Body Lock: MMA Sports Romance (21 page)

"I don't have time, I need a fix now."

He grabs his bag and digs in it then pulls out a small vial and syringe.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Adrenaline," he says filling the syringe from the vial.

"Will it work?"

"No idea."

"It's time!" someone calls through the door.

Shit
. "Do it," I order.

He stabs me high on my thigh. The point where he hits burns and then warmth spreads out. My heart starts beating faster and it feels like every sense is going into overdrive. I have to get this over with quick because this shit is going to jack my timing.

I don't walk to the octagon, I run. Let the crowd make of it what they will. I leap up the steps taking them two at a time and bounce to my corner. Ken emerges a few moments later and I study him with drug enhanced senses. I can smell him from here. I've got these few minutes to learn everything I can. It's the way he carries himself, his walk, where he keeps his hands, his eyes, all information I can use. He jogs down with his hands balled into fists and held up in front of him as he shadow boxes his way to the octagon. He’s a showboat, wants the attention of the crowd. I can use that against him. When a group of girls pull up their shirts and expose their breast he spends more than a second looking like he's trying to memorize their tits. More information. He climbs the steps into the octagon and I notice his left leg trembles. An old injury, weakness on that side, good, more I can use.

The ref calls us to the middle and gives us instructions. We touch wraps and I have to look up at him. He's got three inches on me and probably weighs forty pounds more than I do. I'm familiar with his fighting though and despite his size, he's fast. Probably as fast as I am which puts me at a disadvantage. As we touch gloves he growls.

"I'm going to rip your arm off and beat you with it," he says.

"Good luck," I reply returning to my corner.

We face each other and wait for the bell. He bounces, turning in a circle and raising his hands up and down to get the crowd on their feet. I watch quietly and silent. The bell rings and he has his back to me. I charge but he was ready for it. He dodges to one side but I expect it and swing with my right leg taking him hard in his left calf. I’m going after that old injury.

"How, you son of a bitch," he says.

"Welcome to my ring," I say.

We feint with each other as we dance. My only chance with this guy is to wear him out. He's violent and he likes to showboat but I've seen him fight and his stamina is not good. If I can outlast him, I win. He swings with his right and I dodge left, but he steps in and hooks his legs between mine. We crashed to the mat and he lands on top. As we fall he captures my left arm and goes for the arm bar. Pain explodes through me like a rocket taking off. My vision comes and goes in waves. I'm forced to turn in towards him opening myself for attack.

He's grappling and trying to get the hold but I'm covered with sweat. I feel my heart starting to pound harder and harder. The shot the medic gave me is starting to take effect. It feels like every muscle is vibrating. The pain no longer matters. The Dragon is about to roar. I push back, rising up onto my knees and he tries to hold the choke. I rock back into him just slightly, just barely pushing him off balance, subtle enough I'm hoping he won't notice until it's too late. He goes with me trying to lock his arm with his wrist.

I make my move.

I push off with the heels of my feet and flip myself up and over. It breaks his hold on me as I land behind him and now I've got him locked into a choke hold. I throw him over my hip then drop onto him with my knee landing in his solar plexus and forcing the air out of him. I drop my right elbow on to his face and blood explodes making him slick.

He rolls to the side and I scramble with him trying to get him in a hold. I can’t get a grip and he slides away. He rolls to his feet so I climb to mine, too. We face each other across the ring, each of us catching our breath.

“Going to fuck you up,” he breathes.

“Bring it,” I say, motioning him forward with my fingers.

He charges. I hold until the last moment then drop to my back and swing at his left knee with my right leg. I connect hard and hear it snap. He screams as he falls to the ground grabbing the destroyed knee.

I don’t give him time to recover. Leaping forward I land on top of him and pound his face while pinning his arms to his sides with my legs. I bombard him over and over. The Dragon is free and wants blood. Nobody stands against the Dragon.

Someone pulls me back. The bloody mess left before me doesn’t move. I’ve won.

"Did you see that!" somebody yells for like the millionth time.

Everybody's on their feet screaming, everybody that is except Vinnie and Sammy. I notice that Lou is gone, too. Jans was supposed to lose and I know Vinnie's pissed. Sammy looks at me.

"Nothing to say now?" I ask.

"Fuck you, bitch."

"What's the matter, Vinnie?" Big Tony asks. "That was a good fight, your boy did good. We all made a lot of money."

"Yeah, a lot of money," Vinnie replies.

Vinnie stands up and walks over to me. He grabs my arm roughly jerking me towards the door. Sammy watches amused and blows me a kiss as Vinnie pulls on me. In the small hallway outside the box Vinnie jerks my arm hard again throwing me up against the wall. He slams his hand next to my head and leans in close.

"Did you know about this?" he asks, his voice low and soft. A vein pulses in his forehead, sweat glistens, his eyes are wide and bloodshot.

"No," I say.

I'm being honest. I didn't know what Jans’ plan was but I do now. I know he bet on himself with all of the money he could get his hands on. He knew he'd win, that's my Jans.

"This is bad. Real bad."

"What do you mean Vinnie?"

"I don't have the pot!" Vinnie yells slamming his hand against the wall.

The door next to us opens and Tony steps out with his two bodyguards behind him.

"Something wrong out here, Vinnie?" Tony asks.

"No," he says glaring at me. "Just having to correct my daughter."

"Is that right?"

"It's what I fucking said, isn't it?"

