Sam continued as he animatedly paced the stage. “I’m excited to be invited to make the announcement that Then There Was One will hit the silver screen next summer. Filming begins a week from tomorrow.” He motioned to the movie stars. “These talented men and women will bring the story to life for you. And…” Sam wrapped a dramatic arm around Lexi’s shoulders. “The lovely Lexi Mills will be on set overseeing the project herself!”
The crowd roared so loud the floor shook. Mark’s heart dropped in his chest again. He felt a couple of hands on his shoulder for support.
“Did you know?” Rico’s voice cut through the noise.
“I just found out a little bit ago,” Mark shouted back.
“So who would like their book signed by the future Oscar winning screenwriter Lexi Mills? Start a line to the left of the stage. Orderly now!” Sam pointed to the side of the stage. Mark watched Lexi scan the crowd. Just as their eyes met, her publicist nudged her toward the waiting table and chair. Mark huffed as he wove through the crowd and took a seat on a bench to watch. His friends found spots on other benches to wait with him.
It took forever for the line to pass by Lexi so she could sign their books. As her fans dispersed she disappeared behind the curtain. Mark checked his phone for a text. Nothing. He sighed then stood to leave. The others followed his lead. Before he could go, the curtain was flung open and Lexi stepped out, followed by a security guard. She hurried across the corridor to him.
“Mark, please don’t go,” she started, her words tumbling over each other.
“So I won’t see you and Logan for months.”
“Logan isn’t going. I can’t watch over him and work. He’s staying with my mom and dad.”
Mark felt someone brush up against him. “But if you would like to help us, we’d be happy to have it.” Lexi’s father grinned at him as he held Logan. “Logan loves you. And my grandson needs a good man to look up to.”
“Dad, I just dropped this news on Mark before the event. He may not even want to stay together,” Lexi protested.
Mark forced a smile on his face even though his heart felt shattered in his chest. “I would be honored to help, Mr. Mills. We can make our relationship work long distance. People do it all the time.”
“No worries, Lexi.” Dan clapped him on the shoulder. Mark glanced around to see his friends gathered around him. “We’ll keep him busy. If we beat on him enough he’ll be too tired to miss you.”
Lexi’s eyes grew wide. “I have to fly out tonight with everyone else. We have a couple of meetings before filming starts. I’m going to miss your fight.”
“It’s all right, sweetheart.” Mark took her hand in his. “Someone at the event will livestream it. They usually do.”
“It’s probably for the best. I’m not sure I could handle the crowd.”
“Yeah. That’s true.”
“Will you come out to see me?”
“I’ll try. I’m an emergency room doctor. It’s hard to get more than one day off at a time. I better get home to get my gear. I need to get to the arena to warm up.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“All right. I’ll see you soon,” she murmured.
“Yeah. Bye.”
The awkward good-bye clawed at Mark as he strode away toward the exit leaving Lexi and his friends behind. He could see his truck three rows over and quickened his pace. At that moment he didn’t want to talk to anyone. He wanted time alone.
His thoughts swirled in his brain as he drove down the interstate but none of them made sense. He didn’t try to sort them out. All he wanted was to get home safe. He stepped inside his townhouse and popped Kinnick’s kennel open and then he sunk into the couch. Minutes passed in silence before he dug in his pocket. First he pulled out his cell. Then he pulled out the small felt-covered box and sat it on the coffee table. He fired off a text and set the phone beside the box.
“I won’t need that anymore,” he muttered. With a huff he stood. “Come on, Kinnick. Let’s go get my stuff together.”
The pup followed loyally behind him as Mark stalked down the hall, leaving the ring behind.
Mark couldn’t concentrate as he stuffed his things into his bag. He had to check three times to see if his trunks were inside. Glancing at his bedside clock, he zipped it closed and stroked the top of Kinnick’s head. The pup whimpered in response.
“Yeah, you get it. Don’t you, boy? I’m not locking you up in your kennel tonight. You can have free reign. Just don’t tear up my stuff. Okay?” Mark spoke.
