The Ultimate Fight

by Harris, K

  “Did they ever figure out who leaked that video?” Sheila asked. No one wanted to be the barrier of bad news. The siblings hadn’t told their parents of who the snakes were.

  “I wanted to talk as a family about this situation with the video and the suspects.” Shane said before anyone else could say anything. He and Jamie was given another opportunity to get away without the kids. Every once in a while they will try to get away by joining the family for Barron’s fights with Jamie’s parents watching the kids

  “There really isn’t anything to talk about, it wasn’t me.” Barron said.

  “Not all you.” Mya added but everyone noticed there wasn’t a hint of malice in her words. It was just all observation with no accusations or meanness detected.

  “That’s what I wanted to discuss. We know it wasn’t you in the actual act.” Shane looked a little uncomfortable in saying too much. He looked to Mya with sympathy but she waved him off. “The real question is what would those who were involved have to gain by leaking it or staging it?”

  “The blurred out chick no doubt is that broad Naomi.” Ebony added.

  “Of course it is because she admitted to it.” Mya added. “Well in so many words.”

  “What do you mean admitted to it?” Barry asked.

  “Oh dang that’s right no one knew about my visitors. I mentioned it to you but we had some words in the mix of that so you may not have paid much attention to that. Then that Kim mess happened.” Mya blew out an exasperated breath.

  “Who is Kim?” Everyone asked at once.

  “One of her so called friends.” Barron offered.

  “Correction, she is one of my line sisters. We were associates never friends.”

  “Then why is she throwing your baby shower?”

  “She’s what?” Ebony asked.

  “That broad is not even invited let alone throwing it. We have been at odds since she found out I was hiding the fact that I was pregnant by you and later moved in with you. I told her that Ebony was throwing my shower and left it at that further pissing her off. She went on and on about seeing you out the night you decided not to come home at all. Hope you and the Deejay had a good time.” Mya covered her mouth when she said the last part as if she didn’t mean to say all of that. It came out like it left a bitter taste in her mouth. “I apologize that was uncalled for. Anyway, she started acting shady towards me ever since she figured everything out. The day your boy came to the house he said he sent her there for you since y’all share and all. She used to throw herself at Damon but he can’t stand her so that went nowhere.”

  “But Damon is gay.” Ebony said.

  “Since we were in high school but they didn’t know that. Actually no one does unless their told.”

  “How the hell did you know Ebony? I just found out when he told me.” Barron asked incensed.

  “Boy bye, you didn’t know because you were too busy assuming those two were sexing behind your back.” Mya laughed with Ebony while everyone else chuckled at the reality of her statement.

  “Mane…”

  “Mane nothing. Barron you would always assume we were more than just friends. It’s the way you would add emphasis to the words best friends.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me he was gay?”

  “Because you never asked.” She simply stated as if that was the easiest answer ever.

  “You can’t deny you let me believe that something was going on with you two.”

  “In that one argument we had, I will admit to that but other than that I never led you to believe we were anything other than just friends. Am I lying?”

  “No.”

  “Well alight now that all of that is cleared up. Can we get back to the Naomi admitting to it part?” Barry asked and Shane nodded.

  “Oh yeah well, Naomi and Taj popped up at the house one afternoon subtly hinting that they had a threesome with Barron. I’m just recalling her saying something on the lines of ‘Fun comes in threes series’ or something like that. So I assume she was trying to say in so many words it was on video. I didn’t watch the video honestly. Taj came back to the house after it was leaked confessing to it all saying how they ruined her life basically.”

  “Well that just helped out with what we had to add.” Jamie, Shane’s wife said.

  “What do you mean?” Barron asked.

  “While we were in Miami at the last fight, I was in the restaurant alone waiting for your dear brothers to finish up with a meeting they had. I was off to the side but I knew her face from the tabloids. Of course everyone rarely sees me so they weren’t the wiser to who was looking at their meeting. Either way, Toby and Naomi were in a heated discussion. Voices were raised when she accused him being in the closet in so many words. Then Davey came over and joined them. They looked awful suspicious so I took pictures of them while they talked just so you knew I had no reason to lie. Unfortunately I couldn’t hear anything that was said.”

  “You mean to tell me that those little bastards are behind all of this mess?” Sheila asked outraged at what all she was hearing. “I never trusted the sites of that tramp Naomi but those two I practically made myself treat them like some decent step kids.”

  “Some decent step kids mama, really?” Mya asked giggling.

  “Well I’m not going to pretend like I loved them like my own, like you for instance but I did treat them good.” Sheila admitted impishly.

  “That explains that crazy picture text I got from Davey a while back.” Ebony says.

  “Damn what now?” Barry asked.

  “I got a picture of Mya and some guy at the mall but I didn’t put much stock in it. That’s why I never brought it up. I knew it had to be a logical explanation.”

  “Let me see the picture, I bet it’s the same one I got.” Thomas said. Ebony pulled out her phone and showed him. “Yep that’s the one.”

  “So you got a picture too?” Mya asked. “Why didn’t either one of you say anything?”

