"One child grows up to be
Somebody that just loves to learn
And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn

Mom loves the both of them
You see, it's in the blood
Both kids are good to mom
Blood's thicker than the mud

It's a family affair…"

Sly & The Family Stone – "Family Affair"

The words flew out of Athena's mouth before she even had a chance to filter herself. Damian's eyes grew enormous and Buddy had an annoyed expression. She had beaten him to the punch, snapping up Damian for herself.

Manager.

For an untested boxer.

She spoke without thinking just to keep Damian away from Buddy. The man had made millions, but he was known to take a deep cut of profits from up-and-comers new to the game. Dame needed a hustler in his life, not a swindler.

Buddy went to greet her mother and Bianca, and she faced Damian with conflicted confidence. She had handled multi-million-dollar contracts for an industry giant for years, juggling clients with high-status resumes without batting an eyelash. Taking on Damian's career was an uphill challenge from what she was used to. An unknown entity without a proven track record was nothing she would touch with a ten-foot pole in her trade. The man had spunk and charisma. Smokey vouched for him. His body screamed winner. Athena stepped out on faith, challenging Buddy's monopoly on fighters.

Peering at the ring with experienced eyes, her brother started his last fight with a burst of showy energy. Their father used to do that. Overwhelm the opponent with bravado and attitude before simmering down into the actual work of lasting out the rounds. Time wore Conlan down. He was sluggish and disoriented by the seventh round, boring the audience. It was a sad way to go out, but predictable in Athena's book. All he had going for him was a large social media following in the U.K. that needed a distraction from their new king that was unliked by so many since the Queen of England had died. Athena kept track of trending topics. Although her brother was heavily favored, his popularity had waned because of fickle fans who needed fresh blood to root for.

Damian sat next to her like a statue, completely ignoring the crowd who stood up whenever there was a good volley of blows from both fighters. Athena called out to Donnie, shouting combos he should use and screaming for him to keep Conlan on the ropes so he could ram his gloves into the man's guts.

A loud clang brought Donnie back to his corner, and they locked eyes for a second. Athena held up her hands as if to say, "Why is he still standing?" and Donnie spat a gush of blood and saliva into a bucket. He'd done better this time in avoiding Conlan's long arms reach by protecting his face, so he avoided the usual cuts and bruises. Donnie was a heavy bleeder. It took very little to bruise his face, and she was impressed that his eyes weren't swollen shut by the final round.

All in all, Athena had to concede that it was a boring fight. Conlan put up what he could, but Donnie had surpassed him in skills. People got their money's worth toward the end when the men traded blows for a back and forth that raised fans out of their seats, but her boxing eyes knew they didn't get a proper show. Despite Conlan's prison record, he was still bland to the American crowd. No one gave him street cred respect or sympathy going into the ring.

Damian however…

Athena glanced at him as he finally stood up to watch the last seconds of the final round. It was clear to everyone who had won, and the mood in the venue was celebratory but subdued. She clapped for her brother as his team entered the ring to hear the winner's announcement. Bianca and Amara joined him. Mary Anne stood near the ring with her hands clasped under her chin.

"He won that boring shit," Athena grumbled to Damian.

"… and still Heavyweight Champion of the World Adonis "Hollywood" Creed!"

The arena exploded with applause. Athena followed her brother A.J. toward the ring as they stood with their mother. Camera flashes popped and cell phone lights popped and sparkled around them. Giving in to the swell of emotion wafting off of her mother, Athena gazed at Donnie and wished her family had been there when she won her first and only championship belt. Two of her best girlfriends and an ex-boyfriend had watched her earn a title, but not her own family. There they stood though, right next to her, looking up at Adonis as he hugged his wife and daughter. She clapped for him in honor of their father, smiled at the cameras, and answered questions from the press. Donnie and his entourage exited the arena with the rest of their family. Athena lingered behind to collect Damian. The audience jostled her as she sought him out. Unfortunately, Buddy chatted with him along with another man who worked for Buddy's global Marcelle Enterprises.

"Hope to see you at the afterparty, Damian," Buddy said.

Athena glanced at Damian.

"Is he trying to steal you already?" Athena said.

She tugged at Damian's elbow.

"Just giving some free pointers. You remember Charles Miller, Athena?" Buddy said.

"Athena Creed, pleased to meet you… finally, in person," Charles said.

Charles Miller was a polished dark-haired white man who ran publicity for Buddy.

