by Jayne Blue
He could beat Zeke Powell and he had beat Gustavo. Fuck it.
Craddock walked up to the reception area where Cassidy was sitting in her familiar spot at the phone in front of the gym with Sawyer.
She handed the phone and the card to him without saying a word and he dialed the number.
“I’m in.” Craddock said.
Sawyer and Cassidy exchanged a smile. They knew exactly what he had done.
“Pack up again. The three of us are going to Vegas.”
Chapter Eight
Cassidy
Craddock had a few more weeks on his deal with Cassidy and he said he planned to use it. Though Vegas was a very different scenario than a bus tour she didn’t feel cornered like she did just a few short weeks ago. She wanted to be there, wanted to help Dylan through the experience, and wanted to cheer Craddock on as he earned his fight.
Dylan, Cassidy, Coach Boggs, and Jessie would be in Vegas for three weeks. There were no busses or tours this time. It was all on Craddock’s dime.
“This is what it means to be a professional in the league. I pay my staff. Meyer flew us out here but the rest is on me.”
“Sounds like the whole league is on you.” With Meyer Thompson’s admission that the money would run out for the fighter contracts if they did not have the Kane Broadman match the pressure was on all three fighters to make it an event. They had to prove that whoever fought in the World Championship match would be make it a good fight and make sure the Pay-Per-View did massive numbers.
“One fight at a time, babe.” Craddock had set them up in a three-bedroom condo for the three weeks. They were not nearly as opulent as the bus they had been in but that was okay with her.
The plan was simple. Manage Dylan, cheer for Craddock, and fit in her last few online classes.
Jessie and Coach Boggs had taken Dylan for a quick grocery run. Coach had Craddock’s nutrition needs under control, Jessie wanted to explore, and everyone agreed that if Dylan wasn’t involved in the food purchasing there’d be a Crunch Berry meltdown when they least expected it.
Cassidy unpacked her stuff and felt a strong set of arms around her.
“I need you naked. Immediately.” Craddock unzipped her skirt and slid it down to the floor.
“They could be back at any time.” He turned her around and whipped off her shirt. Craddock lightly pushed her onto their new, temporary bed.
“You better get naked faster then.” Craddock devoured her as if he had been starving. She rubbed her legs over his and he reached down inside her panties.
“See you don’t need much time at all. Ready for me right away.” She pulsed against his fingers. Craddock had the power to make her forget all the loose threads of their current situation. She pulled him in closer and kissed his lips as he almost made her come with just his long fingers.
“Oh no. Not quite yet. I want to be with you.” He nipped at her earlobes and cruelly removed his incredible touch from her.
“So mean,” she teased.
Craddock worked on removing every last stitch of her clothes. He put his hands on both of her thighs and slowly slid inside her.
“God there it is,” he said as drove into her hard and deep. And then he stopped. He slid his hands from the outside of thighs to the back of her ass and pulled each side to him. She could not move. His hard length filled her, teased her, but he still did not move. She tried to grind against him but he lifted his head and smirked at her. He was enjoying the torture he was doling out.
“Oh, my god. Please.”
“I love it when you beg. Please what baby?”
“Please move, please now.” And he did. Deliciously holding her hips, working her, so that she had no choice but to let him fill every inch of her.
She held on to his broad shoulders and let the waves of pleasure wash over her. Craddock lifted himself up on his hands and for the last frenetic strokes, she shielded her own head from the headboard as his insistent rhythm turned him into some sort of piston.
“Fucking A,” he said as he reached his explosive climax. Hers had rolled over her the moment he had ripped her skirt off and barely stopped, even then. She squeezed him with everything she had after she knew he was spent.
“God, don’t do that again. It’s too good.” He asked as her tiny pulses around him apparently threatened to drive him a little crazy. She reveled in her small victory.
“I love it when you beg.” She said.
So far, Vegas rocked her socks and she had not been out of the condo.
