Nico
Usually the night before a fight I have dinner with Preach and get a pep talk. But I pass on the tradition and Elle stays at my place
instead. I finally convinced the stubborn woman to stop her fifteen hour a day quest to break my contract. At least I’d like to think I convinced her, but it might also be because we ran out of time, considering the fight is tomorrow. The woman is a challenge when she sets that damn smart mind on something, to say the least.
Elle doesn’t agree, but Preach thinks the fight will
be good for me. We studied Trevor’s last few fights. The kid has improved. A lot. He’s not the same stupid, cocky fighter that he was a year ago. He’s matured, found patience. The fight isn’t as lopsided as we all originally thought, although I’d be fooling myself if I pretended that what happened with his brother didn’t factor into the League’s decision on who to match up for the championship fight. My fights are always profitable for the League, a sellout. But I can’t remember the last time MMA got as much press as it did this week. My face has been plastered on mainstream news, not just the channels dedicated to sports.
I lift her onto the island counter as I make dinner.
She’s still wearing her work clothes and I’m definitely not prompting her to change. I like her in the smart looking crap she wears. It’s a turn-on, almost like fucking the hot librarian, only better because it’s Elle.
Some guys won’t have sex before a fight, they think the pent up frustration gives them an edge. Me, I prefer not to fight with blue balls. I’ve never been one to look for an angle. I study my competitor. I work my ass off training. I fight hard. I’m good.
It’s as simple as that. Plus, looking at Elle swinging those long damn legs propped up on my kitchen counter, there’s not much of a chance where things are going to go later. I look at her and she smiles. It’s that damn goofy grin. It may be sooner, rather than later.
***
After we finish dinner, I can see something is on Elle’s mind. I’ve said it before, but for a lawyer, she’s pretty easy to read. And a crap liar. “What’s going on, Babe?”
Her eyebrows pull together and shift down, her face telling me she isn’t even aware that she’s showing her hand. “Nothing…what do you mean?”
“Something’s bothering you.”
Her face relaxes a little, but there’s still tension underneath her forced smile. “No…I’m fine.”
“Shit liar, Babe. I told you that.”
She smiles. “Maybe I’m just a little nervous.” She holds up her two fingers, measuring a small space between them to indicate she’s just a tiny bit nervous. Her fingers may say a little, but her face screams much more.
Elle goes to sit next to me on the couch, but I grab her arm and pull her down on to my lap instead. “What are you nervous about?”
She rings her hands together, looking down, avoiding my eyes. I lift her chin, forcing her eyes to mine and repeat myself. “What are you nervous about?”
“The fight.”
“Okay.
” I brush the hair away from her face, she looks worried, almost vulnerable. “I’m not going to get hurt, I can take this guy, Babe.”
Nervously, she bites her bottom lip. I
’m off base. There’s more to the worry resonating from her. “I know. I mean, I’ll always worry about you getting hurt. I can’t help that. But…” She hesitates, considers her words.
“What then?
”
“I know you and Preach think winning thi
s fight will help you get past things, but I’m worried that it will bring it all back. I’ve seen him. He looks like his brother.”
She’s right, he does.
He looks just like Frankie. It’s like some sort of twisted fate fucking with me. And I’ve worried about the same thing. But I can’t allow that to control me anymore. I push it to the back of my mind and keep it there each time it finds its way to the surface. It’s all about control. Martial arts is as much about the mind as it is the body. Both must endure, submit to complete control. Work together.
“Preach thinks winning t
he fight will help me get past things. But I already know what it takes. And you’ve brought me further along in the last two months than a year and a half of trying to work it out on my own ever did. Before I met you, I was hitting my head against a concrete wall, going nowhere fast. Only I didn’t know it. Didn’t even realize I was stuck, until I met you and took that first step.” Elle gives me a hesitant smile. Some of the worry disappears from her face…but not all of it. So I go for broke, being the fucking sap this incredible woman has made me into.
