." He says as he brushes the hair off my forehead.
"If you want to keep that hand intact, I suggest you remove it off of her." I hear Vin say, his voice promising violence.
"This one is serious." Tommy says and I can tell he's trying to hold in laughter. "You went and found your exact double in a dude."
"Right?" I say to him and smile.
I look up at Vin as he presses the cool cloth against my cheek. "Thank you."
"Is there a sign up sheet somewhere? I think it's my turn to get you in that cage." He looks serious but I can hear the humour in his voice.
"Don't threaten me with a good time, Greene." I start to chuckle but the movement causes my vision to swirl.
"It's time to talk, Ember." Tommy tells me and I nod slowly.
"Where have you been this entire time?" I ask him. "Were you here?"
"No," he lifts the hair off his head and I see the long jagged scar running along the side of his scalp. "This was a long recovery. I had short term memory loss and my speech was affected. Jenna had me placed in a facility that specializes in head wounds and serious brain trauma. It still took a year to recover."
"Why didn't you try to contact me?"
"Because my memories of that night were baffling at best. I couldn't place timelines and yours was the only
