by Jacob Chance
“Your soul, huh? Does that make us soulmates?” I barely get the question out before I laugh.
“Damn right. But there’s maintenance required to stay that way.”
“What exactly does maintenance involve?” I rest my chin on his chest and study his handsome face.
“You have to keep practicing your techniques.” His mouth quirks at the corners finally breaking into a smile.
“You think I need practice? Soul sucking good sounds like I’m pretty bad ass already.”
“Seriously, your mouth is beyond words, second only to your tight pussy. And if I had to choose between them it would be a toss-up because either one is fucking amazing.”
“Your dick is pretty good too.”
“Pretty good?”
“Meh.” I shrug my shoulders.
He flips me over settling between my thighs. His thick cock nudges against my entrance.
“Oh... my,” I stutter, forgetting what I want to say.
“What were you saying about my dick?” He holds still.
“It’s beyond compare.”
He thrusts inside me in one smooth motion. “That’s what I thought.”
The pulsing beat of the music has my foot tapping the floor under the table we’re seated at.
“Tell me what Jesse was like as a kid.” I look at Silas, directly across from me.
He smiles, white teeth flashing in his tan face. “He wasn’t always the ladies’ man he is now. He struck out more than a few times.”
Jesse laughs. “Hey, I was a kid. I got better with age. Or should I say, I just get better with age?”
“You couldn’t have gotten any worse,” Silas quips.
“I wasn’t that bad. I’d like to point out how you didn’t fare much better than me back then.”
“We had a lot of fun in college, dude.”
“Isn’t that the truth.” Jesse sips on his whiskey before placing it down on the table. “That’s when our luck with the ladies turned for the better.”
“So, you two screwed your way through college?” I glance between them both.
“I wouldn’t say that. We weren’t that bad,” Jesse answers.
“Dude, we weren’t that good either.” Silas bumps his fist and chuckles. I want to roll my eyes, but it’s great to see Jesse having so much fun with his friend. I’m glad I got to meet him.
“I can’t believe we have to go out to the west coast in less than a week,” Ronnie groans as she returns from dancing. She sits on the empty chair next to Silas, wiping perspiration from her forehead. My eyes skirt to Wyatt as he takes the seat to her left. He doesn’t look pleased by her choice and judging from the way they were dancing, he’s feeling more than a little territorial. Glancing at Jesse to see if he’s taking in what’s happening, I find his warm gaze focused on me. My stomach flutters, pleasantly. I can’t spend enough time with him. I’ll be sad to see this weekend end.
“I hate packing,” Wyatt chimes in, drumming his fingers on the tabletop.
“I know. I’m not really looking forward to everything I’ll be doing this week in preparation. My father will be worse than he usually is. ‘Lilah did you do blah, blah, blah? Did you talk to so and so?’ He’ll give me a list a mile long.” I roll my eyes. “Your turn to complain,” I jest, poking Jesse’s side.
“You know I like travelling but our road trip was better than flying. Too bad we can’t drive across country.”
“I might kill you if we had to spend that many days in the car,” I tell him.
“Thanks for the warning. Note to self, long road trips make Lilah violent.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jesse
“I’m going to miss this,” I tell Lilah. We’re sitting at the kitchen island at my apartment enjoying breakfast together. She stayed over last night and we both fly out to California separately today. She’ll be with Russ and Allen on the company jet while the rest of us are flying out earlier on a commercial airline.
“I’ll miss you too. This weekend will be crazy. We’ll be lucky if we see each other for more than a spare minute here and there.”
“I have a feeling this west coast tour is going to be jam packed with appearances. We’ll have to make do with whatever time we can find. A couple weeks is short when you think about how we waited for three years.”
“How the hell did we do that?” She shakes her head.
“You mean how did you resist me for all that time?”
“Yep, that’s exactly what I mean. I did what no woman has ever been able to do before.”