"Why don't we go check on your boy?" Tony asks.

"I don't need your help to take care my family," Vinnie replies.

"Well, that's real interesting," Tony says. "But I'm not asking. Let's go."

Vinnie looks like he's about to argue with Tony but the two men slide their hands inside their suit jackets. I glance around quickly trying to not move my head looking for Lou, but he’s not in sight. Vinnie never goes anywhere without Lou and this is probably why.

"Fine," Vinnie says and leads the way to the locker rooms. He grabs my arm and drags me along.

I don't mind because this means I get to see Jans. It doesn't take us long to make our way around the back path to the lockers. When we get to Jans’ door, two made guys stand outside it. They look at us as we approach and nobody smiles. Tony nods and one of them opens the door letting us in. Vinnie and I follow Tony with the two armed men behind us.

Jans is sitting on his prep table still in his shorts. His arm looks even worse than I thought. It's black and green and swelling. Three other men from the box are already in the room. I know them only casually from family gatherings and affairs. They’re the heads of the five Families. Several men in suits stand around the edges of the room and it’s easy to guess they’re all armed. Tony walks up to Jans and pats him on his leg.

"That was some fight kid," Tony says.

"Thanks," Jan says staring past Tony at me.

I want to run over and take him in my arms but the tension in the room is so high I'm afraid to move. I don't want to be the trigger that causes an all-out mob war.

"So, Vinnie, why don't you go and get us our money from the bookie?" Tony asks.

The other four bosses stare at Vinnie. I've never seen Vinnie scared before. Now his skin pales and sweat pours down his head.

"Sure," Vinnie says.

“Better yet, why don’t you ask Lou to do it for you?” Tony says.

“Like I know where the fuck Lou is,” Vinnie retorts.

“Oh, right, I forgot. Let me get him for you,” Tony says.

Tony snaps his fat fingers and the door to the locker room opens. Two men in suits walk in dragging Lou between them. He’s beaten to a bloody pulp and his head lolls loosely side to side. He looks up and his face is too swollen to speak, his lips move but no sound emerges.

“What’s the meaning of this? Lou’s a made man, you can’t do this shit to a made man! He’s mine, you can’t do this shit to my man!” Vinnie screams.

Tony closes with him. “You telling me what I can and can’t do, you slimy fuck? How about telling me about the fix you put in? How about you tell all of us about that?”

"What fix?" Vinnie yells looking at the other bosses.

"We know all about it Vinnie," Tony says. "Your boy here brought it to me."

"My boy? It's a fucking lie. He's trying to get out from underneath me. Something wrong with that boy, hell, he's banging his sister."

My eyes widen and my mouth forms an ‘oh’ as I look from Vinnie to Jans. He knows? How long as he known, how does he know? My arms fly to cover my stomach protectively as a wave of nausea passes through me. I can't believe he knew. Why didn’t he stop us? Was he going to? Was that what this entire plan was about? Is that why he decided to marry me off? Jans shakes his head subtly side to side. I don't know exactly what he's trying to tell me. Did Jans know Vinnie knew?

"Yeah," Tony says. "He talked with me about that, too. Told me about the things you been doing in your house. The threats you been making and he's not the only one. I've had more than one guy come to me talking about you wanting to do sick things to your own daughter."

"She's not my daughter! She's just the wild spawn of my piece of fucking arm candy," Vinnie sputters.

"Exactly what I told Jans here," Tony says. "She ain't his sister. Not even a stepsister since you can't be a man enough to marry your woman. Now how about that money?"

"Fuck! I'll get it for you," Vinnie says.

"Now," Tony says and the other men in the room mutter agreement.

"I'm gonna need a few days," Vinnie says.

"You see that just doesn't work for us," Tony says.

"You can't do nothing to me. Chicago won't have it. I'm head of a Family."

"I've already taken care of that. Goodbye, Vinnie. It hasn't been a pleasure."

Four men in suits close with Vinnie. I let out a sigh of relief as they took Vinnie. It's over, at last I can relax. We’re going to be safe!

Two of the men reach for Vinnie's arms and he bursts into action. He swings taking one man in the jaw with his right while his left hand dives in and grabs the man's gun. The gun echoes loudly off of metal lockers and my ears are ringing. People scream and yell as more guns come out. The echoing reports sound faster as everyone fires. I spin around confused, I can’t get my bearings.

Suddenly there’s an arm around my throat and a gun against my head. Vinnie has me. He's holding me tight, it’s hard to breathe. He backs towards the door yelling but I can't make out the words through the ringing in my ears. Every man in the room has a gun and they’re all aimed at me. I look around desperate, where’s Jans!

"Don't shoot," Tony says. "The girl’s innocent."

"Fuck you, Tony," Vinnie yells backing out the door.

Suddenly I'm free and stumbling forward. I spin around and see Vinnie on the ground with Jans on top of him. Jans is wild, swinging and growling as he beats Vinnie. Two men in suits come up and pull Jans off. They pick Vinnie up and carry him away. Jans runs to me taking my face in his hands and looking me over.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

Tears mix with Vinnie’s blood from Jans’ hands on my face. I nod unable to speak coherently. My heart’s beating too fast and I’m sobbing. He wraps his arms around me and at last we’re safe.

"You sure about this, kid?" Tony asks from behind me.

Jans releases his grip on me and I move to his side putting my arm around his waist while he has his arm over my shoulders.