"Chopping it up with Damian here about getting some fights lined up for him against a roster we have coming out after December," Charles said.

"I'll call you if we're interested," Athena said.

She pulled Damian away.

"I didn't agree to anything. They ran their mouths about sponsorship and promoting my name," he said.

"Buddy was being a dick. A lot of men in this game don't think a woman can handle all the testosterone. You're going to get a lot of dudes gunning for you behind my back. They'll talk experience, connections—"

"You're a world champ. A Creed. You grew up in this game and work all the angles professionally. I don't need them. I have the best," he said.

"A sweet-talker. I like it," she said.

"Where are we going?"

"Back to your suite to talk."

"Aren't you going to the afterparty to celebrate with Donnie?"

"That can wait. We'll go later."

"We?"

"You're going with me after we talk."

Damian took the lead then, stepping in front of Athena and moving people out of her way. He reached back for her hand and kept her close. The crush to mingle and gossip made the crowds dense, but Damian brought her out of the arena carefully, despite the occasional stop to take a picture with someone who recognized her. They were both winded by the time they made it back to his suite.

She poured them red wine from the complimentary bar and they sat across from each other in the roomy living area. Outside, the seductive, bright lights of Vegas beckoned to them.

"With Donnie leaving the sport, a vacuum will need to be filled. Fans will be eager to watch the next champion take the throne. I've never seen you fight before, but on paper, even with the Golden Gloves, that's not enough to tell me if you're the next champ. Smokey swears by your potential, and I know your work ethic and discipline. For now, I will lean into his expertise with you. In order for us to move forward, Damian, I need to know the truth about what happened that night eighteen years ago. I'm Apollo Creed's daughter. My reputation is on the line in this business, just as much as my brother's. If I'm going to align with you and manage your career, all the cards have to be shown."

Damian nodded, and he held his hands on his thighs. His legs were open and his shoulders didn't slouch.

"I was just out of college when you got in trouble," Athena said. "My mother never told us what happened. We just knew Donnie got into some mess and Ma took care of it. Tell me what happened, Damian."

"You didn't look that part of my life up?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"I wanted to hear it from you directly," she said.

Damian leaned back on the couch and Athena leaned forward on the overstuffed side chair.

"Sit next to me," he said.

She moved over to the couch, and Damian cradled her right hand with his left.

"I killed someone," he said.

The loud exhale from her mouth showed that she had been holding her breath for a while. Deep down she knew it had to be something horrible to be locked up for eighteen years. Hearing it spoken still knocked the wind out of her.

Damian lowered his head to look at their hands held together.

"We were celebrating. My Golden Gloves ring had arrived and I borrowed my uncle's car to celebrate. Roll up and down Crenshaw… typical Sunday night shit. We'd been drinking some Henny and whatever he brought from your house. Got the munchies and stopped at a liquor store. Donnie had a piece on him. A Glock. Carried it for show. We just…"

Damian closed his eyes.

"Go on," she said.

"There were a bunch of young dudes already in there. Mixed crowd, cholos, and brothas just being goofy. But they started stealing stupid shit. Chips, soda… beer. The store owner was this old Korean dude. He started cursing them out… couldn't understand him because it wasn't English. I turned around and walked out, but Donnie stayed there and started getting stuff he wanted to buy. Told him to come out. He ignored me. Them other knuckleheads ran out with shit and the owner thought we were with them. Donnie cussed him out when he accused us of stealing, too."

Damian released her hand and walked over to the window. Staring down at all the foot and car traffic, his left hand balled into a fist, before he spoke again.

"I pushed Donnie to make him leave. He threw the chips he had in his hand at the counter, and the owner called us useless niggers. So… Donnie pulled out the Glock to threaten him, make him take back what he said… and it went off by accident. Hit dude in the shoulder. I snatched the gun from Donnie and shoved him away. The owner fell behind the counter… but he got up again… with a piece in his hand. He was going to shoot your brother in the back of the head. I shot at him first. Nicked him in the neck. He bled out. We got caught outside by the cops."

He turned to look at Athena.

"I took the blame and pleaded self-defense. But you know how that all played out. They would've charged Donnie as an accessory to the crime, theft, everything… but he didn't have anyone. I had my family, and a good reputation with my boxing… luckily the store's security cams didn't work. Might've gotten somewhere with a defense, but the owner died from his neck wound."