“Baby, I never put energy into winning anyone else’s heart. Yours was the only one I was interested in.” I kiss the side of her forehead.
“I love you, Jesse Gunn.”
“You know I'm right. Just say it already.”
My sister and I are sitting together on a flight predominantly occupied by wrestlers and on air talent. We're all heading west to Los Angeles for Pacific Coast Clash, one of our promotions major annual PPV events.
“Little sister you're brilliant,” Ronnie keeps insisting. “C'mon let's hear it.”
“It sounds like a great idea to me but at the Clash, really?”
“What's wrong with the Clash?”
“What's wrong, little sister, is the Clash is this weekend. That's only two days from now and there's no time to get the suits on board. Just in case you've forgotten, I've used up any of their forgiveness I may have had left when I went off book with Jimmy.”
“What if I already talked to them?” Ronnie has a noticeable tone of apprehension in her voice.
“Did you?”
“I did.”
I wait for her answer as she smirks like she's not going to give one.
“And they said....” My patience is wearing thin.
“What do you think they said? They loved it. It’s a frigging great idea. Besides, I am the champ. You know I gots me some pull.”
She brushes her shoulder off as she sits back in her seat, content and smiling.
“And Russ?” I ask.
“Relax big brother. Russ is good with it too. I mean really now, who doesn't like a badass wrestling faction?”
She has a point. The three of us forming an alliance could be a big hit with the fans.
“Have you thought about what you'd like to call our faction?”
“Really?” she raises an eyebrow. “It’s like you don’t know me at all. Of course, I have. We're going to be calling ourselves The Gunn Club.”
“I like it.”
“I figured you might. We're meeting with the suits after tomorrow's press conference to go over some small details. I've already met with Lilah and her people are going to drop a few hints and hashtags online over the twenty-four hours leading up to the Clash.”
“I guess you got it covered.”
“I am the women's champion for a reason.” She sounds like she's scolding me.
“I'm in.”
“Tell your sister you love her,” she teases.
The next two days are a whirlwind of radio and podcast interviews, local charity appearances and autograph signings at the arena. Before a major pay per view like the Clash, the WCW interactive fan events are by far the best in the business.
I've been so busy since arriving in California I haven't had time to spend with Lilah and she’s been occupied with amping up the social media postings to promote the event. The fans are practically rabid for tickets to the sold-out Clash.
“Looks like it's my turn tonight.” Jimmy Holley slaps me on the back during our pre-event walk through. “Hope you're ready for a beating.”
We won't be having an official match tonight. Jimmy gets some payback during a match I have with Kid Colt, who's been trolling me online and running his mouth backstage about kicking my ass. Near the end of our match Jimmy will run in for an attack of his own and Kid will then join in to help him.
“Eye for an eye, right?” I smile.
“Let's call it a nose for a nose,
” he jokes.
“It was bad wasn't it?” I instinctively place my hand over my nose.
Jimmy stops smiling and slowly turns his head to face me. “Oh, it hurt like a motherfucker. And I’m going to make sure it hurts just as much for you tonight,” he cackles loudly and then stops, turning dead serious. “Honestly, I think knowing it was coming was the worst part.” And he’s laughing again. “Just try not to think about it… too much.” Jimmy walks up the ramp and high-fives Wyatt on his way to the backstage area.
“I so wouldn’t want to be you tonight,” Wyatt chuckles, but he isn’t smiling.
“We’re going to open with this new faction tonight.” Russ Turner is sitting inside another luxury box suite, staring down at the road crew making last minute preparations for tonight’s PPV event. “I love the idea Ronnie, and we’re going to run with it. I especially like how you brought it to the team, you know, like you’re supposed to do.” Russ is clearly talking to me, but just in case I wasn’t sure, he directs a pointed glance my way. “Like you’re all supposed to do.”
“Thanks Russ.” Ronnie grins from ear to ear. “I think it’ll be big.”
