Hooked_Uncaged MMA Sports Romance

by Jayne Blue

  “Trent, come on in.”

  “Have you got anything to snack on?” Trent headed to Valerie’s small kitchen and opened it up. They’d had tension between them, distance, and really she was pretty much done with Trent, but something was comforting or at least comfortable about having him there.

  She hadn’t called him, but he was here. And he was raiding the fridge. For a moment she remembered being young and living next door. It was a sweet memory.

  Maybe Trent was her comfort food.

  They sat at her table and Trent opened a jar of nuts that no doubt Jan had stocked in Valerie’s pantry.

  “So, tell me.”

  “Well he won his fight, but not in the way his boss, my uncle wanted. He’s been lying about some shoulder injury? Everyone in the place went ballistic, and he blew me off so hard after the fight it was like standing next to a hurricane.”

  “I think you dodged a bullet.”

  “I know you were against it but Trent you were wrong. He is a great guy. I fell hard for him.”

  “He’s a drug addict.”

  “What? Why would you say that?”

  “Drugs in his bag much?” Trent wasn’t saying anything that other people weren’t also accusing Zane of.

  “Zane was not on drugs when we were together.”

  “How do you know?”

  “We were together a lot. I would have known.” She saw Trent’s jaw tense.

  “Once an addict always an addict,” Trent said, and it was mean, and it was also mystifying.

  “How do you know anything about this?”

  “Valerie you're my friend. I did a little digging in his hometown, Holland. And he was in rehab last year. Get it? Rehab? That isn’t just recreational.” Valerie was blown about by the information. Why hadn’t Zane shared this with her? They shared so much, she thought almost every aspect of their lives. Yet he’d kept this hidden.

  Valerie felt a hole in her heart where Zane should be and she also felt sadness. Why had he gone through this alone? She wouldn’t have turned tail and run just because he had a past. She wasn’t that fragile.

  Then it dawned on her. Her friend had gone to Zane’s hometown to dig up dirt on him. Valerie started to examine just how weird that was.

  “You spied on him?”

  “Valerie. You’re my best friend, and you’re were acting like an idiot with this guy. I was trying to protect you, and it looks like I did. If they found Fentanyl in his in his gym bag, he was using. He’s no good, and now you know.”

  Valerie’s blood ran cold. She’d never told Trent it was Fentanyl. In fact, she’d never told Trent about the drugs in his bag at the fight. He’d come in here knowing it had happened. She hadn’t questioned how Trent knew.

  Had it reached a newspaper? Had someone at the arena told Trent? Trent had said he wasn’t going to be anywhere near the fight or Detroit. Yet he had details and accusations against Zane.

  Something was wrong. More than wrong. Was Zane set up?

  And was it because of her?

  * * *

  Sixteen

  * * *

  Zane

  * * *

  He was in Meyer’s office, Sam was at his side, ready to punch something it appeared. Zane had gotten lucky with her and he sure as hell didn’t want to screw it up.

  Sam was giving him a second chance and was going into battle for him against Meyer Thompson. It was pretty fucking amazing.

  “This is a one strike your out league,” Thompson said to him.

  “I know. I’m not using.” Zane replied. He had proof, and it helped him stand up and look Meyer Thompson straight in the eye.

  “I see that. Thanks to Miss Bosque reminding me of your tests. I sure as hell didn’t believe your word.”

  “That was not my bottle of pills.”

  “You got no basis of trust here you know? You hid your injury from the staff, and you hid your past from everyone. That doesn’t make me believe that you were headed down the same road. If I’d have known I would never have signed you in the first place.”

  “Exactly why I lied. I am going to the top. And I want to do it in the best league in the world. But I’m going to do it. Either I do it for you. Or you watch me do it for another company.”

  “Bold statement for a guy who barely won last night.”

  “I did win. And on half strength. And I am sorry. I was wrong to keep things from the trainers and you and Sam.”

