Chapter Three: Bock-Blow-Bout
Quickly changing into my fight clothes, I made my way to the spot. The place was already packed with betters. Tonight must've been some big show or something.
Finding Gunner in the crowd I flagged him down, "Alright, what're the details? Give Em to me."
"Well I call this night, Challenge Night." He grinned, "Tonight there's a six grand pot on the line. Plus a bonus if you last both three rounds still standing."
"A bonus huh?"
He smiled, "You fight the first person three rounds- a rookie who's been winning lately trying to get on Roxys team. Whoever wins goes another three with one of my All Stars. If they dominate its another 2 grand if not you take 1500 home. But in order to take the 1500 you have to last at least one round with my fighter without tapping out. This All Star won their first fight earlier tonight. If not the house takes the extra cash. You up for it?"
"Sounds like a good deal." I shrugged, "Why not?"
"That's the spirit! I knew you couldn't step down from a challenge." He laughed, "Alright, alrifht. Go get set up in the pin and I'll find Heath so he can start the betting."
"Is Roxy or Sawyer here?"
"No. Sawyer backed out last minute- car trouble. Roxy's probably with her." He bucked his head, "Go on. Fight starts in five."
The first girl who I was fighting was around my height and weight. Her name is Emily I think. She was a good fighter but not nearly good enough to place up against Sawyer. If this is who Gunner scheduled her to fight he's got something up his sleeve.
She advanced towards me taking the offensive. Diving she ran straight towards me getting ready for a tackle. Changing my position I bent my knees and drove hard into her midsection with my shoulder causing her to stumble. Driving my hips under her I arched my back and lifted her. I had the advantage of being able to control her legs with my arms. I sent a right hook directly into her side making her gasp. She curled her body so she was locking me to her. I brought her up and slammed her against the floor releasing her grip. Getting up I waited for her to catch her breath and follow suit. She was glaring at me but took a defensive stance.
Using my back foot, I swung my leg out to left and up, the across to break her guard stance. Quickly I snapped my left arm out and hit her in the cheek. Turning on the ball of my foot I moved so I was facing her head on. Sending out a right hook directly to her nose this time I rotated my arm so my knuckles were facing up and my palm was facing down. This time she went down and blood gushed out of her nose.
Growling at me she yelled out, "Bitch!"
Getting up she charged me yet again. Bringing her arm out she tried to land a right hook but I dodged it and latched onto her arm pulling it down into my armpit as I stepped around to the other side and drove my elbow under her arm until I was around her waist and she was pinned. Stepping slightly to the front I changed my grip on her. Pulling with my hands and pushing with my head and shoulder I broke her balance to the rear. She tried to avoid my tackle by leaning forward. With the leg that was behind her I stepped through until I was standing in front of her with my legs inside of hers. Using a scooping motion with my hips, I lifted her and threw her over my hip landing so my knee was mounted into her side. I pressed down on her already sore rib cage until she gasped out in pain and slammed her hand against the ground tapping out.
Gunner ran up on stage with Heath, "You're out, lady!" he tsked, "Couldn't even make it a full round with an All-Star? That's sad. Get off my mat!" the crowd yelled frantically
Heath helped her up and off the map smiling at me, "Good luck T!"
"Alright, alright, alright!" Gunner yelled into the mic, "Is everyone ready for the grand finale? It's a big one. Something we've never tried here before, but since all of us are in need for a little change in the system or maybe a little change in our beting averages I've decided to up the ammo." He swung his arm to the side, "For the first time ever, we're pitting a female All-Star against a male All-Star! Ladies and gentlemen please welcome to the pin, El Torrrrrrro!"
The crowd went buck wild for him. I stiffened sending Gunner a glare, "What the hell are you doing? You set me up!"
"I didn't set you up." he went over to me shaking his head, "Don't be so dramatic."
"I'm not fighting a man!" I looked over to this El Toro guy and scoffed again, the guy had to be 250 pounds of raw muscle, there's no way I'd have a chance, "There's no fucking way Gunner! You've lost your damn mind. Im out!"
"Hey, okay, alright. Calm your neck, okay?" he narrowed his eyes, "Look around, Tessa. These people aren't normal fans or your average gamblers. We're all participating in illegal events here, sweetheart. You think they'll have any problem repaying you for fucking with their money? The good people here paid for a fight and that's what they're going to get. They've already out money down in this shit show. Whether you participate willingly or not."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Remember, you gotta last a round Tess. Make it count."
