Cole: A Boulder Series Novella

by Eve L Mitchell

  “Okay, how am I going to beat this guy?” Theo said to us both softly. I glanced around us making sure that no one could hear.

  “You’re going to have to be quick on your feet.” Matt took a drink of water. “He doesn’t look like he’s fast.”

  I looked at Theo’s opponent. He didn’t need to be fast but the guy was huge. Theo would look like an adolescent nerd beside him, one punch from this guy may knock him out completely. My resentment for Jay flared and I pushed it down, me losing my shit over Jay wouldn’t help any of us tonight.

  “Matt’s right, keep moving, try to tire him out,” I too kept my voice low. “Stay out of his reach but be quick enough to get in your own hits. Jabs and crosses should be enough, but you’re gonna have to react fast.”

  Matt was nodding. “You’re quick on your feet, you can lead him a dance over the floor.”

  “He’s going to beat me.” Theo looked resigned. “Maybe I should take the hit and go down.” He was looking at his feet.

  My eyes met Matt’s and we both looked at Theo. “If you want to do it that way, you can. Be over nice and quick,” Matt said.

  “No shame in taking the hit.” I nodded in support.

  “You wouldn't though, would you?” Theo looked between the two of us.

  “I would like to think I could,” I murmured.

  “I’ll do my best.” Theo didn’t look convinced as he took a drink of Matt’s water.

  “You’ll be fine,” I assured him.

  “You ready?” We turned as one to see Aaron standing there. We all made to move forward. “Where the fuck do you think you’re all going?”

  “You said it’s time,” Theo frowned.

  “Yeah, for you. These two can stay here.” Aaron wasn’t joking.

  “No,” I met his glare head on. “He isn't going out alone.”

  “I’ll be with him,” Aaron snorted in contempt.

  “As I said, he isn't going out there alone.” Aaron’s eyes narrowed and I knew he was going to be difficult. I cut him off before he could reply. “I don’t give a fuck what you’re about to say. He goes out with me or not at all.”

  “Is that right?” His voice was low, his look assessing. I wasn’t completely sure I could take Aaron in a fight.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re holding me up, let’s move.” He turned and walked away.

  “Jesus, I thought the fight was happening here for a moment there,” Matt muttered.

  “You and me both, brother,” I admitted. “Let’s go,” I said to Theo. On the way out to the ring, I saw that Jay had arrived. He walked over to us. Aaron noticed and slowed down, deliberately hanging back.

  “Just left that fine girl of yours.” Jay grinned at me. Seriously, why can’t I knock him out?

  “I hope you had a pleasant evening.” Fuck you dick.

  “She sure is eager for it isn't she? Could hardly get her off me to come here.” His grin was mocking. “Clingy little thing isn't she?” He winked at me. “Not that I mind, when she has an ass like that?”

  Yeah, I was definitely going to punch him.

  “I don’t have all fucking night, let’s move it,” Aaron snapped.

  I met his fierce glare and nodded, nudging Theo in front of me. Jay laughed as he walked over to the makeshift bar. Theo walked ahead and passed Aaron who was frowning as he stared at his brother’s back.

  “Tell your boy to keep to his left.” Aaron didn’t make eye contact and then was stepping into the ring to introduce the fights.

  Why was he telling me this? I caught up with Theo and told him what Aaron had said. He glanced at me and then Aaron.

  “We trust him?” His tone was sceptical.

  No. Maybe? On this…maybe. “See what happens in the first round,” I offered. Theo nodded his agreement.

  Theo lasted five rounds with the guy. Aaron was right, if Theo stayed on his left, his opponent was at a slight disadvantage. It wasn’t much but it looked like he was favouring his left leg and was slower as a result of it. Watching him I was pretty sure it was his knee that was causing the problem, Theo just needed to be able to exploit it. Theo got lucky when he dropped to the floor and swiped the guys legs out from under him. The guy went down hard and fortunately for Theo, landed on his bad knee. His howl of pain made most people flinch.

