“Are you in some kind of trouble? Maybe I could help?”
I stood to move to her but she walked from the room and called as she left my apartment, “I’ll see you at the diner tomorrow... I’ll miss you.”
III
I lay awake all night, my mind overrun with persistent thoughts... Sophia, and how beautiful she was, how she made me feel, how her sweetness felt wrapped around me, but also the danger she’d spoke of, the reason she’d been so quick to leave my bed.
I longed to have her lying next to me, held to my body, my big arm around her, making sure she stayed close, keeping her safe. I made a mental note to find out what’d spooked her, to make sure I could free her of the fear that was holding her captive.
I thought about poor Maria and little Stevie... She was a wreck, afraid. She felt alone in the world, her protector gone. Stevie would be feeling the same way. I’d lost my dad at a young age and I knew the repercussions of such a loss.
Not only would he be mourning the loss of his security, he would be trying to wrestle with the knowledge of death, the fact that nothing lasts forever. It’s a terrible thing to be so aware that life isn’t an infinite journey when you’re only just taking your first steps down the short road.
I gave up on sleep. I only had an hour before I’d have to walk to the diner to start my shift, to see the girl that had somehow found a way to break through to me, to quell the thoughts that attacked me on a minute-by-minute basis of every waking moment, and every second of slumber I found, since the explosion that killed my brother.
I swung my feet from the bed, took a deep breath and then headed into the kitchen. I removed some duct tape from a drawer and moved back into my bedroom. I pulled the sheets from the bed, getting a light breeze of Sophia’s sex, serving to remind me how much I missed her already, and then I dragged the mattress off.
I rolled the mattress into a tube and then looped duct tape around it, three lines of the sticky stuff, to keep it locked in position. I stood the mattress on its end and then removed a strap from my backpack. I fastened the mattress to the doorframe with the strap and then went to the closet.
I pulled my boxing gloves on, the Velcro strap with my teeth. They still smelt of sweat from the last time I’d sparred. It’d been a long time since I’d worn them, but they brought me comfort as soon as they were fixed in position.
I moved back to my improvised punching bag and swung my arms a few times to help my muscles wake up as I exhaled through my nose and inhaled through my mouth.
I began by throwing a few jabs, lightly, not wanting to hurt myself, but in no time at all I was laying the hurt on the bag. The sound of the leather as my fists impacted hurt my head but warmed my heart. I used to never feel as centered, focused, as peaceful, as when I was hitting a bag, fighting an imaginary opponent, who almost always looked unsurprisingly like my stepdad.
I was soon sweating, my naked body glistening, the mirror on my bedroom wall showing me the tension in my body, my muscles rippling, my veins pumping on each impact.
I smashed a left cross into the punching bag. The thing I was missing. The thing I needed. The thing that would stop me from feeling unhappy, tortured, wasn’t sex, or money, what other people seemed to crave. It was love. I was sure of that. Sophia.
It was an odd mix of emotions. It was a dose of happiness, something I hadn’t felt for a long time, over the fact I had a plan, Sophia, love, mixed with rage over the fact I’d taken that very thing from my brother’s wife.
The pace of my punches increased as my anger built. My teeth snapped tightly together and my jaw set strong as I pounded punch after punch into the bag. I was soon exhausted, all of my muscles burning, sweat running into my eyes. I couldn’t throw another punch.
I removed my gloves as my chest rose and fell. I threw them onto the bed, pushed past the punching bag and went to the bathroom to take a shower. I got dressed, as many layers as possible, the cold had really hit since leaving the warm water, and the dead of winter would attack me with its icy fingers once I was outside.
I headed out of the door. I removed a strand of my hair, fixed it on the frame, noticing an envelope on the floor. I bent down and picked it up. The letter inside was from my landlord. I punched my door when I read the word EVICTED. I tore the note up and ran to the stairs. I was on the ground floor in no time and smashing my fist into his office door.