  “Listen, Meyer, it was the doctors who prescribed his pain meds, to begin with. Zane wants to do this with zero meds and..”

  Zane interjected, “I thought you guys would want to do surgery or something that would put me in the same place as before.”

  Meyer stared Zane down. Thompson was intense as fuck. And ruthless. But Zane wasn’t going to look away. He’d lied. But he’d done it to keep this job.

  “I’m going to bet on you one more time. You lie to me, you hide something from the trainers, you’re out. I don’t care if you are dating my niece. I don’t care if you’re married to my niece. You’re out. Get it.”

  “I get it.”

  “One more thing. The staff here is the best. They’re here to give you the best. You will absolutely have control of your treatment plan here. They’ll get you healed without narcotics. There are other methods. You’re not the first fighter to have an addiction, thanks to an injury. We understand how it works now.”

  There was a softer edge to that last statement. It made Zane believe that Meyer did care about his fighters, even though the bottom line was king. He couldn’t make the cash if the fighters didn’t also succeed.

  “Thanks for the time Meyer.” Sam stood up, and the two shook hands.

  “I don’t know why I ever let you in here, you’re always busting my balls.” Sam and Meyer both laughed.

  “Because I find you guys like Zane, the next Craddock Flynn, I’m telling you.”

  “We’ll see. Diggs, fair warning, I’m the easy one, you’ve got my wife, her best friend and my niece to deal with yet. They scare me.” Meyer wasn’t kidding.

  “Me too,” Zane said, and he and his mega agent got out of Meyer’s office while the getting was good.

  Sam said her goodbyes and reminded him again how she earned her cut of his purses and deals. As far as Zane could tell she was a bargain at any price. He was on the road to getting it all back. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders knowing that he had come clean about his injury and his addiction.

  The weight was still firmly on his chest though. And it wouldn’t be right until Valerie forgave him.

  Zane now had to fix the most important fuck up of the last 24-hours.

  Valerie had been reaching out, and he’d ignored her. He was angry at first, embarrassed, and then feeling unworthy. But he’d sorted it out.

  He only hoped that he hadn’t lost her while he got his shit together.

  Zane called her. No answer. He texted, I’m sorry.

  He called again.

  It was only fair. He’d ignored her, and now it was her turn to give him the same treatment.

  But he knew where she lived. He was going to show up in the front yard of the River Road mansion and get on his knees and beg.

  He knew Valerie Colson was too good for him even if he did reach the top of the 21C. But she was everything to him, and he was going to work his ass off to be worthy of her.

  He’d woo the shit out of her starting tonight.

  Zane obsessively checked his phone. No Valerie.

  He decided a trip to the flower store was his next stop.

  * * *

  Seventeen

  * * *

  Valerie

  * * *

  Trent wasn’t what he seemed. She knew that now. He rambled on about his feelings for her and his hate for pretty much anyone Valerie loved.

  Her phone was buzzing over and over again, but there was Trent, in front of her, almost in some sort of mania. Why had she never seen this side of him? What was wrong with
her that she’d so completely missed it?

  “We’re trying to have a conversation here?” Trent saw her look at her phone and was pissed.

  “Trent, I get texts, I’ve got stuff going on. It’s no big deal.”

  Trent walked across the room and grabbed her phone from her hands. It was harsh, violent and for the first time, Valerie thought she might be in physical danger. She needed to get Trent out of here. Or get out herself.

  “You’re overreacting and acting like a real asshole. You need to give me some space.”

  “I’ve given you enough space.” And Trent grabbed Valerie and pulled her close. She squirmed but he had her tightly bound in his arms. Trent then tried to kiss her. He smashed his mouth into hers, but she turned away, and he was mawing at her face. It was repulsive.

  “Trent, who the hell are you? You’re losing it. Let me go.” She broke free and tried to rush to the door, but Trent tackled her. They both fell to the ground.

  He was on top of her now. Valerie didn’t know if struggling to get free was a good play or was it smarter to go along with him. His anger sparked every time she spoke or disagreed with him.

