Zane

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Part of Zane’s deal included Knox. He’d be on staff as a sparring partner for Zane and other fighters. He’d also get a chance to be seen and train just like Zane.

They were both amazed at the 21C Training Facility. It was brand new and state-of-the-art. They walked in, and Thompson greeted them on the first day.

“You’ll have locker space, access to my doctors, you’ll be able to train each other, but you’ll also be able to sign up for all my specialized coaches and clinics.”

“Shit,” Zane said.

“Yeah, pretty great if you use it right. This place is just getting started. It’s even bigger than my place in Vegas, and it’s just phase one.” Meyer Thompson was clearly proud of the training facility. And he should be. It was huge, filled with the stuff Zane had only dreamed of using, and if you couldn’t learn here, you were an idiot.

“We appreciate the opportunity.” Zane was smart enough to know this was once in a lifetime.

“Ignore the construction as you come in and out. We’re renovating the entire block, and it’s going to be a mess for a while.”

“Is that why I don’t see Craddock Flynn or Zeke Powell on the schedule?” Knox was a true fan and fighter. He was itching to see the big names. Zane was itching to become a big name.

“Yeah, in part. Those guys come from a smaller gym. You know Great Wolves?”

“Who doesn’t?” Knox said.

“There’s a place for the small neighborhood place, and there’s a place for 21C. I plan to dominate every level of this market.”

“Yes sir,” Zane said and filed it all away. He didn’t know anything about business, but he would keep the information. All info was good info when it came to learning the corporate side of the sport he loved.

“Look around, get the lay of the land, all that shit. Then get to work. Diggs, you’re going to be back in the ring in a few weeks as soon as I make the offer to Sam. I like big punches, and you got that for sure.” At that point, their new boss walked off with a phone to one ear and pointing at something else. Zane was surprised he’d gotten a chance to talk to Meyer Thompson at all. He flew in and out of the place every other day to manage his business.

He also kept his eyes open for that woman he saw at the fight. Who was she? He’d looked up Thompson a million times on the internet and knew he didn’t have a daughter. He knew his wife was the pretty lady next to him at the fight.

He didn’t see her at the gym, which was probably good. It was time to get working anyway. Zane wondered if he’d ever see her again. He didn’t even have her name.

He and Knox changed. And his focus shifted. Becoming the best in the 21C didn’t just happen. It was a full-time job. It was your life. And Zane had no illusions about what that meant.

They lifted in the free weight area, spent time grappling with the wrestling coach on staff that day, and then split off to spar.

Zane tested the waters while sparring with Knox. He tried to land a few light shots with his left side, but it hurt like hell. A sharp pain kept his left arm close to his body. He would have to baby it. Fuck. The first time he even tried it he felt the pain again.

They finished their workout and hit the showers. Zane knew Vinnie meant well. When he got to his locker, it was there. Waiting. He’d not wanted to use it, but it was this or get bounced before he even started. If he managed his pain no one would know he had a weakness. He never locked his locker; it was how Vinnie got him what he needed with no one seeing.

Zane took a beat and remembered the real fight of his life.

It started as a tear in his muscle two years ago.

The doctor prescribed medicine. That’s what they called it medicine.

It wasn’t some out of control partying that started him, or a need to take risks. He took enough of those in the ring, no. It was a prescription from a legit doctor that turned him into an addict.

He was going to stay away from the doctors. Even around here.

Pain was a part of his life. He could manage it. He was managing it. He ignored the bottle in his bag, procured by Vinnie. Vinnie was still helping Zane the way he thought he should.

Zane looked down at the beaded bracelet on his wrist. Four months. Four beads. Pretty soon he’d add another. One month at a time man. That’s how he’d put it together.

Fuck it. No one at the 21C had to know. Knox didn’t even have to know.

He was going to gut through this shoulder shit and this oxy shit. He was tougher, dammit.

Fuck one month at a time. It was one moment at a time today. Zane finished getting dressed and directed his thoughts away from pain, away from oxy, and toward his real goals.

Vinnie and Knox were walking out of the locker room ahead of him, and he knew she was there now before ever he saw her. He felt it. Just like he zoned in on her in the crowded arena he found her in the giant training center.

She was in jeans and a t-shirt. Her blonde hair was up, just like it was the other night, and her face, almost glowed, no goop on it. Jesus was she pretty.

Zane hadn’t realized he’d started walking toward her, but he did.

“Where the hell are you going?” He heard Knox’s question float away.

In a few short strides, he was there, a foot away from her.

She was looking away, for someone, or something. But then she turned around.

“Oh. Hello.” She smiled at him. This girl was more than pretty. She was sexy and something else, confident, like she was out of her element but it wasn’t a problem.

“I saw you last night.”

“What?” She was little, almost a foot shorter than he was but she didn’t back away or look intimidated by him. Instead, she squared her shoulders.

“During my fight, you were looking right at me.”

“Oh, yeah? Wait? Were you the one in the center of the ring with a spotlight on?” She was saucy, damn, he liked that too.

“That’d be me.”

“Uh, Dane Ziggs? Is that right?”

“Close. Zane Diggs.”

“Ah, congratulations. You won with that left hook.”

“See? We did connect.”

“Sure, we did Zane Diggs, you’re my first.”

Zane felt himself nearly choke on that one. Whoa. What?

“I can be.” Zane wasn’t used to this brand of female, but damned if he wasn’t going to try to match her fast mouth.

“My first MMA fight.” She said, and her eyes were locked on his. Stunning. He could forget his own name too looking at them.

“Right. Sure. So you know my name, what’s your name?”

“Valerie.”

“I like you, Valerie.”

“You met me twelve seconds ago.”

“It’s all I need. You’re beautiful, and you know what a left hook is. I’m sold.”

“Well, isn’t that charming. Kind of a low bar.”

“Valerie. You’re going to go somewhere with me. Like this weekend. Maybe tonight.”

“Zane, I’m late for a meeting with my Uncle Meyer.”

“Uncle Meyer is it?”

“Yes, so if you’ll excuse me. It’s been great meeting you and your enormous ego.” She took a step back and then a look around. She was unsure.

Zane decided this time he had the upper hand, where she’d had it the entire conversation by virtue of how instantly crazy she made him. She was clearly whip smart too. She kept him on his toes.

“Your uncle’s office is that way.” He put a light hand on her elbow and turned her in the direction he’d seen Meyer Thompson go.

“Thanks, Diggs.” She smiled again, and it gave him some hope. She wasn’t as annoyed as she let on. She also looked at him with those same eyes she’d laid on him during the fight.

“You’re welcome, Valerie.” She turned away from him and headed in the direction of her uncle’s office. Her ponytail flounced in the air. He made no attempt to hide the fact that he watched her walk. He liked the view from the back, maybe even more than the one from the front.

Knox caught up with him.

“Nice,” he said as he appreciated the view as well. Zane punched Knox with his left arm, which was a little better. Hormone therapy maybe? Things were looking up on all fronts.

“Hey.”

“She’s mine.”

“Please, you just met her.”

“She is mine.” He wasn’t kidding. He was going to convince Valerie to go out with him. And more. So much more.

The two headed out to check out a new apartment down the block. Sam and Meyer had thought of everything, and they were set to move in next week if they liked it. They had a training facility, a new place to live, and thanks to little Miss Valerie, he had a sweet dream to have in his bed tonight.

As soon as his arm was back to full strength, everything would be perfect.