  “Sis I wasn’t messed up about that picture. Hell I’ve seen plenty of you with Damon so I didn’t trip.” Thomas said and Ebony nodded.

  “Plus later that week I met Tracy in the flesh. So what was the point?” Ebony added.

  “That’s crazy cause that day I felt I was being watched but ignored it. Mainly because I knew Tracy is always packing being that he is in security. Tracy called the fact that Toby was gay though and he told me to be careful around Davey. He said he’s too flirty.”

  “Too flirty?” Barron asked starting to feel a little heated at the revelation. Then he thought back to a conversation he had with Taj privately. Davey has been boning any and everything he has tapped. Some he knew about and others not so much. There is no way in hell he would share a respectable woman with anyone.

  “It’s to be expected actually.” Thomas said while everyone was stewing on all the information that has been released during this lunch.

  “Enlighten us big brother. Don’t keep us in suspense.” Mya said teasingly.

  “He wants to be you baby boy. Since he can’t fight worth a damn, no talent, and no craft he has to live vicariously through you. We already knew he was riding on your coat tail. If it wasn’t for you he wouldn’t get nearly as much play as he do. Who in their right mind would want to give all of that up? In his warped mind, he figures if you two make this a permanent relationship whether marriage or just serious, you won’t be the same. No more going through women, no more partying at all times of night, and in the end for him he will go into a drought.”

  “If he can sabotage this whole thing, show you what you will be missing out on then everything will go back to the way it was.” Shane added.

  “This is just too much.” Mya said shaking her head. “All because of me, if he would have paid more attention he would know I wasn’t a threat. We aren’t even together in that manner. He went through all this trouble for nothing.” Everyone saw the look of disappointment on Barron’s face but Mya.

  “Why bring Naomi in on this wh
ole thing though?” Jamie asked the question that was nagging everyone.

  “Naomi claims to be in love with me. When she popped up in Miami, she wanted me to reconsider my decision to end things. I personally think it’s because he and Naomi have been screwing around behind my back.” Barron added. “If I keep her around at my beck and call, then he can hit whenever I’m not. Plus he knew we weren’t serious to a point where I wouldn’t still see other people.”

  “What?!”

  “I told you.” Jamie said to Shane. “They left the restaurant together arm and arm. I knew they were too familiar with each other.”

  “That’s just nasty.” Sheila added.

  “Where does Toby fit in because if he is gay, I know he doesn’t think he has a snowballs chance in hell at being with you?” Thomas asked.

  “In my opinion he figures if he can’t have him then he would be damned if he lives happily ever after with someone else. Flings are probably fine because that’s all they are but a threat of being more is just too much to witness.” Mya said as if she were an expert on the subject. “Who would want to see the person they had strong feelings for move on with someone else? They would always be the one on the outside looking in.” She added wistfully then pasted on a strained smile. Sheila knew her fears even with her not speaking them.

  “So what do we do to weed out these snakes?” Barry asked. “As a matter of fact, where are those bastards? I know they wouldn’t miss out on a trip to Vegas.”

  “They should be landing about now.” Barron said looking at Mya thoughtfully.

  “Do you want to tell them or shall I?” Thomas asked to gain his attention. Mya was in another world it seems.

  “You tell them.”

  “Please tell me it isn’t more bad news.” Sheila pleaded.

  “PLEASE.” Mya added.

  “I came up with a little payback, if you will but it involves a little deception of our own. Sister in law it all boils down to you being willing in the end though. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable in any way but our secret weapon is you.”

  “Or we can just kick all their asses and call it a day.” Ebony said.

  “Whatever it is I’m down. Even if it’s to kick some ass.” Mya added laughing with Ebony. “I gotta potty.”

  “You won’t be kicking nothing while you carrying my little one.” Barron put his foot down. “You want me to walk with you?”

  “Boo! You’re no fun. And I think I can walk by myself.” Mya stood to take her leave. “Just know I’m down for whatever. Tell me what I need to do when I get back.”

  “Here’s the plan…” Thomas started after Mya walked away. It was time to hit them all where it would sho’ nuff hurt.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Barron was prepared for all the questions that were thrown at him during the interviews. From his training for his fight all the way down to the leaking of the video. Some reporters even asked personal questions of his relationship with Mya or Naomi. They brought up the rumors but he answered politely not letting any of it get under his skin. He knew the truth from all angles now so there was no room for doubt about anything anymore. Toby and Davey arrived like clockwork as if nothing was amiss. Like they haven’t been plotting and planning to ruin his life in so many words. Barron was finally at a place in his life that he could admit that losing Mya would hurt more than losing any fight. The fight to win her unconditional, ever-lasting love was his heart’s desire. Admitting to it, he felt enraptured, he couldn’t wait to tell her how he felt for her through actions not just words.