Kinnick licked him affectionately in response. He chuckled. “Good. Glad we agree. Let’s go outside then I’ll take off for the arena.”
He strode from the room with the dog on his heels. Opening the back door of his townhouse, Kinnick scooted outside before Mark could take a step. Mark tossed his tennis ball to him a couple times. The crazy pup raced around the small yard to chase it. Ten quiet minutes passed before Mark shepherded the dog back inside, grabbed his things, and made his way to the truck.
The locker room of the arena was quiet when Mark strode in. The only sound was the light thud of canvas on canvas. A couple of guys held mitts for Rico and Dan as they threw punches to warm up. This wasn’t the typical arrangement. Normally the team had a light warm up session at Hard Drive before they headed to the arena. But since the gym was a wreck from the fire, the promoter gave them the largest locker room to double as their gym for the day.
Mark kicked off his shoes and dug his wraps out of his bag. He methodically twisted the fabric around his fingers. He almost unraveled his work when Rico nudged him.
“Thanks for the table at ringside, dude,” Rico said with a grin. “Best seats in the house, a waitress for drinks and no rowdy crowd to get in the way. A bunch of the guys from my old gym in Chicago are coming up. They’ll love it.”
Mark forced a smile on his face. “You’re welcome. No sense for it to go to waste.”
“How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. I got it for Lexi to keep her away from the crowd. I’m glad your friends can use it since she won’t be here.”
“I’m sorry she won’t be.”
Mark shrugged. “Maybe it’s for the best. She has such a promising future. I don’t want to hold her back.”
“Why don’t you get your gloves on and we’ll light spar.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Mark finished wrapping his hands then tugged on his gloves. He sparred gently with Rico and then switched to trading punches with Dan. Somewhere in the mix, Max appeared. They traded partners until their muscles were loose. Mark took a step away to take a sip of water. He glanced at the time on his phone. It was four o’clock. Lexi’s plane was about to take off. He heaved a sigh and went back to warming up.
By five o’clock, the room filled with other fighters sharing the room with them. Mark settled on a chair and pulled his earbuds out of his bag. It was time to focus, to meditate on what he was about to do. As he woke up his phone, he noticed a message.
Good luck, sweetheart. I love you.
He smiled as his heart broke. Of course Lexi would want to encourage him. But it was just a reminder that she wasn’t there. She was on an airplane heading to Sin City. He quickly responded.
Thanks. Love you too.
Jamming the jack of his earbuds into his phone, he fired up a playlist, turned up the volume, and closed his eyes.
He startled at a touch on his shoulder. Max laughed as he shook him again. Mark tugged the buds out of his ears. “What the…”
“Come on. It’s time to tape your hands,” Max told him.
“Isn’t it a little early?”
“It’s eight. You’ve been asleep, big guy. You’re up in five fights.”
Mark glanced around him, baffled. A couple of the amateurs were hunched over dripping in sweat. One was streaked with blood. He couldn’t tell if it belonged to the fighter himself. Mark stood enough to flip the chair around then lowered back onto it.
Max took out
tape he kept in the bucket he always carried around at the fights and began to secure Mark’s hand. The entire time he talked strategy. It was a habit he picked up in college. He never listened to his college coach before he stepped into the cage because he was too amped to get in and fight, so his coach gave instructions long before they walked in. Max did the same thing with his own fighters.
“And, Mark?” Max concluded as he tugged Mark’s fingerless gloves over his hand.
“Yeah?”
“For the next couple hours, you need to forget Lexi. I know her leaving is killing you. But if you don't have your head in the game, that guy in the cage with you will kill you. Literally. Understand?”
“Easier said than done. But yes. I get it.”
Max clapped him on the shoulder. “You got this, brother.”
“Thanks.”
Mark watched Max as he stood and then crossed the room to Rico. Dan was already prepared to go. All he had to do was lose the glasses. Each man offered the other an encouraging smile. They both stood and started to shadow box when Max glared at them.
