I get showered and dressed in the locker room and wait patiently for the guys to decide where we are partying tonight. Apparently, they are still avoiding Micky’s out of respect for Jaxon’s girlfriend which honestly I get it but after meeting Micky and spending some time with the guy, it doesn’t sit right with me anymore. Micky deserves the kind of money our presence brings to his bar but I’m just one man in a team full of guys who want to party, so tonight it looks like we're heading off to some house party that some senior is throwing.
Excellent sounds wonderful. Though I guess it really doesn’t matter too much, I’ll show my face for about an hour then head off to see Charli before leaving for my fight.
It’s a big one tonight so I’m pretty damn pumped for it. The last few weeks I’ve won all my matches and I can’t describe the feeling when the referee comes in and raises my fist to the ceiling, declaring me the winner. All I know is that it gives me a mad rush which leaves me wanting more.
I’ve made myself a bit of a reputation within the fighting circle, a bit like I have with hockey. I’m the black sheep, the dangerous, unpredictable one. For hockey, a reputation like that works against me but with fighting, it couldn’t be better. My opponent never knows what I’m going to do so they always enter the ring unprepared and that’s just the way I like it.
It's not long before I’m pushing the stool back from the bar and saying goodnight to Charli. She blows me a kiss across the bar and wishes me good luck before getting straight back to work, filling a glass of beer.
I hop in my truck and double check the message I received from Cole with tonight’s location. I type it into my navigation system and hit the road. I drive just outside the city and come to an old building which looks like it used to be a club of some sort.
There is a huge parking lot and cars fill nearly every space. Every fight, the audience continues to double so the location has had to get bigger and bigger so it’s no surprise that I’m here tonight. Though, I love the energy of a large crowd, no matter if there are cheering for me or not. Their energy is my motivation and not to mention, the more people, the more money that tends to roll in.
I put my truck in park and head around back, just as Cole had instructed me to. I find Cole and Luke by the back entrance, talking with a few other guys. They spot me instantly and do the introductions. Apparently, the guys are also trainers who are here with some of the other fighters. They look at me with appreciation but I honestly don’t care. I’m here to do a job and get paid.
I nod my head in acknowledgment and Cole gets the hint that I’m ready to get the show on the road. He walks through the entrance with me and instantly pulls me up. “Would it kill you to be nice?” he questions. “I’ve known those guys for over ten years. They couldn’t stop talking about your takedown last week.”
My mind flicks back to my epic win last Thursday and I have to grin. I had taken the guy down in under a minute. It was the quickest and easiest twelve grand I’ve ever made. Though, Cole did request that I at least put on a decent show if it’s going to be an easy takedown. Apparently, the big wigs here like their entertainment.
“I’m not here to make friends,” I tell Cole as he leads me through the back rooms of the old club. The place is lit up with big industrial lights with power cords running all over the place. I step over an over-filled power-board which is screaming ‘fire hazard’ and continue on my way.
“Clearly,” Cole grunts as we enter a large room filled with punching bags. All the other fighters and trainers fill the room, some are warming up while others have their trainers wrapping their knuckles.
I find the schedule pinned to the back of the door and I search my name. I pull out my phone and quickly check the time. “Looks like I’m up against some kid called ‘Crusher’,” I tell Cole.
He nods his head as he looks over my shoulder at the schedule. “There are three ahead of you so I’d say you’ve got about forty minutes until go time.” I nod my head and we find someplace to get ready.
Luke shows up halfway through my warm up and gives all his helpful advice, but really all he wanted to do was tell us about some chick he is meeting up with after the fight.
It’s been at least half-an-hour when Cole instructs me to sit my ass down and begins preparing for my fight. I search the room as he wraps my hands and try to figure out who the hell this ‘Crusher’ kid is but come up with nothing.
So instead, Luke rattles off every detail he can possibly remember about the kid and within minutes, I’ve got my whole game plan sorted out.
Twenty minutes later, I come striding out of the ring, fifteen thousand dollars richer and without a single scratch or bruise on my body. Apparently, the guy isn’t so much of a crusher after all.
With a few more fights left in the night, I grab a quick beer with Cole and Luke and check out the rest of the competition before heading off.
I get back in my truck and turn the music right up. My whole body is exhausted, mixing fight night with game night is hard work, especially after a day filled with a morning run, an on-ice training session and my session at Rebels Advocate. My body yearns for sleep and I’m so pleased that it’s finally the weekend. I’ll actually get to sleep in tomorrow, though, I like the thought of waking up beside Charli, so I might head that way instead.
I’m just a few blocks away from Micky’s when I pass an ATM under a street light and decide to stop real quick. There’s nothing I hate more than having a shit load of cash on me, makes me feel like a walking target. I pull over and leave the ignition running as I quickly deposit the cash into my bank account.
The moment I’m done a feeling of relief settles over me. That’s one step closer to my future. I’m heading back to my truck when a car comes screeching to a halt, blocking me from my truck. The car looks familiar but I can’t figure out why.
