26

I knew this day would come, the day where my brother would fight my fiancé for the title of world heavyweight championship. I knew how much this would mean for both of them. Bianca was with Adonis now in their locker room. Luckily, I was permitted to see Viktor. The crowd was wild above us and it was almost scary to think about. I was in black leather jeans with a white blouse and black heals. The door of the locker room was opened and I took. Few steps in to see Ivan wrapping Viktor's hand. Both men looked at me and in turn everyone looked at me. For a second, I felt I almost didn't belong here, but I walked in nonetheless.

I approached Viktor, Ivan giving me a tired stare before standing up.

"You have one minute." he said. That's all I really needed. He walked to the other side of the room meeting reporters and taking pictures with people. Viktor and I watched him for a moment, before I finally looked at him. He seemed so torn, so withdrawn already. I crouched in front of him taking his face in my hands. Finally he looked at me with those same shy eyes he looked at me when I first met him, hanging my umbrella over his head.

"Hey, no matter what happens tonight, win or lose, I am always behind you." I said lightly, and his eyes softened on me as a gentle smile spread across his face. I nodded leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. He returned it and I smiled warmly standing back up and letting my hand linger against his face a bit. "I will be with my aunt and sister in law." He nodded and my hand left his face as I exited the locker room. Photos were shot of me and people wanted interviews with me but I rejected them all. None of this was about me tonight. As I moved down the hall, I saw Aunt Alicia outside of my brother's locker room. She was in a lovely black dress with gold studded earrings and a long black necklace. She smiled at me as we embraced.

"Will you be sitting with us?" she asked, and I nodded leaning back from her and smiling.

"Of course." I replied. Bianca met us and we smiled and took each other's hands.

"I'll be singing Donnie's music." she said and I could hear the nervousness in her voice. I smiled more.

"And you will sound marvelous." I said. She nodded quickly smiling more.

"Thanks." she said. A large man with a security shirt approached.

"Ladies it's almost time for the fighters to go out." he said. I leaned over to see Adonis in the locker room and he was standing up getting ready. We saw a glimpse of each other. I smiled where he looked at me with focused eyes. He nodded and I nodded back. Aunt Alicia placed her hand on my back.

"Come, let's get to our seats." she said. We were escorted out into the arena. The roaring crowd was louder than any ocean I had ever heard. We were only two rows from the arena. There was a clear sight of the ring. I took even breaths trying not to be so nervous. I would like to believe Adonis wouldn't get too badly hurt like last time. I hoped Viktor doesn't lose sight of what's important in this fight. I noticed a flash of white from my left and could see Ludmilla sitting down with some guy. I saw him in the papers a while back he was some politician. I couldn't help but frown a bit.

"I know." Aunt Alicia suddenly said and I looked up at her to see her giving a firm stare to the ex-Drago woman as well. "She has no right to be here." I looked down trying to force her from my mind. The lights of the arena started to dim as music began to play.

It was gentle and serene and for a moment it reminded me of the times we would spend together. He was not some animal only looking to destroy things. He was a beautiful soul that no one could see but me. I looked back as the lights began to move to the back side of the arena and I could see Viktor stepping out in his red and yellow robes. The music began to transition into a deeper noise that made me shiver. Finally he began to step out and fire shot from the ground on either side of the aisle. Everyone shouted his name.

He looked all around as he bounced his way down the aisle punching at the air, trying to remain both focused and intimidating. The music was just as intense as he was. I gently clapped for him as he made his way to the ring. Ivan was by his side and they made their way into the ring. I watched his face seeing how scary he looked, how fierce he was. I saw his eyes scan the crowd for a second until they finally found mine. He stared at me with the same deep gaze giving a quick nod to me. I smiled lovingly at him in return.

The lights dimmed and transitioned down onto the ring while a beat began to drop all around the arena. I watched a blue light pulse in the arena's light screen. I found myself smiling as I looked back toward the arena where only Bianca stood shrouded in darkness except for a blue laser like light.

"Ran the whole way, ran the whole thang. Never ran away, never been afraid. Never gon' break. Never half way." she had everyone's attention. "I don't know if you can take it I can't take it, I can't take it anymore."

The music was beautiful and as she walked down the aisle Adonis and Rocky appeared with their team. My brother looked ready. His mind looked clear and his yes were sharp. Although the crowd booed him, I couldn't help but smile. I know Rocky trained him well. But as he neared the ring, I couldn't help but feel knots in my stomach again. I was afraid for my brother. I don't know if I could handle him getting injured like he did the last time. Not again, but I had to be strong. Once Bianca was done singing, she came over and joined us, all of our hands curling together.