When they did get out of the condo, well, Cassidy had seen the 21C training facility on the show but in real life, it was even more impressive. The facility was state of the art so that Coach Boggs would have every tool available to train Craddock. All three fighters were operating as they would be in the ring in three weeks. Thompson greeted them and laid down the ground rules.
Cassidy brought Dylan along for the meeting but then they were going exploring. Every city they had been in Dylan had gained confidence, life experience, and she felt like an increased ability to deal with new situations. Living in Vegas for three weeks would for sure be filled with new situations.
“Okay so this is not like Tough to the Top, you won’t be fighting to qualify. I already know you are all evenly matched. I need my guys to assess you on training performance to be sure Kane’s not going to kill you since we’re skipping ahead a year here career-wise with all of you.” Cassidy had her eye on Gustavo. He and Craddock were cut from the same cloth in that they stood still, listened, and if they did acknowledge each other, it was to give a mean look.
Zeke, as always, did not try to scare people outside the ring. Perhaps being underestimated was part of his game. Craddock and Gustavo were all about fear before the bell even sounded.
“You all know Sunny.” Cassidy did her best not to roll her eyes. Sunny had skipped G-Man’s funeral. In fact, after the accident she had flown back to L.A.
“She’s been helping me put this together. It is an entirely different way to promote a fight but it is the best we got. Provided you are all fit enough to do this in three weeks. Whichever two of you gets the most social media heat in the next three weeks will fight.”
“What do you mean heat?” Zeke was surrounded by his own team, Mace, Coach Roy, and a new member, his dad. Well if The Preacher knew one thing it was how to talk to large groups of people. Cassidy was worried, how did one win a popularity contest? Craddock seemed confident though.
“An online poll Sunny has set up, tweets, hashtags. All that.”
“I’ll coach each of you on that.” Sunny piped up. Great, alone time for Sunny and Craddock. Not her favorite thing in the world.
It would be tight, according to Craddock, but Gustavo could tap into international fame for his support. Zeke, well, he was a distant third in terms of name recognition so it could very well be a Craddock vs. Gustavo rematch for G-Man’s spot.
Meyer told them they would have access to the gym every day and that they would all be medically assessed. All that was left was to hunker down she supposed. She might actually get some work done without squeezing it in between Craddock’s life. Novel concept.
She was completely wrong.
Every single night in Vegas was an opportunity for Meyer Thompson to promote his three fighters.
Night one, they went to a fight between two up and coming women’s 21C pros. Craddock stood for pictures and played up his lady killer looks.
“That lady fighter is grabbing his butt.” Dylan pointed out.
“Yeah, terrific.” She’d noticed it too. After the fight, all three fighters mingled with press. Took every selfie that was asked and Dylan, ultimate fan that he was, joined in and got autographs.
Cassidy found herself totally out of place, lacking in sequins (everyone wore sequins in Vegas she had discovered) and holding up a wall in the back.
“Aha! The prettiest girl in Vegas.” It was Zeke, who also looked like a fish out of water in this glossy envir
onment. His brand was a lot more churchie than she had realized seeing him in this setting.
“Shut up.” She teased back and punched him on shoulder like she used to do. He had smartly stopped pursuing her and it had eased the tensions between them.
“Hey, we don’t hang out anymore and the best thing you got for me is shut up?” Zeke gave her a puppy face and she laughed. He was good at that, helping her lighten up.
“So what do you think of Vegas so far?” She asked him.
“I think we both fit in a lot better in Grand City.” He put a friendly arm around her and she was grateful. Up at the front of the room Craddock was letting the two female competitors pretend to sock him in the jaw. He had an arm around the waists of both. It was a perfect photo op.
“Some of us fit right in.” She quipped and Zeke raised his eyebrows in agreement.