Smiling he made his way off the matt, "Let's begin!"
El Torro smiled sickly at me as he popped his knuckles. Barreling straight at me I had no time to think or move. I was like a deer caught in the head lights. He tackled me like a linebacker drilling a quarterback from the blindside, a clean shoulder to shoulder hit, that I felt deep inside every inch of my body. We tumbled to the ground together. He smashed his fist against my face so hard I saw stars. My mouth filled with warmth and I tasted metal. Quickly I slammed my knee into his groin hoping to get him off of me which worked. I stumbled up trying to be as quick as possible but I was still seeing stars. He stepped towards me so I moved back. Maybe I can Mayweather my way out of this. Every advance step he took I took one back until he got really pissed and rushed me. He yanked my hair and threw me down sending a swift kick to my rib cage. I curled my body in coughing. He caught me and dragged me to my feet turning his hip as I tried to land another groin shot. The next thing I knew he banged my nose on his forehead, pushed me back, and hit me with a left cross before I collapsed in a heap. Blood was gushing from my mouth and my nose now and I could barely keep the blackness away. He sent another kick, this one straight to my face catching my cheek.
"Hey!" I heard a female yelling as the crowd quieted, "What the fuck is going on? Tess!" I felt someone turn me and seen it was Sawyer, she looked up, "Bruno you better back the hell up."
"Gunner!" Roxy screamed from the other side, "I told you to cancel this bullshit gig!"
Heath ran up through the crowd, "Shows over! Everybody out! Now!" I heard groaning and curses but they listened
"Heath!" Gunner barked, "You fucking called them?"
"She's getting murdered out here, man." He shook his head, "I didn't know you were pitting her against the man of steel over there! I thought it was gonna be some integer all start fighter!"
Roxy got up into his face, "You want to see what it's like to go up against someone like that? Huh?" she pushed him back, "Get the fuck out of here before I make you my bitch." She turned to Bruce, "I know you aren't still here." Grumbling he followed Gunner out
"Tess, shit, you alright?" Sawyer asked worriedly
"Here," Roxy started wiping some of the blood off of my face, she surveyed my nose, "It's not broken. He did a number on you though."
"What about her ribs?" Heath asked bending down, "He kicked her hard."
"I don't know. Lets take her to the hospital-"
"No!" i coughed, "I'll be fine." taking a deep breath, which hurt like crazy but I pushed myself up, "Fuck man. Did you know he was pulling this shit?"
"He brought it up, wanted me to be the All Star fighter because I soar with Bruce and his guys. But i told him not to be an idiot and cancel this stupid shit. Obviously he didn't listen to me." she glared at Heath
"I swear i didn't know he was putting her up against a guy! i thought he was challenging her to another All-Star or something." he put his hands up defensively, "But seriously Tess we should get you to the hospital,"
"He's right, Tess."
"Will you guys relax?" i took another deep breath trying to ignore the pounding in my entire body, "How bad is it?"
Heath grimaced, "I mean,,, you look like shit. like someone tried to jump you or something. You're lucky he didn't knock out any teeth. Why did you agree to this?"
"Agree?" I sneered, "I tried to leave, and your boy threatened me. So much for family." I spit out the blood pooling in my mouth
Sawyer shook her head, "You could have broken ribs or something. Your face looks pretty bad. We need-"
"I know what broken ribs feel like. They're fine." I barked out, "Just sore. Look, let me just wash the blood off and then you guys can take me home, okay?" I limped my way towards the restroom, "If Dom or Mia get a call from the hospital I'm fuckin toast. At least if i get there now i have a chance of a chance of them taking pity on me. Plus, I don't need the doctors or the cops bringing trouble. Been enough cop shit goin on tonight."
