Bruised

Riley

I fight so I can pay off my brother’s loan sharks.

I’m damn good at what I do, and yeah, some of my matches are the underground type.

I said I’m good at what I do, not that I’m a good person.

Being a good person never mattered to me before, but Zahra changes all of that.

She makes me want to clean up my act.

She makes me want a lot of things.

And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I want her.

I’ve got one last fight to face, but it comes with an impossible decision.

I’m in the ring against my brother.

He needs to win to repay the sharks.

I have to throw the fight.

Not only do I have to lose, I have to lose while she’s watching.

Am I the kind of man to take a loss to save my brother’s skin?

Zahra

Riley Dern is exactly the kind of man I should avoid.

And I did when he spotted me at one of his fighting matches and asked me on a date.

I turned him down like the good girl I am.

I didn’t get this far to throw it all away.

I mean, I’m a youth social worker; I help my clients stay on the right path.

That’s what’s important to me.

Not some bad boy, hot-as-sin MMA fighter.

But boy does this man know how to get under my skin.

With that charming grin of his.

And those eyes that miss nothing.

I am not going to fall for him.

I’m not.