“
When we met, we were two injured souls. Both keeping the real out of our lives for fear of what we might find. But nothing could have kept us apart. I never believed in destiny. Thought that was a bunch of crap for people who read too many books. Until I met you. You’re it for me, Babe. I didn’t even know I was missing something until I found you, but now I don’t know how I got through a day without what you’ve given me. You’re my soul mate. As sappy as it sounds, it’s god damn true. Nothing has ever been truer in my life. So no, I’m not worried about this fight not helping me heal from my past, because it’s you who does that for me. You’ve filled all the cracks in my heart and made me better. I never thought I’d say this after what I went through, but I’m the luckiest bastard on this earth.”
She cries. That’s how she responds to my gut wrenching, p
ussy-whipped declaration that we’re soul mates. Tears stream down her face and, even though she’s smiling through the tears, I want to make the tears go away.
Elle
I never thought I’d be happy. I was content with flatlining my way through life. It was good enough. Keeping out the highs and the lows was my favorite past time. No emotions meant nothing ever got out of control, and keeping control was higher on my priority list than breathing. Until I met him. He makes my heart race and my breathing hitch, and that’s just when he walks in the room. Don’t even get me started on what that face does to me. Or those hands…especially when they’re moving all over my body like he can’t get enough of me. I can feel his need for me in his touch. But his words, that’s what does me in. They’re raw and honest and filled with emotions, and I can actually feel my heart swell as they’re spoken.
He wipes
away my tears with concern on his face. I’m sure he thinks I’ve lost my mind as I smile through my crying after listening to the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. I’m the one whose head is usually filled with words. But right now I find myself at a loss for something beautiful to say in return. So I say what I feel and hope it’s enough. “I love you.”
He smiles, the worry leaving his face. “Love you too, Babe.”
And then I kiss him, the tears still falling, my mouth still smiling, and a sob escapes me as our tongues find each other. I’m a mess, but it’s beautiful and real and I can’t get enough of him. Not now, not ever. He’s right. We’re two lost souls that found each other and became one. And I’m the luckiest girl on the planet.
***
There’s still hours before the fight, but I’m ready to go right now. It’s a sold out championship fight, but Nico gave me four tickets of my own. My stepbrother, of course, has texted me half a dozen times to make sure we’re still on for the day. It’s a close race who is more exited, Max or Vinny. Both probably didn’t sleep last night with anticipation pulsing through their veins.
I’m excited I also got to invite Regina and Lawrence. Regina because
, well, she’s the best friend I have ever had...and I think she’s more excited about my relationship with Nico than I am, at times, if that’s even possible. After all these years, she couldn’t wait to see me throw myself back into the land of the living. And Lawrence, he’s more than my boss, he’s been like a dad to me the last few years. Plus, it’s the first bit of excitement his wife has let him have since his heart surgery. She’s afraid too much might give him a heart attack.
At first I’ve forgotten what I’m wearing when Nico catches sight of me, he hasn’t seen the t-shirt Vinny made for me. I’m not sure if the kid did it on purpose, but it’s tight,
very tight, hugging all my curves. My shirt is different than the one Vinny wore last time. It’s a full body shot with Nico facing forward. He looks more like a model than a fighter.
Nico freezes in place for
a minute, gracing me with a devilish smile. “I like your shirt.”
I feel my face heat and I know I’m turning a nice shad
e of pink. “It’s my new favorite shirt. I can keep you pressed up against me all day, even in public.” I respond coyly.
Nico stalks to me. “I’ll press the real thing up against you all day in public, Babe.
You don’t have to ask twice.” He’s smiling like he’s kidding, but I know he’s serious. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me tight against his warm, hard body. He’s wearing only a pair of running shorts and my body responds to his rough touch, even though it’s been only hours since I’ve had him inside of me.
I’m flustered. “Don’t you have a fight to get ready for?” My voice comes out throatier than I had intended, but I just can’t help myself around him.
Nico presses into me, I can feel his throbbing erection pushing against my stomach. “They can’t start the fight without me.” He grabs half my ass in one of his massive hands and squeezes hard. His head lowers with intention to take my mouth, but the buzzer downstairs rings.
“Ignore it.” I feel the words on my lips as he devours my mouth. My body gives in almost immediately and a small moan escapes my lips as he lifts me underneath the knees and cradles me in his arms as he heads toward the bed.
