Chapter 12

"Thought I'd find you here at this time".

It's 6:30am in the gym which is near empty at this dark hour on a winter Monday morning. Axel approaches Max who is bench pressing half way into the wrestler's workout.

"Can't you see I'm busy training right now?" For a brief moment, Max removes his earphones to reply to Axel then he immediately places them back into his ears, ending their conversation abruptly.

Axel's reaction is to stand next to Max, stubbornly folding his arms until the wrestler finishes his next set of reps. He then takes out his earphones once more.

"I told you, I'm busy right now…..!" Max impatiently barks as he turns his back towards his old friend.

"Just hear me out…" Axel sighs.

"You wanna know what your problem is?" Max replies and turns to face him. "You've always thought you're better than me, ever since that first fight! But you forget so easily how many times I've put my life at risk to help you. Without me, where would you be? Well I'm done being on call when you need something and I'm sure sooner or later Adam will feel the same." Max angrily replies whilst dropping his weights heavily to the ground.

"You're right, and I'm sorry! I haven't been there for you when you've needed me but I wanna help from now on. The drugs, the money, your business - I'm sorry I ain't been around the last 9 years. And as for Blaze - you were right about her too! And I hold my hands up and apologize because I should have believed you" Axel swallows his pride.

"After losing Eliza all those years ago, I know exactly what it did to you the day I handed over your new born baby then I had to tell you straight up afterwards that Blaze was dead! Why the fuck would you think for a minute I'd lie about seeing her alive!?" Max loses his patience.

"I just… I saw the drugs you had and what you said came as a shock.."

"No!" Max shakes his head. "You and the others have always thought 'what the fuck does Max know?' He's just a follower and never a leader. Max can deal with his own problems because he ain't got no family…"

"That's not true! You are my family!" Axel insists.

"No, I've got my own purpose now. You're looking at Wood Oak's top fighter, with my next 10 fights all set up in line. I'm going all the way to the top and not even you can stop me!"

"I don't intend on stopping you. This deal though you got going on with the Y-Syndicate, are you sure it's legit?" Axel questions him, feeling concerned.

"You've let yourself go over the last decade man so you ain't got a clue about the underground scene anymore. I pity you Axel, you were once Wood Oak's greatest fighter. Now you're nothing".

"Max I know you hate me right now for what I said but don't go selling your soul to the Y twins, we can help you get out of it".

"They're running the city differently, this is all legit!".

"You forget who they're father was! The apple didn't fall far from the tree with those two. I know they're legit but they're bad news…" Axel warns.

"And remind me, who was your real father Axel? I can see that apple didn't fall far there either. Pray to God that Leon takes after his mother because deep down I know how much of a killer you are." Max snarls.

"You trippin Max!" Axel bites his tongue as he starts to lose his patience.

"And I don't give a fuck! So if you've finished with your shitty apology, I think it's time you leave and don't come here bothering me again."

Without saying anything else, Axel turns around and aggressively walks away. He angrily punches the bag once as he passes it on the way out before slamming the front door shut.

Max stares at the swinging punch bag for a moment in silence before returning to his workout without a second thought.

The first apology of the morning didn't go so well for Axel so he's hoping that the second one he makes today will be a success. He anxiously walks up the stairs then waits outside of the studio.

"Good morning, can I help you?" Chloe, who is at the desk greets him.

"Yeah, er… is Blaze around?"

"Just wait 10 minutes, the class she's teaching in there should finish at 8:30am".

"Ok…" he takes a seat and waits.

10 minutes pass until Blaze finishes teaching her first class of the day. She fails to spot Axel when she first exits the studio and instead, she heads straight for the front desk.

"I know it's winter out there but could you do me a favour and see if we can get an engineer called out to fix the AC in there?" Blaze says to Chloe whilst reaching for her towel and a fresh bottle of water.

"Hi". Axel catches her off guard before she has the chance to return to the studio.

"Hi…." Blaze awkwardly replies. "The next class doesn't start for another 3 hours so if you wanna sign up to anything speak to Chloe at the front desk" she avoids his eye content, appearing slightly cold towards him.

"Actually, I came here to apologise to you. For disappearing on you like that the other night…"

"It's no big deal, I know I was asking a lot of questions so it must have been weird" Blaze shrugs.

"I understand, I'd be exactly the same if I were you".

"Sorry to interrupt but there are no emergency engineers available nearby today. The closest would have to travel in from outside the state and it's gonna cost us at least 600 just for the callout!" Chloe explains.

Blaze gives her an anxious look "shit! Will have to see if we can get hold of any old school fans. This time of year though I doubt the shops will be selling them" she sighs.

"Why don't I take a look?" Axel interrupts.

"Last I remember, you told me you were a cop and not an engineer…" Blaze raises her eyebrows.

"Yeah and I built my own place from scratch".

"Ok fine," she pessimistically folds her arms.