  “Trent. You need to stop this.” Valerie’s mind raced. Was he going to hurt her?

  “You need to stop this. We’re supposed to be together. Just us. I got your parents out of our way. You were supposed to live with me. Not here, this place.”

  “What do you mean? The fire?” She thought she might throw up.

  “Yes. The fire. That’s right. They didn’t love you like I do.” Valerie was paralyzed. Trent was on top of her, stroking her hair, and looking into her eyes. She held his gaze and searched there for something normal, something sane, or at least some way to calm his ranting. She lay still as he continued to talk like a maniac.

  “I tried to make them see that you shouldn’t be the manager of this company but you are stubborn, that’s for sure.”

  “How did you try to make them see?” Maybe someone knew about Trent’s obsession, someone who could help her.

  “I fucked up those job sites, tried to make your uncle find someone else so you could come back to me. But that didn’t work either. Your stupid uncle clearly doesn’t pay enough attention, or you’d have been fired.”

  “You’re telling me you were behind the vandalism. My parents. Trent, no.” She didn’t recognize her own voice.

  “Now you’re under the spell of that fighter. He’s so fucking perfect. I watch you two, his hands all over you. That made me throw up. He had no right to touch you. He’s a dirty addict, and now everyone knows. Now you know.”

  “What?”

  “A little Fentanyl in the right place and poof!” Trent had a crazy smile on his face.

  “Trent, please get off me you’re scaring me.” Valerie was calm when she said it. Maybe there was a way to reason with him and get out of here.

  “No. No, don’t be scared.” He stood up and put out a hand to help her up. She didn’t want to take his hand. She didn’t want to touch him. But it was a step toward freedom. She could get to her feet and convince him to let her out of the apartment. Maybe?

  “I am scared. You’re saying you started that fire? Why wouldn’t I be scared? Trent, we need to get you help. What you did was wrong, sick? But I’m not mad okay?”

  “I don’t need anything but you.”

  “Okay, okay, we’re friends. I’ll always be your friend. I’m here for you.” Valerie took slow steps toward the door.

  “I see what you’re doing.” And this time Trent didn’t tackle her; he punched square on the jaw, and the world got blurry. She processed the pain. Valerie took a deep breath, screaming was all she could do right now. Let Aunt Susan and Jan know there was something deeply wrong.

  But Trent’s hand was on her mouth before she could.

  “You’re not going to scream. You’re not going to move.” Trent was stronger than she realized. He’d set her house on fire. He’d tried to sabotage her job. He fucking framed Zane. All because of some sick fantasy that they were supposed to be together. The amount of evil that Trent had hurled at her was more than she could have ever imagined. How had this gone so far?

  “No, Trent, what are you doing?”

  Trent kept a knee on her chest, she was immobilized. Could she grab a kitchen knife? Could she find her phone and call for help?

  She heard her phone, a text was coming in again. If she could just pick it up.

  Where was her phone? Fuck.

  Trent had it in his pocket, he looked at the message.

  “Call from Zane. He loves you? He’s sorry? I’m sorry. He can’t have you.”

  “Trent, you have to stop this.”

  “No one can have you.” Trent covered her mouth with a dishrag. What? She turned her head to try to get away from it. To try to get a breath. But Trent had a tight grip on her.

  She was going to die here. Now.

  * * *

  Eighteen

  * * *

  Zane

  * * *

  The flames spread out from the window. Her window.

  As Zane drove up to the Meyer Mansion on River Road, he rehearsed what he was going to say. Zane knew he had to apologize in person and not just on the phone or with a text.

  His mouth went dry, and his eyes could hardly believe what he was seeing.

  The house was on fire. And Zane needed to get in there, fast. He had to get to Valerie.

  He knew she was in there, he absolutely knew it.

  Zane ran to the door leading to her place, it was unlocked, thank God.

