Hold 2

by Jayne Blue

  The turmoil of losing Cassidy was fuel. Teagan, his friend, paid the price first. He felt bad for knocking Teagan out of Tough to the Top. Craddock won by unanimous decision but Teagan had made it a good fight, lasted the whole time. Craddock knew Teagan had a future.

  They shook hands after their fight and Teagan was not pissed. Teagan would be back, he was young and inexperienced but he had got past fourteen of the best MMA fighters in the country. He also did not succumb to any “temptations” as Craddock had done. They guy was going to be a contender someday just not now. Now was his time.

  “Kick Gustavo’s ass, Flynn,” was Teagan’s exit line as he walked off the show after his defeat. Teagan was his last ally and the last person he really gave two shits about in the Tough House.

  It was, as everyone predicted, Craddock Flynn of GWG out of Grand City, Michigan versus Gustavo LaRocha out of Sao Paolo, Brazil. The two would fight in Vegas, as the main event, live, for the Tough to the Top title and 1.5 million dollars.

  When the episode with Craddock and Julie aired, the hashtag #dometooflynn started trending, Tracy gleefully informed him.

  “I don’t tweet.” Craddock replied.

  “You will next week. You’ll do everything but sell your mother the week of promotion for the finale.” Tracy assured him. Craddock hated that guy more every day.

  The 21C marketing machine went full tilt and after the Teagan fight aired. It was non-stop.

  Craddock and Gustavo were interviewed by every sports outlet on the planet. Not only US media but international thanks to Meyer Thompson’s skill at turning 21C into a big deal and Gustavo’s international appeal. The questions from every sports reporter were exactly the same, no matter what country.

  “What’s your plan for taking down Gustavo?”

  “I’m going to punch him until he can’t stand, take him down at the legs if he can, and submit him.”

  “You know he’s never lost, much less loss by submission.”

  “First time for everything.”

  “You’re becoming a superstar, especially with the female fans, they love you. Can we get your reaction to that?”

  “I think it’s lust more than love. And I lust them too.”

  Craddock had made a decision on his lonely flight from Grand City to Vegas this time. The interviews were a part of the show, a way to gain fans, and fans meant endorsements.

  He was going to say the lines that made him worth more money. He was going to ride this wave. He did not think about how this might affect Cassidy. She had not replied to one single text so nothing he could do right now was going to fix that situation.

  The last time they tripped at the finish line he had gotten himself disqualified. This time he was going to use the emotions of losing her as fuel. He trained harder this week, he played to the camera when he noticed it, and he visualized his fight with Gustavo.

  He did not block thoughts about Cassidy, he just let it come to him, her face, her body, and her pain at his betrayal. She floated in to his mind, he took a breath, and punched harder, ran faster.

  The last time he was haunted. This time he was driven and directed. The path was lined with obstacles. He had to be on this show or his career was over thanks to Tracy’s threat of arrest. If he was going to be on it he was going to beat the shit it out of it.

  “We’re setting up a Twitter account for you and you’re going to be live tweeting questions from the fans.” As they entered the final week, a new member of the 21C team became his constant shadow.

  Sunny Metcalf was a publicist and her job was Craddock or more specifically social media Craddock. Sunny was a California girl who apparently knew all about social media. She’d been responsible for helping Tough to the Top hashtags and trends catch fire and now her assignment was him

  In between training sessions, interviews, and exchanging evil looks with Gustavo Sunny was now around doing “social” all the time. That mean she would set him up on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and whatever the hell else. He had agreed to it in his contract for Tough to the Top apparently.

  Sunny was a gorgeous blonde, not one thing wrong with her and with Julie gone, it was nice to have one pretty face around. But while she was pretty, a bombshell really, the only female he cared about had dumped his ass.

  Sunny and he were sitting by the pool for the latest “social” session. Doing social had no dress code and she had a tiny bikini stretched over what Teagan had called a smoking hot bod.