“Jesus, hold on a second, I’m coming. You’ll knock my fucking door down if you keep that up much longer.” He opened the door; he was in a stained vest and boxers.
“I’m fucking evicted? Why?” The words spat from my mouth with enough anger-filled emotion the landlord flinched. “I’m not behind on my rent, I’ve only just moved into the damn place.”
“I’m sorry, it’s out of my control.” He swallowed.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“The owner of the building, he wanted you out. I had no choice, man. It’s not my fault, I swear.”
“Who’s the owner? I need to speak with him.” I placed one of my hands on the doorframe to keep me upright. I was so angry my legs felt like they’d not support me for much longer. I was in a full-blown rage.
“He wants to speak to you. He’ll be at the diner.” The landlord took a step back and angled the door in front of his body, so just his head was peeking around, as if that would stop me if I chose to take him out.
“What diner?”
“The one you’re heading to.”
“How does he know I’ll be there? How did you know?”
“I only know because he told me. That’s what he said, that he’d see you at the diner and he’d explain everything to you when you got there. That’s all I know, man. I swear to God, it’s all I know.”
Footsteps, coming from the stairs. I turned to the door. The landlord slammed his shut while my attention was elsewhere. The door opened and two guys exited the stairs. One of them had the improvised punching bag I’d made under his arm; the other one was carrying my bags.
“Who the fuck are you two and what the hell are you doing with my gear?” I moved to them quickly and knocked the mattress from the guy’s arm. He just faced the ceiling and let out a long breath. The other guy was walking toward the door to exit the building. “Don’t even fucking think about leaving with my stuff,” I said, but he just kept walking.
The guy closest to me picked the mattress up and tucked it under his arm again. I turned back to him and knocked it back to the floor. “Do we have a problem here, Lucas?” he said, exhaling in exasperation again.
“I’d say we do... And how do you know my name?” I stepped over the mattress and got in his face. I could hear the footsteps of the guy with my bags, he was slowly moving toward me.
“We don’t have time for this. If we’re late, we get into trouble.” He went to walk by me, to pick the mattress up again.
I placed my hand on his chest and stopped him from moving. “You’re in trouble now, big fucking trouble... Now answer my questions.”
The guy who was moving toward me from my flank dropped my bags. “We can’t,” he said. “We’ve just gotta do what we’ve been paid to do... and we weren’t paid to talk to you, to deal with your bullshit.”
The guy in front of me pushed my hand from him. I placed it back. He let out another slow breath and I used the same hand to power an uppercut into his jaw, completely fucking sick of his shit. He dropped to the floor like a bag full of bricks.
I turned to the other hired goon and met his charge with a jab. He stumbled, but stayed on his feet. I raised my guard and shuffled toward him. My first punch knocked the wind from him, my second one removed his sense of balance, and my third one induced unconsciousness.
I picked my bags up and moved them to the mattress. I dropped them next to it and then headed to the landlord’s door. I smashed my foot into the wood and it flung inward, hitting him in the face. He must have been watching the fight through the peephole.
He stumbled ba
ckward, stopped when he hit a wall. He clamped one hand to his bloodied nose and held the other up, begging me to not do him anymore damage. “Watch my things. I’ll take them back to my room later, understand?” I said as I pointed at him. He just nodded.
I turned and ran from the building. I ran all the way to the fucking diner. There was only three cars in the parking lot; Sophia’s, one I didn’t recognize but I figured it was the old man’s who flipped the burgers, and Sophia’s dad’s.
Her dad was inside, sitting in a booth, with his muscle, Colossus. He had a cup of coffee in one hand and a laptop open on the table. I walked in, slammed the door closed behind me. Colossus stood and moved from the booth. He pointed at the seat he’d just left.
I moved past him, keeping my eyes locked to his until I sat. Sophia’s dad turned the laptop to me. A video was playing; CCTV footage of me dropping the guys who’d tried to take my stuff.
