Gregory’s eyes were bloodshot, like they were lit with fire, ready to burn everything around him to ash.
Theo took one look and knew something was wrong. Gregory had completely lost control.
He’d seen this side of him before back in school. Even at 16, Gregory had taken down a group of towering thugs like it was nothing.
But back then, Gregory had done it to protect, Theo. This time, though, that fury was aimed straight at him.
Theo had no chance of winning, and Gregory wasn’t going to kill him, so things ended up like this.
“That’s the fifth boxer he’s gone up against.” Theo looked at the sweat–soaked, badly bruised Gregory and said sharply, “He’s trying to kill himself, choosing to torture himself with this nonstop sparring!”
“Then why didn’t you stop him?” Louie asked as he arrived.
“Me?” Theo gestured to his face, still pressed against an ice pack. Are you listening to yourself right now?”
If he could have stopped Gregory, he wouldn’t be sitting down here nursing a busted face.
“You’re right, you can’t,” Adrian said, giving Theo’s shoulder a par “But Greg doesn’t lose it for no reason. You had to have done something to set him off. So start talking.”
Theo stared at him, frustrated. “How the hell should I know?”
He had just come to blow off some steam at his own boxing gym. How was he supposed to know Gregory would come storming in like a hitman on a mission?
Louie found it strange as well. He exchanged a look with Adrian, and both sighed.
Even if they jumped into the ring together, they wouldn’t be able to stop Gregory in this state.
With no better option, Louie pulled out his phone and dialed Anathea. His gut told him that if anyone could calm Gregory down, it was her. No one else even came close.
But after only a couple of rings, the call was declined. Anathea refused to answer.
Frowning, Louie tried again, but his call was declined again.
Up in the ring, a new boxer launched a brutal opening move at Gregory.
Louie’s eyes went wide.
“Greg!” Adrian shouted.
Gregory dodged the punch with a sharp sidestep and immediately countered.
But he was already exhausted. The hit shoved him into the ropes. Veins stood out on his forehead, his back muscles flushed, and his chest heaved with each ragged breath.
He was just like a cornered beast letting out a low growl.
Still, the moment his opponent found an opening to strike, he reacted in a flash. Using the ropes for momentum, he lunged forward and tackled him to the ground. The two wrestled in a tangle of limbs.
Gregory had his legs locked around the boxer’s neck, and the man kept pounding him with punches, desperate to break free.
Gregory clenched his teeth, eyes blazing with fury.
Finally, the boxer tapped out.
“Red corner wins!” The referee lifted Gregory’s arm.
1/2
Chapter 585
+25 BONUS
As the words were announced, Gregory finally collapsed, dropping to one knee. His body was completely spent, swaying unsteadily from sheer exhaustion.
“Greg!” Louie rushed into the ring to check him over. “Are you okay?”
He yanked off Gregory’s gloves. His fingers were a mess of scrapes and bruises, some even bleeding.
Louie felt a vein throb in his head. “Can I just get one day where you don’t give me a heart attack?”
Gregory didn’t respond. Now that he had burned off the rage, a sliver of reason had returned. But his sharp eyes were locked on Theo like he was ready to skin him alive.
Theo flinched under the glare and swallowed hard.
Adrian quickly handed Gregory a bottle of water. “What the hell happened?”
Gregory took the bottle, tilted his head back, and downed half of it before crushing it in his hand with a snap.
He stared Theo down and coldly asked, “You had the nerve to make her accept you, only to break her heart?”