  “Did you know you got over million followers on all your accounts in less than 48 hours?”

  “Is that a lot?”

  “Well Meyer Thompson has three million but it took me three years to build that.”

  “I see. What the hell does it mean?” He asked as she checked to see if her camera phone was in a good position.

  “It means you’re popular as hell, like an overnight sensation. Pretty exciting right?”

  “How many does Gustavo have?”

  “He has about one-third as you. A lot less. Respectable for a reality show but your off-the-charts fast growth is important. Meyer is pretty pumped.” He flinched as she leaned over and ran her hands through his hair.

  She was always fussing with him since she entered his life. She was always trying to get the perfect staging for her candid shots. She was pretty and smelled good so he let her. More than anything else he wanted to hear what she had to say.

  “Why’s he pumped about tweets? You’re the one doing it.”

  “He created this show to find bankable 21C stars, to let the public fall in love with you, to earn money for the league. On that score Craddock Flynn is a knockout.”

  “I see.”

  “You don’t see that you’re going to be as big as The Rock or Jason Stathem, if you want. I guarantee it.”

  “Yeah? Well after the Gustavo fight I’ll have my people call your people.”

  “You joke but I’m your people right now superstar. You ready to live Tweet and Periscope?”

  “I just answer their questions?”

  “Yep and look dead sexy while doing it. I predict you get 50-thousand new followers after thirty minutes.”

  “I can’t bet, as you know, temptation number two, but I promise it will be 100K and if it is you’ll go make me a sandwich.”

  “You’re a pig. But okay, because Meyer will give me a bonus.”

  “Fine.”

  “Okay, here we go...” She put the phone on a little stand a tapped it a few times. She stayed out of frame and they watched as questions floated up it.

  “AAAH!!! I LOOOVE YOUUU!!!” said @21CForevver99.

  “I think you lust me, like I said, and I lust you too.” A thousand little hearts floated up the screen.

  “Anyone got any questions for Craddock?” Sunny prompted.

  “Who was that?” asked @FlowrzAZ.

  “That was Sunny, she does PR. Show yourself.” Craddock tugged her arm and she came into frame and waved. He placed his hand on the small her of back to politely ushered her back out and a thousand more hearts went up the screen. It was too fast to count.

  “I want to be her,” @KatieBirdie added. This was ridiculous but as he talked to the fans, the numbers shot up. When they finally got to actual questions, it turned more interesting. The 21C fans had better questions than the sports guys and he was happy to answer them.

  “How do you counter double leg?”

  “Would you ever tap out?”

  “Did you have a concussion after the second fight?”

  “How’s your eye feeling?”

  He noticed the fight questions seemed to come from male accounts and the love questions were from women. Sunny said Craddock’s popularity had expanded the demos for the show. Whatever that was.

  “In a fight, who would win? You or The Rock? You or Arnold?”

  “I guess we won’t know until they show up,” he winked, and then said, “But me for sure.”

  After dozens of questions, the session was almost up and t
hen @FlowrzAZ had one last question.

  “I’m #TeamCassidy and my friend’s #TeamJulie! Which one are you?” This was fucking nuts. The viewers of 21C were taking sides in the fight and in his love life. He had no idea what to do with it all. He had always known how to flirt, so he did just that. Straight to the lens, he said.

  “I’m team FlowrzAZ and every one of you who follow me and cheer. I hear it. Thank you. You guys help me kick ass because I know you're there.” Sunny gave him a thumbs-up and turned off the camera. The live interview was over just like that.

  “BAM! Perfect. You did perfect! Take a look?” He looked at the followers count.

  “So you owe me a sandwich.”

  “Yeah I do. I’ll make it a double.” She practically skipped into Tough House.

  In thirty minutes, Craddock had gained over a-quarter of a million new fans. This would turn into dollars he decided now that Sunny had educated him. Something Meyer probably should have told her not to do, but too late. He saw each new like as a dollar sign when the time came. Meyer was going to give him a bonus too dammit.