"Whatever you say." Heath groaned, "You guys are coming with me this time. Every time I have to take her home when she's hurt like that he tries to kill me." i heard before walking into the restroom
Surveying myself in the mirror was a big mistake. My face was a bloody mess with my nose being the worst victim. It was bleeding and there was a cut down the middle. Probably from the face kick. Nothing that would need stitches but might leave a scar. My eye was already swelling as well as my cheek. Pretty much the whole left side. My ribs were sore but I doubted they're broken. It didn't feel that way. They were right though. I really should go to the hospital but hospitals weren't my favorite places. Especially after what happened with my dad. Add to the fact that once Dom, Mia, and the rest of the guys seen this, I was dead meat. Wiping off the excess blood I decided to put bandages on my nose and cheek for now. I'll be able to take better care of it when I get home.
Once we piled into Heaths truck we made our way to the house. The party was still in full blast and everyone looked like they were having a great time. Cursing I seen Dom was outside, surprisingly with Spilner. Both of their vehicles nowhere to be seen.
"What in the..."
"Yo, Spilner!" he yelled and Brian turned around, "You want a beer?"
"Yeah, sure." he smiled then caught sight of me a few feet away from the house and his eyes went wide, "Holy shit. What happened to you?"
I gave him the best snarky expression I could manage, "My business, my problem new boy. Why are you here?"
Dom turned around and immediately ran over to me before he could answer, "What the hell happened to you? You look like you got jumped. Did Tran-" he stopped himself as he caught sight of Heath and the girls. Grabbing Heath by the shirt he slammed him against the truck angrily, "What the fuck did you do to my sister! I'll fucking kill you!"
Brian ran up grabbing one of his arms trying to pull him off, "Dom calm down, man!"
i had half a mind to let him get his ass handed to him. Heath and Gunner are best friends. If Gunner had this planned all along why wouldnt he have told Heath? If one of them set me up then they both did.
"Relax!" Roxy yelled from the other side, "It wasn't his fault!"
"Hey man," Heath coughed out, "It was all Gunner! He set it up!"
"What happened?"
"Gunner set her up against a man!" he gasped out terrified, "Threatened her when she tried to leave."
Growling Dom dropped him and turned to me, "You ain't doin this shit anymore, Tessa. You hear me? It's gone way to fuckin far."
I was too tired to fight him and right now i wasn't even sure if i wanted to fight him. If i couldn't trust Gunner not to pin me up against a 200 pound man i wasn't going back. The fact that i know he'll be back working for Roxy didn't make me feel any better. Every time he fucks up she gives it a week and he's back in her good graces, but for me this was the end of the straw. She'd forgive him soon and then where would i be? Probably back in the ring with El Toro.
"I hear you, Dom. I'm retiring early." i mumbled, "Can i go in the house now?"
"Woah, woah." Roxy argued, "This was just a glitch. Gunners gone now there's no reason-"
"I said she's not doing it anymore. She said she's not doing it anymore. You think i'm going to let one of my little sisters get the shit beat out of her by a grown man?" he yelled at her anger radiating off of him, "She trusted you two, and look what happened? You tell both of those fuckers that when i see them they're dead. Now get the fuck out of here!"
"Tessa-" she tried looking at me for help but I scoffed
"I'm done." I shook my head, "This," I motioned at me face, "Is too much. I got set up cuz of your guy. Go get someone else."
The girls glared but got into the truck with Heath and left. Dom turned his glare on me.
Huffing i looked up at him with tears, "I know. I know Ifucked up. Trust me. Im one hundred percent done with them, okay? There's no going back from this bullshit."
"Good." he looked a little relieved but shook his head at me, "Shit, Tessa. My job is to look out for you. This shit isn't helping."
"You need to go-" Spilner started but i sent my glare straight to him
"I'm not going to the hospital." i barked, "I don't know how many times i have to say that tonight but i'm not going. Alright? We'll deal with it here."
"Come on." Dom said placing a hand on my back
Walking into the house I felt Dom tense up right away. He found Leon and the three of us made our way over to him. I stayed right behind Dom standing beside Brian trying to hide my face. All j wanted to do was go up to my room and sleep.
"We were all there, right? Falling behind" He told some chick on his lap "With all that nitrous. Yeah." Leon nodded but then caught sight of my brother after he knocked the beer straight out of his hands, "Yo, Dom. We were just about to go looking for you, brother."
Dom scoffed and made a beeline straight for Vince. Leon got up once he seen me, "Woah, Tessa. What the-"
i waved him off, "Yes i look like shit. I get it." i narrowed my eyes at him, "You didn't go for Dom? What the hell Leon?"
