Read Online Flawed Love: House of Obsidian by Lauren McKellar, Bella Jewel - Free Book Online Page A

when something is there from a fist and not a simple trip. Who did this?”
    “Rainer, come on, it’s fine.”
    His eyes flash with rage and he barks, “Who did this, Emalie?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “You’re lying!”
    “Rainer please,” I say and much to my horror, a tear slides down my cheek.
    “Fuck,” he says, leaning over and scooping me into his arms. “Sorry.”
    “Why are you carrying me?” I manage through choked tears.
    “Because you’re hurt. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
    “I don’t need the hospital,” I protest. “I just need sleep.”
    He frowns. “You could have internal damage.”
    “I’m fine. Please, Rainer. Just take me home.”
    He stares down at my face and his jaw tics. “You’re not going to tell me who did this, are you?”
    I shake my head, looking away.
    “I don’t like it, Emy. Don’t fuckin’ like it at all.”
    “I know,” I say softly.
    He places me in his truck gently, and I wince in pain as I’m forced to move.
    Neither of us say anything more, but I know how much this is bothering him.
    I just can’t tell him who did it.

CHAPTER NINE
NOW – MALI
    I can’t take my eyes off him, no matter how hard I try—and believe me, I’m trying. There’s an air about him that just can’t be unseen. He moves across the ring with grace, his big body flexing and pulling. Max moves with a more determined, fierce aggression, but Rainer? It’s as if he was born for it. The two of them dance around each other like lions, sizing each other up. I honestly don’t know how they can bring themselves to fight when they’re good friends outside of the ring.
    “How hot are they?” Belle asks, leaning in so she can talk in my ear over the roaring of the crowd.
    I nod. “Hot. I can’t believe they are so at ease in there.”
    “Would you believe that Rainer and Max hated each other only weeks ago? They got into a massive fight one night, because Max thought I was sleeping with Rainer, which I obviously wasn’t. Anyway, after the fight, Max decided to take Rainer on, because he fought so well.”
    I raise my brows. “Seriously?”
    “Yep.”
    “I never thought Rainer would be much of a fighter. Not that I don’t think he can’t do it, because he can, he just usually tries so hard to keep his cool.”
    She smiles. “I think it’s his way of expelling pent-up energy. Rainer is calm only because he doesn’t know any other way to be.”
    “Do you know him well then?” I ask.
    She shakes her head. “Not well. All I know is he and Pippa have a long past that’s ugly. Pippa hasn’t gone into detail with me, but the two of them grew close due to a life experience together. I think she’ll tell me about it one day when she’s ready.”
    So I was right. Pippa and Rainer have connected over something. I just want to know what that something is. I’m not sure Pippa is going to offer that information up easily. I mean, if she hasn’t told Belle, there’s a good chance she’s not going to tell anyone. Which could make things difficult. She holds the answers, all of them, but I have no idea how to get them out of her.
    I focus back on the ring just in time to see Rainer drive a swift punch into Max’s face. I gasp, pressing a hand over my mouth, horrified but fascinated all at the same time. Max returns the favor, ducking and slamming a fist into Rainer’s belly. The two of them fight hard then, fists flying, legs swinging, bodies dodging.
    And it’s mesmerizing.
    As I watch Rainer’s big body move, I get hotter and hotter. He’s so beautiful, so graceful and yet so deadly. His face is a hard mask and his muscles flex and pull as he moves around the ring as if he was born ready for it. I press a hand over my heart as the fight comes to a close, with Rainer taking the win. The crowd erupts in screams and the sound is deafening.
    “Holy shit, if I didn’t love my husband so much, I’d wish I was the lucky girl getting to take all that energy tonight,” Belle