His Trouble Maker

Chapter 48

JESSICA

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Kael plays dirty. No one says it, but everyone fucking knows it. He’s ranked first every time in combat training, and it’s because he never fights fait.

“Well?” Kael’s voice is a low growl, sharp, taunting. “Aren’t you going to throw the first punch-”

I don’t hesitate. I fucking throw my fist at him, fast and hard.

Kael dodges just in time. His hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist like he knew it was coming, and the next thing I know, his elbow slams into my ribs. The breath rushes out of me, sharp and painful. My vision blurs. I stumble back, gasping, but before I can get my bearings-

Kael’s knee connects with my stomach.

“Ah!” The sound rips from my throat as I double over, choking. Pain. White–hot pain.

I’m not fucking stopping.

I push back, gasping for air, but Kael doesn’t let up. His hand catches my neck, tight–too tight. His fingers dig in, and the world tilts as he slams my head into the floor.

The impact rattles my skull. My body shakes with the force. I can’t breathe. I try to push against him, but my hands are too weak, my body too fucking tired.

Kael laughs. That arrogant, sickening laugh. “Come on,” he sneers, twisting my arm behind my back. “You’re not gonna give up yet, are you?”

I growl through clenched teeth, fury rising up like a firestorm inside of me. I don’t give up.

I twist my body, using every ounce of what’s left in me, and slam my fist into his side. The hit isn’t clean, isn’t perfect, but it’s enough to make him grunt. It buys me a second.

One fucking second.

But it’s enough.

my feet. My legs wobble. My chest burns. Blood drips down my lip, mixing with sweat, stinging

shoots out, grabbing my arm, twisting it

heat of his body pressed against my back. I try to break free, but Kael’s grip tightens, and he slams me

mixing with sweat and blood. It’s a slap of

grabs my hair, yanking my head back, forcing me to look at him as he positions himself above me. His

he’s too fast, too strong. My fist comes up, aiming for his face, but it’s like hitting stone. He ducks under my

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Chapter 48

OSMANG

Knel growls, his knee digging into my stomach, pressing the air out of my lungs as he presses his body down on me. My blood slicks

I need to move.

into his nose. I hear the sickening crack of bone, but Kael’s grip doesn’t loosen. He snarls and presses harder, both of his knees now pinning my legs down.

my body, ripping my arm free from his grip–pain screaming through me–but I don’t stop. I

in a violent rush, but Kael doesn’t loosen his grip. His hands are crushing my throat, grinding the life out of me,

My vision goes blurry.

نہ

closing in around me–my body’s fighting against the pain, but it’s too

I can’t-

I can’t-

second is making me feel so

I refuse.

can’t die

flicker–something through the fog of my failing consciousness.

Grayson.

the rain, his face is a blur, but his eyes–they’re fucking clear. Wide with panic. His eyes are locked on me, filled with rage and worry. He’s charging toward me, but Pierce steps in front of him,

Everything inside me snaps.

strength, the rage, the need to survive–it all crashes

raking across his

for a second. That’s all I

my body bucking beneath him as I use the