They reached his home and pulled into the garage, turning the vehicle off then they turned to look at each other.
“Well, now I know what’s been wrong with you after each fight. You knew where this was going the whole time. I was just too blind to see it,” Melanie said.
“I know. It’s been difficult for me, too. I don’t want to fight him, but Melanie, I’m not doing this for the hell of it. I want it just as much as Nick did before he became the champion.”
“I don’t even know how to react right now. I care about you both. This sucks,” Melanie sighed with frustration. How was she supposed to watch and support both men at the same time? She didn’t want to choose.
“Melanie, I know how close you and Nick are. I’m not expecting you to pick a side. But Nick knew this was going to happen eventually. It would have happened before if I hadn’t gotten thrown out of the league.”
Melanie shook her head. The thought of them fighting hadn’t occurred to her and now she was picturing how bloody it was going to be with the two best fighters in the cage. It was going to be torture to watch.
“I know,” Melanie replied.
She wondered what Nick thought about it. He always came across as so laid back. Sometimes she wondered what was really going on in that head of his.
“So when are you going to challenge him?” Melanie already knew the answer.
“I’m ready now. I’m going to talk to Nick first. He knows it was just a matter of time,” Zane replied with determination.
She was associated with the two most alpha males she knew and now they were going to go head to head in the cage. She felt sick.
“Are you going to be okay?” Zane asked, although she could sense it didn’t really matter how she felt. This was going to happen, regardless of her feelings.
“I don’t know.” Melanie leaned her head against the seat and looked away.
Zane opened his door to get out while she did the same. They went inside and didn’t say much for the rest of the night.
Part of her was angry that Zane wanted to challenge Nick, but on the other hand, if it were anyone but Nick, she would expect Zane to fight for the championship. She even felt guilty thinking about Nick keeping his championship when she knew Zane was such a good fighter. If not for Tobias, this situation would have come to a head years before. Then she would’ve felt guilty because Nick was her brother and deserved her support.
There was nothing she could do now. She had to accept the inevitable. She would just try not to think about it and focus on winning her next fight. She had her own match to think about it.
That night, both of them were restless, and for the first time, they didn’t have sex before falling asleep. Melanie already felt as if a wedge was coming between them. If she was honest, it was more on her side than Zane’s. She just kept imagining them in the cage together, beating each other.
Melanie buried her head under her pillow, wishing it would be as easy to hide from the inevitable battle looming ahead.
* * *
Nick had planned another family dinner that Friday, and despite her reservations, she gave in to his pleas and agreed to go. They hadn’t been together as a family in over a month, due to Nick’s constant travelling, and she hadn’t talked to her father one-on-one since her first fight.
Melanie had given up the pretense that she and her father shared a relationship. Unfortunately, Nick still had blinders on to the fact that the happy family in his mind didn’t exist. Her father still hadn’t come around, even though she had been proving herself in the cage.
She had moved up and planned to fight Leah—the last person that had fought Macey. Leah was considered second only to Macey. If she won that fight, she wasn’t going to waste time on anyone else. She wanted Macey’s belt. She was tired of wasting her time and energy on everyone else.
It was a pain in the ass having to do these other fights, but she knew she had to do it. Good practice or not, she was running out of patience. She still felt the time she had lost training with Tobias, but knew if she didn’t slow her ass down and become more patient, then she would make a fool of herself in the cage with Macey.
“Hey, sis, how’s it going?” She turned at Nick’s deep voice and felt herself getting emotional.
“Melanie, it’s okay. You don’t have to be upset about this.” Melanie had called Nick that next day after she’d found out they were going to fight. Nick was very calm and said he knew it was their time in the cage. Apparently, Melanie was the only one that couldn’t accept it.
“It will be fine and one hell of a fight,” Nick replied.
“I don’t understand you. How do you seem so okay with this?” Melanie asked him.
“I want to fight the best, and right now, Zane is the best person to challenge me in a long time. This is going to be the fight of our lives,” Nick said with enthusiasm.
She noticed a look in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. He really wanted this fight, and she couldn’t understand why. She wanted to question him further, but he seemed like he was tired of hearing her whine about it. She was going to have to keep her feelings to herself. Both Nick and Zane wanted this fight and she was just bringing them down. She decided to lighten the mood.
“So, who’s your latest victim?” she asked him. Nick looked at her inquisitively.
“What?”
“I’ve heard rumors of a blond…who is she?” Melanie asked knowingly. She had actually seen the blond leaving his house when she was driving around one morning. She hadn’t really heard anything since Nick was good about keeping his personal life private.
He narrowed his eyes at her and then smoothed his features on purpose.
“Nobody important,” he replied casually.
Melanie could tell he wasn’t comfortable. She wanted to ask him more questions, however their father finally showed up.
He sat down without saying anything and picked up his menu.
“Good to see you, too, Dad,” Nick said sarcastically.
“Let’s just order, okay?” her father replied harshly.