The answer hits me seconds later when the dickhead who slammed my girl up against a brick wall comes roaring out of the car with three of his friends.
Shit. What the hell have I got myself into now? I should have known he would have come seeking revenge, especially after everything Charli has told me about him. Shame on me.
I quickly take note of the guys as they come at me. Two of them look high, one is fat and the other looks like he has just busted out of prison. I’m not quite sure I can handle four on one but I’ll give it a go, after all, I’m damn positive that none of these fuckers have any kind of training. I’ll just make sure to hit hard.
They are on me in seconds and start one by one, which is their first mistake. The boyfriend gets an uppercut to the stomach, the high one gets a kick while the fat one and shady one get swift punches to the jaw.
It doesn’t take them long to work out that they are going to have to use teamwork, which is when things get a little harder. My eyes frantically jump between the four as they all come at me at the same time.
The exhaustion from the day quickly catches up with me as they start gaining some ground. They are suddenly down to three as the boyfriend disappears. I have no idea what happened to him as I know I haven’t take the fucker out yet.
Grunts and curses echo throughout the street and it’s just my bad luck that it’s so late at night and the streets are deserted. The fucker re-joins the fray and my eyes glance in his direction, only it’s a second too late. I have just enough time to notice the baseball bat in his hands that is already swinging towards my face but it’s too late, there’s not a thing I can do about it.
The bat smashes into the side of my face and I go down like a sack of shit.
---------
A nasty ache pounds through my skull as I come to. Holy shit. Did that seriously just happen? My eyes spring to life as I search the area for another threat but it doesn’t take me long to realise they’re gone. And so is my fucking truck.
I get to my feet and my ribs protest in agony. I step back towards the ATM, under the street light and lift my shirt to check the damage. Cuts and bruises cover my skin but the wo
rst of all is the massive, almost black bruise on my ribs. Shit.
There is no doubt in my mind that they are broken and that those fuckers must have continued their beating once I was down because before the bat came out, I was holding my own pretty well. But what kind of odds are four on one anyway?
I let my shirt fall back down and search my pocket for my phone. Just freaking great. Not only is my truck gone but my phone and wallet are gone too and I’ve got no way to get home apart from a nice long walk.
I find myself heading in the direction of Micky’s and forty-five minutes later turn the final corner, to see someone is still there. Thank fuck for late nights.
It must be well and truly after two in the morning so it’s got to be Micky, he would never let Charli work this late.
I pick up my pace and bang on the locked door with whatever energy I’ve got left. I hear groaning and grunting coming from within but it doesn’t take him long to open the door.
Micky’s eyes widen in shock. “What the fuck happened?” he gasps as he ushers me in.
He leads me back into his office and sits me down on his couch. “The step-mum’s boyfriend came looking for revenge. He brought three other friends and a baseball bat,” I explain.
“Shit,” he grunts.
“Yeah,” I agree. “Took my fucking truck as well.”
“Mother fucker,” he roars as he rushes into the kitchen and returns moments later with a bag of frozen peas for my head. “Hold this here,” he instructs. I do what I’m told and watch as he heads out to the bar and returns with the first aid kit. “I’ll get you cleaned up but then your Charli’s problem.”
“No, don’t wake her,” I argue as he starts cleaning up the wounds.
“Don’t fucking argue with me, kid,” he scolds. “I’m not playing nurse all night and believe me, from the look of you, you’re going to need one.”
Damn, he has a good point. “Fine,” I grunt.
I painfully peel off my shirt so we can see the true damage. It doesn’t take him long to clean up me up but I’m still going to need a shower to get it all off.
Before I know it, Micky is upstairs and filling in Charli. It takes all of two seconds before I hear her rushing down the stairs in the quiet bar. She turns into the office and I cringe, knowing what she is about to see.
“Fuck,” she cries as she takes me in and rushes to me. She stops herself before she actually touches me but I see the need to reach out in her eyes. “Are you ok?” she asks with tears pooling in her eyes.
I take her hand in mine. “I’m fine. It looks worse than it is,” I lie.
“Bullshit,” Micky grunts to himself. I give him a blank stare and he pulls his phone out of his pocket and throws it down on the couch beside me. “I’m going to give you two some privacy,” he states. “You’ll need to call your bank and cancel your credit cards before the fucker can do any more damage. Then be sure to call the cops and report your truck stolen.”
I nod my head, glad to have a guy like Micky’s on the same team. After everything that’s happened tonight, cancelling my credit cards was the last thing on my mind.
Micky leaves and we hear him exit through the doors.
Charli wraps her hand carefully around my waist and helps me up the stairs to her apartment. “You take my bed tonight, I don’t want to roll into you while I sleep,” Charli says.
I give her the same blank stare I gave Micky not five minutes ago. “The last thing I want is for you to be out on the couch,” I tell her.
She knows a losing argument when she sees one and gives in, though I see the annoyance written all over her face. I take a seat on the lounge while Charli heads into the kitchen and gets some painkillers.
I pull out Micky’s phone and dial my father’s number.