The buzzer rings again and neither of us break the kiss, even though I’m certain he hears it too. But then it buzzes again, this time more insistently. Whoever is downstairs waiting to come up isn’t going away. Nico growls loudly, as he sets me down and stands. “Don’t move, I’ll get rid of whoever it is.” A stream of expletives leave his mouth as he makes his way to the poor fool who is about to feel his wrath.
I
lie in the bed for a moment, my breath slowly returning to almost normal as I wait for Nico’s return. But then I hear voices and I realize that whoever it is has no fear of the irrational man that went in a frenzy to get rid of them.
I fix myself as best I can and head to the living room to see w
ho’s arrived. My hair is fingered back in place and my shirt is readjusted, but there isn’t anything I can do with the heat on my face.
“Ma, you didn’t need to bring Vinny by the house. I wouldn’t have forgotten to pick him up.
And I told him that twenty times in the last twenty four hours
.” Nico catches me in the doorway and gives me a look like he may injure someone before the fight, but for some reason I only find it funny. He’s cute when he’s frustrated.
“Hi Mrs. Hunter. Hi Vinny.” I smile and the two step around Nico who was blocking their passage for entry
. Nico looks at me like I’ve just welcomed the devil into his home, instead of two of his biggest fans.
“You’re wearing the t-shirt!” Vinny is excited and smiling.
“Of course I am. It’s the coolest t-shirt I own.” I wink at him and the all-confident boy turns shy for half a second before turning to face Nico.
“You like it Nico?” It’s sweet how the boy wants Nico’s
approval, I just hope Nico doesn’t flatten his enthusiasm because they interrupted a private moment.
Nico looks at me and takes my shirt in again, as if he is seeing it for the first time. His eyes go hooded and no response is really needed. The kid smiles as he watches Nico, knowing Nico couldn’t be happier.
“Yeah kid. It’s perfect.” He takes a deep breath and exhales.
***
All of Nico’s brothers and their wives are already seated when Vinny, Max, and I finally find our seats. Between my friends and his family, we fill almost two rows. My stepfather managed to pick up the security job for the fight, and it makes me feel bad that I can’t invite mom too. I’ve told her about Nico, but even that made her nervous. There is no way she would be able to handle a live fight. Too many bad memories.
My s
tepfather spends a few minutes at our row and I get to introduce him to Nico’s family. It’s an odd feeling blending our families together, but when I take a minute to look around, I realize everyone feels right at home. My stepfather is chatting away and laughing with Nico’s mom and oldest brother, and Vinny and Max are in their own little world. It brings a warm feeling to take it all in…I haven’t felt like I had a family in so long. It’s not my mom’s fault, I just wouldn’t let anyone in. I didn’t even realize it until Nico snuck into my heart and opened it wide for others.
The announcer
steps into the cage and my body goes tense. It’s really going to happen now. I’ve pretended that it wasn’t, that I had time before I had to go through watching Nico do this. But there’s no more time left. What if he freezes again, only this time he gets hurt? Or if he hurts the brother? Will he be able to live with himself after what happened last time? I suddenly feel sick to my stomach.
“Elle?” I hear Regina speak, but I can
’t respond. I’m frozen in place, staring at the announcer like I’m waiting for something to happen any second. “Elle!” Regina grabs my arms and snaps me out of my trance. “Are you okay? You’re white as a ghost.”
I
nod my head, but she isn’t buying it. She knows me too well. “Come on, let’s get out of here. This is too much.” My arm is in her hand and she’s already starting to pull me in her direction.
“No!” My voice comes out louder than I anticipated and I’m suddenly grateful for the announcer who
just sent my mind into a tailspin. He’s drowning me out with his loud words fired off in rapid succession, but their meaning doesn’t register with me. I force myself to look at Regina so she knows I’m okay. “I can’t leave. I need to be here.”
Regina searches my eyes like she’s looking for something. She still looks nervous, but she stops tugging at my arm. “Okay, okay. Let’s sit then.
Drink some water. Please.”
I take the water to make Regina happy and try to focus on what the announcer is rattling on about.