“I do too.” Russ smiles back at her. “I have the ultimate confidence in all of you. I know you’ll give the best performances you can. Now go tear the roof off the place.”
Two hours later, Ronnie, Wyatt and I are in a private locker room getting ready to open one of the biggest pay per view events in the business. Russ wanted the three of us separated from the rest of the talent to keep everyone guessing. They all know something is coming and there’s a fair amount of anxiety in the backstage area.
“They’re wound up tonight.” Wyatt is bouncing on the balls of his feet as we watch the ring announcer on a flat screen. “Is everybody ready for the PACIFIC COAST... CLASSSHHH?”
The first match is introduced and it’s time for us to go.
“We were born for this.” Ronnie hugs me.
“Goddamn right.” I hug her back. “It’s our time now.”
We walk out into the main corridor and through a sea of wide eyed looks, all watching and waiting to see what we’re up to.
“Show those boys how it’s done - Kick some ass Ronnie.” A couple of the female superstars call out to my sister as we pass.
As the referee calls for the bell signaling the start of the match, the sound system all around the arena crackles to life with the sounds of Hate Me Now by Nas.
“Really?” I look at Ronnie.
“Kinda works though, right?” She smirks. “Just have fun with it.” She whips around and struts onto the stage.
“Let’s do this.” Wyatt steps out right behind Ronnie and points to her as she glides along the edge of the stage with her arms outstretched.
I pause a beat and step out into view just as Nas shouts his first You can hate me now.
Timing is everything.
The crowd explodes with a combination of cheers and jeers, each side rising in volume as they try to outdo the other. Stopping center stage, I extend my arms straight out, drinking in the moment.
When Ronnie finally makes her way over to stand beside me, the audience’s reaction is so loud it sounds like the building might collapse. “This is soooo cool.” She glances around a giant smile plastered on her face.
“Cool doesn’t even begin to describe this,” Wyatt shouts as he poses behind us both.
We make our way to the ring, each of us stopping to lean back into the crowd and smug it up for the cameras. The fans are loving it and by the time Ronnie climbs into the ring it feels like my ears have popped. They scream even louder when Wyatt and I pummel and then unceremoniously toss the two jobbers out through the ropes. I suppose I should feel bad about ending the night early for these two dudes, but it’s happened to the best of us.
“This is outrageous. These two young men had a big match here tonight and this... this band of thugs, this… this Gunn Club, I guess is what they’re calling themselves now, have ruined an opportunity for these men.” The ringside announcers play it up, sounding shocked and disgusted by our actions.
Ronnie steps to the center of the ring and throws off her hoodie, revealing a tight black t-shirt with #GunnClub emblazoned across her chest. The thunderous reaction from the fans sounds like a bomb has gone off. Wyatt and I step up onto the top turnbuckles in opposing corners facing the crowd and do the same. The ovation goes on for nearly two minutes.
“I’m thinking #GunnClub should be trending like a motherfucker anytime now.” I stop and whisper to Ronnie and Wyatt as we all pass each other center ring while playing to the crowd. “I’m glad I thought of it.”
“You thought of it, my ass.” Ronnie shoots back and keeps walking.
Wyatt smirks at me. “Yeah, her a...”
“Don’t even.” I warn.
By the time the crowd settles almost five minutes have passed and the ringside play by play announcers have run out of witty things to say. “What is this? Can somebody please tell me what’s happening?”
Slipping under the bottom rope, I amble over and jump up onto the announcers table, grabbing a headset from one of them along the way. “I’ll tell you what’s happening. I’ll tell you what this is.” I shout into the mouthpiece and out at the crowd. “This is the greatest women’s champion of all time.” I point up to the ring at Ronnie, who raises the title belt high overhead to thunderous applause.
“This is the genetic freak, the master of disaster, the legendary gunslinger known to you folks as Wyatt Douglas.” I point at Wyatt who laughs and flexes for the fans.