“Hello,” an annoyed voice answers clearly pissed off to be disturbed in the middle of the night.
“Dad, it’s me,” I say as I hear my mother in the background questing who it is.
“Son? Why are you calling so late?” he questions before he sighs. “What kind of trouble are you in now?”
I roll my eyes at his bad attitude and let out a sigh of my own. “No trouble, Dad. The boys and I went out to celebrate after the game. I was mugged by four guys on my way home. Took my truck, wallet, and phone.”
“Shit,” he grunts. I can just imagine him, sitting up on the edge of his bed, elbows propped on his knees while he rubs his eyes in annoyance.
“My bank card for my trust was in my wallet,” I explain.
“Right,” he says, instantly getting where I’m going with this. “I’ll call the bank now,” he says, suddenly very business-like. If anything, you can always rely on my father to look out for his money. “What about the truck?”
“I’m calling the cops after this to make a statement. I’ll report the truck stolen then.”
“Good,” he grunts. “I’ll get the bank to send you out some new cards. You’ll need new identification as well,” he reminds me.
“I’m on it, dad,” I tell him.
“Right. Well I’ll speak with you soon,” he says before promptly hanging up and forgetting to actually check in on my well-being after I just told the dickhead I’d been mugged
I put the phone down on the lounge and take the painkillers that Charli has set out on the table. “That sounded like fun,” she says.
“Oh yeah, it was amazing,” I scoff. “Why don’t you go to bed,” I suggest as I reach out and give her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be a while on the phone with the cops and then I need to take a shower.”
“No,” she says, “I’m right where I want to be.”
“Ok,” I murmur, also being able to see a losing battle when it’s staring me in the face. I lean back in the lounge and draw Charli into me. She gently lowers herself and very carefully relaxes in my arms.
Half an hour later, I have called the cops and spoke to an Office Samuels who has taken my statement and also reported my truck. Unlike my dad, I told her exactly what happened and why. She mentioned that as it was near an ATM there may be CCTV footage to help nail a charge. Charli then took the phone and was able to help with their identities from my descriptions. Though, Officer Samuels said she would need to compare it to the footage to make sure.
Following that, I called my own bank and made sure they cancelled my bank card that holds my whole future. They explain that I can collect a new bank card from the branch come Monday. I thanked the woman and hung up.
I decide I can call the insurance company and Cole in the morning. I place Micky’s phone down on the lounge once again. Charli sees that I’m finished and helps me to my feet. She drags me into the bathroom and strips me down before stripping herself.
Seeing her so confident in front of me has me reaching out to touch her. “Nope,” she scolds pushing my hand away, “No way. Not till you’re better.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I groan as I watch her lean into the shower and turn the taps, putting that epic ass of hers on display. My dick twitches but it also fights with the exhaustion from the day.
“Not kidding, Xander. Now get your ass in the shower so I can take you to bed.”
Damn. I am definitely falling for this woman.
Chapter 12
Charli
There is nothing more satisfying in this world than playing nurse to Xander Phillips.
When Micky came pounding at my door last night, I had been all rugged up in my bed. He had gotten only halfway through his explanation before I was bolting down the stairs, desperate to check on Xander.
His shirt was off, so I noticed the cuts and bruising to his chest first, then, of course, the nasty marks across his ribs. From the look of it, it was damn obvious that there was a broken bone in there somewhere.
My eyes travelled up to his face and took in the lump to the side of his temple and it was clear someone had done a number on him.
I guess I was surprised, after seeing him fight all those weeks ago, I had
always seen Xander as untouchable. No one could take him down. Until I learned that there was four of them and a baseball bat against just him. I mean, he is incredible but he is only human and one at that.
Anger tore through me. Without even hearing the explanation, I knew what had happened and I was so stupid to assume it was over. I can’t help but feel this is all my fault. If I hadn’t flushed the drugs, they wouldn’t have come after me, I could have just left and that would be it. Or maybe if I’d just stayed and never met Xander, he’d be safe and sound in his own bed, pain-free but instead, I brought it all on him.
I hate myself for the harm my actions have caused him and I will spend every day of forever trying to make it up to him.
He has put on a brave face all night but underneath the stubborn jackass, I know he is in a lot of pain, not that he will ever admit to it.
I wake early on Saturday morning after feeling like shit all night. Each time Xander moved in his sleep he would cringe and grunt in pain. I tried to give him space but he would just keep pulling me back to him.
I dash around my room pulling on my jeans and boots before searching high and low for my favourite bra, though, I’m pretty sure Xander threw it somewhere when he stripped it off my body the other day.
I settle for a boring plain one and pull a tank top on. I head to the bathroom and brush my teeth before ducking back into the bedroom, leaning down and pressing my lips to Xander’s.
He wakes at my touch and his arms fly up and around my neck, holding me to him so he can take advantage of my kiss. “Stop,” I chuckle against his lips. “I’ll be back soon.”
He frees my neck as he takes a second to notice I’m dressed and ready for the day. “Where the hell are you going?” he grunts, looking like someone has just kicked his puppy.
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