  Aaron declared Theo the winner and I helped him get to the back. Matt had been watching from the rear of the floor, Theo hadn't gotten off lightly. We were going to have to be clever to avoid my brother's questions.

  “Fuck. Are you okay?” Matt asked him as we went back to the area we had been in. “I thought we told you to be fast.” It was a poor attempt at humour, but Theo grinned anyway.

  “I thought he had me.” He sat heavily on the chair. “This is going to hurt so bad tomorrow.”

  “You’re up.” I looked up at Aaron who was staring at Matt.

  “I’m ready,” Matt moved forward and I made to follow.

  “Not you. You fight next. Stay here,” Aaron snapped at me. “He goes out with me, alone, or you all forfeit.”

  “It’s fine Cole. Keep an eye on Theo.” Matt moved quickly up to Aaron, who was still watching me.

  “We’ll watch from back here,” Theo confirmed.

  Saying nothing, Aaron cast me one more glare as he led Matt out. Maybe I could take him? I mused.

  “You’ll lose,” Theo said quietly.

  “Might be worth it?”

  “We have enough problems, let’s deal with them first.” He groaned as he stood. “Let’s go watch Matt.”

  I quietly followed him past the containers and lockers and watched the ring. Matt took three rounds to defeat his opponent, but he had a more evenly matched fight. When he won, he headed back to us with a grin.

  “That wasn’t too bad,” he admitted.

  I watched him carefully. He wasn’t enjoying this was he? “You could have had him sooner,” I replied.

  “I know. I almost made the move, but he adjusted his footing at the last minute,” Matt shrugged. “Threw me off, thought he was coming for me.”

  It was a reasonable explanation if I didn’t know him so well. I did know him so well though and it was a shit excuse to stay in there longer. I would deal with this later, for now, I saw the tattooed dick coming to take me to the ring.

  “Let’s go.”

  “Was waiting for you.” I grinned just to fuck him off. I was met with a look of complete indifference. Asshole.

  Standing across from my opponent, I watched him bounce from foot to foot. He was big enough, broader, his arms were heavily muscled. I doubted he could manage a full arm extension; I could use that to my advantage. Jay had picked three heavily muscled guys to fight, brawn didn’t mean shit when it came to fighting. It was speed, agility and ability to strike when it mattered. Watching my opponent, I was confident that I had this fight. It was over after two rounds. Knock out, a win for me. Jay watched me and I watched him back. All my fights up to last night had ended in a knockout. I left the ring and went back to my friends.

  “You ready to leave?” I asked them as I took the offered water.

  “How much did we take off it tonight?” Theo asked me. He was referring to the debt.

  “I don’t know, Aaron will probably let us know before we leave.” I shrugged. I didn’t think it would be much after tonight. We wouldn’t have been given good odds for tonight's matches. The guys nodded and we made to leave.

  It wasn’t Aaron who waited for us though, it was Jay. “I’ll just have to start making it harder.” A fake smile. The ones Ari fell for. I saw right through his bullshit.

  “Do what you have to.” I walked around him and passed him. Theo and Matt were silent as they followed.

  “Keep it contained,” Matt warned me as we walked out.

  “I’m trying,” I admitted. “But it’s fucking killing me.”

  My rage coursed through my veins, screaming for Jay Jonson’s blood.

  I stared at Theo as we stood i
n the dining room, he shuffled his feet. I waited. I would not lose my temper. What the hell had he been thinking?

  “I thought she could help,” he muttered defensively.