Melanie was shocked. Nick was his golden boy and she had never heard her father talk like that to him except for those times as a child when he had been disciplined. What is his problem? she wondered.
“Dad,” Nick continued, “you and Melanie are wearing me out. It’s going to be fine. It’s time for a real challenge.”
That explained it. Her dad wasn’t happy about the fight with Zane either. That was at least one thing they had in common.
“Nicholas, I have no doubt you can win, but are you going to put everything you have into the fight? I know you’ve felt sorry for Zane for so long. I don’t think you’re going to be able to go into this one fully focused,” her dad replied heatedly.
“I don’t feel sorry for Zane. I’m not going to let him win on purpose. He’s a fighter in the cage and outside of it. It would be an insult to feel sorry for him and to let him win.” Nick continued, “He would know it if I was holding back. I don’t expect him to, and I’m not going to hold back, either.”
“You say that now, but are you going to be able to throw a punch at him full strength?” her dad barked back.
“Yes, I will,” Nick replied steadily, looking their father directly in the eyes.
Melanie could see her father start to back down.
“Okay, we’ll see,” her father replied, sounding defeated.
She wished she could get to him the way Nick could. Her father stayed harsh with her and never backed down. For once, thoughts of her father didn’t bring her down.
During the rest of dinner, she kept up a lively conversation with Nicholas while ignoring her father when he attempted to enter the conversation. She was surprised when he did ask her a few general questions about her life, but of course, nothing about her fights or Zane. She answered the ones she wanted to and ignored the ones she didn’t. She felt his sharp gaze on her several times during dinner while Nick’s approving eyes regarded
the interaction between them. Her father left early, clearly frustrated with his two children.
Nick walked her to her car. “I’m glad to see your finally learning how to handle Dad. The more you show him that his opinion doesn’t matter, the sooner he’ll realize that he will have to accept your fighting.”
“It doesn’t. Not any more, Nick.” Melanie unlocked her car door before turning to look back at her brother. “He destroyed our relationship a long time ago. Truthfully, when I look back, I don’t think we had one since Mom died. I think something died inside of him when she was killed. I truly believe the only thing he can care about is your success.”
Nicholas paled. “That’s not true.”
“Yes, Nicholas, it is, but I’ve come to terms with it, and it doesn’t hurt so badly anymore. Not since Zane,” Melanie confided in her brother.
Melanie watched as he released a deep breath. She saw the realization in his face that she was speaking the truth.
“I’m sorry, Mel.”
“Don’t be. It’s his problem, not yours, and definitely not mine anymore.” Melanie climbed into the car. “Just do me a favor and quit making me attend these family dinners.”
“That I can do.” Nick grinned, closing her car door.
Chapter 20
Melanie’s fight against Leah was tomorrow and she needed to get in bed early. She was staying at her own place tonight because she wanted her mind totally focused on the fight ahead.
She called Zane on the way home to say good night. After the initial adjustment of realizing that there was no stopping the fight between her brother and Zane, she had managed to let her fears go and constantly tell both the best fighter would win. Neither man tried to make her choose, both understanding the difficult position she was in. The turning point had been when she realized that the fight wasn’t going to affect their relationship as friends, however if she didn’t get her head out of her ass, it was going to harm hers with them.
Melanie parked her vehicle and gathered her things to walk into her apartment. As she walked in, she heard the television and knew Trish was home. She was surprised since it was a Friday night, she was usually either on a date or at an event.
“Hey there,” Trish said when she saw Melanie.
“Hey. What are you doing home?”
“Just felt like staying in,” Trish replied.
Melanie had never talked to her about that night out at the club. As far as she knew, Trish had been busy with work and hadn’t been out much. She figured Trish would eventually realize her behavior wasn’t healthy or safe.
“What are you watching?” Melanie asked as she looked at the television. It looked like one of those reality shows with has-been celebrities going to therapy. Melanie always thought those shows were a joke, but Trish seemed pretty into it right now.
“Shanna Jones is talking to a therapist about how she used to party and fuck around,” Trish replied distractedly. Scratch that, she was seriously into the show.
Shanna Jones had been a popular actress when they were teenagers, yet she was known for partying, dating, and drugs. She fell out of the limelight a few years ago and Melanie figured she would do anything to be back on TV, even if it meant talking about her problems. All the young girls had wanted to be Shanna. She was beautiful and all the high school boys had gawked over her.
Melanie wondered if Trish saw a little of herself in Shanna without the drugs. Trish liked to drink, but Melanie had never seen her do any type of drugs.
“Well enjoy. I’m going to bed. Big fight tomorrow,” Melanie reminded her.
That shook Trish out of her daze. “Oh, yeah! How are you feeling about it?”
“One win away from challenging the Bitch,” Melanie replied.
Trish laughed. “I know you’ll win just to get to Macey. I’ll be there to cheer you on.”
“I know. You’re the best.” Melanie yawned. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night.” Trish turned back to the show, then seemed to change her mind, glancing back at Melanie. “Mel?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for saving my ass that night with Landon. I can’t let myself get that wasted again—thanks for having my back. It won’t happen again. It kind of scared me that I could be that stupid. I think it’ll be a while before I hit the clubs again.”
