(Noah)

Nathan offered me a cigar and I declined. This wasn’t a time to relax or celebrate. The whiskey was smooth and good. Really good. I was afraid to ask how much a bottle of it cost.

“I noticed on the books you were working a lot of fights,” Nathan said. “I didn’t like that Marcos kept that going. That’s a huge risk for all of us.”

“In his defense, not that he needs it, I was demanding those fights.”

“Why?”

“Because of a woman.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes,” I said. “That’s the truth. Now that woman was ordered to be kidnapped by Marcos. He wanted her dead. Seth couldn’t hurt her though. He got drunk and I found them. So I helped her. I shouldn’t have gone behind Marcos’s back like I did. I’ll take my beating on that. But he was…”

Nathan lifted a hand. I shut my mouth.

“Looks like you took your beating,” Nathan said.

“Yeah. I don’t like that. I don’t lose fights.”

“To be fair, Marcos is dead. You’re alive.”

“I’ll drink to that.”

“Marcos had been stepping over his line for years,” Nathan said. “I protected him as much as I could. The problem, Noah, is that when there’s heat on my family, it doesn’t end well. I’m sorry Marcos killed your best friend.”

“Thank you.”

“Let me finish. I’m sorry only because I wish I could take Seth and torture him.”

“Excuse me?”

Nathan’s face dropped. “Marcos covered up a murder for Seth. That’s blowing back on my family.”

“The guy is after me now. And Penny.”

Nathan nodded. “I’m not taking this on. You are, Noah. It’s your job to fix this. I will use all my power to back you up. My family cannot take out a detective right now. We’re going through records of Marcos’s dealings and it’s not good. Truthfully, I should wipe the slate clean. That means killing you and Penny. But I need you alive. You’re of value to me. You could make yourself even more valuable by ending this shit that Marcos started.”

I swallowed hard. “You know, Marcos told me I was getting a promotion and I refused.”

“This isn’t a promotion. This is an order.”

I rose up from the chair. I pushed the whiskey away. No more drinking. I had to be able to drive and make sure Penny was alive.

Nathan opened a drawer and took out a black book. He put it down and put his hand over it. “This is Seth’s.”

“Seth? My best friend?”

“Use that term loosely, Noah. This is an assassin book. Your best friend was an assassin for Marcos.”

“Excuse me?”

“This book is filled with every name Seth has killed. It includes his process, time, fee, everything. Kind of a dangerous thing to have, but I’m sure Marcos wanted documentation to justify paying Seth.”

I was in complete shock. Seth? An assassin?

“This…”

“Noah, have you ever killed anyone?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“I fight a lot of people. If I beat someone and they get shot by their boss, is that my fault?”

Nathan nodded. He slid the notebook to me. “This is unacceptable. Any and all hits are done through an organized process. This is why that detective is stirring up problems for all of us. Kidnapping and murder is TV shit. We’re organized. We do things the right way. This will never happen again. Marcos lost his way. He’s gone. You’re not, Noah. I need you.”

“You want me to kill this detective?”

“I never said that. My words cannot be used wrongly. I’m giving you this book because of what’s contained in it.”

Nathan opened the book and flipped to a page. He put his finger to the middle of the page and looked at me.

The name on the page meant nothing. Robert Downelly.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Who is it?”

“That’s Penny’s father.”

* * *

I stepped back and knocked the chair over. “Jesus Christ.”

“This was not approved by me or my family.”

“That was a long time ago,” I said.

“Exactly. Seth and Marcos have been doing this for a long time. My fear is that there were outside influences. Money from other families. Just very wrong things. I’m sorry to show you this, but I need you to understand what’s been happening. My associates are going through your personal records, Noah. Everything you’ve ever said, done, bought, it’s all being scrutinized. You will be followed until I say no more. You will do exactly as I say, when I say. Do you understand?”

“What if I tell you to go fuck yourself?” I asked.

Nathan nodded. “You know the answer to that already. So I’m not going to respond. But I will tell you this. There’s a fight with your name on it. Heavy betting is coming in. The news of Marcos’s early retirement is shaking things up. The family wants to see how you operate under pressure.”

“Under pressure?” I asked with a grin. “Every time I fight I’m under pressure.”

“Perfect. Then let’s push forward, Noah. Our new relationship begins now.”

“After you tell me why my best friend killed my…” Just what in the hell is Penny to me? “… killed Penny’s father…”

“That’s something you’ll have to work out. I’m giving you this information as my way of showing trust. Honesty. Openness. I don’t look back, Noah. I look forward. I stand in the present and gaze to the future. The present wasn’t working. That’s why Marcos is gone. You’re worth what you give back to me, Noah. So fight, win, earn, and life moves on.”

I stood there. I looked at the black book. The hidden secrets from my best friend. That’s why Marcos killed Seth. Because dirt was being dug up and Seth was supposed to hide it all. He couldn’t hurt Penny though. He fucked up and Marcos made him pay. That’s why Marcos wanted to take me out.

I slowly let my eyes meet Nathan’s. I slid the book out of the way. “I don’t give a shit about this. I don’t give a shit about you. I don’t give a shit about your family. My blood is Irish, so I guess you don’t give a shit about me either. You need my fists, my fury, my rage. I need my chance at survival. I’m telling you this, Nathan. I am not a killer. I am not working for some crew, or mob, or gang. Get that straight. If that entitles me to be killed, then kill me now. I will win whatever fight you want me in. I will find a way to take care of this detective thing. But right now, my best friend is dead and I just found out he was a real piece of shit. And the man who gave me a shot as a fighter, Marcos, is also dead. But he too was a piece of shit.” I paused. I then opened my arms. “I’m not a piece of shit. I’m not a bitch either, Nathan. So do what you need to do to me.”

It was a big risk to put myself on the line like that. But I was done. No more orders from anyone that I didn’t give a damn about.

Nathan pressed a button on the phone on his desk. “Send them in.”

He stared at me.

The office door opened. I didn’t look back.

The two men grabbed my arms. I could’ve fought, but I didn’t.

Nathan picked up his cigar, stuck it between his lips, and lit it. He sucked on it for a few seconds and then smiled.

“My advice, Noah? I would start training for your fight. You’re going up against someone who is undefeated. Good luck.”

Nathan winked and the two men let me go.

I was able to walk out of the office on my own.

I paused in the hallway and looked at a mirror on the wall. My face was roughed up from what Marcos had his men do to me. My shoulder was still healing from the gunshot wound thanks to Penny. And my best friend was dead and had some really dark secrets.

I thought about the first time Penny came into the bathroom after the fight. The way she shut the door and started to strip herself. I should have just turned her around and sent her packing.

I made a fist and punched the mirror, shattering it. My hand bled and I guess I was now due for seven years of bad luck.

“Oh well,” I whispered.

What else could possibly go wrong?