X: The Hard Knocks Complete Story (39 page)

W
alking back
into
Tension
with Anna on my arm feels damn good. For a while, I doubted if this would ever happen again, but now, after everything, we’re stronger than ever.

Freddy lifts his chin when he spots us, knowing this is a big change from the last time he saw us together. “Sup, X?”

I throw my hand up to him.

Walking toward us is Brian with his hair pulled up in a ponytail. He’s holding Kami on his hip, and Liv is nestled up to his other side. “The two of you back together?”

I nod. “We are. I couldn’t stay away.”

I kiss the top of Anna’s head, and she smiles when she looks up at me.

“You two look good together,” Liv chimes in.

“So, you back permanently?” Brian asks.

“Not yet. The suspension is lifted, but I’m not allowed to have any matches.”

Brian squints a bit as his mouth twists. “Don’t get me wrong when I ask this because I’m happy as hell to have you back around, but why are you here then?”

Like clockwork, Corey comes around the corner, brightly displaying the backstage pass Freddy gave him yesterday.

I nod behind Brian. “I found a kid I think would be a good fit for the
Tension
Training Program. I met him back at my old gym in Detroit. The kid is fast. He has flare and that
it
thing that makes a good wrestler.”

“So, Silverman lifted the suspension because you brought the kid?”

“No. Chip took care of it, but he couldn’t do anything about the matches.”

“That’s a damn shame. I hated handing my belt over to Rex. It should’ve been you.”

I sigh. “Maybe I can change that soon.”

“Wow,” Corey says as he steps up next to me with wide eyes. “You’re Brian ‘Razor’ Rollins.”

“I am,” Brian confirms. “You must be the kid X was telling me about. He says you’re good.”

There’s a question in Anna’s eyes, so I fill in the gap for her. “Anna, this is Corey, the kid I’ve been training. Corey, this is my beautiful Anna.”

“Nice to meet you.” Corey reaches out and shakes her hand. “X here has been showing me some of his moves.”

“That’s awesome.” Anna snuggles into my side. “I’m proud of you for helping others,” she says to me.

I shrug. “It’s not a big deal. Besides, bringing the kid here is the reason
Tension
took me back.”

“You’re not back yet. The kid still needs to prove he’s worth the shot he’s been given.” Mr. Silverman’s voice cuts between all of us.

The appearance of our boss causes everyone to stiffen a bit.

I haven’t spoken to him since the night he got me out of jail and told me to stay away from this place for three months. He’s probably not too happy about me defying that demand and weaseling my way back here much sooner.

The boss’s gray eyes flick to me. “I’ll be expecting a demonstration of these skills after the show tonight.”

Corey’s grin widens, but I can tell by the tone in Mr. Silverman’s voice that a huge catch is coming.

“If he doesn’t impress me tonight, you are to leave the building immediately, and I don’t want to hear another peep from you over the next two months while you finish out the remainder of your suspension in Detroit.”

That’s a steep penalty, but I’m willing to take that risk because I know what Corey can do. “And when he impresses you, I want to be fully reinstated, and I want to move my match with Rex up to the next live
Tension
event.”

He narrows his eyes into tiny slits. “Done.”

I fight back the smile that’s threatening to expose how elated I am. I know, after tonight, Rex’s ass will be mine.

T
he arena is eerily
quiet as I step into the ring with Corey. The only people in the huge room are the two of us with Mr. Silverman and Chip sitting in the stands, waiting to judge Corey’s talent level.

“All right,” Mr. Silverman calls out, “impress me.”

“You heard him, kid. Make me look good and help us both out.” I shake my shoulders loose and rock my neck a few times. “Now, come at me exactly how we practiced at Tough’s.”

Corey nods, and just like every other time we’ve stepped inside the ring, the playful demeanor he typically sports is long gone and is now replaced with an expression of pure determination.

We are on our toes, anticipating the other’s first move, when Corey strikes first. He slams into me, attempting to twist me around and get me into a simple neck hold, but I easily get out of it before shoving him away.

“You’ve got to do better than that. He wants to be impressed, remember?”

Corey gives me a slow nod and then comes back at me with three times as much force. It’s like a fire has been lit under him because the way he’s moving shows hunger with the need to prove himself.

