Chapter 16: Lexa

It takes us fifteen minutes to walk about a hundred yards because of everyone waiting to congratulate me. When we do finally make it to Sloan, she's smiling. "That was an amazing fight, Stryker. What was that move you made at the end? I've never seen anything like it."

"You mean you actually got to see the fight? I don't know what that move was. It was just a combination of moves that a friend of mine taught me back in Afghanistan."

"Well, whatever it was, it was great. If you give me your account numbers, I will wire your money at the end of the night."

I smile, "Sure thing. Oh, is there somewhere I can go to eat in private? I don't really think I'll get to eat out here right now, and I don't want to leave because Octavia fights soon, but girl, I'm starving."

She laughs, "Leave it to me. I'll hook you up!" She opens the door to the booth, motioning me in.

I look at O and tell her I will meet her in the locker room shortly. Sloan leads me into an office off the back of her booth and tells me she will deliver my food in a few minutes. Soon I have a massive steak with a baked potato, bottled water, and a bottle of Patron. I smile and ask, "How did you know?"

She winks, "Easy, I asked O. Take your time and eat. When you're done, go through that door, it will lead you to the locker room."

She starts to walk out, "Hey, thanks for everything. I'm having a celebration later tonight on my new yacht if you would like to come." She just nods and walks back to her booth.

Once I finish eating, I look at my watch and see that it is about 7:30. I really want to share this moment with Ash but know that I can't. I do, however, send her a quick text.

Me: 'Hey, I'm going to stay at Octavia's tonight. What time did you want to get together tomorrow?'

Ash: 'Doesn't matter. What are you all up to tonight?'

Me: 'We have a party to go to. How about you?'

Ash: 'Just left the zoo, heading to dinner. Probably head home after putting Asher to bed. How about we say around noon? That way, you have some time to recover from the party.'

Me: 'LOL, good call. Can we plan on spending the day together, just us? I have a surprise!'

Ash: 'I would like that. But, Lexa, please be careful tonight. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.'

Me: 'I will. I'll pick you up at noon tomorrow.'

I just sit there staring at my phone for a moment, thinking about everything that has happened today. I wish that I could tell Ash about my day and have her celebrate with me, but I know that isn't going to happen. She's with Callie and Asher tonight, and as much as I don't like the thought of that, I can't be mad about it. I mean, after all, I did kiss Allie twice tonight already, and then there was last night. What am I doing?

I hear a knock on the door. Sloan peaks in. "You really should get going if you want to catch O in the locker room."

"Thanks, Sloan."

I put my phone up heading into the locker room to find her. When I walk into the locker room, it was empty. I guess she already headed to the cage. I walk out to watch the fight, only to be surrounded by people wanting to take pictures with me and congratulate me. I take a few quick ones before weaving my way through the crowd to the ring side, where I'm met by my entire group of friends, but Allie is nowhere to be found.

I see Octavia at the bottom of the steps leading up to the cage. "Hey, sorry I missed you in the locker room. Do you need me to help you with anything?"

She says, "No problem, I figured you got cornered by all of the people wanting pictures. I could use some help taping up my hands."

I take the tape from her and begin tapping while I ask her about who she is fighting. She says, "I'm fighting Abigail Beltran. I've seen her fight once or twice but never fought her herself.

I ask, "Is she any good?"

She smiles, "I mean, she's not bad, but I should be able to handle her, although I don't know if I will finish her in the first round like the amazing Stryker."

"Shut up! I can't believe that name caught on so quickly. Are you upset with me about my fights?"

She snaps her head towards me, looking me in the eyes, "Why on earth would you think that? Lexa, you made me a millionaire today. How could I be mad about that?"

"I don't know. I just thought that maybe you would be mad because I came here to your sanctuary and caused an uproar that you may be upset. You know I would never want to do anything to hurt our friendship."

"Lexa, are you crazy? I'm not jealous of how well you did or how well you fight because I know the real reason you are so good. You didn't choose to be a soldier or learn how to fight, but you took what you learned from a bad situation and used it to better yourself. I do this for fun and to make money, not that I need the money any more thanks to you. So, no, I'm not mad, I'm grateful, but I would like for you to train me at some point."

I laugh, giving her a hug. "Sure thing, now go out there and kick some ass so we can get to partying."

The announcer begins the introduction, "In the red corner standing five foot nine inches, weighing in at one hundred eighty-seven pounds is your reigning Super middleweight champion, Octavia 'Sweet Pea' Blake! Standing in at six foot five inches weighing in at one hundred and ninety-five pounds, her opponent for tonight is Abigail 'the Bell' Beltrain. Since this is a fight for the Super middleweight belt, the match will be five rounds instead of three. So fighters touch gloves and go to your corners and await the bell."

When O gets over to me, I say, "What the hell, why didn't you tell me you were the champ, and this fight was for your belt? You should have been at home resting, not here with me all day."

She puts her hands on my shoulders and says, "It's not a big deal. Every fight I fight is for my belt, now that I have it."

The bell rings, and she goes to the middle of the ring. The first round goes by quick, with O showing a few kicks before taking her to the ground. Once O has her on the ground, she keeps her there for the majority of the round. Between rounds, I tell her, "She is dropping her left hand when she throws her right jab. So if circle left when she throws it, you can catch her with a left hook and follow it up with a right uppercut."

She nods her head, and the bell rings. Octavia meets her at the center of the ring and throws a few jabs. Then when Abigail throws her right jab, she plants, throwing a heavy left hook that lands on her temple. She then takes a quick step forward, catching her with an uppercut, knocking her out. I run out, lifting O up and spinning her around.

The announcer comes back out and declares 'Sweet Pea' the winner by TKO. Everyone joins us in the ring to celebrate. She looks at me and says, "Wow, how did you know to tell me that?"

"I just watched her movements in the first round and saw that she consistently dropped her left on her jabs, then told you what I would do if I were fighting. You did an amazing job. Now hit the showers so we can go party."

She smiles and looks at the group before saying, "You guys head over to the Dragon's Den, and we will text you in about an hour with an address on where to meet us."

Sami says, "Yo, 'Sweet Pea' why you being so secretive?"

I smirk, "Because we have a surprise for everyone, but it is going to take us a little bit to get everything set up. But, I promise it will be worth the wait, and everyone should just plan to crash with me tonight, but know that you have to be gone by ten in the morning."