Craddock
He was in it to win it. He was back. Sunny may have been on Team Zeke on the road but she was all Craddock now. She had him doing interviews on every platform known to social media. He also started tweeting himself, which sounded a lot like jacking off he decided, and he Instagrammed, too. Pics of his workouts, pics of his cheat day, and every single event they went to were fuel for his quest to win the popularity contest.
Zeke was going a more motivational route. Jessie said he was doing something like motivational phrases and shit.
Whatever.
Sunny had said to him back in the Tough to the Top days that half of his fans were women and he needed those women now. He knew he could punch his way to the top of the game but the social media thing? He took her advice. It worked before and hoped it would work now.
Coach Boggs and Dylan were going to see Celine Dion that night. He had wanted to take Dylan himself but they needed to hit a club opening that would be packed with fight fans.
“Look I love Celine Dion, Titanic Era Dion, Mom Era Dion, French Dion, it’s all good.” Coach Boggs said as the two of them surveyed each other’s attire.
“Have fun,” Cassidy said, “and remember Dylan likes to save his stubs so make sure he puts it in his wallet.”
“Will do.” Coach Boggs and Dylan headed to their concert. The rest of his team headed to the club.
Sunny had said the DJ at the place had over a million followers so Craddock made a b-line when they got there. Sunny made the introduction and Craddock did the rest.
He pretended to move the needle, wore headphones, and thumbs upped for the photos with DJ 1 AM, as he was known. It was probably something like Lenny Dorfman, but sure, DJ 1AM. A million followers was a million more tags for Craddock. He was not planning to sweat the popularity part. He was going to win this spot in every single way he could.
He avoided alcohol as usual but the rest of the people in the place didn’t which was the point of the place. He was groped, hung on by various Kardashians, who he discovered actually made money to show up at hot spots, thereby increasing the hotness, and made himself as visible as possible. Sunny was not wrong. His face was everywhere.
“You’re killing it tonight.” Sunny had to yell in his ear to be heard above the thumping of the bass.
“Thanks, have you seen Cassidy and Jessie?” He had lost track of them when he was ushered to the DJ booth.
“Yep, Jessie was getting them some water and wings at the bar. No worries.” Sunny assured him. It was for sure a crazy scene but knowing Jessie had his back with Cassidy helped.
He scanned over the tops of heads to zone in to Cassidy. There she was, as Sunny said, sitting at the bar with Jessie. What dress was that? He noticed it, hugged her perfectly, and more leg was showing than he had ever seen. He started to disengage from Sunny. Getting over to Cassidy seemed a priority. Had he told her how hot she looked before they left? He couldn’t remember. Time to rectify.
“Hey, where you going?” Sunny grabbed his arm.
“Gonna check in with my crew for a minute.”
“Put it on pause, Leo wants to meet you. He’s a big fight fan.” Leo? Apparently, it was a Titanic kind of night.
Cassidy
The dress was tight. It was also ridiculous Cassidy had decided. A halter back, a short skirt, and it even had a few sequins. It fit in here but it did not fit in Cassidy’s personality. Way too sexpot for this future social worker. She thought if she looked more Vegas, she would feel more Vegas, but it really just felt ridiculous. Craddock probably thought the same, as didn’t say a word about it either.
She was here for Craddock and Dylan, and it was only a short few weeks. As had been happening at every event, Craddock was sucked up into the melee of the Vegas nightlife. Cassidy held her distrust of Sunny in check and let the woman work. Meyer Thompson trusted Sunny with the social media for his billion-dollar operation she would have to trust Craddock with Sunny. She did admit that she liked it better when Sunny focused on Zeke.
Jessie kept a pretty good eye on her in this particular meat market environment which was good because every person in the club looked like they were on the make, on the take, or showing off what they could shake.
Jessie was taking a quick trip to the men’s room and she took the opportunity to watch Craddock at the DJ booth. It made her smile to see his fans come up and ask for selfies. Even the women. That was a damn handsome man.
As she waited, two drunken girls came up to her.
“You fucking whore.” What? Did they have her mistaken for someone else?