  He had even gotten word that Naomi was in the place to be, Vegas. Where dreams may come true, people mistakenly marry, while others go broke causing them to lose everything. The plans his immediate circle have planned will blow some minds, this he was sure of. He and Thomas had gone all out with none stop ideas of what was next. Even Damon and Tracy were in on this laundry list of paybacks coming with added surprises ready to fall out of the sky. Hesitantly he thought Mya would want no parts of the ruse they were about to perform but that just showed how little faith he had in his woman. Yeah his woman, she didn’t know all of that yet but she will when the time is right. Thinking he would have to do some serious convincing to get her to play along she agreed with no hesitation.

  “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” Barron said getting ready to leave. He wouldn’t see Mya until after the fight was over. “I’m really happy you’re here Mya.”

  “I’m glad I could be here for you. Now knock em’ dead and I will see you afterwards.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you better come back to me with as little bruising as possible.” She teased.

  “Yes ma’am.” He chuckled leaving out behind Thomas. Tonight was the night, he could feel it.

  From the looks of it his ‘so called’ friends were none the wiser to the hurdles that will soon be thrown in their path. Walking from the locker room to the cage was filled with the bundled up hostility he held in for Toby, Davey, and Naomi. He couldn’t unleash it on them without serving some serious jail time but his opponent, who was called ‘Punisher’, would not be so lucky. The adrenaline that flowed through his veins felt feral, he was ready. He could taste the victory. Tunnel vision of a win was all he saw.

  Everything seemed to go in slow motion when he heard the bell signaling it was time to unleash the dragon. Jab, kick, jab, jab… Over and over he drilled his competitor. Unfortunately for him feeling B.A.’s wrath, Punisher swung but missed leaving him wide open for one final blow to the chin sending him down to the mat in a heaping mess. Landing several punches to the face as he lay damn near unconscious, B.A. kept going until he was pulled off by the referee with the bell ringing. The bell was signaling that he had won by knock out. The crowd went wild.

  Only then did he snap back into reality that the entire fight was over before it began fully. Punisher was laid out on the mat with his people surrounding him. They had to wait on the official decision that it was a victory by knock-out. When Punisher was back to his feet, B.A. went to give him his good fight pat on the back. They shook hands with him congratulating B.A. on his win. He could hear the auditorium in an uproar for the quick take down.

  Putting on the t-shirt and hat for his win, Barron prepared to take the walk through the isle leading back to the locker room with camera’s following close behind. Thomas was leading the pack with his father on his other side, his tunnel vision zoomed in to where he remembered seeing Mya when he did his victory lap around the cage. She was standing on her feet clapping and smiling with the rest of the crowd. He whispered his desire to stop in front of Mya to Thomas and he nodded.

  She had been leaning over hugging his mom, when he approached but turned when he got directly in front. The shock that he stopped there was evident on her face, he went straight to her huge stomach and kissed it. Flashes were all over the building and the cheers grew louder but neither of them noticed. It was as if everyone cleared the room. Coming up towering over Mya easily with her flats on, he cupped her face with one hand and kissed her tenderly on the lips drawing her bottom lip into his mouth.

  She returned the kiss automatically as if it was as natural as breathing. Kissing Mya on the lips was a sweet sentiment that was long overdue. The kiss held promises of plenty of tomorrows to anyone who was on the outside looking in. Reluctantly he broke the kiss, stepping away to continue to the locker room feeling on cloud nine. Mya wasn’t privy to that as being a part of the plan but she didn’t fight him and for that he was grateful.

  “That was some serious fighting baby boy!” Barry exclaimed. He was obviously very proud of his son.

  “Thanks Dad.”

  “You did the damn thing home boy.” Toby said easily with a forced smile.

  “Man I would hate to be ole boy.” Davey said excitedly.

  “Me too.” Toby added.

  “Preciate it fella’s.” Barron had to school his facial features not to grimace at the thought of beating the b
reaks off their asses.

  “I know we’re celebrating right?” Davey asked.

  “Of course.”

  “Almost there.” Thomas said cryptically.

  “I can taste it.” Barron added going to take a shower and redress.

  “B.A.!” Naomi shouted his name as they passed by after his press conference. He spared her a glance and gave a chilling grin that would have scared the bejesus out of most people. To her deluded mind she mistook it for a seductive one.

  “There go your girl playa!” Davey announced.

  “I see.” He replied to him but he was looking in the opposite direction from him. Walking off leaving the two friends dumbfounded. “Excuse me fella’s. I got some celebrating to do.”

  “Can I join this party?” He whispered into Mya’s ear. Her back was to him so she didn’t know he had crept up behind her until he wrapped his arms around her. She was smiling a blinding smile it was so bright and full of love. Despite what he told Mya about pretending to be so damn in love that it would make the snakes sick with jealousy, he wasn’t acting and he could tell it wasn’t a far cry in acting for her either.

  “Hey everyone.” Davey and Toby pasted on fake smiles greeting the family.

  “Congratulations on your win.” She leaned into the kiss to her temple with a sigh.

  “Thank you baby.” He saw them both frown at the sight before them.

  “Hey boys. He did the damn thing out there tonight. Didn’t he?” Sheila said smiling at Barron and Mya with so much happiness she felt she would burst.

  “Yes ma’am, he did that.” Toby said.