Scottsville, CA. Charley suggested to Silverdawn and Meredith that they could go do some shopping up in Oregon.
"I do need some new clothes." Then Meredith looked at her son. "So do you, Modo."
"He's got plenty of clothes, Meredith. He just prefers to wear one type every day."
"My mom has a point, sweetheart. I could use some new pants, but there's no room for all of us. You girl go have fun, and I'll stay here with the boys. We'll be fine."
Charley stepped over to Modo and gave him a hug and a kiss on his cheek. "No bike rides."
"I won't take them on the bike. Maybe we'll go for a walk around the property, have some lunch then maybe some time on the Xbox."
"That's fine, just no bike rides with the boys. Both Throttle and Mike would never forgive us for letting them on the bike this young."
"I was their age when my dad took me for rides."
"Different generation, Modo. Just promise me you won't do it."
Modo kissed his wife's cheek. "I promise. Just be safe on the road. Crazy drivers and all."
"We will." Then Charley looked at her nephews. "Be good for Uncle Modo, boys."
"We will, Aunt Charley. We love you." Then they got up from the sofa and gave Charley a big hug. She returned the hug.
"I love you too, boys."
Charley, Silverdawn and Meredith all went out through the garage, and walked up to the upper garage where Charley's SUV was sitting. They were looking forward to an all girls shopping day.
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While the girls were on their way up to Oregon, Charley's phone rang. "Could someone answer that please?"
Silverdawn answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Silverdawn?"
"Christina? Everything ok?"
"Just wondering if Charley was available?"
"Let me put it on speakerphone." Then she did.
"Hey Christina. What's going on?"
"Hey Charley. I was wondering about the garage."
"What about it?"
"Do you have plans to sell it?"
"You wanting to buy it?"
"Yeah, I am. I'm even gonna keep the name."
"If you wanna buy it, how much you want to give me for it?"
"What's your asking price?"
"Its not really worth much, but how about $200,000?"
"I'll give you double that. It needs a lot of repairs and whatnot. I was gonna get some quotes on getting the building up to code and I have a feeling that its gonna be costly."
"Get that done and I'll gladly take the $400,000. Just let me know when you get it all done, and I'll call the bank there in Chicago. I'll have them get the papers ready for the transfer of ownership."
"Awesome! Thanks Charley!"
"You're welcome, Christina. Say hi to Rimfire for us."
"I will. Later." Then hung up the phone.
Meredith asked Charley why she wanted to sell her garage.
"Since I live in California, I have no need for it and can't really run it from here. Since Christina and Fourby have been running it for me, I was more than happy to sell it to Christina. I'd rather sell it to someone I know that some complete stranger and find out that it was demolished."
"Good point."
"So, where to first, ladies?"
"How about the mall? I did some looking at what's in there and figured with the slew of stores there, we probably don't need to go further. We can even get something to eat while there. We can even get something for the boys while there, too."
"Mind if we stop by the Harley shop on the way? Modo was wanting a new Harley shirt and some new boots, too."
"Throttle mentioned the same thing to me a few days ago. He called me last night and he's currently in Utah."
"What's he doing in Utah?"
"Looking for Michelle. He told me that there's an MMA event happening tonight and the former champ, who's initials are the same as hers is the main event. She's going against the new champ."
"Think it might be Mike?"
"He has a strong possibility that it is her. He'll let me know when he finds out."
Just then, Charley's phone rang. Silverdawn answered it and put it on speakerphone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Charley-girl. My mom with you?"
"Yes, I am, sweetie. You find Michelle?"
"Yeah, I did. She's fighting the new champ tonight. I managed to get the connection re-established too. I didn't like the look in her eyes before the connection was re-established. It scared the hell out of me, mom. She was very restraint for someone who would have torn me apart."
"I'm glad she didn't, sweetie. We'd all be lost without you. Those beautiful boys of yours included."
"I know how heartbroken they would be, mom. Believe me, I know. Doors are opening soon for the event, so I'll call you when its over."
"Ok, sweetie. Thank you for the call. I love you, Throttle."
"I love you too, mom. You girls be safe on the road."
