Against The Current

Chapter 24

Killian felt all the emotions he had held back explode.

Anger. Worry. Fear.

The power of his clenched fist collided with the side of Graham's face. The satisfaction that curled through his body as he watched Graham reel from the attack was mind-blowing. He had wanted to do that for a while.

There was a short high-pitched scream but Killian froze out everything but Graham. Emma had said it was an inside job - had it been him all along?

Killian lunged himself at Graham, drawing his arm back for another blow.

Graham rolled to the side and gave a short but sharp kick to Killian's middle.

He let out a low grunt at the impact. Sweat dripping as Killian pounded into Graham again.

Someone pulled at him but he shrugged it off, ignoring the continuing shouts from behind.

Graham could taste blood but he easily got in some side shots which loosened Killian's grip on him.

Killian felt a pinching on his ear, a foot on his lower back and then his collar was choking him as he was roughly pulled back. The material of his expensive suit tearing and pain radiating through the side of his head.

Emma watched, paralyzed by shock.

What the hell is going on?

It took her a moment to realize that Robin was not intervening.

"Why aren't you doing anything?" She flung the accusation at him before her eyes returned to the brutal fight.

Emma was more than confused when he simply shrugged and let the men continue. This wasn't the first fight she'd ever broken up and knowing that Killian was the aggressor she focused on him.

It wasn't long before she was using her training to pull Killian off Graham. Both men were so engrossed in the fighting that they would not listen to her pleas to stop. Emma felt bad for ripping Killian's tuxedo but he deserved it.

Both men were heaving from the exertion but neither were ready to back down. Killian moved to strike out at Graham again and Emma rapidly moved in front of him. Her eyes flicked up to meet his, the anger and betrayal that she saw reflected in them shocked her.

If anything she had expected to see jealousy mirrored in his blue eyes.

"What the hell is going on?" Emma spoke harshly, the words echoing her earlier thoughts.

Her eyes darted to Graham and he simply shrugged, "I have no idea!"

Emma believed him, he had no reason to be dishonest and she would know if he was.

"Get cleaned up." Emma's voice was gentle as she instructed Graham to leave. She needed to get him away from Killian until she had sorted all of this out.

"Robin." She spoke loudly this time and gave a small flick of her head to show that he follow. She needed privacy! Robin stood his ground until Killian gave him a small nod.

Permission granted.

Robin followed Graham and shut the door to the gym.

Emma took several short steps forward and flung her arm up. The open palm cracked against the side of Killian's face as it connected with his cheek. She winced at both the look of pain and of shock that flooded his face.

"How dare you!" Emma poured all of her restrained anger into those 3 words.

"He was going to hurt you." Killian whispered as he rubbed his stinging skin.