Mark was so engrossed in his movement that he almost missed when Dan was called for his fight. He wouldn’t miss his best friend’s professional fight for the world. He followed the others from the room and stalked to the cage as Dan’s walk in music pounded overhead. He couldn’t help but chuckle. Only Dan would walk out to the theme song of a video game.
Mark stood cage side with Rico and Max as the battle progressed. It went three long, grueling, bloody rounds. His stomach churned as the two men stood tired and beaten on either side of the referee. Mark cheered the loudest as the official raised Dan’s hand in victory.
Once they were back in the tunnel, Max turned to Dan. “Incredible job, bud. Go get checked out by the doctor. Make sure that knee to the temple didn’t knock any screws loose.”
“Not until Mark’s done,” Dan protested. “He was there for mine, I’ll be there for his.”
“We can visit him together,” Mark offered.
“What are you telling me?” Max chuckled. “Are you planning on getting hurt, Mark?”
“I’m thinking it’ll be inevitable.”
They all grew quiet as Mark’s opponent, a tall, bald man from Detroit, strode by with his team. He shot a murderous glare at Mark as he passed. Rico’s voice broke the silence. “Better get that thought out of your head, Mark. It’s showtime.”
“Yep,” Mark agreed.
They waited without saying a word for the music to change. The pounding of heavy metal echoed off the walls. A mixture of determination laced with a touch of fear flowed through Mark. He spun on his toe and stormed to the mouth of the tunnel back into the arena. He didn’t have to look to see if the others were following. He knew they were there.
He turned toward Max for last minute instructions. His coach’s words were brief as he lathered petroleum jelly on Mark’s face. Rico, however, was behind Max barking off every bit of advice under the sun. Dan was beside him, his eye starting to swell. He didn’t say anything. He just gave an encouraging nod. Mark gave each of them a quick hug then turned toward the ref. After a pat down by an official, Mark popped his mouth guard out through his teeth to prove he had it in his mouth. The official nodded then swept his arm toward the cage.
Mark hopped up the steps and took his place in his corner. He jumped from the ball of one foot to the other as the announcements boomed overhead and cocked a grin as the crowd cheered loudly for him. He was motioned to the center of the ring for instructions. Once they were recited and the two fighters had shaken hands, he returned to his corner. His heart leapt in his throat as the referee shouted “fight!”
The two men cautiously approached each other with their fists raised. Mark bounced from the ball of one foot to the other. His opponent charged at him with a jab then a cross. He finished with a low kick. Mark dodged each punch and blocked the kick with his shin.
He countered with a kick of his own to the body. His opponent cringed at the blow. Mark stutter stepped back then threw a combo of his own. The jab skimmed the fighter’s shoulder, then cross tagged him on the chin.
The two men circled each other again, occasionally trading a punch or a kick. Frustration burned Mark. He wanted an in, to find the weak spot he could take advantage of. He just couldn’t find it. Max and Rico’s voices buzzed over the noise of the crowd but the words made no sense.
Mark threw another kick. Instead of taking the blow, his opponent caught his leg. Dropping his weight, the other man struggled to take him down as he hugged Mark’s leg tight to his chest. Panic filled Mark as he hopped on his other leg toward the cage wall and leaned on it for support. The other fighter let go and clinched his arms around him, angling him toward the mat. The two big men struggled against each until the bell signaled the end of the round.
Mark plopped down on the stool with a heavy sigh. Rico blotted at a small cut over his eye as Max twisted the cap off his bottle of water.
“Mark, keep your hands up,” Max reminded.
All Mark could do was nod. Max continued. “You’re going to have to unleash on him, bud. You’re going to have to throw him off his game to get him to the ground. Yes, your ground game is your strength. But you have some heavy fists too. Use them.”
Mark nodded again as he rose to his feet. He watched Max and Rico retreat to the door of the cage as the referee motioned the fighters to start the match. Once the doors were locked, he dropped his hand. “Fight!”