He sent a look to Brian, "We-"
"Where were you?!" Dom yelled at Vince causing all of us to get silent
"There were mass cops there man." Vince explained, "They came in from every direction. It was orchestrated. We were lucky to get out without getting busted."
"This your beer?"
V looked at him like he was crazy, "Yeah…"
Picking it up he turned his attention to Jesse, "Yo, Einstein. Take it upstairs. You can't detail a car with the cover on." he rolled his eyes, "Can't even get that right."
Letty came up beside him, "You alright?"
"Am I all right?"
She glared, "It was just a question."
"Tessa what the hell happened?" Vince barked out noticing my face
"She got set up to get the shit beat out of her by a guy." Dom growled out still glaring at Vince, "Maybe if I would've been here earlier I could've tracked her down before it happened. But instead of that I was dealing with Tran while my sister got pounded on."
"Dom!" I scolded as Vince's face dropped, "That's not fair-"
"Yes it is." he sent his glare to me shutting me up, "Stay out of this."
Leon, Vince, and Jesse were all like brothers to me. Just like Dom. I grew up with them around. Vince was probably going to blame himself for this shit now and that's not the case.
"Why's Brian here?" I asked trying to change the subject off of me
"Yeah." Vince narrowed his eyes, "Why did you bring the buster here?"
"'Cause he kept me out of handcuffs!" Dom bellowed, "He didn't just run back to the fort! The buster brought me back." Turning to Brian he smiled, "You can have any brew you want, as long as it's Corona."
He smiled taking the beer Dom took from V, "Thanks, man."
"That's Vince's so enjoy it."
He smiled back going to take a drink from his beer but I grabbed it first, "T."
"What?" I shrugged smirking at Letty who smiled, "I think I need a beer after all of this."
"Hey, bro. You got a bathroom?" he asked Dom but he was too busy having a staring contest with Vince
I turned to him, "Upstairs. It'll be the first door on the right. Bring down the bandages, yeah? They're in the medicine cabinet."
Nodding he made his way upstairs. Vince pointed angrily, "He's got no call being up here! You don't know that fool for shit!"
"He's right, Dom." Leon growled out, I slapped him in the chest, "What?"
"Relax! We were all new once…"
"There was a time when I didn't know you, Vince." Dom said ignoring us
He scoffed, "That was in the third grade!"
"Yeah." He turned to Leon, "So what girls are here?"
"You name it." He hollered, "You want mine? Two? You want three?" I rolled my eyes
Letty walked up glaring, "You better shut the f…"
"You don't have anything?" Dom asked, obviously trying to piss her off more
"You look a bit tired." She told him, "I think you should go upstairs and give me a massage."
"Look at all our guests."
"I think you need to give me a massage." She repeated
He laughed, "Crazy lady." He looked at me seriously, "We need to take care of your face first."
"I got it, Dog." Leon told him, "Don't worry about it."
"Alright." He nodded at Brian when he made his way down, "You know you owe me a 10 second car, right?"
"Oh shit." I laughed as he handed me the box I asked for
"Ouch!" Letty commented laughing
Mia walked over to us, "Tess." She gasped tears springing to her eyes
"It looks worse than it is, sis. I'll be alright." I mustered up a smile for her, "Trust me I'm done with them."
She took the first aid stuff from me and had me sit down, "Good because this is the worst I've ever seen you."
"I'm not going into the hospital." I said hurriedly, "Just do what you can and if it gets any worse we'll go."
"Tessa-"
"Did you wipe the seat?" Vince growled
"Jesus Christ!" Mia yelled from beside me, "Would you cut this shit already?"
"What?"
"Mia we don't know him from a hole in the wall." Leon growled out
She looked to me for help, "Both of you need to chill it the hell out, alright?" I pointed at Leon and V, "Dom trusts him so let's trust Dom. Even if you don't you need to stop acting like third graders. I'm talking to you Vince." Vince was about to argue but I held up my hand, "As much as I would love to keep arguing about Spilner, I really have better things to worry about." Looking to Mia I motioned at Vince, "And you're going to leave Spilner alone because if I have to come down here again I'm kicking your ass."
"Come on Brian." She took his arm, "Let's get something to drink."
"We were just about to get along too." Leon commented earning a glare
"I'll be in bed."