  I kept my mouth shut; I wasn’t entirely confident that I wouldn’t lose it. He brought Ari here the morning after the fight, to be used as a decoy for Connor. Was he insane? I heard Ari walk quickly to the door and then a few moments later, her car engine starting. I closed my eyes briefly; I had been a bastard to her, again. She was so stubborn though, the complete indignation in her eyes as she glared at me for not letting her help her friends burned me. At this rate, I may as well just hand her over to Jay with a fucking gift tag. Never. I was trying my best not to show her how much it was killing me. When she had marched up to me in the kitchen to see if I was hurt, all I could see was Jay’s smug grin last night when he spoke about her like she was a prize. So, I was hard on her. I had seen her desire and her blush when I offered to lift my top up for her. I had seen the hurt in her eyes when I told her she owed us nothing. Why was she so fucking stubborn? Why couldn’t she see I was trying to protect her? That I would do anything to make sure she was safe?

  Matt came into the room and glared at Theo. “Bit’s gone. She’s not happy, not happy at all.” His steady glare didn’t leave Theo. “What the fuck were you thinking? Did you get a blow to the head that caused stupidity?”

  “I thought it was time we told her the truth, especially after what Jay said about her last night,” he shrugged. “Thought we could kill two birds with one stone.”

  “You’re incredibly naïve sometimes,” I muttered. “Have you met Ari? We tell her what’s happening, she’ll throttle Connor herself. She can’t hide her emotions, she’d let it slip and then he would know what we were doing and try to get involved.” I sighed heavily. “I can’t add worrying about him onto everything else I am trying to fix.”

  “Just tell her how you feel then,” Theo snapped at me. “Stop this fucking charade and just tell her that you’re in love with her and want to be with her.”

  “And how will that help?” I snapped back at him. “My brother isn’t ready for this.”

  “Isn’t he?” Theo was just as pissed now. “Or maybe you’re too scared to tell her how you feel, in case she doesn’t feel the same way.”

  My eyes narrowed at him and I was ready to give him a matching black eye.

  “Okay, this is getting us nowhere.” Matt, always the diplomat, actually took a step in between us. “Theo, you and I will go out today. We can stay away most of the day and avoid Connor, which I was going to suggest, before you brought Bit here.”

  “Fine.” Theo shrugged but I could tell he was still pissed.

  “It won’t be much longer that we have to do this,” I reminded him. “We’re working the debt off and if Aaron sets up our fights, we should be okay.” I rubbed my hand over my hair. “He’s a mean bastard but at least he actually wants his customers to get a good fight,” I grudgingly admitted. It was Jay that was the problem. Seemed like Jay was intent on being the source of all my problems. I had no idea what his issue with me was, but there definitely was one.

  “We’re being nice about Aaron?” Matt said sceptically as he looked at me with a frown.

  “He didn’t need to tell Theo about the guy last night. He doesn’t need to make sure we get fair fights. I don’t know his involvement, but I get the impression he isn’t happy about us being in his ring any more than we are.” I looked at my two best friends who were staring at me, like maybe I had taken a blow to the head. “I think he wants us out of there and fast. Jay messes that up and he doesn’t want him involved, I’m sure of it.”

  “I didn’t know you spent so much time with him.” Matt was watching me worriedly.

  “You know I haven’t, I just have a feeling.” I sat down on one of the chairs in resignation. “I don’t know, maybe I’m talking shit.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  I looked at Theo in surprise.

  “He isn’t making it easy on us, but I agree, it could be a hell of a lot worse.” Theo touched the side of his face and winced. “We can fight. And he brings some absolute beasts into that ring and so far he hasn’t matched us up with them. We could be a lot worse than some bruising.”

  “I agree,” I murmured. “I don’t know his plan, if there even is a plan, but so far, even though he’s been a complete dick, he’s not been reckless.” I glanced at Theo and caught his stare. “So can we try not to be reckless either?”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry.” He looked at his feet. “I just want all this shit over.”

  “We all do, but we need to be smart,” Matt agreed softly. “I’m going for my shower. Let’s move before Connor is back,” he added to Theo.

  “Yeah. You’ll be okay Cole?” Theo hung by the door watching me.