Both men shuffled out of their corners toward each other. Max’s voice echoed in his brain. He threw a couple of jabs then a cross, finishing with an uppercut. None of them landed but his opponent stumbled back a step, seemingly shaken by the activity. Mark ducked a couple of counter strikes then threw a few more. His opponent scurried back but Mark followed, pinning him against the cage. They clinched again, trading knees to the belly and elbows to the face. Mark’s opponent shoved him off and backpedaled away.
Mark wasn’t sure where the punch came from. He had tried it in the gym a couple of times but had never seriously trained it. He skipped into the air and fired the punch. His fist connected with his opponent’s temple. The fighter crumbled to the mat, covering his head with his arms. Mark launched on him, hailing strikes until the referee tugged him off and sent him back to his corner. Mark all but sprinted to his corner as his opponent was helped to his feet and the cage doors were opened. Max and Rico met him with big grins on their faces.
“Finally someone listens to me,” Max chuckled.
“I try my best,” Mark replied.
The referee called the fighters to the middle of the cage. A smile covered Mark’s face as the announcer spoke into his microphone. “Winner by TKO via Superman punch two minutes and twenty seconds into the round, Mark Jacobsen.”
Mark soaked in the roar of the crowd as his hand was raised in victory. His smile faded. Even though the win was sweet, his heart felt broken. Lexi wasn’t there to share it with him. With another sigh he followed his coaches from the cage.
Chapter Eleven
Mark wandered down the hall as he checked the file in his hand. He rotated his jaw slowly. It had been four days since his win and it was just starting to feel better. He didn’t remember getting hit that hard. Teaches me to keep my hands up better.
He set the file on the nurses’ station and slipped his prescription pad from his pocket. He scribbled a script for an antibiotic and slipped it under the paper clip on the folder. “Mr. Andrews in room four has pneumonia. Again. Here’s his antibiotic. If he’s back in here again, I’m admitting him.”
“He doesn’t have insurance,” Joan warned as she took the file from him. “The administration will scream at you.”
“I don’t care. Am I supposed to let him die? Seriously, I’m getting tired of this. I need a change. Quick.”
Joan smiled at him. “I know, Teddy Bear. I know. He won’t be able to afford these meds either. I’ll go see if we have any samples before I take it to him
.”
“Thanks, Joan.” Mark glanced up at the other end of the desk. A gigantic bouquet of two dozen red roses sat perched on the corner. Mark bit back a snarl. Some lucky nurse was deep in love with a lucky guy. He was lucky if he got a five minute video chat with his girlfriend before she was dragged off to the set. “Wow, Lucy’s boyfriend went all out, didn’t he?”
Joan laughed. “Those aren’t for Lucy.”
“Who’s the lucky girl then?”
“Try lucky fella. They’re yours, big guy.”
Mark frowned. “Mine? Who would send me flowers?”
“I don’t know. The card says Doctor Mark Jacobsen. That’s you.” Joan wandered away, still laughing with the folder in her hand.
Mark crossed the desk carefully, his eyes locked on the beautiful, fragrant blossoms. The scent permeated the ER. He would have to lock them up in case one of their patients was allergic. He plucked the card from its holder. He could feel something hard inside. He tore the envelope.
A key slipped out into his hand. He tugged free the card from inside. There was no name saying who they were from. There was just an address scrawled across it. The city said Saint Paul. He shook his head, confused.
“What’s up, Mark?” Joan asked as she plopped back into her chair.
He walked over to her and handed her the piece of paper. “There’s no name. Just an address.”
Joan’s brow furrowed as she studied it. “I know this address. It’s an office building that opened maybe two years ago. Some high profile doctors have offices in there.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Lexi sending you on a scavenger hunt maybe?”
“She’s too busy to plan something like that.”
“Then why do I hear hesitation in your voice?”
“Because I’m not entirely sure I believe what I just said. My shift is over in a couple hours. I’ll go check it out.”
“Call and tell me what happens.”
“Of course.” Mark scooped up his next patient’s records and hurried down the hall.
Breaking the Violence (Hard Drive Series Book 3) Page 13
