"Where's the money now?" Zane asked again.
"In the trunk of my car," she blurted out.
All of sudden, Zane felt the man try to kick at his head with his bound feet. The fool actually thought he could knock Zane out. Zane dodged the kick and then, reaching over, he pressed his hand on the pressure point on his neck, knocking him out, which is what he should have done in the first place. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to get himself killed trying to be a nice guy.
Zane had no fear that they would run to the cops. They were stuck with no recourse, just as he was.
Zane turned back to Clarissa. "How much do you have?"
Clarissa was panting. She couldn't take her eyes off the gun.
"How much do you have?" Zane grabbed her throat again.
"A... about forty thousand," she gasped.
"Where's the rest?" Zane was tired of this shit. He should have been in and out. This was taking too long.
"I spent it. But I can make it up. I can get it by the end of the month," she spoke quickly. "Please don't kill me. I'll make it up." She started crying again.
"You have one week to get the rest of the money. Otherwise, we start with your sister. She's a pretty little thing, isn't she? Be a shame if she came up missing," Zane spoke casually, as if taking her family was nothing to him.
"No! Leave her alone!" Clarissa started fighting him again, but he kept his weight on her and tightened his grip on her throat.
"There is nothing you can do to stop us if you don't get the money. Your sister's life is in your hands now." Zane let go.
Usually, threatening a close family member helped straighten them up.
"Get dressed and give me what you have." Zane kept the gun pointed at her as he lifted himself off her.
The man next to her was starting to come to. Zane kept his eyes on Clarissa, but shoved the man onto the floor. Going around the bed, he took the man’s bound hands, lifting him to his feet. Pointing the gun at the disoriented man’s head, Clarissa’s horrified eyes understood his silent message to hurry. Zane shoved the man into the bathroom, closing the door and placing a chair under the doorknob to lock him inside. He then turned away, satisfied that at least the stupid fucker had enough sense to remain quiet.
Clarissa was putting on her shoes. When she finished, she picked up the keys and walked him to the car where Zane put his gun in his jacket pocket, but Clarissa knew he still had it trained on her back. She opened the trunk of her car and started to reach in for the bag. He stopped her, leaned in, and opened the bag in the trunk to make sure there was actually money in it. She was telling the truth. He zipped the bag and pulled it out of the trunk.
"One week." He turned and walked back to his car, leaving the terrified woman shivering in the dark parking lot.
Chapter 21
Melanie swished the water around in her mouth and spit it out in the bucket Zane was holding for her. She could see the blood swirling around in the water and wiped her mouth with the back of her arm. Leah had gotten a jab in to the side of her face and bloodied her mouth. She took another swish and saw a little less blood this time when she spit.
They were going into the third round, and she had no idea who was winning. Every time she got a few moves in, Leah came back with just as many of her own. Control had gone back and forth between the two of them for the entire fight so far. This would be the deciding round.
She was exhausted and was trying to think of what she could do to end the fight. She was breathing too heavily to say anything, however Zane seemed to read her mind.
“You’ve stayed on your feet the whole fight. Do you think you can get her to the ground?” Zane asked.
She nodded her head yes. They had turned this into a boxing match and Melanie knew she was better on the mat. If she could get Leah down and keep her down, she might be able to pull it off.
“Thatta girl. Go get her,” Zane said confidently.
Melanie stood up when the bell rang. She looked at Leah, glad to see she looked as tired as she felt. This was going to be a long five minutes.
Melanie took a deep breath and looked for an opening as they started off circling each other, Melanie waiting for Leah to move in on her. Leah was tired, yet she moved in with a jab. Melanie jerked back to avoid the punch, which was quickly followed with a kick. Instead of trying to avoid the kick, Melanie took a page from Zane’s book and grabbed her ankle, not letting go. Leah tried to fall back and take Melanie with her, but Melanie was able to twist Leah’s leg around and get her to fall on her side.
Melanie didn’t waste any time. She dropped down and was able to turn Leah face down into the mat. Leah pushed back hard, but Melanie put all her weight on her. She wasn’t letting her up. Melanie leaned over to grab her ankle again and pulled it back. She knew Leah was going to have to tap, otherwise, Melanie was going to rip one of Leah’s muscles.
When Melanie heard the ref yell to stop the match, she rolled off Leah to catch her breath. She heard boos and cheers in the audience and looked up to see Zane smiling down at her. He reached his hands out to help her up and she wrapped her arms around him.
“Thanks for that lesson,” she tried to tease, but she was still trying to catch her breath. She looked into his eyes and could see he was remembering that moment in the gym when she’d tried to kick him.
“I knew it would come in handy one day,” he teased back.
She heard the ref call her name and went back to stand next to him as they announced her the winner. Afterwards, some members of the press asked her a few questions. She took a sip of water out of a cup someone handed her and saw the blood on the rim of the cup. She knew she looked a mess and was glad no one was taking pictures of her at the moment. When she finished answering questions, she walked towards Nick, Zane, and Trish, who were waiting for her.
“Great job, Mel!” Trish exclaimed then grimaced when Melanie came closer. “Oh, my God, I didn’t realize how bloody you would be.” Trish made a face that had them all laughing.
