Game

by London Casey

  “How so?” I asked.

  Mara looked at me. She smiled and had the same cute dimples I always remembered. “Don’t fucking lose this fight.”

  “I won’t,” I said.

  Sure… no pressure, right?

  42.

  (Shayna)

  My stomach was empty. I was lucky enough to get some soda and that helped a little to calm my stomach and nerves. The two men with guns were called off me. Fiore took me outside the office and I looked down at the circle. Two guys were fighting. The crowd was getting rowdy. The one guy in the circle was taking a beating. His face looked like mush but he was still going at it.

  “They’re all going to be pissed when there’s no next fight,” Fiore said. “But a forfeit is a loss. I clean up.”

  “Don’t they riot?” I asked.

  “They might,” Fiore said. “We’ll be gone before that happens.”

  My stomach started to flip again. I gripped the railing and did my best to hold it all in.

  The fight came to an end when the guy getting destroyed finally passed out. He tried throwing a punch, took a hit to the face, and then toppled down. Someone came into the circle and dragged him out. Another guy came into the circle with a mop and a bucket.

  It wasn’t sanitary at all. The water they used to clean the floor was probably scarier than the blood on the floor.

  “This is it,” Fiore whispered. “We’re going to clean up, Shayna. Now here’s your choice. You can walk out of here with me. We’re going to get some food and relax. You’re going to be sedated and properly checked by a doctor of mine. If you’re not pregnant, I have men ready to fix that. I’ll keep you sedated, okay? My gift to you. If you try to resist, I have men ready to attack. So does Zander. He’s hiding somewhere. You know how he does his business. He will cut off your limbs and I will make sure a doctor can keep you alive. Your choice.”

  Fiore then stood tall and put a hand to my back.

  A man walked to the middle of the circle.

  “Are you ready for the main event?” he yelled.

  The crowd went nuts. These sick people were going crazy for a fight involving two men against one.

  The man in the circle waved his hands to calm the crowd. He put a finger to his lips.

  “I want to yell it,” he said. He slowly turned in circles. “I want to bring you the greatest fucking fight you ever saw. I want blood. I want teeth shattered on the ground. I want broken fucking bones!”

  The people started to yell again.

  When they stopped, the man said, “But it’s not going to happen tonight.”

  A few boos echoed.

  “You see, Finn… fucking Finn. The craziest fucking fighter we’ve ever seen. A man who treated it all like some game. Fearless. Finn won’t be here tonight.”

  More yells from the people.

  “There’s only one thing that could keep Finn from a fight,” the man said. He made a fist and put it in the air. “Death.” He let a few seconds pass by. “Finn is dead.”

  That got a big stir from the crowd.

  Then the place fell silent.

  “Finn passed away this afternoon in a tragic accident,” the man yelled. “He will be forever remembered as a man tough as nails with fists like rocks. A man who would fight any place, any time. A man…” The man bit his fist. Pretending to cry. “Sadly, this means Finn will have to forfeit the fight. All bets placed have been recorded and there are no changes. No matter what. Unless Finn rises from the dead…”

  I couldn’t believe my eyes.

  Just as the man said it, a figure stepped into the circle. Black boots. Blue jeans. A black t-shirt hugging thick muscle. A face like stone, a statue chiseled to perfection.

  The man turned and when he saw the figure, he fell to one knee.

  “What in the fuck…,” Fiore muttered next to me. “Is that…”

  I fought the urge to smile.

  But I did nod.

  Yes… it was… the figure… the man… it was Finn.

  43.

  (Finn)

  It took everyone a few seconds to realize what was happening. I’m not going to lie - I enjoyed waiting for the right moment to walk into the circle. Just as my death was announced and the fight all but canceled, there I was… alive and ready to fight.

  The man slowly rose back up and looked around.

  The crowd was going wild.

  I put my fists out, showing I was ready. I looked at him, knowing the guy was one of Fiore’s guys, and I smiled.

