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“How did you get here?” I ask knowing she didn’t drive herself to practice today. She told me her friends had picked her up and she promised me they would take her home if I couldn’t tonight.
“Walked,” she mumbles and shrugs her shoulders.
Unwinding her from my arms, I walk her over to a bench nearby so she can sit while I work. “I’ll take you home when I finish this car. Do you need anything?”
“Nope, take your time. I like watching you work,” she winks and pulls out her phone. “Mind if I change the music, though?”
With a nod I let her have control of the music while I get back down under the car. The sooner I get this thing done, the sooner I’ll get to take her out for some fun before she has to be home. I know since it’s summer her father gave her a curfew of ten pm to be home every night. I know he did it to give her a sense of freedom, but that asshole tracks her every move as it is. He knew his words would drive her to come to find me here. I’m sure he was hoping to get a raise out of me, but I won’t give him what he wants.
For the next two hours, while I finished up the car, Emma played music, danced, and even helped me a couple of times. It was relaxing and made the time go by faster. Too soon it was dark in the shop, with night taking over and reminding me I would need to get her home. That was always the part I hated the most, that Emma was left dealing with the chaos in her own home that I couldn’t protect her from. One day I promised myself she would be free of it all, safe and happy, living the life she always dreamed of.
TWENTY-THREE
TREVOR
Looking at Emma curled up next to me in bed, sound asleep, is almost enough to convince me not to get out of bed. I love having her lying next to me; this is what heaven is supposed to feel like. If you had asked me in high school what I thought my future would look like, I would have said something like this. Waking up every day with Emma in my arms, us living the life we built for ourselves with as many kids as she wanted running around. I’m still determined to ensure that is the future we have together.
Our paths went separate ways after high school, and that’s a regret I will always have to live with even if I did it to save her. I missed out on these early years with Alexis, but I know we will have more kids that I can experience that with someday, hopefully soon. These years we spent apart gave me the resources needed to ensure both of my girls are safe and live happy lives. Even if it kills me, I will see them free from Robert Delcoure.
Slowly, I ease myself out from under Emma and quietly move about the room gathering some clothes. As silently as I can, I open and close the bedroom door, making sure I don’t wake her up. In the past, I knew she could be a heavy sleeper, but now I’m not so sure anymore, even with me having exhausted her all night. When I get to the kitchen, I hear a car coming up the driveway and recognize it as Steels. That first day Emma seemed to feel relaxed around Steel which is why I chose to have him come stay with the girls rather than Knox. He may joke around and ensure Emma does stress over my absence, but he will also keep them safe.
“Hey man,” he calls out softly as he enters the front door. “You ready for tonight?”
“Hey, coffee?” I question, pulling down a second mug while I get the pot started. I completely ignore his question because I’m not entirely sure how to answer it.
“Sure, make it black like my soul,” he chuckles, taking a seat at the kitchen bar. “For real though man, you good? I’ll make sure those girls of yours are safe. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
“I know you’ll keep them safe,” I answer, leaning back against the counter while I wait for the coffee to brew. “I just don’t like leaving them when I just got them back. At the same time, though, I will always do what’s needed to keep both of them safe. Going to this fight tonight is exactly what will ensure that.”
“I'm pretty sure we have enough to take him down without going about it this way,” Steel argues. He’s just playing devil's advocate, I think, but he’s wrong.
“No, I want to have every single piece of information that we can. I won’t risk Emma and Alexis that way. Before you say it, I know you know what he’s capable of, but you weren’t here to witness the hell he put Emma through in high school and the lengths I went through to protect her.”
“You don’t need to tell me twice, Trev. I’m not here to argue with you.” Steel backpedals and tries to soothe my temper.
The coffee finishes brewing just in time for me to not need to answer him just yet. Turning back around to the pot, I grab it and fill the two cups I had pulled out for both of us. Once they're both full, I hand Steel his and grab some sugar and cream to add to mine before settling back against the counter to look at my brother. Silence fills the kitchen as we both drink our coffee, but it isn’t uncomfortable. Steel knows my need for quiet is my way of thinking about everything going on, not just at work but now here with this mission. There are always so many moving pieces that ensuring each one is in place takes time and focus. This week away with my girls was a nice break, but now, tonight, I have to get back into the mental focus required for taking down the Delcoure empire.
“Finish your coffee and get out of here before the girls wake up,” Steel instructs moving away from the kitchen and towards the living room. “The girls will be safe here with me and the Chaos Brotherhood are only a phone call away as a backup. Kick their asses tonight and show them who the Rockport Gym is.”
“You mean a gym we made up so I could compete?” I muse, throwing back the last of my coffee.
“Yeah, that one,” he sighs, grabbing the remote and kicking his feet up on the coffee table. I really want to tell him to put them down, but it’s just not worth the fight this early in the morning.
“Take care of girls. I’ll be back tomorrow morning if they ask.” Grabbing my keys from the small bowl I placed them in when we first arrived next to the door, I head out quietly. The drive back is going to be hell knowing I left the two people who are my world behind. I figure a stop by the office would make the day pass by quickly before the fight tonight. Knox and Sky should have some plans for the night, and I want to see if we have any more information uncovered yet. Sky thought she was close with some of Williams' finances. The Delcoure heir is shit at covering his tracks, thinking daddy's money is going to keep him protected. Jokes are on him.
* * *
“Everything good, man?”Knox questions as I enter our offices.
“Yeah, Steel has the girls and the Brotherhood is his backup. Everything ready for tonight?” I question as I head toward my office knowing he’s going to follow.
“We’re all set. Rome is going to be down on the floor with you again. I’ll be closer to the floor as well. I’m not taking any risks with your life after what happened last week in the ring. That Charles dude never should have died. The ref should have called the fight way before that.”
I can hear the worry in his voice and just thinking about what happened last week makes the hair on the back of my neck stand. He’s right. No one should have died during that fight. Sure, it’s a risk we all accepted signing up for this, but the ref could have one hundred percent prevented it. Going into this week, it will probably be more of the same. Underhanded tactics and illegal moves. Anything that would give a fighter the upper hand in winning.
“I’ll watch my back,” I answer, taking a seat behind my desk. “We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. What’s been going on for the week? Catch me up.”
For the next three hours, Knox spent the time in my office filling me in on everything business-wise that I missed. We went over all the security details we have next week, but he saved the best for last. Meaning, he told me that Sky was personally requested to work the Damned Ember concert next Thursday, and a special letter was provided with the request. No one had told her of the special request yet. My brothers saved that for me to be responsible to do. Them fuckers knew she wasn’t going to be happy about it. Sky preferred to stay behind the computer rather than go in person to details. Rarely did she and even then it has only recently been happening with the fights.