“
Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for. The match to end all matches, more than a year and a half in the making. The man, the myth, the legend, ladies need no introduction, the one, the only Nico ‘The Laaaaaady Killlllller’ Hunter.”
The crowd goes insane. Vinny and Max are standing on the top of their seats jumping up and down so hard that I think they might break the chairs. Nico’s mom, who is normally subdued, is screaming with hands on either side o
f her mouth. And his brothers are high fiving, fist pounding, and jumping up to smash each other with their own chests. The moment of insanity does wonders for my nerves, I can’t help but smile at our crazy gang.
I’m
impatiently waiting for Nico to enter the room, but I don’t have to turn to know the minute he steps into the arena. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and the room that I didn’t think could get much louder ratchets up ten decibels. The sound is almost deafening. I turn to watch him make his way down the aisle, but it’s difficult to see him behind the dozen bleach blonde women in bikinis and high heels who are marching down the aisle in front of him. Each carries a sign over their head bearing various testaments of love to “The Lady Killer.”
I try in va
in to see his face as he passes, but I’m too short for his sizeable entourage. It’s not until he steps in the cage do I get a clear shot of his face. One of the brazen, scantily clad bikini girls makes a big commotion bending over in exaggerated form and kissing him on the cheek. It’s only his side profile, but I catch his jaw clench and I smile to myself knowing the kiss was a setup and clearly unwelcome. And then he turns, and his eyes land directly on me. There is no search through the crowd, our eyes just find each other, like metal to a magnet, inexplicably pulled to each other without effort. He just needs to see I’m really here, but it’s just reinforcement, he knew I was here the minute he walked in the room.
After a few minutes, the crowd finally dies down enough for the announcer to speak over them, al
though they’re still going pretty strong.
“
Ladies and Gentlemen, in the blue corner tonight, we have a man set for revenge. He’s been waiting eighteen months for his chance to take back his family’s honor…I give you, Trevor ‘The Aaaaaaaa-vennnnnnnnnn-ger’ Crispino.”
Unlike last time, the crowd doesn’t boo. Even Nico’
s family falls silent. There are some cheers from his fans, but most say nothing and I don’t know if it’s out of respect for Nico, his contender, or his late brother. Either way it sends a chill up my spine at the mere mention of the horror that was his brother’s last fight.
After a few more mind-
numbing announcements, the two men are sent to their respective corners. It’s funny how my reason for worry changes, yet the worry stays the same. The last time I sat in this room I was worried that watching men come to blows would be a trigger for me. Something that would dredge up the memories of the past that I’d worked so hard to tuck away. But as I sit here today, I’m still worried about Nico’s fight, yet it no longer has anything to do with my own self-preservation. All of my worry is for the man in the ring, how he’ll manage to handle striking a face that is all too familiar. The similarities are haunting and it isn’t even my nightmare. I worry that he’ll freeze and get hurt, or that he won’t and the emotional damage will take its toll later. Either way, it’s hard to see a win for Nico at the end of this fight, no matter who comes out the victor.
I hold my breath as the fight begins and the two men meet in the middle. I want to look away, save
myself the pain of watching it all unravel before my eyes, but I can’t seem to allow myself to blink for fear of missing even a second. Nico strikes first, not giving his opponent time to even acclimate before knocking him back three steps with a thundering hit to the left side of his jaw.
As much
as I struggle seeing the two men fighting to win something back, something that was taken wrongly from both of them, there is a sense of relief that Nico seems to be back to fighting the way that made him a champion. But my relief is short lived. Not ten seconds after I finally exhale, letting out the breath I had been holding, Trevor lands a kick to Nico’s chest and Nico stumbles, his back hitting hard against the unyielding cage. His back arches with the contact, and I see his face register pain, but he quickly recovers. Sitting so close, I can see the toll each blow takes on their faces.
By the end of the first round, both men have taken and
delivered harsh blows dealt with brute force strength. I don’t claim to have any experience judging a match, but, to me, Nico is the clear leader as they take their seats in their respective corners. His blows are stronger, more precise. And he has the ability to recover faster from the ones he receives. But all in all, it doesn’t appear to be an unfair fight.