“You really are a good fighter, Lucas. I’m even more confident I’ve made the right decision.” Colossus pulled a chair out from a nearby table and sat facing us. “I don’t think I’ve even introduced myself properly. My name’s Dennehy.”
“Those were your guys?” I asked as he closed the laptop.
“They were... Not anymore... They’ve just lost their job. I have a short fuse when it comes to incompetence. God said that patience is a virtue. Well, that fucker never had to run a business like mine... Churches don’t count, his Santa’s Little Helpers make the money from them.”
“Could you please explain to me what the fuck is going on here?”
“I like you... I’ve never really had an honest to goodness pugilist in my cage before. So, I took a risk. I’m backing you. I don’t really back fighters anymore, not for a long time. I just let them pound on each other and take money from the bets that are placed. It’s risk free really, but I think you could be very special... You’d better had be after the money that apartment just cost me.”
“You need to stop all of this cloak and dagger shit, just spit it out and let the sunlight hit it. I wanna know what I’m dealing with here.”
“You’re right... I’m talking in riddles... It’s a bad habit of mine, isn’t it, Colossus? Do you want a drink, Lucas? I’ll get Sophia to get you one?”
“No.”
“Okay, business it is... I’m not too fond of pleasantries myself... I run an operation, it’s illegal, underground, off the radar of any police I don’t already own. Sure I make good money from the legal businesses I have, but they’re not half as much fun... The operation I’m referring to is called The Circuit.
“I pay fighters to do what they do best, fight. I make money from the crowd and their bets. It’s cage fighting, very brutal stuff, so uncivilized, unlike the way you fight... I do love your style... So I’m backing you. I know you’re short of cash, that’s why you want to work in the diner, but that’s just pocket change compared to what you can make in my cage.
“I own the building you were staying in, a happy coincidence, but that place is a dive compared to what I’ve bought you. I’ve gotten you a new apartment, it’s top of the range. If you fight for me you’ll make a heap of cash... If you win that is... I’ve never backed a losing horse though... What do you say?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really... Do you even want one? Think about how this money can help you.”
“When would I have my first fight?”
“Tomorrow.”
“That soon?”
“Why not? I’ll take you to The Circuit today, to have a look around, to get you used to the place, let you get your bearings, that kinda thing... It’s nothing fancy, it’s no Madison Square Garden, so don’t get your hopes up, but it gets the job done, gives the poor people of this city something to fight for, to aim toward. It’s their lottery ticket, their hope... Just as you’re mine... I’ve needed something to spice up my involvement in that place for awhile, and you’re it.”
“How much do I make from the fights?”
“That doesn’t matter. We both know that. You’ll be happy with it though. Trust me... Go and get Sophia, she can join us. You can break the bad news to her, that I’ve stolen her new employee. She’s in the office. In the back.” He picked up a newspaper from the seat next to him and began to read.
Under normal circumstances I’d have refused his offer, most likely dropped him and his big goon there and then, but the promise of a large sum of money was too much of a good opportunity to turn my back on. I’d have done anything if it helped Maria and Stevie.
I went to the office. I knocked on the door. “Come in,” Sophia said from inside. She sounded slightly panicked though.
I opened the door and she quickly placed her compact and makeup in her purse and stood from the ripped chair. The room was dark; it was hard to see her, but I’m positive she flinched when the door opened.
“Lucas, I’m glad to see you. Are you ready for your first day?” She didn’t sound glad, she sounded afraid.
I walked toward her and she stepped farther into the darkness as I neared. “I’m glad to see you too.” I moved to her, placed my hand under her chin and angled her face so I could see it. I’d interrupted her work; she’d not had enough time to fully mask her black eye with makeup.
“I hit my head on my car door. I’m such an idiot,” she quickly said with a forced smile. “I’ll be okay. It will go down soon, the swelling and bruising... I hope you still think I’m pretty?”