  “He’s my little brother, I’ll be fine.” My smile was tight as I watched them both leave. Truth was, they both knew how incredibly disappointed I was in Connor, not only for his actions but the fact he hadn’t even cared how we resolved his problem. As far as he was concerned, we sorted his problem and it was over. I had considered telling him many times—not for him to become involved—but so he could accept what Matt and Theo were doing for him. His nonchalant attitude towards them recently when they were putting so much of themselves on the line for him, was severely pissing me off. He was my little brother and I would protect him but he was also being a dick. He needed to get his head out of his ass. Was this the best solution to this mess? I thought ruefully as I stood and felt a twinge in my own ribs from last night. I hadn’t lied to Ari, I wasn’t marked, but I was definitely feeling it today. Two fight nights one after the other was taking its toll. I really needed a good sleep to wipe away some of the exhaustion I was carrying. I heard them both come back down the stairs and realised I hadn’t moved since they left. I was more tired than I realised. Had I just been dozing in the chair?

  “We’re going to Pearl Mall and maybe the movies,” Matt said as he came into the room. He pulled up short when he saw me. “You okay?”

  “I think I may have fallen asleep,” I admitted.

  “You need to rest. Aaron has you working harder than the rest of us.” Matt frowned as he looked at Theo. “You want us to stay?”

  “No, you need to go. He’ll not be much longer.”

  “Try get some rest.” Matt clasped his hand on my shoulder as he and Theo left.

  Connor arrived home about twenty minutes later. He didn’t notice my fatigue, he didn’t ask after his friends, he talked non-stop about Corey and himself. He was really pissing me off.

  “Do you think Lil Bit is jealous?” he asked me suddenly. “Do you think that’s why she kissed Theo?”

  His abrupt change in the conversation caught me off guard. He was staring at his textbooks too hard to carry off the indifference he was faking. “No, I don’t think so,” I answered him carefully. Watching for his reaction.

  “You sure?” He looked up quickly and I felt my insides freeze at what I glimpsed there.

  Was that hope? “She thought Theo was away to score with a girl, you know how she teases Matt and Theo about being man-whores. She kissed Theo thinking she was doing the girl a favour.” I bit back my smile, it was a stupid move on her part but was just so Ari.

  “He wasn’t with the girl?” Connor looked up again.

  “No, apparently he’s already been there. The girl was, according to Theo, clingy.” I laughed at my friend’s terminology. “Which means she remembered his name and was interested in hanging out again.”

  “So…Ari saved Theo from one of his admirers?” Connor was smiling too, although I suspected for different reasons.

  “Yeah.”

  “But he kissed her back?” The smile was gone again. “The guy who told me, said they were full-on making out.” His stare was hard.

  Was he jealous? “I think he may have over embellished it for you.” I watched as his stare returned to his books. The set of h
is shoulders was stiff, his hands clenched into fists. “You okay?”

  My brother let out a laugh as he leaned back and looked at me. “Sure, why wouldn’t I be? My ex is kissing my best friend in the middle of halls.”

  “Nobody here, except Corey, knows that Ari is your ex,” I reminded him softly. What the fuck is this about?

  “Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Connor muttered.

  “You’re not happy with Corey?” I probed him.

  “What? Of course, I am.” His look to me was incredulous. “Have you seen her? She’s fucking beautiful.”

  Yes, she was, but she wasn’t Ari. No one was Ari. Did Connor realise that too? “Okay, you seem to be hung up on Ari?” I poured us both some juice as I watched him.

  “No, I just don’t want her being stupid.” He shrugged. “She cares too much, she might get hurt if she wanted to start anything with Theo.”

  “It’s not like that. Theo adores her, plus you’re implying a relationship.” Desperate to ease the gnawing in my gut, I tried to lighten the mood. “Theo would never in a million years do a relationship. Even if it was Ari.”

  Thankfully Connor laughed. He grinned at me. “Very true. I’m being stupid.” He gave me another grin as he returned to his books. “I need a couple of hours to study and then Corey and I are going out to a party.”