  Right then, I had some power.

  Fiore was somewhere close, probably right above me, staring down in disbelief. I wasn’t supposed to look for him, or for Shayna. I just needed to be there and be ready to fight. I was the ultimate diversion. Fiore had trusted his men to ensure my death. And it wasn’t like they fucked up, right? They found a body in the cabin. Hell, Cormac’s drunken truck ride had actually saved my ass. He had crashed his truck in the woods, leaving it hidden. So Fiore and his guys never saw another truck near the cabin.

  “Jesus Christ,” the man said, staring at me.

  “I’m here to fucking fight,” I said. “And everyone else is here to see me fucking fight.”

  “You’re supposed to be dead,” the man said.

  I walked up to him, bumping my chest into him.

  The crowd loved that. They started to cheer. I put my hands out and waved them, getting everyone louder. I knew how to work a crowd. I knew how to keep them jumping and screaming.

  I curled my lip and stared at Fiore’s guy. “I’m not saying it again. I’m here to fucking fight. So if I don’t get my opponents, I’m going to crush you.”

  The man stepped back and away. He put his hands up. “Fair enough, Finn. Have a nice fight.”

  A second later, two men tackled me to the ground.

  ~

  I should have known it was coming.

  I was standing and then I was on the ground. On my hands and knees, my head tucked between my shoulders. They could crack my ribs, whatever, but I needed to protect my head and face.

  “There they are!” Fiore’s guy yelled over the crowd cheering. “The deadliest combo in fighting… Mikey and Malley.”

  They were punks. Guys with gym muscles and a dream to be some kind of superstars of violence. Their fists and arms were heavy, like hammers as they attacked me. But they kept going for the same move over and over, hitting my back. I flexed my back and stayed with them. I controlled my breathing and didn’t panic.

  I had one guy on each side of me. I locked my elbows straight and waited for my opening. It really never came, but I didn’t have the time to waste. Me getting my ass kicked was not going to do a thing to help anyone.

  So I started to stand.

  The crowd cheered.

  I quickly threw an elbow into Mikey’s gut. That left me exposed to Malley, who swung and got me good with a left to the side of my face. I groaned and spit, a chunk of blood splattered on the ground.

  Malley came right after me. See, the guy was a meatneck kind of fighter. That meant he was big on muscle but not on brain. Mikey and Malley were used to being matched up with smaller guys to just destroy them. That was the entertainment value in them. They could bench press a car but they couldn’t cover their faces.

  So Malley walked at me with his hands at his sides. He was so open, I had ten places I could hit. But I wasn’t here to entertain these people. I was here to end this fucking fight and get to Shayna.

  I spun and cocked my right fist back. My feet were planted like cement to the floor. As my fist flew forward, I knew it was going to knock Malley out. He never saw it coming, or he never thought my fist would do what it did.

  The sound of my fist hitting his face was like someone stepping on a bag of potato chips. Malley stopped walking and he started to shake. He then toppled to the left like a falling statue.

  Mikey was already on the move. He swung hard and fast, powerful punches, but he had no aim. I simply just walked back and
let him have his fun. I kept my hands up and waved my fists at him, pissing him off. When he finally lunged at me, I ducked, slid by him and then I was facing his back. I got him in the lower back with a one, two punch that left him reaching back and falling to his knees. His head fell back, mouth open as he gasped for air.

  I then took a couple steps back and ran forward, letting my knees smash against the back of his skull. That sent Mikey forward and to the floor.

  Two down. Two out.

  Just like that I had won the fight. Not that it was really much of a fight.

  I quickly spun and looked up, finding Fiore and Shayna.

  He stared at me.

  I pointed at Fiore and shook my head.

  Mara then appeared, standing next to her father.

  That was the cue.

  Now I just had to wait for the bomb to go off.

  44.

  (Shayna)

  It sounded like a bomb had gone off.

