Free Stone (Knights Corruption MC Series Book 2) by S. Nelson

women dug scars. So maybe I was just tryin’ to do him a favor.
    Chuckling at my inner thoughts, I reached forward and threw another punch. He was quicker that time, blocking it entirely, hitting back with a jab of his own and catching me in the ribs.
    The guy was quick, I’d give him that.
    But while he was talented, I had more experience. I faked another shot, drawing his attention to my left arm. Once I hooked him, I countered with a quick uppercut with my dominant hand.
    “Fuck,” he cursed, annoyed at his lack of attention. Come to think of it, he’d seemed a bit distracted when we started, but I thought it was just nerves from his upcoming fight later that night.
    “Come on, bro. Keep your head in the game,” I instructed, letting him get in a couple good shots to help fuel his drive.
    We went at each other for the next twenty minutes, jab for jab, cross for cross, kick for kick, until we were both sweating and primed for more. I was just about to burn more energy when the roar of a bike drew our attention.
    Kicking up loose gravel as he drove through the lot, Marek finally backed into his spot, extending his hand for Sully to find her footing as soon as he killed the engine. What were they doing here? I hadn’t heard a word from him since the last time he’d rushed me off the phone, so to say I was surprised by their visit was an understatement.
    Then again, a person can only hole up in their house away from everyone else for so long. Trust me, I knew.
    I focused on Jagger once again, but he was still staring after Marek and Sully. Our prez had walked ahead a few feet and was chatting with Ryder, Hawke and Trigger, their faces serious, while Sully hung back for a few minutes. I was about to yell at Jagger to get his head back into it when I followed his line of sight.
    He was staring at Sully, a weird look of longing in his eyes as he watched her with an intensity that instantly unnerved me. The way he was looking at my best friend’s wife was haunting. And it was right in that moment that I realized why Marek had a problem with the prospect.
    There was no denying it. Anyone who paid enough attention would be able to pick up on it—the guy was horrible at subtlety.
    Without warning, I approached Jagger from the side and pulled one of my infamous leg sweeps, taking him down before he even realized his feet had left the ground.
    It was quick.
    And effective.
    Our underground fighting champ hit the mat with a heavy thud, a groan tearing from his mouth and drawing the looks from a few of the guys near the ring.
    “What the hell, Stone?” Jagger shouted from the floor. His back twisted off the ground as he prepared to gain his footing. Standing over him, I leaned in close and gave him my best advice. Or warning. I couldn’t decide which.
    “You get caught looking at Sully like that again, and I’ll beat the hell out of you myself.” A swift kick to his ribs made my point. I was about to lay into the prospect again, just for good measure, when I saw Addy’s blue Honda pull into the lot. I hadn’t laid eyes on the woman in a week, and the mere sight of her pushed all the emotions I’d buried deep back to the surface with a vengeance.
    Standing in place, I watched her get out of her car, take a few steps then wrap her arms around Sully in greeting. My eyes followed every movement my woman made, Yes, she was still my woman, even if she’d kicked me aside. It was a simple technicality.
    Adelaide Reins would always belong to me.
    My heart leapt in my chest when she turned her gaze to me, but before I could show any kind of reaction, my legs were in the air and I was falling to the mat below. My arms flew out to my sides, trying desperately to grab on to something, but only air surrounded me.
    I looked over at Jagger, still lying on the mat, a shit-eatin’ grin on his cocky-ass face.
    Looks like he’d used one of my signature moves on me, knocking me on my ass while I was the one distracted.
    Well played,