Chapter 48

“You know, I wasn’t sure you’d make it to this night, what with all the drinkin’ and the partyin’. Anyway, none of that matters now. Point is, I’m proud of you, Xander. Now get your shorts on and get your blood pumpin.’ You’re gonna win this thing, I feel it in my old, creakin’ bones.”

Tommy threw Xander’s metallic shorts at him… new ones he had bought Xander for this very fight.

Xander looked at the clock. Twenty minutes.

“Don’t go lookin’ at the clock, it’ll only drive you crazy. I don’t even know why they put those things in here. Only thing you gotta worry about right now is the other guy. Stay low, be quick on your feet, and remember to block your left side. Trust me, this dude is a dirty player and you gotta be prepared for anything.”

Xander rubbed his left butt cheek that was now feeling bruised from all the injections.

Oh, I’ll be blocking my left side alright.

Tommy gave Xander a fist bump and left the changing room, passing the event coordinator on his way out.

“You’re on, Beast.”

It was like Xander had never noticed how bright the flashing lights were or how loud the announcer’s voice was as it blared through the speakers.

That voice—like nails down a chalk board. I wish I could just shut him up.

On his way to the ring, Xander felt a hand from the audience grab at his wrist. Xander clenched his fist, expecting it to be an audience member that was trying to sucker punch him, but instead he saw that it was a man wearing a fancy suit and holding onto a clipboard.

A Street G rep.

“We’re pulling for you, Xander. You win this, and you’re set. Show us your best and we’ll give you the best we have to offer.”

The Street G rep let go of Xander’s arm and turned to face the ring, clapping with the rest of the crowd as if nothing had happened.

Oh I’ll show you my best.

Xander’s opponent was coming out just as he approached his corner. Shrouded in a dark silk cloak, Fate Maker walked out from his side, making eye contact with Xander the whole way up the aisle.

The referee called them both into the center, commencing the fight with the usual rituals. Fate Maker put out his fist to show sportsmanship, but Xander denied him. A gasp rolled across the stadium as Xander took a step forward, putting his forehead onto his opponents.

“You think you can intimidate me? I’m The Beast, motherfucker, and I’ll tear you to shreds before you can call out your mama’s name.”

The referee stepped in to separate Xander and Fate Maker, sending them both back to their corners.

The bell sounded.

Fate Maker danced around the ring, showing off his fancy foot work in hopes of confusing Xander into throwing punches at inopportune moments. Xander wasn’t playing his games.

I’ll wait here while you dance your way into your own grave, Fate Maker.

Fate Maker was growing tired buzzing around the ring. Xander saw right through his act, and when he noticed that his competitor wasn’t going to be the offensive fighter, Xander decided he would play his given role.

You want me to throw the first punch, hey? Fine. Here you go.

Xander took two large steps. First to the right and a second longer lunge to the left. He went to throw a left hook to the face, but faked it and instead threw an upper cut with his right, directly underneath Fate Maker’s chin. With one punch, round one finished as fast as it had started.

It was the first time the Street G reps had seen any fighter in Texas, let alone the Southwest, knock out someone with their first punch. They jumped out of their seats, throwing their arms into the air in celebration as the referee called it a win in favor of ‘The Beast.’

Street G reps were waiting for Xander outside of his changing room by the time he left the ring.

Tommy got to him first, stopping him just around the corner. He put both hands onto Xander’s shoulders.

Jesus, he looks like he’s gonna cry. Pull yourself together, Tommy.

“I’ve never been so happy in my life, Beast. You made this a night to remember. I swear to you, your life is going to change from here on out. See what hard work can do?”

Tommy ruffled his jacket and puffed out his chest.

“Not to mention a good manager! At first I was worried, not gonna lie. The reps told me beforehand that they wanted to see a good show and when you knocked that kid out with one punch, I thought they would drop you right then and there, walk out and find someone else. But then I looked over and they were happier than pigs in shit! Speaking of which, they have some publicists they’ll want you to talk to, so maybe get rid of that furrowed brow and try to look happy, eh?”

Tommy gave Xander a pat on the back, sending him off to see the Reps who were waiting just around the corner.

Glad that’s over. He’s like an annoying uncle sometimes.

Photographers took pictures of Xander signing his new contract with Street G and shaking hands with the Co-Owner and Founder of the company that he would now be working closely with. Interviewers asked Xander how it felt to be signed on by the biggest fighting company in Texas, smiling their fake smiles while others wrote down every word that came out of his mouth.

Through all of it, Xander felt removed. He was happy, but coming down from the adrenaline and steroids made him feel as though he would either pass out or punch the cameraman standing two feet in front of him.

“That’s all for tonight guys.” Xander waved off the press, and shook the rest of the rep’s hands before retiring into his changing room for a few minutes of solitude.

Holy shit, I really did it.

Xander stripped off his shorts and hung them over the edge of the shower.

But at what cost?

He turned on the cold water and let it run down his body, soothing his aching muscles and washing away any guilt he had about the steroids, the lying, and not least of all, Molly.