Chapter 12

JACOB

FOUR WEEKS LATER

Punch after punch slammed into my face, before he moved to my body. I thought I had him, but I took my eye off the ball. I saw Lewis at the front, him and Liam had exchanged a look, and I knew I'd disappointed him. I hadn't lost a fight yet. My body was ready to say no more, but I had to go on. Blood seeped from my nose and poured from the cut on my eyebrow. I spat blood on the ground as an elbow came down on my back. I hit the deck, coughing from the impact as he struck my lungs. As the guy's foot struck my ribs I rolled across the mat. The next thing I knew I was pinned to the ground on my front with my arm being pushed behind me. I cried out instantly. Pain shot through my shoulder; it burned inside my bones yet he was relentless. I couldn't get up, the fucker sat on my back and pulled higher until I felt my shoulder pop. I cried out again. I knew the only thing I could do was tap out. I tried to lift him from me, but I had no strength in my body. My energy had left my body. I'd given up. My eyes closed as I lifted my hand from the ground and tapped harder. I did it over and over for him to see that I'd given up. I'd taken enough of a beating, I wasn't going to let him humiliate me any further. Rico turned his back, that was enough embarrassment.

I was done.

My opponent got up and held his hand out, I gripped his wrist with my good hand and let him pull me up.

When I looked back at him though, I saw he was bleeding as much as me. Ethan passed me a towel as I shook my opponent's hand and turned to walk off the mat.

"Hey King," glancing back, I acknowledged him with a chin lift, "if you ever want a sparring partner, let me know."

I nodded, I wasn't sure what else to say or do. He'd just beaten me down, the only guy yet to do it. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I didn't even know if the Campbells would still want me to fight for them. But right now, I needed to get my shoulder sorted, the rest would be sorted later. If I wanted to carry on, of course.

The next few hours were spent at the hospital being attended to. They popped my shoulder back in place, strapped my ribs up and put some stitches in my eyebrow and the fleshy part beneath my eye had a deep gash, too. My face was black and blue, and I could barely open my mouth. They placed my arm in a sling to keep it in place, and I was sent on my way. Well, they did once they realised they weren't going to get an answer from me in regards to what had happened to me.

As I walked back into the house Phoenix stood in the living room, I knew Ethan had sent her a message to tell her we were going to the hospital, I knew she was wracked with worry.

Over the last few weeks we hadn't spent much time together, or barely even spoken. I'd spent time at the Campbell's gym and was training, she had her studies and I didn't want to get in the way of those. Also, I wanted the brothers to see that I was someone and I was dedicated. I'd seen Rico less and less, but I think that was Lewis's doing. Although, I guessed he still had something to do with my fights.

"When is this going to stop, Jacob?" Phoenix cried at me as I dropped my aching body onto the sofa and laid myself along the length of it. "You promised just a bit longer and that would be it. Look at you. You need to give your body a rest."

Sometimes, I was fighting twice a week. Some fights I came away unscathed, others I was beaten and bruised, but I still won. I still had the prize, and up to now, I had some serious money in the pot. That was, and still is, my end game. But as much as I hated to admit it, she was right.

"You know, I actually think you love that club more than you love me."

"Don't be fucking stupid. Why would you say that?" I felt the scowl form on my face but it hurt my head. I wasn't just battered and bruised this time; I'd been beaten down and I'd lost. It was the first fight I'd lost and it hadn't just hurt my pocket, it hurt my ego. I didn't think I'd come back from this.I rolled over and went to sleep, ignoring Phoenix, ignoring the world and definitely ignoring every single message that pinged on my phone.

It was early, I was sure, but I heard someone banging on the front door but still I had no intention of seeing anyone.

"Are you going to get that?" Phoenix said, still angry from yesterday as she stood at the side of the sofa. I'd stayed here all night. I didn't want to put myself in more pain so I stayed here. I shook my head and closed my eyes. I felt the daggers she was throwing me, but I ignored them and kept my eyes tightly shut. The door banged again, whoever it was obviously wasn't leaving. "Fucking hell, Jacob. I'll get it, shall I?"

"Tell them to fuck off."I mumbled; my jaw still ached from the hits.

"Why don't you grow a pair and tell them yourself." The door banged shut, informing me that she'd left the room, letting me know just how unhappy she was. God, that woman could throw a strop. I didn't know whether she'd gone to the front door or not, so I lay here. The front door slammed and my eyes popped open.

"Jacob. You have a visitor. It's your friend, Rico." Oh fuck.

With a heavy sigh, I opened my eyes. "What do you want?"

"Well fuck me, don't you look a mess."

"Thanks for the observation, dickhead." The moody attitude should've let him know I wasn't up for his shit.

"Oh, come on dude, it was one loss."

"Don't fucking ‘dude' me." I snapped.

"Look, I've got another fight lined up. It seems you losing has got others lining up at the fucking door. It's game on now." He grinned, and I flicked my gaze up to Phoenix, who was stood in the middle of the room looking savagely at Rico.

"Are you taking the fucking piss." I pulled myself up on the couch. Rico raised his hands in defence.

"It's done you a fucking favour." Rico added like I needed the reminder that I'd fucking lost. Did he not get it?

"Do you think that's funny?" Phoenix jumped in. "Fucking look at him." She growled.

"Have you met my girlfriend?" I grinned. I thought I'd better introduce her before she ripped his head off. I may be the muscle, but I wouldn't mess with her.

"I had the pleasure on the doorstep, is she your bodyguard?" his head cocked her way as he smirked.

"It's your fault he's in this mess." Phoenix added.