"Can you get hold of some white vinegar and a vacuum?" Axel asks as he climbs up the ladder to take a look at the vent above.

30 minutes later and it's almost fixed.

"He's definitely hot! And it's clear he's into you…" Chloe whispers to Blaze outside the studio, observing Axel on the ladder.

"I don't care if he's hot, if he messes up that AC system I'm gonna kill him!" Blaze gives her back a stern look and a serious reply.

"All done! Give it a couple of minutes then switch it back on to see." Axel exits the studio, interrupting their conversation.

"What was wrong with it?" Blaze queries.

"There was a blockage in one of the drain pipes. You should really get it checked out and cleared every 6 months".

"I see…" Blaze replies.

"Yes! It works! Thank you so much, you just saved us almost 900 bucks!" Chloe enthusiastically grins. She then darts her attention towards Blaze and nudges her to thank him.

"Yeah, thanks!…. Can I at least pay you for the work and time you put in today?" Blaze offers.

"I'm not a professional engineer, remember?" Axel raises his eyebrows.

"Can I interest you in taking a free class or course with us?"

"Err no thanks!" He shakes his head "but… if you take some time out and come out for breakfast with me maybe we can call it even. And I promise I'll answer any questions I know about your past."

Blaze sighs "and you won't disappear on me again?"

"I swear" he holds his hands up with a smile.

"Alright then… Chloe ask Roberto and Carla to cover my last two classes today" she orders before reaching for her bag and jacket.

"Mr Y! What brings you here?" Diva asks, feeling intrigued that he has stopped by with his entourage in this part of town. She sits crossed legged on the arm of the couch, leaning against syndicate gangster Bronze.

"I came to congratulate the two of you and offer you a rise." Mr Y smirks as he removes his shades.

"What did we do to deserve this?" Diva grins.

"Thunder has now signed the contract with us. In the meantime I want you Bronze to make sure he stays addicted to those drugs you're prescribing."

"What about his upcoming fights?" The gangster in a cream suit inquires.

"What about them?" Mr Y shakes his head. "Our scientists approve all of the drug tests Max takes and he will win against any opponent placed in front of him. You've seen the results of our sound therapy and how much it enrages people. Let's just say that under our influence, no worthy opponent is a match for Max" Mr Y explains.

"That son of a bitch is gonna make you a lot of money!" Bronze smirks.

"I know!... Oh and Diva I need one more thing from you." Mr Y requests.

"Sure boss, what can I do?" She purses her lips.

"Find out why Max and Axel have fallen out. Now that Stone is back living in this city, I'd like to get to know more about the man who they say killed my father." Mr Y wipes away the dust off of his jacket sleeve, feeling disappointed with the state of the apartment he has visited. "Oh and mention any of that to my sister and you won't live to see another day. Are we clear on this?"

"Yes boss". They simultaneously respond.

"Max! I had a feeling you'd show up here today…" Diva smiles. "The bars not open until 1pm so it's a little early for you to be here don't you think?" She places her hands on her hips, cocking her head to one side.

"Whiskey on the rocks. And make it a double" he replies as he takes a seat on the stool in front of her.

"Anything else with that?" She intensively glares into his eyes as she leans over the bar towards him.

"Your place or mine?" Max doesn't waste any time asking before he downs the rest of his drink.

"I got more of these back home" Diva gives him a flirty smile as she removes a plastic bag of pills from her pocket.

An hour later and after a heated reunion together, Max stares up at the ceiling next to Diva in her bed.

"Mind if I use the bathroom?" He asks as he gets up then collects his clothes off the floor.

"Sure, you know where it is," she smiles.

He washes his face then looks into the mirror as the pills they took begin to wear off. Max can't help but stare at his reflection with fear. On the surface he appears to have every success - physically fitter than he has ever been and fiercer than before in the ring. But deep down Max worries about the person he's becoming. It's hard to go even two days without the drugs and this life was never the one he aimed to have at his current age. With his friends disowned, now he has nothing left to lose. Money and winning each fight is Max's only focus from now on. But he knows that deep down, even with all that success, he is still alone.

"Didn't take you long to rush back to my bed. Something must be bothering you" Diva smirks at him as he returns from the bedroom.

"Let's just say my morning just got better" Max grins whilst buttoning up his shirt.

"You know Riha was asking after your friend. It's a shame he rushed off the other day like that but she said he was a fun guy".

"Yeah Adam has really stepped outta his shell the last couple of years" Max contemplates as he ties his shoes.

"Unlike the blond guy you boys were with, that one needs to lighten up a little…" she comments.

"Yeah well believe it or not, Axel used to be the most outgoing person and craziest of the 3 of us. He was always the last one home from a night out, now he's the total opposite. Felt good though this morning hearing him admit he was wrong about Blaze" Max explains.

"Who's Blaze?" Diva raises her eyebrows.

"Nobody." Max smiles, bringing a halt to the conversation before getting up to leave.