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“He won’t.” I’m quick to answer. “If anything he would recognize both of you. He only knows my name. I’ve never come across him at all in person, and we made sure to scrub all records that would have my picture somewhere.”
“He’s right, Knox.” Steel grunts in agreement. “We’re going to need to stay on the down low. Boss,” he looks in the rearview mirror at me. “You good to go in without us then?”
“Yeah, just let me out, go park, and find your seats. I don’t need you for this.” I slide across the seat and move to open the door. “Make sure to call in one of the guys Aiden wouldn’t recognize. I’m going to need a team manager and a medic it looks like now.”
“Got it. Go knock ‘em dead.” Steel puts our SUV in park, letting me get out.
I trust the guys to do what needs to be done. We already have a couple of people mixed into the crowd to keep a watch on everyone so nothing looks suspicious. I’m sure they will just switch out with those we have here instead of waiting for more backup. The fewer people involved, the better. I don’t want Robert getting suspicious at all about things.
Keeping my back straight and my head high I exit the vehicle and move towards the entrance doing my best to ignore the other fighters. We will all have our time to chat while inside waiting for introductions. I give a small nod to the man doing security at the front as his partner pats me down to make sure I don’t have any weapons before walking through the metal detector. With a quick check, they let me through to continue inside and tell me to follow the signs for fighters. I have a feeling we’re all going to be a separate room away from everyone until announcements are made. Robert does love to put a dramatic flare on everything.
All the signs point me to the locker room where I assume we all will get ready after this. I see three other fighters I’m not familiar with already waiting in the room. Each has taken a seat in front of an open cubby, and I can see they already took the time to unpack some of their items and hang them up. One of them gives me a questioning look when I get in the room. I can see them trying to assess me, and I’m sure they are wondering why I don’t have a bag with my items in it. My career has taught me to be cautious around everyone. No longer will I leave my items unattended, especially at a large event like this. I don’t trust these other fighters to not do anything to my stuff. All of us are here for one reason or another, and I won’t risk losing because another fighter decided to try to get an advantage somehow. The guys have my bag with all my fight stuff in the car, and it will be brought in only when it’s time, and then it will remain with one of my brothers until the end.
“Who are you?” the male who was staring at me questions. The male has a buzzcut and looks like he would be a bouncer or maybe a security guard who’s only there for muscle. He’s on the larger side with some strong shoulders. I’m almost positive he doesn’t have the skill to be a strong fighter. Though I’ve been known to be wrong in the past, I doubt I am this time. His tone alone makes me think he is trying to seem a lot tougher than he is.
“Parker. You?” I retort, keeping my answer short. The less anyone knows about me, the better. I don’t need rumors spreading or information getting back to the wrong person.
“Never heard of you,” my opponent grunts.
Guess he’s not going to give his name.
Discreetly I slip my phone out of my pocket and snap a quick picture of the male while I walk towards one of the lockers opposite where the three sit. I shoot a quick text off to Sky with the pic, knowing she will get me all the information I need about him. I need to know for sure if any of these men have ties to someone I need to be worried about should they lose.
Knowing it will take her a few minutes to get me a basic background, I put my phone in the inside pocket of my jacket to wait. Leaning back against the wall dividing the cubby holes I close my eyes, cross my arms across my chest, and wait. Hopefully, it won’t be too much longer.
A few minutes later I hear the door to the locker room open once again and several voices speaking. Still, I keep my eyes closed, waiting. It’s not like one of them could get the drop on me this way. Plus I learned a long time ago that doing this tends to freak some people out. Which makes it all the better come the time to fight.
The male who previously questioned me began to raise his voice when I heard Aiden enter the room last. Clearly, the two had some issues and didn’t get along. I’m not all that surprised, to be honest with everything I know about Aiden Mason. His past is just as shady as he is. Knox and Steel met him while we were serving. They all went through basic training together before Aiden was dishonorably discharged not even two years into his four. He also had a thing with Knox’s sister during that time. It did not end well. Knox and Steel have wanted revenge since, but Rachel won’t let them. I didn’t know all of them when things went down, but I was there for the aftermath. Rachel tried to kill herself several times before she up and disappeared, cutting Knox and Steel off. It wasn’t until months later that she reached out to me for help talking to her brothers. She swore me to secrecy and to this day I still haven’t told her brothers everything I know, but their relationship has greatly improved and we go to her house for dinner once a month.