"Ahh," his head wavered from side-to-side. "Not technically. I'm only his agent, I just get him the fights." He had the audacity to give her a slimy smile.

"You run an illegal fight club, you're not a fucking agent. You're a slimy little scumbag who's reaching way above his pay grade." Rico's face changed from the smirk he was wearing, to anger.His face distorted in temper and his eyes darkened as he turned to face her.

"Now listen here," I watched as he straightened, pushed back his shoulders and looked down on her. "Little girls like you should be playing house in the kitchen, not getting involved in adult male talk…"

"Rico!" I growled but the tightness in my jaw hurt my face. I tried to warn him as I attempted to shoot up off the settee. I leant one hand on the arm of the settee and protected my ribs with the other. It's a good job I didn't need to protect her from him, because I'd be no fucking use. Once up on my feet, I hobbled over to him anyway. There was no fucking way he was going to speak to her like that."Watch your fucking mouth."

"You what?" Phoenix looked incredulous as she cut Rico off.

"In other words, fucking run along."Rico added viciously.

I stepped between them. "Listen here," I shoved his shoulder. "Not you or fucking anyone will speak to her like that. Now do yourself a favour and get fucking out. I'll be in touch."

Rico laughed. "Well, I never took you for being pussy whipped, King." The smug look on his face set something off inside of me, and more rage bubbled up from my gut. My fist landed square in his face without even thinking. He wobbled on his feet as he lost his balance and was soon on his arse. His hand held his nose as blood ran down his fingers. Feeling a little satisfied, I glanced at Phoenix, her eyes were wide as she took a step back.

"Take that as a fucking warning, Rico. Now fucking leave."

He got back up to his feet and glared back, "don't ever call me a pussy, Rico."

He eyed me before he shifted his gaze to Phoenix and looked her up and down. He made his way to the door, and I hobbled after him. "Maybe I'll give Campbell a call, he can sort you out." Rico mumbled through his hand.

He stepped through the door but hesitated and glanced back. "Give me a call. We have so much more money we can make together."He winked. Smarmy bastard.

"Get out." I yelled. I waited for the door to shut behind him and I made my way back inside.

"Well, isn't he delightful." Phoenix stated with a snarky tone. "I can't believe you hit him."

"He's a prick, I know, he deserved it, but he knows people too, Nix. And believe me, they're not good people." I rubbed my forehead; I knew this could backfire on me, but I couldn't let him get away with speaking to her like that.

"Who are the Campbells?" She asked as I limped my way back to her.

"The new guys I'm working with."

"Are they like him?"

I wasn't about to answer questions about these guys. I'd done my research on them like Barrett told me to, and from what I could tell they were a well-known family in London. Business men it said, I wasn't so sure. "Look baby, he could quite easily hire someone to finish me off, do you get that? I need to work with him until I can find a way of cutting ties. So maybe do me a favour, keep that savage tongue hidden away." I muttered as I placed my finger on her lips.

She smacked my hand away, scowling. "You know what, fine. Do what you want, but I won't be around to patch you up any fucking more. You and your sleazy friend can do what the fuck you want."

It was probably the wrong thing to do, but I let a smirk form on my lips. "You don't mean that?" I scoffed, but she glared back and yeah, she did mean that. In fact, Phoenix doesn't say anything she doesn't mean. "Phoenix, don't make drastic decisions."

"I don't see it as drastic. Jacob, I can't do this anymore!" Tears filled her eyes. "I can't stand by and watch you get beat up all the time." I could see in her eyes that she meant it. "I'm sick of seeing you like this. We don't do anything anymore. We don't go out. Most of the time you're healing from your fights. What kind of life is this?" Her eyes closed momentarily and as they opened again, a tear slowly ran down her face. "Is this what the rest of our life is going to look like?" she took a breath. "If it is, I don't want it." She swiped her fingers across her cheeks. "So, choose. It's either the fighting, or it's me."

"You're serious?" My brows came together, but as I looked at her harder, I realised just how fucking serious she was. "You can't expect me to make that decision."

"Why not?" She gritted her teeth and cocked her head. "I love you, Jacob," she sniffed briefly and went on. "I probably always will, but if you can't do this for me, then there's nothing else to say or anywhere this can go."

Her eyes never left mine as she delivered her ultimatum, but I didn't answer straight away. "Well, I guess I have my answer then." She pushed up slightly on her toes and lightly pressed her lips on my cheek before she dropped back to her heels and turned. I watched her leave and the door slammed a minute or so later. My body jolted with the sound and my eyes closed. I'd just give it a minute, something in my heart told me she just needed a breather. Something jolted me into moving through the house, but somewhere deep in my heart I knew she'd gone. I took the few short steps out into the hallway; it was empty. She'd gone.

Why the fuck didn't I tell her - why didn't I choose her?

My head and my heart began an internal debate. My heart knew I should be running out of that door and stopping her from going any further, but my head was telling me that I was a fighter, and just like everything else, I'd win. That included her. I may have lost the fight but I wouldn't lose anything else. All I had to do was let her sleep on it. What else was I supposed to do? I loved her so fucking much, but this was my future, it should've been our future.

Tomorrow was another day.

I was Jacob King.

King of the ring.

I was also the king of her heart and Phoenix Clarke would always need me. Just like I needed her.

Hobbling back through to the lounge, I dropped myself down onto the settee, lay back and let my eyes close. I was hurt physically, mentally and now the pain of Phoenix walking out ripped through my heart and I allowed myself to break.

I'd be back on top again. I'd show everyone.