"We will." Then Silverdawn ended the call.
"I am so glad that he managed to reconnect the bond with Michelle. She's like a daughter to me."
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Salt Lake City, Utah. I had asked Throttle if I could use his phone to call the boys. I wanted to see how they were.
"Yeah, sure. I'm so glad that you're back to your old self. I wouldn't want to see you kill your opponent then start attacking other people afterwards. Not to mention turning your sights towards me after everyone else was dead."
"I'm glad, too. I'm sorry for putting you through this crap, Throttle. I…I feel like the boys don't want me around, especially Tony. I just hope I'm wrong." Then I dialed the house to see about talking with them before the doors open.
"Hello?"
"Hey big fella, can I talk with my boys?"
"Let's get one thing straight here. You don't get to use nicknames with me anymore."
"Whoa, hold on here. What did I do to piss you off, Modo?"
"You walked out on your boys. Why do you think they wanted to stay with Charley and I? They didn't want to leave. I will ask them if they want to speak with you, though."
I had put the phone on speaker that way Throttle can talk to them as well.
Tony had gotten on the phone and told me to go to hell. Both Throttle and I were pissed.
"That is no way to speak to your mother, young man. Apologize right now."
"Go suck a dick, Father. Ty and I are done with you both. Uncle Modo and Aunt Charley are better parents than you both."
"I.."
"Don't bother to say anything, Mother. All you did was leave us every time something came up. You didn't want to be our mother."
I couldn't say anything cause I was in tears. I ended the call and ran back to the locker room. Throttle ran after me to make sure I was ok. He was going to have a talk with Modo when the MMA event is over.
Throttle knocked on the locker room door before sticking his head. "Michelle, are you ok?"
I walked over to the door with tears streaming down my face. "He's right, Throttle."
"You did nothing wrong for our boys to turn on you like that. I will be calling Modo after the event tonight. Right now, you need to get your head back in the game and get ready for your match. Let me deal with this problem, ok?" Then he wiped the tears from my face. I smiled at him, then hugged him. I was glad I had him, even if the boys disowned me.
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During the MMA event, I had watched some of the matches and couldn't believe how well some of the opponents fought. I went back into the locker room and got ready. I was up next. I had them get my entrance theme song ready for when they announced me. Throttle was right. I had to get my head in the game and I did. I was ready for the fight of my life. I was going to prove that I was still #1 in the MMA world.
My theme song came on and I was announced. I came out with my trainer/coach behind me. My opponent was already in the octagon waiting for me. She had her championship belt hanging on her right shoulder. I was about to take that belt from her.
When I got to the octagon, I noticed that Throttle was standing by the door of the cage. Right before I walked in, he whispered into my ear, "kick her ass good, babe." Then gave me a kiss on my cheek.
My opponent didn't know that I was a mouse 'til I took my hood and cape off. I was ready to fight and she knew it. She almost forfeited the match when she saw me, but knew that would make her a coward since she threw out the invitation.
The match started not long after the announcer left the cage. I tore into my opponent before she had the chance to strike. She didn't know I could move that fast, especially for someone my age. I was thankful for the Marines and for training with the new recruits every few months.
About 30 mins. later, the match was over and I had won. I had earned the belt back and now its right back where it belongs. I grabbed the mic from the announcer and said what I wanted.
"Next person to issue a match with me is gonna wish they hadn't. I am the best in the business! No one can take me down! I dare anyone, male or female, to take me on!" Then I handed the mic back.
"You heard it here, folks! M.T. is issuing any MMA fighter to take her on!"
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After I was changed, I walked out of the locker room with my championship belt hanging on my left shoulder. Throttle was waiting by the locker room doors for me.
"That was an awesome fight, babe. Uh, I can call you that, right? I know it was to soon before."
I smiled. "Yes, you can call me that. I'd like to see any fighter take me up on my issue to fight me."
"Well, we'll see if they do. Right now, you need to take a shower, get something to eat and a good nights sleep. How did you get here, anyway?"
"I took a cab. I left the SUV at the motel I'm staying at."
"Then I get to have the one thing I missed when I ride. Your arms wrapped around my body."