  The building shook.

  There was smoke.

  There was confusion.

  I jumped back and got a small distance from Fiore, but I had no idea what was happening.

  My back hit the wall behind me.

  Dust filled the air all around me and I stood there, waiting.

  A second later I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.

  Something had gotten me. Hit me. Maybe I was shot.

  I couldn’t see a thing though.

  I dropped to my knees and let out a cry.

  The pain was intense. I grabbed my belly, fearing the worst. Fearing I was going to feel blood. Find a wound. Then I’d just sit there and die alone. I’d die without Finn. I’d die without telling him how much I loved him.

  The pain ripped through my stomach again. And then there was a new pain. A pain in my heart. I was going to feel the loss Finn had felt…

  ~

  Hands touched me, grabbed me. I kicked and swung. I yelled and fought back.

  You’re not taking me again! You’re not going to hurt me. I don’t give a fuck what happens now. I’d rather…

  “It’s me, sweetie.”

  The voice was rough yet soothing.

  Through the smoke and dust I saw Finn crouched down before me.

  “We have about ten seconds to do this,” he said.

  I threw my arms around him and he lifted me up.

  We made it three steps and two figures appeared before us.

  Fiore and Zander.

  And they both had guns.

  ~

  “I thought he was dead,” Zander said.

  “So did I,” Fiore said. “How did you do it?”

  “You killed the wrong guy,” Finn said. “You’re going to pay for it, Fiore. You’re going to fucking pay for it.”

  Finn kept me at his side. I held my stomach, still unsure what was happening to me. There was no wound, no blood. Just pain.

  “Fucking kill him,” Zander said. “Kill her too. This has gone too far. We’re under attack.”

  The two leaders of a dangerous underground world stood in the way of our escape.

  Finn let me go and leapt forward. He punched Zander right in the jaw. I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d ever see that. He hit Zander three more times and had him almost knocked over. I heard the sounds of guns going off, people yelling and screaming. I wasn’t sure if the building was damaged or what was actually happening.

  Fiore took out a gun.

  “Finn! Gun!” I yelled.

  Finn turned and I saw Fiore gritting his teeth.

  I swore I could see him pulling the trigger.

  I couldn’t watch it happen.

  I turned my head and shut my eyes, not wanting to see Finn get killed.

  The gun went off with an echoing blast. I winced and opened my eyes. Fiore stood there, his face turning to shock. I looked and saw Finn down… crouched down. He popped back up. Right behind him was Zander, taking his final step backwards before falling. There was a bullet hole through his head.

  Fiore had accidentally shot Zander.

  There was a few seconds of some kind of calm. That was Finn’s only chance to do something. He rushed forward and grabbed Fiore. He put Fiore against the railing and then over. The last I ever saw of Fiore was his feet going up and over the railing, wearing the most expensive pair of leather shoes, probably worth more than anything I had ever owned in my life.

  “Finn!” someone shouted. A woman’s voice. “Finn! Now!”

  Finn put a hand out and looked at me. His face was swollen, a little bloody. But he was still sexy. Still beautiful. Still the man who had taken me, changed me, saved me, and loved me.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “Trust me.”

  “With my life,” I said and took his hand.

  We ran through the smoke, dust, and the darkness… together.

  45.

  (Finn)

  The man was as tall as me and twice as thick. A hearty mix of fat and muscle, but it was his face that was terrifying. His jet black hair had a perfect hairline and it met with a face that seemed as though he had never smiled in his life. Features so well defined that I couldn’t imagine this guy ever being younger. It was like he was created to be this guy, right here, right now.

  “Finn,” he said with a deep voice.

  I felt Shayna squeeze my hand. We were in a house. A really big house. A really nice house. I told her to trust me and trust whatever happened, but I hadn’t seen Mara since she helped us get into a black SUV from the fight. So I didn’t know what to think.

  The large man shut the office door.

  It was just the three of us.

