CHAPTER 23
Kyle
Fuck. This isn’t how things were supposed to happen and I need to get my head in the game. Gabe’s not mine. It keeps rolling around over and over. How could she do this to me?
I’ve had over a day to figure this all out and I feel like I’m right where I started.
Gutted.
Broken.
Utterly devastated.
I’m looking at the ground when I sense someone in front of me.
“Ky, check yourself. I know this is a shitty situation to be going through but you have to Zen yourself out and fucking do this. You can get yourself hurt going in there distracted.”
“I know that!” I yell. “Don’t you think I’m trying? Fuck, you don’t know what it’s like!”
“I don’t?” Josh gives me a knowing look. “I may not have met the kid my ex claimed to be knocked up with but I grew attached to the idea. Don’t say I don’t know how you’re feeling.”
I’m the worst kind of asshole. I completely forgot about his ex who lied about being pregnant ripping him and Ashlyn apart when they first got together. “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
“I’d also check out the paternity situation on your own before you jump to conclusions about Sophie. We know her, she’d never do something like that. For Christ sake, she didn’t seek you out! It was a coincidence you ran into her and met Gabe.”
“Was it?”
“Fuck, Preston’s back for two seconds and he has you completely brainwashed. Think about the source bro. You fired him, he supposedly did it while no one was around.”
I’ve been thinking about that. He’s right, I’ll look into it more when I’m done with this fight but the proof is there. How much more do I need? How much can my heart be ripped out of my fucking chest?
“That’s quite enough, all you assholes can get out.” Preston walks in the room with his designer suit looking like a mob boss.
“The fuck you say?” Zander gets up and gets in Preston’s face.
“My client needs to get his head in the game and you guys need to leave. It’s always been me and Kyle, not you guys. I’ve got it from here.”
They all start arguing pissing me the hell off. This is definitely not helping me get my head in the game. “I never said you were my manager again.”
“What? After I found out what that whore did you should be begging me to come back.”
“I’m not. You leave and my brothers stay. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you. You’ve changed Pres and I don’t need that in my life.”
“I’ve changed?” He laughs. “That’s funny considering you’ve become a pussy. This isn’t over.” He glares at me before storming from the room.
“Kyle, seriously. I know there’s a shit ton going on with Sophie and now Preston apparently. You need to listen to music, do something otherwise you’re just giving Gibson the upper hand.”
I take Jay’s advice and place an ear bud that’s hanging around my neck in one ear, then do the same to the other. As I’m rolling my head on my shoulders my phone starts pumping beats through my ears. I try and soak it all in. Let Future, Migos and Post Malone seep into my bones, wash all the shit that’s happened from me. I feel the stress drain from my shoulders, my back and my neck.
Gibson’s fucking mine.
A short while later I’m being tapped on the shoulder. I look up at a smiling Jayden who pulls the buds from my ears and pats me on the back.
“It’s time sunshine! Let’s go kick some ass.”
“Fuck yeah.” When I stand up and face my brothers it hits me. How the hell did I do this all these years without them?
“Listen guys, it means a lot to me that you’ve pushed all the years I treated you like shit to the side. Having you here is the advantage Gibson doesn’t have, I love you guys.”
“Fuck, you’re supposed to be like a raging bull going into the ring, not Dr. Phil. Were you listening to the Jackson 5?” Jack asks.
“Ha ha. I just had to get that outta the way. Let’s go.”
I exit the room behind my brothers as they lead me with the rest of my team down the hall. This hall, I remember what it felt like walking through on my first fight. I was about ready to shit my pants and my nerves completely consumed me. It was a miracle I pulled out a W for that one.
“You know I die a little inside every time I have to hear this fucking song.” I hear Josh mumble to Z.
“You got your song this is mine asshole.” I laugh. “It’s a good fucking song.”
“For a gangster.”
“Shit, I forgot my rosary!” I go to turn around but Jayden stops me.
“I’ll grab it bro, be right back.”
You may think I’m crazy but my Dad’s rosary beads are always ringside with me for every fight. Athletes are superstitious, what can I say?
We’re just shy of Gibson’s dressing room when him and his team vacate in all their showboating glory. That doesn’t bother me, let him get his five seconds of fame. No, what bothers me is Preston coming out with them and shaking hands with Gibson. What the fuck is going on?
“He’s so fucking gullible, that kid’s his clone. Thanks man, I have this thing in the bag because of you.” Gibson smiles and laughs with Preston.
Then I’m flying down the hall seeing red. “You motherfucker!”
Preston actually has the sense to look terrified as I barrel towards him. “Kyle, it’s not what you think…” I’m about to lay into him when I’m pulled back by two sets of strong arms.
“Save it for the octagon and let us take care of Preston. You don’t want to lose this way.” Z says in my ear.
He’s right but I’ll get my fucking go at him after. What the fuck? He lied about everything! Sophie went back home thinking I don’t love her and Gabe. That I could just believe something Preston said and toss her to the side. She tried to explain to me and I wouldn’t listen. FUCK!
Some yelling pulls me from my thoughts and Preston’s body lays limp on the floor with a heaving Josh standing over him.
“Come at my family again motherfucker. Consider your career ruined, I’ll make damn sure of it. You made enemies of the wrong family dick head.”
“What the hell did I miss? I wanna punch Preston.” Jayden whines as he hands me my good luck charm.
“We’ll fill you in later. We need to get out there, Gibson just got introduced.”
“I’m gonna rip him apart.”
We finish our walk towards the end of the hall and Preston groans when I step on his hand instead of over him. Fuck him and fuck everyone right now. I need to get this done so I can get home and hopefully grovel at the love of my life’s feet. I can’t even think about her not hearing me out like I did to her at this point.
I’ll get them back.
The further down the hall we get the more my minds slipping into Reckless. Unyielding, take no prisoners and focused on beating the hell outta that motherfucker in the ring.
My brothers don’t turn around as I approach the door. They part so I can get through, as I take a few deep breaths and soak all the cheers in as my promo video plays on the jumbotron.
Right when the beats of Gucci Mane ‘Reckless’ blasts through the arena the doors open and I’m met with crazy loud cheers. It makes me smile, I love this. Always have.
One of my brothers puts their hand on my shoulder and I know it’s time. I start jumping up and down, pumping myself up before I start my way through the arena towards the center. The octagon’s in my sights and everything else is forgotten.
I feel hands patting my back as my team follows me to the ring. There’s always tons of security at these things because walking through the crowd can sometimes be a bitch. These people love MMA just as much as I do and I completely understand their enthusiasm.
Once I’m outside the cage, I stare at Gibson. He must know he’s fucked. You don’t come at a man and his family and live to talk about it. I kiss the rosary beads in my hand and pass them off to one of my brothers. Which one grabs them I can’t tell you because I’m focused, eyes on the prize.
I’m gonna humiliate him like I was. He’s gonna wish he never crossed me.
As the ringside announcer goes through our stats I don’t take my eyes off him. I can’t. The only thing going through my head right now is he’s the reason Sophie isn’t ringside with my boy. He’s the reason why she got photographed trashed in a bar and I can still see his hand slinking down to cover her ass a few nights ago at that dinner. Dudes got balls, I’ll give him that.
All he’s managed to do is piss me the fuck off and ensure I get in there and beat the living hell outta him.
As we stare each other down, I smile.
Then the bell rings and I attack.