I give in this time and let him get a few holds on me—not because I’m allowing him to win, but because he’s putting on a hell of a show and he deserves for me to help him look good.

Corey grabs my arm and tosses me into the ropes where I bounce off of them and then run straight into his perfect form clothesline. His forearm collides with my chest, and an audible crack echoes around the arena.

I have to admit, it hurts, like a million bees are shoving their stingers into my skin at once.

I lie there on the mat, and Corey bends down to yanks my hair before pulling me back up onto my feet.

He draws back, as if to punch me, but my boss orders, “Enough!”

Corey releases me, and we both stand there, in the middle of the ring with our hands by our sides, while Chip and my boss whisper among themselves.

“What do you think they’re saying?” Corey asks in a hushed tone.

I shrug. “Beats me. I gave up a long time ago on trying to figure out how these upper-level people think.”

Finally, Chip nods, as if he’s in agreement, and then both men face us again.

The owner of the company pushes himself up from the seat. “You’re in, kid. Be over at the training facility in Dallas next Monday morning.”

My heart pounds in my chest. “Does that mean I’m back?”

Chip glances over to our boss.

Mr. Silverman nods. “The ratings have been down since you’ve been gone, and the fans have been blasting our social media for suspending you. The people have dubbed you their real champion, and they refuse to get behind Rex, so we need to get him out of the spotlight before he ruins my company.”

Corey pumps his fist and lets out a yell that people in the next state could probably hear, “Hell yeah!”

“And, X?” Mr. Silverman adds. “You’ve got your match against Rex. It will be right here in Portland on Tuesday night.”

This time, I feel like yelling, but I manage to keep myself restrained. I hope Rex is ready because I’m coming for him sooner rather than later.

S
itting
in a conference room to go over the script with the writers is a new experience for me. Most of the time, we meet in whatever room the writers have been thrown in, as we bounce from arena to arena.

Rex stares at the belt laying on the table in front of him with Vicky next to him and Deena flanking his other side.

I reach under the table and thread my fingers through Anna’s. It feels pretty fucking sweet to have her by my side right about now. It’s a great way to show Rex that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break us.

No one says a word while we wait for the boss to show up. He never attends these meetings, so this is serious shit.

Mr. Silverman steps into the room, and I straighten in the chair.

He takes a seat at the head of the table and smoothes his tie. “Let’s get down to business. Vicky, take us through the play-by-play.”

She adjusts her glasses, pushing them up from the tip of her nose. “To close up the storyline with Anna being on Rex’s side, she’ll accompany him out to open the show. Rex will call X out, and then we’ll have Rex accuse her of conspiring with X and then kick her out of the ring.”

“I don’t like that idea,” Rex interjects. “I think Anna being on my side will keep the fans involved.”

“Agreed,” Deena adds. “If it helps, I can be in X’s corner.”

Anna squeezes my hand, and I’m sure she hates their ideas just as much as I do.

“No,” the boss answers. “No more games. Anna belongs to X, and we are going with that. X gets the belt tonight.”

“That’s not fair! I just got it. You can’t take it away from me,” Rex argues with a whine in his voice.

The boss slams his fist on the table. “You had your shot, and now, it’s up. If you don’t like the way we’re doing things, don’t let the door hit you on the ass.”

I smirk. It’s about time this company put Rex in his place. They’ve let him get away with far too much for far too long. Things are finally going to be the way they are supposed to be.

A
nna comes
from the female dressing room, wearing the tight stage outfit I’ve seen her in as of late. I appreciate the way it hugs every curve of her body. The cupcake sparkling under the word
Sweets
has me thinking about what I would like to do to that sweet body of hers.

I wrap my arms around her. “Damn, beautiful. You’re smoking hot. I’d like a little taste of your cupcakes.”

She giggles as I kiss her lips. “You are so bad.”

“Cut the shit,” Rex snaps. “It’s time to head out to the ring.”

I lift my chin and force myself to bite my tongue. I’m so close to getting everything I want. I will not allow this shit stain to push my buttons.

Rex tosses the belt over his shoulder as he stares me down. “Come on, Anna. Let’s give the fans a show.”