  Social time was over though. He prowled back into the gym and was as anti-social as the fight commission allowed.

  Cassidy

  The GWG was a zoo. Cassidy had been able to block out her shame, anger, and heartbreak with an insane schedule.

  The Tough to the Top show had turned a spotlight on the GWG Grand City and now the tickets for their event were flying. The Wolf Fight, as it was now known, a damn good title she had suggested to Sawyer, was going to draw in crowds and pack the Grand City Convention Center.

  “We haven’t had a sell out since last summer when Kid Rock was here, this is huge!” The venue manager wanted to keep them happy. A Friday night sell out without a big name musician was unprecedented and they had Tough to the Top, 21C, and the Great Wolves fighters to thank for it. She was getting excited herself.

  The plan was to show the live feed of the pay per view Tough to the Top finale on the big screen in the convention center. Then they would get to see the live fight between Latanza and Rawson.

  “I expect the 21C guy will win,” Whitey had told her, “Latanza is better than Rawson but Sawyer’s right. Our guys will benefit if the California GWG fighter doesn’t look like a fish.”

  “Hey, Rawson is going to surprise some people.” Sawyer felt confident that, though the GWG was a long shot to win, it would be a good fight and people would get their money’s worth.

  “Main thing is 21C will see we can put asses in the seats with our fighters.” Sawyer said. She knew it to be true, asses is the seats was the key for any professional sport. They had to want to pay to see it.

  At Bess’s very good advice, Cassidy had changed her phone number. She no longer had any old texts from Craddock or Zeke for that matter. She did not have to wonder if Craddock was texting or not, he couldn’t. He would get an out of service message.

  The day before the fight, Cassidy focused on her schoolwork and her internship. She knew the next day would be all fight all the time so she visited Dr. Showers early.

  The news was not good.

  “I’m so happy to have been able to mentor you. I know you are going to make the world a better place. For sure, a more organized place. You helped me get through my mess of data.”

  “Thank you Paul, I’ve learned so much. What’s the word on next year?”

  “Bad. We’re officially unfunded.” He was dejected. His normal bright energy dampened. It broke her heart.

  “There’s no one you can beg? A petition to sign?” Cassidy grasped at straws. She knew Showers was on to something with the way he looked at the life of foster children.

  “If there is I don’t know it.” She was so disappointed for him and for the kids who would not get the benefit of his ideas.

  “So what will you do?”

  “I’ll be at Wayne U teaching a full load of classes. I’ve got to pay rent.”

  “Well it’s been an honor.”

  “Don’t forget to use me as a reference. Because you know the recommendation of a failed researcher opens a lot of doors.” He shrugged his shoulders.

  “I learned a lot from you. Thank you for the opportunity.”

  “Good luck. I know life can get difficult now that you will not have a grant. You’ll have to work more probably but don't neglect your studies!”

  “Don’t worry. I am working ahead all the time to be sure it all stays –“

  “Organized, yes Miss Parker, I’m sure you do.”

  She was sad for Dr. Showers, but also worried. This internship and grant helped make things a little easier this year. She had only to worry about rent and food, not tuition.

  She called Bess and let her know the program was kaput.

  “He says there’s no hope.” Bess had been just as worried as she was about the program funding.

  “No one ever has enough money for foster care research. Ever.” Bess was just as passionate about Showers research as she had been when she heard about it.

  “And you encouraged me to get into this field?” She quipped.

  “Run don’t walk, heck with these kids.” Bess replied.

  “Exactly, I’ll get you a job here and we both can be fight promoters!” Bess laughed.

  “Is Sawyer our mentor on that?”

  “Why?”

  “No reason, just liked the cut of his jib.”

  “Really, the cut of his jib? Honestly?”

  “I’ll get to work finding scholarships, no joke. I’m not letting you give up on your BSW just because this avenue dried up.”

  “Nothing will make me give it up.”

