One year later…

“Oh my shit, look at this,” Charlie yelled, holding the MMA Journal in both hands. “Lily, you’re on the front page.”

I glanced down at the headline. Bantamweight Fighter, Lily Waters- Will she take control of her future and get her first main event with AFC. “Holy shit!”

We both started jumping in circles together. The moment we stopped, we tumbled to the mat. “So the headline is good,” Julian asked from above me. I held it up with both my hands. “Oh, that is good.”

I leaped up. “Right?”

“Have you read it yet?” he said, snatching it away.

“Well, no, but it has to be good. Candace loves me.”

He sat down on the bench not far from the practice ring and read a part of the article. “After a year of speculation, we can confirm that Lily does have a famous father. No, I don’t plan to tell any of you. This career is her own, and she deserves all the credit.”

I gasped. “Did she really write that?” He held it out for me to see. “Wow, I need to call her immediately.” Running over to my towel, I grabbed my phone sitting on top of the blue terry cloth. “Candace, please.”

The woman on the other line asked me to hold. A few minutes later, Candace was on the line. “Hello, this is Candace.”

“You’re amazing. You know that, right?”

“So you’re reading the paper, eh?”

“It’s being passed around the gym as we speak.”

“I’m glad you all approve,” she said, laughing. She paused and then continued. “Do you have a moment?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

She cleared her throat. “We plan to write another story about your mom.”

That news seemed odd. “Did something happen?”

“Well, there is something. Since it was released that your mom is tied to organized crime. Some new photos surfaced of your grandfather.”

“He’s not my grandfather,” I said in a rather evil tone. “Sorry, that’s not my family.”

“It’s okay, Lily. I apologize for even saying that.”

“No, it’s just annoying we’re talking about this a year after putting her back in jail.”

“There were a few murders in Detroit, Michigan.”

“And they link to my mom?” Now I was confused.

“There is a possibility that the new mob boss that took over for Giano Nesta is living in and around Detroit.”

“Wow, that’s crazy.”

“Since your mom has ties with that mob ring, we planned to write an exposé.”

“If we can still keep the deal of leaving me out, you do what you must.”

“Your name will never be mentioned.”

“Thank you, Candace,” I said, hanging up the phone. “That was interesting.”

Julian reached for my hand. “From the look on your face, you’re being sarcastic.”

I proceeded to share what she had just told me. “So yeah, my family lineage just keeps getting better and better.”

“Well, let’s give you some fun news.”

“Tell me,” I said, sitting down beside him.

“Five o’clock Wednesday Chuck Anders wants to talk about a contract.”

I squealed and jumped up. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”

“Your dad would be so proud of you.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. It felt good to think about my dad in a positive light. After all that had transpired a little over a year ago, it was confirmed my dad played no part in the hit list we found. My mom set him up. She had made a few attempts to talk to me, but I denied all communication from her. The new lawyer we hired was checking in on her weekly. Shocking, doing something we paid him to do.

The latest report from the lawyer showed Mom was going through depression and was not eating enough. I don’t know, maybe that should have touched me, but it never even made a dent on my heart. My focus was the family I knew cared about me—my dad, Charlie, and Julian. They were all I needed in my life. I struggled most days not having Dad here to talk to him or tell him how my training was going.

Julian was slowly taking over where Dad left off.

“What should I wear?” I threw another top down on the growing pile in my closet.

Charlie held her hands above her head to avoid getting hit by falling clothes. “There are four more options still on the rack. Hopefully one of those will work.”

I plopped down beside her. “Should we go shopping?”

“Do pigs squeal?”

“I think the saying really is, ‘do pigs fly?’”

“Yeah, but they don’t and I want to go shopping.”

My sweet Charlie Bear. She should be a blonde. I patted her leg. “You’re overthinking, sweets.”

She jumped up. “Well let’s stop thinking and spend some moolah.”

I hopped up and looped my arm in hers. “Lead the way, gorgeous.”

We decided to stay on the strip and head over to Fashion Show, which was basically a shopping mall on crack. The place was enormous and had everything under the sun. There had to be an outfit there that would speak to me.

The moment we stepped through the entrance, my eyes roamed the place. It was packed for an afternoon during the week, but that was Vegas for you.

Charlie grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the directory. “We need to find you something that screams style, winner…no, champion.”

“My outfit will say all that?” I said, trying to keep up. Seemed like a challenge and one I knew she would win. My friend had a secret talent for fashion. There was music blaring the farther we made our way into the building. “Don’t they have runway shows sometimes?”

“Oh, my God, let’s go see.”

When we rounded a corner, there were people seated beside a very long runway. Upbeat music was playing while women strutted their stuff one at a time. It looked like they were showing off accessories because they would move their purse or bag in different directions as they walked.

I glanced over and noticed Charlie’s eyes locked on the show. “Hey, sit and watch it. I’ll be right back.” I turned and caught sight of a jade green A-line skirt on a mannequin in a window. The same color as Julian’s eyes.

Cheesy, I know.

As I approached the store, a young woman stepped in front of me. “Are you the Lily Waters?”

Her words took me by surprise. “Um, yes.” She held out her phone and on the screen was a picture of me. I scowled and felt completely confused. Then my brain registered, the MMA Journal article.

“Josie, it’s her,” the young woman yelled. “Will you sign my book?” After a few minutes of riffling through her bag, she held out a notebook and pen. “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting to see anyone here today.”

“Oh, wow, well I’m sorry I sound surprised. This has never happened before.”

She flashed this beautiful smile. “Are you kidding? I loved watching you fight with Spartacus. When is AFC going to finally add you to their lineup?”

“Hopefully soon.” I held in a laugh. She didn’t need to know that’s why I was at the mall shopping. “What’s your name?”

“Renee,” she said, hopping back and forth between each foot.

The pen touched the paper right as she said her name. “Oh. Renee. Tell me how you spell it exactly?” I was working hard to keep my emotions in line. Hell, I knew I would meet a million Renee’s in my lifetime. I better get used to that fact and soon.

I wrote one sentence and signed my name. “Thank you, Renee, for your support.”

She squealed and held the book up to her chest. “Tell AFC to get on board. You’re a fucking amazing fighter.”

Her words caught me off guard and caused a lump to form in my throat.

“That was so fun,” Charlie said from behind me. “Why didn’t you stay?” I turned around and she stopped talking. “What happened? What did I miss?”

I burst out laughing. “Someone just gushed over me and asked for my autograph.”

“Oh great, is the building big enough for your gigantic head now?”

“Shut up,” I said, grabbing her arm before pointing to the window with the skirt. “Help me find something to go with that.”

“Oh, you are so going to get a contract. That’s stunning.”