“Nice move, Melanie,” Nick said proudly.
“Thanks.” Melanie was feeling a little light-headed and just wanted to get her things and soak in a hot bath.
“Thank you for being here,” Melanie said to both of them.
They all seemed to sense that she was worn out and told her congratulations again. Trish walked with her to the locker room to get her things, leaving Nick and Zane waiting for them. Melanie was too tired to think much, but she didn’t notice any awkwardness between Nick and Zane. She had to remind herself that she was the one worked up over it, not them.
As they approached the locker room, she saw one of the officials with the league standing outside the door. She thought he might be there to congratulate her on her win. It wasn’t often someone just out of the amateur league won such a big fight so quickly. However, as they came closer, she saw the seriousness on his face.
“Ms. Brooks, we need you to take a drug test."
Melanie shook her head. What the hell was he talking about?
“A custodian cleaning the locker room knocked your bag over. A bag of unidentified pills fell out. Can you tell me what they are?” the official asked her sternly.
“I don’t know what pills you’re talking about. I don’t have any pills in my bag. He must have my bag confused with someone else’s,” Melanie answered, certain there had been a mix up of some kind.
Trish spoke up, coming to her defense, “She’s my roommate. I've never seen her take more than two ibuprofen at a time. There’s been a mistake.”
The man’s face softened slightly; he seemed to believe them. Melanie sighed an internal breath of relief. She didn’t need this right now.
“I need you to show me your bag then.”
They went inside the locker room. There was no one else in the room. Trish called back to him to tell him he could enter as Melanie went to the area she had left her bag in and saw it on the ground. It had been knocked off the counter.
She turned t
o the official and pointed to her bag.
“That’s it.” She reached down to pick it up, feeling dizzy when she stood back up.
She watched his face harden. “Ms. Brooks, that’s the bag the pills were in.”
“What pills? Where are they?” Melanie was getting angry.
He pulled the bag from his pocket. “Here.”
“Those are not mine,” Melanie said steadily. “What proof do you have that those pills were found in my bag?”
“Two eye witnesses, the custodian and another fighter in the room when the bag fell out.” The official continued, “Does that mean you consent to taking a drug test?”
“Absolutely,” she said.
She watched him make a phone call, and in no time, the on-call nurse was there with a cup and a needle. While she was taking the tests, Trish went out to tell Zane and Nick what was going on.
After the tests were completed, the nurse said she would contact Melanie on Monday with the results. Melanie wasn’t concerned about the test results; she knew she hadn’t taken anything. It was who was trying to set her up that worried her.
Melanie took a quick shower and dressed. Angry with herself that she hadn’t put her bag in a locker, but most fighters didn’t. They were on the honor system with each other. Thefts rarely occurred in the locker rooms. Many of the fighters knew each other and didn’t want to ruin their reputation from something as stupid as stealing something out of someone’s bag. Besides there hadn’t been anything valuable in her bag except a change of clothes. She hadn’t thought about anyone putting something in her bag.
When she was done, she grabbed her bag and stormed out of the locker room. She ran smack into Macey.
“You fucking bitch!” Melanie yelled at her. “How dare you try to set me up?” It made sense now—Macey was the only one that would do this to her.
“What the hell are you talking about, you stupid bitch?” Macey snapped back at her.
“I know you put the pills in my bag. You’re too fucking scared to fight me, so you set me up. I knew you were a bitch, but not a coward.” Melanie heard her voice rising. She wished they could fight right now.
“Get out of my face,” Macey yelled at her, shoving Melanie back against the wall. Melanie was still too weak to fight back and had to succumb to Macey holding her against the wall.
“I want to fight you,” Macey snarled in her face. “You think I’m afraid of you? That’s a fucking joke. I want your asshole brother to watch me pound the shit out of you. You think just because you won a few fights that you’re ready to take me on? Come on then. I’m ready for you.” Macey took a breath and stepped back.
Melanie could tell Macey wanted to beat the shit out of her, too. She also saw the truth in what Macey was saying. Macey wouldn’t set her up—she wanted Melanie in the cage. Melanie forced herself to calm down.
“I’m sorry. Someone put some pills in my bag and I thought it was you.” It was painful to apologize, however Melanie knew she was in the wrong this time.
Macey looked surprised, which in Melanie’s eyes, confirmed that it wasn’t Macey after all.
“Looks like I’m not the only one that can’t stand you,” Macey sneered. She turned to walk into the locker room to get ready for her own fight. “Challenge me anytime. I’ll show you what a real fighter can do to you.” Macey walked through the door, leaving Melanie feeling like shit for accusing her.
Melanie shook her head. This fight had taken a lot out of her. Then to face the accusation of doping had ruined what should have been a triumphant moment for her. Now it would feel tarnished until she could get the drug report back, even though she already knew that it was going to show she was clean.
She heard voices and looked up to see Zane, Nick, and Trish walking towards her.
“What the hell is going on?” Nick asked her.
“I have no idea. Someone put some pills in my bag. I consented to the drug test to prove I haven’t taken anything,” Melanie explained. “They'll have the results on Monday.”