I thought about what Rocky said, about how Viktor had a family with us through me. Would that still be in effect after today? I looked at Viktor watching him glare at my brother as he enters the ring. As Adonis and Rocky get in the ring together, the two look at Viktor and Ivan as they stare right back. I could only imagine how Aunt Alicia must feel seeing all four of them there.

"Did I miss the beatings?"

We all looked to see Alexander standing there and we all smiled and embraced him.

"Oh good to see you son!" Aunt Alicia said patting his shoulder. He stood on her right, while Bianca stood on her left leaving me next to the aisle. My cousin leaned back to look at me with a smile and I smiled back at him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is it! Twelve rounds of boxing for the heavyweight championship of the world! Ladies and gentlemen… let's get ready to rumble!" Michael Buffer announced causing the crowd to come to life.

Adonis and Viktor's robes were removed and they looked ready, ready to fight and ready to win. The approached each other in the center of the ring while the referee spoke to them about the rules of the fight tonight. I remained standing, too nervous to sit. Luckily the seats moved higher up the further they went up so those behind me could still see.

Viktor was so large. He looked down at Adonis but Adonis met his fearful gaze head on. Finally they hit gloves and backed away. Now it was only a matter of time before that ball rung starting it all. Adonis was in his corner getting his mouth piece put in and he looked back at us. Bianca signed to him which I could imagine was signs of encouragement. He nodded and looked at me and I nodded back smiling still. When he turned away I looked at Viktor to see him rolling his shoulders preparing himself. He glances over the ring to his Ludmilla. I'd like to think the smile on her face was an encouraging smile as if truly wishing him good luck.

But I didn't believe it. She wasn't capable of sincerity unless she gained something from it. The ball rang and the two headed for each other. Viktor threw punches of which Adonis dodges and goes for the face. Viktor's arms were up dodging them. They are fast moving about the ring, dancing dangerously with each other. Adonis swings and gets a few punches in and then Viktor swings and misses some. But when he gets my brother in the face I jump a bit.

Bianca's hand grabs mine immediately. But Adonis is holding his own. He is seeing the punches and dodging them quite well. He was different from the first fight. With Rocky in his corner he has gotten even better. Adonis would get in some body shots, but Viktor was hardly affected by it. Viktor would swing and Adonis would dodge and get him in the face, spurring Viktor to swing harder and faster, but my brother dodged him getting him again in the face.

Now they were both swinging on each other, their arms fast like lightning. When the bell finally rang, Viktor showed restrained, the two putting their heads together as if to challenge one another. I smiled happy for my brother for being stronger this time, and to my fiancé for not hitting after the bell.

"That work in the desert really paid off." Bianca said happily. I smiled and looked over at Viktor to see his father talking to him. I looked at Ludmilla to see her watching as well. She looks over at us and I can't help but meet her stare. She doesn't glare but she looks at me with a venomous smile as if saying she wins no matter the outcome. I looked away and back to the ring once the bell rang again.

Viktor came in with a huge left hook and I winced watching Adonis' body slouch down from the impact. Viktor was officially on the attack getting my brother against the ropes and pounding into him. Adonis was backed into the corner and I can hear Rocky yelling for him to get out of it.

Viktor gets him right in the face and Adonis holds on to him enough to be thrown to the ground. Viktor jumps at him but restrains himself looking up at me for a quick moment. I curl my fingers into each other and press them to my lips watching him with mild relief for him showing restraint.

But when my brother was back up, Viktor charged him throwing hard punches yet again to the point he knocked Adonis back on the ground. But he stayed down this time, not getting up until the ref got to eight. I nodded at this strategy because by then the bell would be ringing any second.

"Breathe. Ride the count." I replied lowly. Once he was back on his feet, Viktor came at him getting only two punches in before the bell rang. We were all finally sitting down. Bianca and Alexander swapped seats so Alex could talk to me.

"Are you nervous?" he asked and I looked at him a scoff and nod.

"Very. Can't stop my hands from shaking." I announced and he nodded taking my hand and holding it tight giving me an encouraging nod before looking ahead.

It was the third round and I knew the new men were ready for anything. It showed in their moves, the way they grunted and yelled. When Adonis fell, he got right back up. I was clapping and cheering for them both. I just wouldn't call out any names. As the rounds went on, Adonis took numerous hits, hits that to me should have killed a man. But he was still here and he was fighting on. Viktor was getting frustrated, that much I could tell.

All he wants is for my brother to go down and stay down for ten seconds, but my brother won't give that to him.