“You don’t deserve either of them.” The first girl flung a drink in Cassidy’s face. She felt her eyes begin to burn, it was alcohol. She doubled over as the girls staggered away. Cassidy felt a familiar arm.
“Are you okay?” A napkin was pressed into her hand.
“I am, wow, just a little got in my eye.” Zeke, who had also completed a spin around the joint held her arm as she straightened up.
Jessie was back now as well.
“What the hell happened?” He looked at Cassidy with concern and she realized her dripping makeup was probably looking stellar about then.
“I need to sit down.” Zeke popped her up on a stool and Jessie sat next to her and grabbed more cocktail napkins.
“So? Whose ass do we need to kick?” Jessie said.
“No. No. I think I got in the way of some very drunk girls.” Cassidy didn’t really have any other explanation. She had barely heard what they had said with the thumping music.
“I’ll get you out of here. This isn’t our scene friend.” Zeke said.
“How about I get her out of here and you tell Craddock for us. I’m pretty sure he’d go ballistic if you drove her home.” Jessie’s plan was smart, there was no need to court trouble.
“Agreed.” Cassidy chimed in. It was nothing really, jarring, to have a drink thrown in your face, but in the end nothing earth shattering.
“Okay, I don’t want to cause world war three with Craddock. Let me walk you guys out. My head is killing me with the smoke in here.” Zeke was just as uncomfortable in this place as she was.
“Let’s keep this to ourselves okay? I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.” Cassidy mopped up her now soaked sequins.
“What?” Jessie gave her a skeptical look.
“Distractions man, let’s try to make sure Craddock doesn’t have any. Or you either.” Cassidy aimed the last part of her comment at Zeke.
They made their way outside and Jessie was hailing down a cab.
“Thanks.” Cassidy hugged Zeke.
“You’re welcome, sure you’re okay?”
Cassidy looked down. “I don’t appear to be melting.”
“You look good enough to eat in that dress though.” Zeke saw the line and stepped right over it with both feet.
“Good night friend.” She emphasized the word friend.
“There’s your cab.” Jessie was already inside and Zeke opened the door for her and helped her in.
“And don’t bother with Craddock. I will let him know we are outta here. You? Go to church or something
.” Zeke laughed and waved at their cab.
She texted Craddock not to worry, that Jessie and she were just tired.
She didn’t get a response, which was not like Craddock but Vegas was not like Grand City.
She climbed out of her sequined dress fail and climbed into bed.
Craddock joined her hours later. She was pleased when he nuzzled in and spooned her as they always did. A good spoon could make up for a spilled drink she decided and let it go.
Craddock
Damn. The dress was off, the woman was sleeping, and the problem was she was really sleeping. It was pajamas on, leave me alone, sleeping. Craddock felt guilty for abandoning them in the club and vowed to make it right when she woke up.
One of his favorite things still was to look at her as she slept. He did it every night but she had no idea. She slept deeply and he got in next to her as quietly as he could. He felt everything stand at attention as he slid into his favorite spot. Well his second favorite spot.
He promised himself not to accost her and he didn't. She had been a trooper; he had to let the woman sleep after what she had been putting up with the last few days.
The next morning she was up before him and had Dylan all set for a day of sightseeing.
“We’re going to visit Death Valley and you’re going to go to work.” Dylan stuck out his tongue.
“How rude.” Craddock did his best English accent like G-Man and Jessie used to do.
“It’s educational.” Cassidy chimed in.
“When you think you’ll be back?”
“No idea babe. Don’t wait up.” Craddock felt a little sad. They were off to see something awesome, Cassidy in the cutest little safari shorts and work boots combo he had ever seen, and he would be inside a gym.
He reminded himself that all of them would have adventures together later. His meal ticket was on the line and so that meant Dylan’s. He had no doubt Cassidy could survive just fine without him. She had proven that, but he did not want her to have to.