  He stood with his hands at his sides. “You understand my position, I hope.”

  “I’m not even sure who you are,” I said.

  “You can call me Pete.”

  “Is that your real name?” Shayna asked.

  “Does it matter?” Pete replied.

  “I guess not,” Shayna whispered.

  “Come. Sit.”

  We sat in chairs across from Pete.

  He sat and folded his hands. Seeing him like that brought on a new reality. This guy was higher up than Fiore was. This was one of the guys who made decisions for Fiore’s entire family. Christ, this guy was Fiore’s family.

  “First thing,” Pete said, “I want you to know that under other circumstances you’d have been long taken care of, Finn. To have an Irishman in my office? What’s the world coming to? But I suppose every man can turn an eye even once in his life.”

  “I appreciate that,” I said.

  “Let’s talk about Fiore,” Pete said.

  A moment later the door opened and Mara came in with her mother, Marie.

  “Shayna?” Mara said. “I need you to excuse yourself. Use the restroom. Wash up.”

  I nodded to Shayna.

  We were in no position of argument.

  Shayna rose up and Mara smiled at her. I wanted to feel comforted, but I couldn’t.

  Hell, I even stood up and faced Marie.

  “Oh, Finn,” she whispered. She tightened her lips. I thought I was about to get shot.

  “Is he okay?” I asked. “Fiore?”

  “You still care about him?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. He killed my best friend. He wanted to kill me.”

  “We know the entire story,” Pete said. “Fiore was an ill man. He had a hit put on his own son-in-law and it went wrong. We’d been watching him for a long time. Working with Zander. As long as it was contained and controlled, we were okay.”

  “You lived like that?” I asked Marie.

  Tears filled her eyes. “What choice did I have?”

  I looked at Pete. “Now what?”

  Pete pointed to the chair. I reluctantly sat again.

  “We knew the lines were getting blurry. Poor Mara had been fighting hard for her father to get help. I never thought I’d see him go as far as he did. With yourself, Finn. With Shayna. We had been making arrangements to truly settle the m
urders of Antonio and baby Luca, but the more we watched Fiore and Zander, it was time to act. Mara was supposed to get to your cabin before the explosion. To stop it. But she couldn’t get there in time. Forgive my harsh words here, but thankfully someone else was inside the cabin that helped to buy us time.”

  I leaned forward and slammed my fist to the table. I didn’t care who this guy was. “You listen to me. Thankfully? Someone else? No. That man in that cabin had a name. His name was Cormac. He was a goddamn brother to me. He was my best friend. He didn’t deserve to die like he did.”

  Pete gently waved a hand at me and nodded. “I understand. Let me just start by saying this, Finn. Your cabin will be replaced, on me. A different location. The remains of your best friend will be taken care of. I can assure you that Fiore will never be a problem again. He is getting the proper help he should have after the death of his grandson.”

  I looked at Marie and she hung her head, openly weeping.

  Mara stood tall and beautiful, trying to be like stone.

  Getting the proper help…

  I had been around long enough to know what that meant.

  Fiore was dead. And not by me pushing him over the railing.

  “There’s something else, Finn,” Pete said.

  “What?”

  “No more underground for you. No more fighting. No more guns. No more of this business.”

  “That’s all I know, Pete.”

  “No. You know something else.”

  Pete snapped his fingers and the door opened again.

  When I saw who it was, I jumped to my feet, sending the chair toppling over.

  “Henry,” I said and ran to hug the old man.

  Henry had been Cormac’s trainer. I’d known him for a long damn time.

  We hugged tight and then I looked back at Pete. He put his thick hands to the desk and pushed up. “This is what you’re going to do now.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “You’re going straight,” Pete said. “Back to the right kind of fighting. I own it all, Finn. With Cormac dead, we need a superstar. That’s you. From the underground to the limelight. Your first fight will be in exactly three months.”

  I stood there, shocked.