"But Donnie had my mother—"

"I didn't know that. He never told me where he was staying after his mother died. Everyone in our circle thought he was staying in a group home. He didn't want anyone to know he was a Creed and had money. I assumed he would rot in jail with no one caring. Fucked up part is, I was wrong about everyone in my life. No one backed me up or supported me. Donnie had the golden pampered life and was running around with me acting like he was the same broke, struggling nigga like everyone else on our block. People I thought I could count on to stand up for my character… vouch for the changes I made in my life to focus on boxing… they all left me hanging. Wasn't until I was going through all the court stuff that I found out he was living in Beverly Hills. I'm sitting in jail thinking he won the lottery and getting adopted by rich folks. It was a shock to find out he was a Creed when he fought Conlan that first time."

Damian leaned against the glass.

"Now you know everything," he said.

Athena covered her mouth with one hand.

"Wouldn't they have tested for gunshot residue on his hands?" she asked.

"The piece was on me when they caught us. He kept his mouth shut. I didn't snitch, and it all went on me."

She lifted on weary feet and moved to be next to him. Hugging him close, she whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry, Dame."

Her tears couldn't be held back. How many times had she defended Donnie by knuckling up on his behalf when he got himself into fights at his private prep school? Or out in public at a park? Wilding and frontin' for no reason like his mother…

Athena trembled in Damian's arms and wept softly for herself. An old memory attempted to rear its ugly face, but she shoved it back into the crevices of her mind. She couldn't afford for that rage to seep back in. Bottled up inside for so long, she wasn't ready to let that monster out yet. Hazel Johnson was dead and gone and Athena was glad for her demise. She wiped her eyes.

"I'll have my attorney draw up some contract papers between us to legalize our partnership," she said.

"A handshake from you is all I need," he said.

"This is why Black people get taken advantage of. We'll spell out everything I'll do for you, work out my fees and all that stuff…"

She went back to the bar and refreshed their wine glasses. Handing a glass to Damian, they toasted one another.

"To the start of a lucrative partnership," she said.

Sipping together, Athena sensed the relief throughout Damian.

"We better get to the afterparty. I have some palms to grease and you need to be seen," she said.

Damian pulled her in tight with his free hand and she held her wineglass up to keep any from spilling on his clothes.

"I'm going to let you guide this ship, Captain," he said.

His lips grazed across hers. She was snug inside his grip around her waist, with her breasts pressed into his solid chest.

"I'll lead you to the top if you have what it takes," she said.

She rested her lips on his with the tension bringing them on the verge of open-mouth kissing. The cologne she bought for him aroused her, and the glassy-eyed stare burning into Athena's face lost her to complete red-hot desire. His tongue slid across the seam of her lips and she opened up to him with a tenderness that engulfed him. Damian sucked on her lips and tongue with a slow-building passion. It took over all of her senses, making her drop the wineglass on the floor. He threw his down too and lifted her off of her feet, the tips of her heels barely scraping the carpet. She became dizzy and pushed back from him, but he buried his lips into her neck, letting his wet tongue trail up to her ear. A hard lump bulged from his pants and she gasped, not ready for the length and rigidness to tease her with shameless lust.

"This can't happen right now," she said, as her eyes peered down at all the activity below the window view.

"It can happen whenever you want," he huffed, tickling the shell of her ear with the tip of his tongue and warm breath.

Athena regained control and pushed back from him.

"Business first and foremost. Let's go," she said.

Damian gripped his dick and tugged on it. Fixing his clothes to hide the erection, he glanced down at their wineglasses and the stains they left on the carpet.

"The hotel will clean that," she tossed over her shoulder.

They departed his suite and took a private elevator up to the penthouse, where Donnie's party promised to be an impressive debut for her prizefighter. Her brother's past was wrapped up in Damian's present. Who better to control Dame's future than her?

###

Donnie greeted well-wishers all night. His penthouse party was no exception. Everyone wanted a piece of the historic event so they could all say they were present years from then.

Bianca looked like a queen presiding over her court wearing a peek-a-boo white jumper with cut-outs along her sides and legs. Their daughter was with Mary Anne, and grown-up time commenced between them. His win became an aphrodisiac, and he knew the sex they would have later would knock him out. Bianca's eyes flirted with him, and it was like their early days together. Had they been alone, he would've tossed her on the bar table and eaten her out like a starving man.

She had become exquisite over the years, the maturity in her body and face spellbinding him. His win helped lift her spirits. Her label released her after her short fall tour. Many nights, he sat up with her as she cried her heart out and tried to figure out her next career move. Having her sing on the song he marched to battle with again helped publicize her talents again worldwide. The music business was a fickle mistress. But the low point didn't last long. A popular British band asked her to produce their next album weeks earlier, and their house was once again filled with excitement and creativity.

