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I knew I’d get answers from this guy. “He teaches them how to fight? A group of delinquent boys? Is that good?” Shit! There’s a story here. I know it.
No. Lix is forever off-limits when it comes to stories. At least the ones for the public or profit.
“It teaches them discipline and how to protect themselves,” Rudy explains.
“And the detention is okay with this?”
He nods. “There are rules. If boys are caught fighting outside the gym, they are banned forever. Most of the kids want to be a part of it. A part of something. They can come and work out whenever they want. Burn off some steam. Most rifts are settled in the ring, where one of us volunteers can supervise. The fights in the facility are the lowest they have ever been because of this gym.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he’s started something great for these boys. Mr. Daxon has two more in the works, one in Tampa and one in Hopewell.”
I stare at the man. How has he kept this a secret? Why has no one discovered his generosity? “How do you know Lix? I mean, Mr. Daxon.”
“You mean Slick Lix?” He laughs. “We go way back to the days when he was in the Fort Lauderdale detention. I was a guard there. A friend of mine saw good things in Mr. Daxon. He asked me to keep an eye on him. And he was right.” Rudy turns to watch Lix in the ring, training one of the boys. “Mr. Daxon, he’s grown into a fine man.”
“Who was your friend?”
Rudy’s brown eyes slide to me. “Frank Cohen, also known as—”
“Reacher,” I finish, goosebumps rippling over my flesh.
His head tips to the side. “You know him?”
“He was my uncle.”
“Ah, yes.” His eyes crease with a warm smile. “Chosen. I thought I heard that name before. Frank talked about you all the time. It’s terrible what happened to him. He was a good man. He was dedicated to these boys. Never gave up on them, just like Mr. Daxon. Oh, I’m sorry.” He touches my arm. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Eyes burning, a tear slips out. “I’m not upset.” I sniffle. “I’m proud.”
“You should be.” He smiles. “Is that how you know Mr. Daxon? Through your uncle?”
“Yes.” I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “You could say he brought us together.” I laugh.
“Strange how things happen.” He stares at me for a few seconds. “Fighting helped Mr. Daxon survive when he was a kid, and now he uses it to help others.”
“He mentioned he gives his MMA winnings to charity, but he didn’t tell me about this.” I wave my hand at the gym.
“Sometimes it’s easier to show people rather than tell them. And he obviously cares about you because you’re the first person he’s ever brought here.”
“He hasn’t brought his brothers?”
“No.” His eyebrows squish together. “I didn’t know he had brothers.”
“Yes. Two. They’re older than him. But it makes sense. They’re very close, but I feel like they all have their secrets. Ones they keep hidden to protect each other. They’re good men. All of them. They’re like him.”
“Ah, so they’re heroes.” He nods. “True heroes are the ones who do things without recognition, like your uncle. Everything Frank did, he did without recognition but the results,” he says, looking at Lix. “They can be exemplary. Your uncle believed in that kid, and look at the man he’s become.”
“Yes.” I admire Lix from afar. “Look at him after everything he’s been through.”
“Have you ever heard of monomyth?”
“No.” I shift back to Rudy.
“It’s a hero’s journey. There are said to be three stages. First, there’s the departure. When the hero departs from the world he knows. In stage two, initiation, he faces a series of trials and tribulations. And the last stage is the return. Having endured the trials, the hero is no longer the same, but he’s learned to embrace himself. I don’t know Mr. Daxon’s past, but I do believe he’s embraced it.”
“You’re a very smart man, Rudy.” I smile.