Anna’s muscles tense as I’m still holding her in my arms. It’s like she’s unsure of what’s about to happen. I don’t want her to be stressed, so I have to show her that I’m cool.

I pat her butt. “Go ahead. It’s time to put an end to the time he’s had you by his side.”

“Okay,” she whispers before giving me a quick kiss.

Anna leaves us, and Rex smirks at me one last time before he takes off after her.

Never in a million fucking years did I ever think I would be stuck backstage, sitting on the sideline, while my woman is being made to parade around with another fucking man on national television. My nostrils flare as Rex escorts Anna out to the ring with Deena on his other side. The cocky grin on the bastard’s face tells me how much enjoyment he’s getting out of this moment, knowing I’m sitting back here, seething.

Rex sits on the ropes, allowing the girls to slip inside the ring.

He casually leans against the ropes and stares into the camera. “Well, all you people here in Portland tonight are in for a treat. Phenomenal X is back in the building tonight, and I’ve decided I’m ready for that rematch.”

The crowd goes nuts, shouting my name over and over, “X! X! X! X!”

Those cheering for me remind me that, even though I don’t have the belt, I’m the people’s champion. I have to find ways to curb my rage and earn the championship to make them proud.

“Shut up! All of you! X isn’t here. I’m here! I’m the one who matters!” Rex shouts.

The fans continue to support me, and Rex’s expression turns dark. It’s not hard to tell that he’s pissed off because people aren’t behind him.

Without warning, he grabs Anna, dips her back, and presses his lips to hers.

I growl and instinctually curl my hands into fists. “I’m going to kill that fucker.”

Anna pounds against Rex’s chest until he finally releases her. Her eyes narrow as she pulls her hand back and smacks the shit out of Rex’s face. His head snaps sideways, and he rubs his cheek as Anna slides out of the ring.

A collective sound of, “Ooh,” echoes around the arena, and then they immediately launch into chanting, “Anna,” but she doesn’t seem to notice because she’s so focused on getting backstage.

Brian shakes his head as he stands next to me. “What a dick. He loves getting under your skin.”

“I’m convinced he has a death wish,” Freddy chimes in.

I stand near the curtain, and when Anna pushes through it, her face is red.

I reach for her, but she shakes her head.

“I need a minute. I have to find something to bleach the slimeball off my lips.”

I hold my hands up, knowing what it’s like to need a moment of privacy when something has pissed me off. “I’ll wait for you right here.”

Deena’s throaty laugh floats through the curtain just before she and Rex waltz through it. When they make eye contact with me, they both wear nearly matching evil smiles.

My instinct is to launch at Rex and tear him a new asshole, but I promised Anna I would learn to control my temper, so I’m going to do my best to keep that promise.

I roll my eyes. “You two are pathetic.”

Rex gingerly touches his bottom lip. “Her lips were so soft. No wonder that pussy of hers had you ready to throw away your career. I bet it’s just as smooth and silky.”

I lunge forward, but Freddy grabs me from behind.

“Don’t, X. He’s baiting you, trying to get you to fuck up again.”

My jaw muscle flexes as my mind runs through how this scenario played out last time and how I was the loser in the situation. I won’t allow Rex to fuck this up for me.

Rex smirks and adjusts the belt on his shoulders. “See you in the ring, asshole.”

“Count on it, motherfucker.” My nostrils flare, and I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down.

This learning-to-control-my-temper thing is a lot of fucking work. It’s way harder than simply punching the object of my rage square in the motherfucking face.

A sarcastic laugh bubbles out of Rex as he turns and walks away from me.

Once he’s out of sight, Freddy slowly releases me. “When is that asshole going to learn to stop poking the bear? One of these days, I won’t be around to save his ungrateful ass.”

“He needs to back the fuck off me.” I smooth my hair out of my face. “I’m really trying to turn things around and keep my shit in check.”

“That’s good because you’re about to be the champ—the rightful one. Don’t fuck shit up again and allow him to come between you and that belt. It’s yours for the taking. All you have to do is keep your head in the game and your ass out of trouble.”

“I’m working on it, Freddy. Believe me.”

The last thing I want to do is fuck up my livelihood again, especially with a baby on the way now.

I will be the champ.

I will make my dreams come true.

Tonight, I will remain in control.

.