“Gentleman,” a female clears her throat as she enters. With her words, I open my eyes and turn to look at the newcomer. She’s on the taller side and wearing a black pantsuit that makes her stand out from all the evening wear I’ve seen so far tonight. In her hands is a clipboard giving away that she is clearly in charge of wrangling us all. “Welcome to opening night! All of us are so glad you could join us for this event. Mr. Delcoure is excited to see what you all have to offer. I’m April Sawyer and will be in charge of you all tonight. If you could follow me, I’ll take you out to the stage for introductions. Please line up according to your last names when I call you. It will make introductions easier.”
One by one she calls out each of our last names, and we head out the door to wait in the hallway. When she calls out Smith, I’m finally able to at least put a last name with the face of the male who questioned me when I walked in. I should have known a man like him would have an unoriginal last name. By the time she’s gotten through all eight of us, I can hear loud music starting up from up the hall. At the same time, my phone buzzes in my chest pocket letting me know Sky finally got back to me with all the information. I’ll have to check out when we get back to the locker room.
It’s go time.
Each of us follows April down the hall towards the stage. The closer we get, the more I can feel the thumping of the music through my body. Like always I can feel my muscles loosening, getting ready for later. Heavy bass music like this always gets my blood pumping.
She leads us down a small hallway that comes up to a large black curtain. “Wait here for your name to be called. Once it is, you can enter through this curtain.”
April leaves us standing as she walks through the same curtain in front of us. When she does, the music stops, and silence takes over the arena. I can hear her beginning her speech and introducing herself to the event. Once more the tension of what I’m about to do washes over me. A small part of me is hoping that Emma will be in attendance tonight for us all to see, but at the same time, I have a sinking suspicion that Robert is going to keep her hidden until the very end.
“Now, let’s welcome each of our fighters to the stage!” April's voice echoes.
One by one she calls out our names and announces what gym we belong to. Four names are called before she reaches my own. Cracking my neck, I take a deep breath and walk forward knowing she’s about to announce me.
“Please welcome Parker Ryan to the stage! He is representing Unarmored MMA Gym. He has been involved in the MMA world since high school but took a small reprieve for several years to help his family. Now he is back to show the world what he’s got and reintroduce himself into the fighting world!”
As April finishes her speech, loud cheers ring out while I walk across the stage. Giving a wave to everyone I move to where the other fighters are standing on the far side of the stage. With the bright lights beating down on us it’s hard to see most of the crowd. I can tell the whole area is full of guests but making out individual faces is hard. Scanning through the faces I can see, I notice Knox sitting in one of the front rows cheering loudly for me. When he sees me, he gives me a small nod that no one else would notice if they weren't looking for it.
The last fighters are all called up on stage one by one each getting the same greeting from the crowd. I’m not surprised to see everyone pumped up for an event like this. Robert always did have a flair for the dramatic. It’s just disgusting he is doing this to his youngest daughter. Emma always deserved better than everyone in the family. Her heart was so full of love, and she just wanted to make the world a better place than she found it. I just hope Robert didn’t take that from her.
“Folks, that is all of our fighters for this event,” April’s voice sounds so chipper as she begins her closing remarks. “Before the fights get underway, how about we let Mr. Delcoure say a few words of wisdom and luck to our fighters.”
The spotlights dim around those of us on stage as a bright light shone up to one of the boxes off on our right. Turning I follow the direction everyone else is looking, and that’s when I see her.
Emma.
A small gasp escapes me as I look at her. She is still as beautiful as she was ten years ago. The red dress she wears stands in contrast to her paler skin. God, what I wouldn’t give to be able to wrap her in my arms and kiss her deeply. Never again will we be parted.
