Burning Heart: Fighting Heart Erotic Bad Boy Romance Series Book 4 (11 page)

“You’re all mine, big man,” said Regan. “I’m going to hurt you bad.”

“With one hand?” said Brandon, laughing.

“Yeah. One hand…” Regan took a step forward, and while Brandon laughed he slammed his boot high and hard into Brandon’s crotch. Brandon doubled over and coughed and groaned.

“One hand and two feet. You forgot about them, didn’t you, eh?” said Regan shouting down into Brandon’s face. He waited for Brandon to stand up. It took a while. His face was red and he was still growling.  Regan waved his broken hand gently like a boxer making fun of his opponent, and then threw a punch storming onto Brandon’s chin. Brandon flew back and Ashley moved out of his way as he fell.

“Sorry, sis.”

“Apology accepted,” she said.

Brandon pushed up, and tried to snatch at Ashley’s body, but she pushed him away and he slid down and hit the floor. “Never touch her again!” said Regan and kicked him in the gut. She saw the rage in Regan’s eyes. He was gone. He was crazed with anger. She looked at Cody. His jaw set, his eyes flaring. She saw he was eager to get revenge, and from the blood on his face she saw Cody had already been fighting. As Cody moved to join in, Ashley stepped to him and intercepted. She put a hand on the bat and took it from him.

“No,” she said, quietly. “No more.”

Brandon picked himself up. Ashley saw her brother shape up, moving back, caught in pure rage, ready to empty his hate and pain back onto Brandon Lynes. Regan shifted back to get his best angle. Brandon lifted his fists to fight.

“No more,” said Ashley, quietly.

Brandon didn’t see the green bat until it landed across his face, sending him crashing against the wall. He slid down the wall, into a heap. He was out cold, his face a mess.

Regan looked at Ashley, and he was wearing the exact same petulant face of disappointment she remembered from when she was a child. It infuriated her then. Now it made her smile.

“Game over,” said Ashley.

“Ah, Sis’! What did you do that for?”

“Because Brandon owed me at least one free hit. And you don’t want to go to prison for murder, Regan. Mum would be very upset.”

Regan’s face lifted. “Nice hit though. Very nice. I might have to take you around with me for protection.”

“Nah. I think Terry can handle that one.”

“No fear,” said Terry. “Sounds like Mission Impossible to me.”

They stood around and goofed and let off steam while Brandon Lynes laid unconscious on the floor. Right then, it didn’t seem like a bad or selfish thing to do. It was fitting. And as Regan described what had happened, the way they tricked him at the start with asking about buying some weed, all the way through to crushing his hand, Ashley just couldn’t help staring at Cody and smiling at him. He was here now. He showed up. He had given her everything. Ashley wasn’t one for displaying emotion, she never had been. But right there she felt warm tears trying to push their way out. She knew he felt the emotion in her gaze. He looked at her and nodded to a question she hadn’t yet formed in her mind. The connection was there. There was potential for a fresh start, she knew it. But it needed more than feelings. It needed life to be breathed upon it. Finally they had won their freedom, and she wanted to taste every part of the boundless opportunity it presented her.  After a few more minutes, she could wait no longer.

“Call mum, and then get your hand seen to. Promise me?”

“Hang on. Where are you going?” said Regan.

She grabbed Cody’s hand and pulled him out of the white room and down the stairs. She passed Amanda in the hallway, she looked up at her with defeat and despair in her eyes. Ashley had taken her fill of Amanda.

“Sorry, Ashley.”

“Save it, Amanda. It’s all over. It’s done.”

She walked out into the cool grey air of the seaside, and took a lungful of it in deep. “Where are we going, Ashley?”

“Somewhere… intimate.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Just as soon as you do one important thing.”

“One important thing?”

“Call Joanna Laws and tell her that you’re very sorry, but you’re already in love with me.”

Cody laughed out loud and embraced her.

“Uh-uh. Not until you’ve made that call, Mister” said Ashley, giving Cody eyes which were demanding and inviting all at once. He grinned and took out his phone.  He dialled Joanna and she answered. His face turned awkward, and then he spoke.

“Hi Joanna…. Yeah, it’s me. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your texts. It just didn’t seem…”

His face changed and he stopped speaking. Confused and upset for a split second while he listened to the voice at the other end.

“Of course I respect your feelings. Yes, yes, I know that…”

Ashley was hooked, both to his words and the changing weather on Cody’s face. It was four seasons on one day. Finally, he stopped struggling and he broke into a smile.

“..No. I understand. No. That’s fine. No, of course I want that. Of course I do. I’ll call you in a few days then. And thanks, Joanna. Thanks for everything.”

Ashley stared and waited.

“Well?”

“Joanna just dumped me, Ashley. Can you believe that? The woman kicked me to the kerb.”

“Don’t be too sad…” said Ashley, moving in, wrapping her arms around Cody’s waist. “Wait until you get a load of the rebound...” she squeezed him and kissed his cheek, before she took his hand and led him away.

“Where are we going?”

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I kind of need a drink right now. And I’ve heard there’s this great little seaside joint further ahead. And you know what?”

“No, what?” said Cody.

“It’s got a fantastic hotel right next door.”

Cody’s eyes fixed on Ashley’s. He slid an arm around her back and gently stroked her hips and tucked his thumb into the top of her jeans.

Before they reached the bar, with the sea breeze whipping at Ashley’s blonde hair, Cody announced. “You know, you’ve given me another idea for a story, my muse.”

“Yeah? Then you better tell Joanna I want my ten per cent too. What’s this one about?”

“Can’t you guess?”

“No,” she said.

“It’s all about you. I’m going to call it Fighting Heart.”

“If it’s about me, you could just call it The Sexiest Love Kitten in The Whole Universe. I kind of prefer that title.”

“Really? But it might draw in the wrong crowd. Let’s stick with Fighting Heart.”

“Oh, if you insist.”

“I insist. I’ll write the sex kitten book afterwards.”

“After what?”

He laughed and he pulled her close. And this time they kissed. They kissed soft and they kissed hard all at the same time. He drew her close, and she pressed her body to him, willing. They were finally free. And when she felt that sweet tingle in her body, this time she didn’t fight it at all. She looked up into his eyes as they kissed, feeling his arousal press against her. After just one drink, just one, there was going to be no holding back. They were going to go all the way, deeper than before, more entwined, enjoying every sensual millimetre of each other’s bodies. And it was only the beginning.

The Fighting Heart series by Nicole Hamilton

Series list - in reading order

Fighting Heart 1: Fighting Heart

Fighting Heart 2: Questing Heart

Fighting Heart 3: Vengeful Heart

Fighting Heart 4: Burning Heart

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Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading Vengeful Heart, the third book of The Fighting Heart series.

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-Nicole

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Series list - in reading order

Fighting Heart 1: Fighting Heart

Fighting Heart 2: Questing Heart

Fighting Heart 3: Vengeful Heart

Fighting Heart 4: Burning Heart