“That’s what friends are for. Night, Trish.”
“Night, Melanie.”
Melanie got ready for bed and climbed under the covers. The bed was lonely without Zane, but she had made the right choice. She needed her attention on Leah and the fight tomorrow, not fucking Zane’s brains out, which is what she would have been doing if she had been at his house. Melanie stretched under the covers already thinking of how they would celebrate when she won tomorrow night. She was going to make sure Zane made tonight up to her since it had been his suggestion.
* * *
"Good night." Zane hit end on the phone.
Melanie thought he was at home. He was glad she had agreed to stay at her place tonight. It gave him the opportunity to do the job without her asking any questions.
He looked at the woman's picture again. He had already memorized every detail, however it gave him something to do while he waited. Although she was in her late twenties, she looked a lot older. He didn't understand why people wanted to destroy their lives over drugs. Fortunately, there were no kids this time, but she was with a man. He had watched them leave the motel room together about an hour ago and had to bide his time until they returned. The later, the better. There was always a lot less chance for witnesses in the middle of the night.
Her name was Clarissa. She had been delivering heroin for the past year. According to her background, she started selling less in order to save some for her own use. She missed her deadline to turn in the money she’d collected and had then skipped town.
They were all so naive. They really thought they could get away with either not paying or running off with the money. The bosses kept up with all their moves. Once you agreed to work with them, your life was theirs and there was no escape. Zane wasn't going to let the same thing happen with him, it was his time to leave now.
He sat in the sedan, thinking about his own plan of escape. It didn't require running, though. He was going to do it face to face.
At about one thirty, he saw Clarissa and her companion stumble out of a cab. Even from across the parking lot, he could see they had been partying hard. Good, they wouldn't be in a position to fight back very hard.
He watched them go to the door and saw the man push Clarissa against the door to kiss her. His hand slid down the front of her body, over her breast, over her hip, to under her skirt. Zane was hoping they would pass out, but it looked like they would be up for a while.
He leaned his head back in frustration—he hated this shit.
They finally opened the door to go inside, and Zane looked at his watch.
An hour later, Zane glanced around to see if anyone was out. He wasn't going to sit here all night. He looked back towards the window and could no longer see a light on. He put his baseball cap on and stepped out of the car, then casually walked towards the room, pulled the hotel key his boss had provided, and quietly opened the door.
In the dim light the bathroom provided, he could see them both lying on the bed. It looked like they had just passed out. He breathed a quick sigh of relief.
He quietly closed the door behind him, locking it silently, not wanting to alert them to his presence until he was ready.
He looked at the couple lying on the bed, both breathing heavily in their sleep.
The room had a strong stench of smoke and alcohol. He looked at the desk and saw what was left of the heroin before doing a quick search for the money, but it wasn't in the room. He was really hoping this was going to be an easy job, but he was going to have to wake her up for the money.
He pulled out the rope and quickly tied the man's arms behind his back. The man was lying on his stomach,
so it made it easy to restrain him. The guy started to wake, but Zane quickly gagged him to prevent him from making any noise. By now, the man was awake and trying to kick Zane. Zane grabbed his ankles and quickly tied them together as well. All the man could do was wiggle on the bed and try to yell through the gag. Zane pulled his knife out and held it to the man's throat.
"Shut the fuck up," Zane snarled in his ear. He slid the blade across his throat to silence him. He drew just enough blood to scare the man into staying quiet, and the man quickly stilled.
Once Zane had the man under control, he put the knife back in his boot and pulled the pistol out. Clarissa was lying on her back with only a shirt on, naked from the waist down. It was an ugly sight.
The man started to make sounds again when he saw Zane point the gun at Clarissa's head, yet Zane's look silenced him once again.
He straddled Clarissa’s chest, pointed the gun in her face, and gripped her neck, shaking her awake. She groggily opened her eyes to the pistol pointed at her face and immediately started struggling and tried to scream, but when she opened her mouth, Zane put the gun inside. She stopped struggling immediately.
"Where's the money, Clarissa?" He saw her eyes widen when he said her name.
Zane pulled the gun out to let her speak.
"What money?" she gasped.
Zane put the gun back in her mouth. They always tried to play dumb; it was the same lie every fucking time.
"Tell me where the fucking money is or I kill you now. I'll find the money eventually. It's your choice if you'd rather live or die." Zane’s voice sounded sinister in the dim bedroom.
He pulled the gun out of her mouth once again as he watched the tears fill her eyes, however he had no sympathy for a drug addict and thief. If she had just done her job, none of this would have happened. He pointed the gun back in her face.
"I...I," she started crying harder. "I don't have it all. Please don't kill me. I'll give them back what I have," she begged.
"That's not the way it works, Clarissa. You know the rules." Zane's voice was deadly.
"Pl... please don't do this. I'll get the money. I swear, I'll get the money!" She was hysterical.
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