“Of course I do, ma’am.” I gently moved toward her and kissed her bruising. “I’m not sure I believe that you did this on your car door though.”
I saw her swallow and her chest rise and fall. “Well, I did... I’ll have to be more careful next time.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the danger you told me about, would it?”
“No... I was just overreacting last night.” She moved from me, took one step back into the darkness. “Could you maybe not touch me, or stand as close to me, please? Not with the office door open anyway.”
“Why? Are you ashamed that you like a bum like me?”
“You’re not a bum and I’m not ashamed. I just... I just think it wouldn’t be good for the employees to see us being close, since I’m your boss and all.”
“You only have one employee, and I don’t think the old man will mind... Is it your dad? Are you afraid of him?”
“No, of course not. Why would I be afraid of my own daddy?”
“I don’t know.”
“You need to get ready for work.”
“I... There’s been a slight change of plan.”
“You don’t want the job?” She looked heartbroken as she asked the question. I don’t think it was because she’d have to advertise for a new dishwasher. I think it’s because she wanted me around. Not for the dishes, but for her, to keep my eye on her, to make sure she didn’t hit her head on any more car doors.
“I do, but a better offer’s come along, one I couldn’t refuse, ma’am.”
“Oh... I was... I was looking forward to spending each day with you...”
“We can still do that. We don’t have to work together for that to happen, do we?”
“Well... I guess so.”
“You can come with me, while I have a look at the new place I’ll be working at.”
“I’d love to but I have work to do here... It gets very busy in the mornings... I don’t know how we’ll handle it without a dishwasher though... Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”
“Your dad said you had to go with me.”
“My daddy said that?”
“I’m working for him.”
“You... You can’t... Don’t get involved with the people he works with... What job has he offered you?”
“Why shouldn’t I work for your dad, ma’am? He seems like a standup guy... I’m going to be... I’m joining The Circuit.”
“As a fighter?”
“Yeah.”
“Please don’t. It’s
so dangerous.”
“You’ve seen that I can look after myself... I need the money... I need it for my sister-in-law, for her kid. He’s not been doing so good since his dad died. She’s not doing so good either. They need all the help they can get.”
“There has to be another option.”
“I wish there was.”
“Please reconsider, Lucas.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t have a choice.”
“Everyone has a choice.”
“With your dad?”
“I’ll be out in a minute... I’ll come with you... Just give me a few moments to get changed out of my uniform.”
I was standing outside of the diner with Dennehy, next to his car; Colossus was already in the driver’s seat, the engine running, when Sophia exited. She’d changed into some leggings and a crop top. She looked fucking amazing. Dennehy didn’t seem to approve though, he sighed and shook his head before he turned to me.
“I’ll ride in the back with Sophia, you can ride upfront with the big man, okay, champ?”
“Sure thing, sir.” Sophia didn’t even look at me. She just moved to the rear of the vehicle and got in. As I walked to the other side of the car I could see her push herself up against her door when Dennehy sat next to her. She didn’t want to be anywhere near her loving daddy.
We drove through the town and to an industrial complex. Most of the factories looked closed, many of them in disrepair. We exited the long, straight road that cut through the center of them when we reached a barrier that had a little concrete building to the right of it.
Colossus stopped the car in front of the barrier and a teenager, carrying a fucking shotgun of all things, exited the building. He squinted through the front window, noticed who it was, nodded, and then raised the barrier.
The front of the factory we’d entered had rows of cars parked in long lines, but we didn’t park with them, we drove to the rear of a warehouse and stopped there. Colossus was the first out of the vehicle. He opened Dennehy’s door first, then Sophia’s. I opened my own.
“You’ll enter from this entrance,” Dennehy said. “The other fighters, and the crowd, use the front. You don’t have to do that. You’re my guy, and my fighter will get the best treatment... Okay, let’s go inside and I’ll show you around the joint.”
PUGILIST Page 5