“And this,” I turn back to face the mass of fans from atop the ringside announcers table, “well now, this right here,” I hold my arms out, playing to the crowd. “This is the soon to be, the sure to be, the one and only, the future World Class Wrestling Heavyweight Champion of the World.” I’m on a roll, but I wait for the applause to die down.
“You put us all together…” I pause, slowly, and dramatically looking down at the ringside announcer who initially asked the question. “I said you put us all together and this is what you can call Gunn Control.” I drop the headset, jumping down off the table. Ronnie and Wyatt join me, and we saunter back up the ramp to sustained chants of Holy shit - Holy shit and This is awesome - This is awesome from the crowd.
We make two more appearances at ringside over the next two hours of the show and the crowd reaction gets stronger each time. Ronnie and I stand ringside for Wyatt’s physical domination and destruction of my former tag team partner, Buzzsaw.
Wyatt and I do the same while Ronnie successfully defends her title with ease against Jill James, a new women’s division competitor that’s been generating a lot of heat lately. Unfortunately, they put her up against my sister too soon.
By the time we reach the ring for my match with Kid Colt the atmosphere inside the arena is electric. Both Alex and I deliver in a big way.
Over the next twenty-five minutes we battle each other inside the ring, on the ropes, up the ramp and back again, into the crowd, before ending up in the center of the ring where we started.
“Jimmy’s on his way, ten seconds,” Alex whispers in my ear.
I can hear the crowd react as Jimmy sneaks into the ring behind my back, while Alex has me locked in a front headlock.
I slide my arm up under Kid’s chin and quickly sweep his leg out, knocking him off balance. I spin around just in time to block Jimmy’s first punch and the crowd goes wild. We trade several punishing open hand chops to each other’s chests in the middle of the ring and the crowd roars at the painful echo of each one.
As planned, Jimmy gains the upper hand and delivers six unanswered punches to the side of my head. He pauses and winds up his fist, urging the crowd to approve. Kid is supposed to have retrieved a steel chair from ringside and will be slamming it directly into my back after Jimmy’s next punch breaks my nose. This should be fun.
The last thing I remember is the pain of Jimmy getting his payback, followed by a su
dden jolt to the back of my head.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lilah
I watch in horror as Jesse gets hit on the back of the head with a chair swung by Kid. Jesse’s eyes roll up into his head before he falls flat to the mat. He’s not moving.
Oh my God.
My hands cover my mouth as if they’ll hold in my screams. They don’t. “Jesse. Jesse.” I barely hear my own voice above the uproar of thousands of people speculating about what’s going on. I’m sure they’re wondering if this is part of the act, but I know it’s not. He’s lying too still, and Jimmy’s pale face shows true concern. Kid is pacing around the ring with a panic-stricken expression.
Jesse would’ve warned me if this was planned. He’d know I’d worry and therefore would never put me in that position.
My feet are in motion before I can stop them, racing down the ramp to him as fast as possible, teetering on my high heels. Tears cloud my vision with every step and pour down my cheeks when I reach the side of the ring. Wyatt catches hold of my arm, intercepting me. “Let me go,” I sob, tugging to get free. I need to move closer. “He needs me.”
“Lilah, stay back and let them do their job,” he directs, referring to the EMTs who are already tending to Jesse.
“I need to make sure he’s okay.”
He pulls me into his arms. “The best way to do that is to let them take care of him. Jesse is a tough son of a bitch. He’ll be fine.”
“Lilah, he’ll be fine.” Ronnie races over to comfort me, but the panic on her face shows how alarmed she really is. “He’ll be okay.”
Wyatt places an arm around her shoulders, providing comfort for us both. “He got hit wrong and he’s been unconscious since. He’s breathing okay, I was in there right away making sure.”
My heart pounds while we helplessly wait. Every second his eyes remain closed feels like an eternity. As fast as I wipe my tears away they reappear, like a never-ending waterfall down my cheeks.