She saw Zane’s eyes narrow. She knew he had gone through his own false accusations and how they could destroy a career.
“Do you think it was Macey? I saw her earlier,” Trish asked angrily.
“No, I ran into her. It wasn’t her.” Melanie didn’t elaborate on their encounter. “I can’t think of anyone that would want me out of the league. Macey would have been the only one, but she wants to fight me. She has no reason to do this.” Melanie couldn’t believe she of all people was taking up for Macey.
“We’ll figure this out. Whomever it is will try something again when the test results clear you. We’ll be ready.” Zane spoke with such authority and confidence, Melanie believed he would figure this out. She had been too young to help him out when he had gone through everything, but she was glad Nick was there to help him prove his innocence. It reassured her that she had their support.
“Thanks, Zane. No one knows more about this kind of stuff than you do,” Melanie said gratefully. She smiled up at him and felt a dribble of blood run down her chin.
He grinned at her as she wiped away the blood. “Let’s get you home.”
After the four of them went to their vehicles and said their goodbyes, all Melanie wanted to do was go to bed. She closed her eyes on the way to Zane’s house and he had to wake her when they got there. She noticed she felt a little better and not as drained. She figured the short nap must have helped.
They had a light dinner and then she spent an hour soaking in his oversized tub. As she got into bed, she felt much better than before. She cuddled in Zane’s arms and fell into a peaceful sleep, certain that he would figure this out for her and everything would be okay.
Chapter 22
Zane was sitting at the front desk of the gym when the door opened. He looked up to watch Faye strut through the door. She had started calling the gym over the past few weeks, but usually Lincoln answered the main line and he wouldn’t put her through to Zane. She had also stopped by, but he had been with a client the day she’d come and never glanced in her direction. After that session, Zane went straight to his office and shut the door. He didn’t want to cause a scene at the gym and wasn’t going to let Faye tarnish his reputation as a professional again. Lincoln told him she’d stormed out after watching him go into his office. There were too many people in the gym and Faye had no intention of humiliating herself with witnesses.
Unfortunately, this time it was early and there was no one here to provide a blockade to stop the stubborn bitch.
“Hey, baby,” Faye purred. She was wearing tight black jeans and a white tank top that showed a huge amount of tits. She had deliberately dressed to draw his attention, trying to play against their past sexual relationship.
“Give it up, Faye. There’s no going back,” Zane said harshly. He was tired of her thinking she could wear him down with persistence and tits.
“I can’t get you out of my head,” she replied with sincerity as fake as the nails on her hands. “I want you to forgive me and I want to be back in your life.” She walked up to the counter and leaned over to try to touch his hand.
He pulled back before she could touch him, glaring as her eyes narrowed with anger and then softened up again. It was the same old Faye, always putting on an act.
“Zane, you know what we had was special. I told you, I was in a bad spot, but I only did it for us,” Faye continued. “I know I did it all wrong. I never thought anything would happen to you. It would have just been one defeat, then after that, you would have been on the rise again with your next fight. You would have won all your other fights and you would be the champion now.” Faye sighed. “You let your anger keep you from competing again, not anything I did. You can’t blame me for that.”
Zane looked at her. She truly believed she was doing what she thought was best, not realizing what the consequences would be. She was really that stupid. He had just been too young to have seen it back then.
“Okay, I believe you
weren’t trying to destroy my career. That you somehow thought you were doing something good for us,” Zane replied. He thought letting her believe he was accepting her explanation might get her to leave him alone.
“Oh, Zane, that means so much to me.” Faye was back to purring again. He used to love the sound of her voice, now it was like fingernails on a chalkboard. “How about dinner tonight to catch up?”
“You know I’m with someone now,” Zane stated.
He watched the anger flash in her eyes again before she quickly replied, “Just for old times’ sake? Come on, dinner isn’t going to hurt anyone.”
“No,” he said firmly.
“Zane, please…” Faye tried again.
“No. You said your peace, now get out and don’t come back here again.” Obviously being polite wasn’t working.
“I want my mother’s vase back. It means more to me than it ever will to you.” Faye was fighting back the tears. He couldn’t tell if she was being sincere or if it was all part of her act.
He recalled the vase. Her mother had given it to them as a gift. He had never let Faye back into his place, sending her things to her in a box, but he had forgotten about the vase. It was in a box at his new house now.
“Fine, I’ll send it to you. Just tell me where to mail it.”
“I can come to your house and get it,” Faye offered.
“No. Just tell me where to send it,” he repeated.
“Never mind. Keep it for now. I’ll get it later.” Faye huffed and turned to leave.
Zane didn’t want her to get it later, but he wasn’t going to chase her out the door for her address, either. She was nothing but trouble. He would find the damn vase and figure out how to send it to her. You could find everything on the internet—her address should be simple. Hell, as much as she was coming by the gym, he could leave it behind the counter and tell Lincoln to give it to her the next time she came around.
The rest of the day was uneventful. He had three clients scheduled that day and they actually all showed promise. A couple were doing a decent job of listening and learning, and he could see them winning several fights in the near future.
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