  He took the steps three at a time. Smoke filled her apartment. The flames from the window were licking the walls.

  Valerie, where was Valerie? Zane scanned the living area, nothing. He ignored the fire, getting more intense by the second and went to her bedroom.

  There she was, on the bed, seemingly sleeping. God, don’t let this be the end. Don’t let her be dead. He rushed to her side and lifted her up. She moaned, thank God.

  “Valerie, VALERIE!” He called her name and shook her a little to wake her up.

  “Zane?” She shook the grogginess out of her eyes and tried to focus. Zane didn’t have time to wait for that. He scooped her up and carried her to the door.

  “Zane, no, it’s okay. I can walk.” He put her on her feet but took her hand in his.

  They ran down the stairs together. Zane could feel the heat of the fire intensifying.

  When they were safely outside the house, he looked her up and down. She was in one piece. Whatever happened he’d help her through it. She was alive. Zane grabbed Valerie and hugged her tight.

  “I’m so sorry about–”

  “No, no forget it we can’t right now. If he’s still here? We could be in danger, more danger.”

  “What?”

  “Trent, he started this. He did it to my house too. He told me. He’s a monster and I. Oh God, your phone. Call 911.”

  “Yep, I’ll get it. Can you stand?” Zane had left his phone in his car. She was right, they needed the fire department now. The fire was fast. He’d ask her about Trent later, right now, they had to have help.

  “I’m okay, yes, hurry.”

  Zane ran to his car. He grabbed his phone and dialed 911.

  “911, what’s your emergency?”

  “The house on River Road, the Meyer place, it’s on fire. It’s spreading fast.”

  “Is everyone out of the house?”

  “I think.” He realized he didn’t know for sure. He looked back at the house and with a sinking feeling realized Valerie wasn’t where he’d left her on the front lawn. She was running toward the front door. She was going back in the house! The fire had spread from Valerie's to the main house it was attached to!

  “Shit, no. I think there are people inside.” He dropped the phone and ran after her.

  She’d opened the front door and was now already in the foyer when he got to her. The flames were visible on the whole upper floor.

 
“What the hell are you doing? Come back outside.” He grabbed Valerie by the arm and stopped her headlong rush further into the house.

  “My Aunt Susan and Jan, they’re here. I know they are!”

  “Where? Let me get them. You go outside NOW! I’ll bring them out. The fire department’s on the way.”

  “They will be here too late. You see how fast it’s moving. Come on. They’re always in the kitchen.” Valerie pulled free, and Zane couldn’t stop her from going but she sure as hell wasn’t doing this alone. The smoke was getting thicker. Zane feared they had only seconds to find her Aunt Susan and Jan and get the hell out.

  They made their way to the kitchen.

  “Aunt Susan!! JAN!” She was calling their names, but there was no answer.

  “Valerie, they’re out. Like you were.” Zane found the women on the floor, under the table. Both were unconscious.

  “Wake UP!” Valerie cradled her Aunt Susan. He heard the woman cough. That was good.

  “Your friend, Trent, it was Trent.” Aunt Susan’s voice was weak, but she was coming to.

  “Valerie we need to get out of here. Now!” He couldn’t wake Jan, so he scooped her up into his arms as Valerie helped her Aunt to her feet. They were headed to the door and back to the foyer when Valerie yelled to Zane.

  “No! Let me check.” She maneuvered around Zane and felt the door.

  “It’s burning up. The fire’s in the foyer. We can’t go back that way,” she told Zane and Aunt Susan.

  “There’s another way out right?” he asked Aunt Susan, and she nodded.

  “Yes, service entrance.” Aunt Susan pointed behind them. They turned around.

  There was another door off to the left. Aunt Susan and Valerie led the way. Zane followed with Jan in his arms. They made it through a laundry room and into the garage area. There were popping noises behind them. The fire was consuming everything in its wake.

  They burst out the side door of the garage and onto the yard. Zane heard sirens wailing. He kept following the women as they walked to the front of the house.