  “I know. It would just be nice if some of this were a little easier.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Hey, if you decide to come to the fight Friday I’ll leave a ticket at will call. Henry might like it even if you don’t.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “I hear Sawyer might be wearing leather chaps over his jib so it will be worth it.”

  “Okay that’s enough sass. Sorry about the program. We’ll figure it out.”

  “I know. See you tomorrow maybe.”

  “Maybe.”

  The night before the fight sleep was impossible. Cassidy’s mind was like a hamster on a wheel thinking of new solutions, new problems, and new lists to check off in every area of her life. She wished she could calm down.

  She decided it would be better to get up and start working then struggle to sleep. She got dressed and grabbed her Wolf Fight t-shirt. They had been made special for the event and would be on sale in the lobby, hers said staff on the back in all capital letters. She thought it was cool.

  When she got there, she was surprised to find Sawyer there already. He looked like hell and like he had gotten less sleep than she had.

  “Wow, you look worse than I feel.”

  “Thanks. We’ve got major trouble.”

  “Why? What? Did I forget to fill out some form or make an order for something?” Her mind raced and a pit formed in her stomach. What had she forgotten?

  “It’s not you it’s Rawson.”

  “What?”

  “He was busted last night going through the airport. The kid had a dime bag of marijuana in his suitcase.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “They arrested him, booked him, and his in jail right now waiting on arraignment.”

  “Could he still make it?”

  “Nope, Meyer Thompson says the deals off if GWG can’t get a clean, good contender signed up and sanctioned by noon today. GWG’s promoting prospects just went up in smoke.”

  “Literally.”

  “Yeah, I’ve called just about every middleweight I can think of. Either they are way too little like Tommy Flannigan or they are way too heavy like Jessie. I called every GWG manager across the country and if they have someone there’s no way they can get here by noon.”

  This Rawson must be a complete idiot to forget about pot in his bag and head to the a
irport. This was a stellar example of what Meyer Thompson was talking about. The investment into this event was destroyed by the bad judgement of a fighter.

  Sawyer sagged in her chair and put his head in his hands. She could see his dreams crash just like Dr. Showers had yesterday. Couldn’t one thing go right? She thought the Wolf Fight was all buttoned up, nothing could go wrong and now this. Just like with Showers, there was no way to fix things.

  Except there was. An idea popped into her brain that was perfect, brilliant, she was just sure of it.

  “The Preacher’s Son.”

  “What?”

  “Zeke Powell, he can do it.”

  “He’s a light heavyweight, recently concussed, and unaffiliated with GWG since you broke his heart in seventeen places.” She winced.

  “Sorry, low blow.” Sawyer said.

  “Listen, he’s lighter because of the little lay off of training. But even before we broke up, he was back with full clearance. I bet he can make that weight. I know he’d be a good match up for the 21C guy.”

  “Cause you know fights now?”

  “Because I know Zeke.” Cassidy grabbed the phone on the desk, dialed a number and shoved it in Sawyer’s hand. No need to explain why the call should come from him.

  “Zeke Powell, this is Sawyer from GWG. I have the opportunity of a lifetime for you. You might even call it a miracle.” Sawyer gave her a silent shrug and they were off to the races.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Craddock

  His theme song was playing, The Engine Room, got him pumped. He was the Great Grandson of Irish immigrants and this song called to him on a level that none other did. Bagpipes, drums, and a hard driving beat.

  As he stepped into the arena, he heard them chanting his name. “Flynn, Flynn, Flynn.”

  There were signs for him, a spotlight followed him, and he made his progress toward the cage. There was not one member of his family or even a friend from the gym. Craddock was lonely in a crowd, a crowd that loved who they thought he was.

  He would give them what they expected. A knockdown, drag out brawl against one scary mother fucking Brazilian.

  He thought of a card Jessie had given him right before he left for Tough House the first time, “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil. For I am the meanest mother fucker in the valley.” Craddock was the meanest motherfucker in Vegas. He believed it down to his bone marrow.