A knock at the door I expect to be room service breaks my thoughts. My hand on the knob, I peer through the peephole and find Caden on the other side of the door. There’s no way I’m letting him in my hotel room. I’ve accepted his apology because he’s Joe’s nephew, but it doesn’t come close to trusting him enough to be alone in a hotel room. We both made mistakes, I don’t plan to repeat mine.
“Who is it?” I ask fully knowing.
“Caden.”
“Oh. Caden, I’m not dressed yet,” I lie.
“So?” He’s offended, I can tell by his tone.
“Did you need something? I’m running late.”
“Open the door, Lily,” he says with impatience.
“No, Caden. I’m not dressed. What can I do for you?”
He hits the door. I jump, not expecting the bang. “Open the door, Lily,” he warns.
“I’m going to call security if you don’t leave, Caden.”
“Don’t bother.” It’s quiet for a minute and I think he might have left, so I look through the peephole. I know he can’t see me, yet he looks right at the door, a sadistic smile on his face, holding a paper in his head. “They posted the matches. Just wanted to tell you to enjoy the fight today.” He turns and walks away.
***
I spend the morning running around, checking in with the Ralley’s managers that have come out for the Open, bringing their best fighters. We have five fighters in the Open, including two first timers with great potential and Caden. Joe and I meet at the sponsor check in desk, as usual, we’re last in line, checking in at the last minute. I’m distracted by the man sitting at the end of the long table. Vince Stone. The line to have him sign an autograph is longer than the line for the check in. Joe and I chat while we wait our turn for our passes and tickets, but I’m constantly drawn to steal glances at Vince. He catches me a few times and smiles. By the time we make our way to the table, Vince is done and walks over. I suck in a breath and try to keep myself from overtly staring, though it’s no use. He probably thinks I’m star struck, but I’m struck by the resemblance. It’s not something you see easily, rather it’s the mannerisms, the slight uptick on the side of his mouth when he’s amused but trying to hide it. The sexy confidence that draws a crowd without so much as a word.
My words stuck in my throat, Joe steps forward and introduces himself. “Vince. How are ya? Joe Ralley from Ralley’s Gyms.” Vince shakes his hand and nods and looks to me. Awkwardly, I say nothing, so Joe does the formality. “This is my partner, Lily St. Claire, she’s the daughter of…”
“The Saint,” Vince Stone finishes Joe’s sentence and extends his hand. “Nice to meet you Lily. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
You have? I smile and shake his hand, words finally coming from my moving mouth. “Nice to meet you, Vince.” Curiosity gets the best of me and I can’t help but ask. “Were you a friend of my fathers?”
“No. I didn’t know him. But my trainers said he was a great guy. I’m sorry for your loss,” he says sincerely.
“Thank you.” I furrow my brow.
“My brother,” he says, seeing the confusion on my face.
“I didn’t realize you two…,” I trail off, not quite sure how to finish the sentence.
Vince smirks. “We didn’t. Until last night.” He leans down and kisses me sweetly on the cheek. “Go easy on him. He’s not such an ass**le after all.” He winks and then disappears.
***
My dad never missed going to the locker room to wish his fighters luck before a match. My gut tells me I should skip going to see Caden, but I’m with Joe, so I feel safe. Marco is wrapping his hands when we enter. I try to keep distance between us but Caden jumps from the table he’s sitting on and comes right to me. He hooks his big hand around my neck and pulls me for a kiss. It happens so fast, I barely have time to turn my head to give him my cheek.
“You’re not even gonna give me a nice good luck kiss?” he grumbles, annoyed at my response to his unwelcomed advance.
“I came to wish you luck, I see it was a mistake.”
“Oh, come on, Lil.” Completely ignoring my resistance, he wraps an arm around my waist. “Since when are you such a prude?”
“Caden, keep your hands to yourself,” Joe warns.
“Guess I should be thankful you’re here in my corner and not rooting for that pretty boy,” Caden mumbles jumping back up on the table for Marco to continue with his hands.
“What pretty boy? Who did you match against?”
Caden smirks a sinister smile. “You don’t know?”
“Why would I be asking if I knew?”
Marco hands me the fight card without a word. Jackson Knight, Washington D.C.
My eyes bulge. “Did you know about this?” I ask Joe.
“Don’t look at me, I’ve been with you all day.” Joe takes the card and reads it for himself.
“Three minutes till call.” A guy wearing a headphone pops in the room. “Let’s go.”
Vicious doesn’t even begin to describe the grin plastered on Caden’s face. It’s so evil and vindictive, it sends a chill up my spine and I’m not the one getting in the ring.
***
The arena is jam packed, the crowd loud with excitement. The usher explains that the last fight went the full three rounds and was the closest fight he’s seen in years. “Both bloodied. You missed a good one,” he says excitedly as he points out our seats in the dimly lit arena.
We’re four rows back from the octagon, I’ve felt numb since I read the card. I feel like I should do something. Not sit around and watch like I’m a bystander. I feel way too involved in whatever is about to happen in the ring to do nothing. Although I have no idea what that something would be.
Dad fought from the time I was a baby until I was sixteen. Yet I never watched a single fight. I was always there, but never in the arena. At first I was too young to watch, Dad said I wouldn’t have understood and watching him get into a fight would have upset me. By the time I was old enough to understand that it wasn’t a fight, it was a sport, a profession, I’d already gotten into the habit of watching the fight after the fight, on replay. I always felt it was my job to wait in Dad’s locker room anyway. I thought it brought him good luck since he won every time I did it. Sitting here now, I realize waiting in the locker room probably wasn’t good luck for Dad, but I’d give anything in the world to be in Jax’s locker room waiting for him at this moment.