He caught his wife in a corner at the penthouse suite and rubbed on her booty for a minute and gave her some deep soul kisses until she broke away to keep him from making a scandalous, X-rated scene

All was well until Buddy Marcelle gave him some news that threw Donnie off his fight high.

Athena managing Damian.

Donnie drank champagne and partied with agitated vigor until his sister showed up with Damian. They looked like two bugs snug on a rug together. Athena hugged him, but there was a chill in the touch… a coolness he didn't like.

Damian gave him dap, and the man carried himself differently around Donnie's sister as if he were invincible. A.J. and Bianca rolled out a giant cake made in the shape of his winning belt and folks took a piece along with the champagne flutes nearby. The buzz in the room was infectious and Donnie observed Athena speaking to several movers and shakers, with Damian in tow.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Donnie said.

He tapped his sister's elbow, and she followed him to one of the penthouse bedrooms, where he closed and locked the door.

"What the hell is going on? Buddy told me you're managing Damian. I want to sign him to my team," Donnie complained.

"You still can. As his manager, I'm going to make sure you give him the best deal and the bulk of your support outside of your roster of fighters."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Why not? Everyone is changing career directions in our family. You, Bianca, and now me."

"How will this affect your work at your regular gig?"

"I'll manage both well."

Athena's face glowed with confidence.

"When did this all come together?" he asked.

"I saw potential and stepped to the plate."

"You knew what my plans were for him with the new company."

"I know you want to make up for what you did to him, yeah."

Her tone turned gritty as she explained more.

"Ma doesn't know what really happened at that liquor store and I think Dame needs someone who will look out for his best interest, not just cover up your misdeeds, Donnie."

Athena stepped in his face.

"He saved your life, and you threw him away. Your belligerent actions stole years from Dame, years he'll never get back. I'm going to make sure he receives what he deserves."

Donnie pursed his lips and took a step back from Athena. Her voice became shrill.

"You let Ma think Dame was some low life dragging you down, but it was you who put him there! You've always been a problem… you just chew up people and take what isn't yours. But not this time, Donnie. I'll keep your involvement under wraps. However, expect to pay through the nose. Dame wants to fight. He'll get his chance finally," she said.

"Hey, everything okay in here?"

Bianca's knocking on the door gave Donnie an escape from his sister's forceful declaration. He opened the bedroom door and Athena swept past them to join the party.

"D?" Bianca said.

She stepped inside and closed the door.

"Athena knows everything about me and Dame. She's going to manage him and told me I was going to pay a lot to keep him on my team."

Bianca took in the information.

"She's going so hard at bat for him—"

"She likes him. They like each other," Bianca said. "It's obvious. People go hard for who they care about."

"She doesn't know him like that, though. I'm her brother."

"Athena is smart. Business oriented. Keeping all of this in the family will work out for everyone."

"You didn't see her face. She's out for blood. It felt like a shakedown."

"It's a manager's job to get the best deal for their client. C'mon… people want to see you."

"Do you think I should tell Ma?"

"I believe that if Damian is going to be around your business, you'll have to say something to her. It will be a tough conversation, but do it when you're ready."

Donnie held both of her hands with his.

"I didn't tell her back then because I didn't want her to put me out," he said.

"Mary Anne wouldn't do that."

"I was scared she'd look at me like I was trash, like her efforts to save me from juvie were wasted."

"You turned your life around. Hold on to that and she'll understand."

Bianca kissed his lips, and he squeezed her with a big hug around the shoulders.

Returning to his shindig, he drank a lot, nibbled on the fancy finger foods being served by hotel staff, and drank in the positive energy flowing toward him from well-wishers. When he had an opportunity to ease next to Damian, he cornered him by the bar.

"You're in expert hands," Donnie said.

Damian glanced at Athena as she razzle-dazzled two sports agents from New York. Donnie watched her too.

"Ready for the next chapter in your life?" Damian asked.

"Are you?" Donnie said.

Athena's silvery laughter floated over to them and she raised her hand up and waved Damian over to her side with enthusiasm.

"Duty calls," Damian said, leaving an empty shot glass of Patron on the bar counter.

Bianca joined Donnie at the bar, slipping her arm around his. A bad feeling came over him when he noticed Athena rubbing Damian's back with affection as they spoke to the agents.