AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He opened his arms and she snuggled into him never caring about his sweaty body. Although with the basketball under her shirt it was hard for her to give him a proper hug. Mandy’s calming influence helped him channel his aggressions to fighting in the cage.
Mandy beamed up at him. “You’re unbeatable.”
Mamba covered her lips with his, oblivious to the shifting people around them. When they were together it was just Mamba and Mandy who existed. Even the fight bunnies who hit on every fighter had given up on Mamba.
He broke away from the kiss shielding her with his body as they made their way to the locker rooms. He stopped along the way to sign T-shirts, ball caps, and all kinds of crazy shit as reporters shoved microphones in his face with a litany of questions. “Will you still fight after the baby’s born? How does Mandy feel about you fighting now that she’s pregnant? Will Mandy let you keep fighting after the baby’s born?”
Mamba fielded the same questions each week in different forms, but they all centered on the same topic, his personal life. The reporters seldom asked questions about his actual fighting or any of his upcoming fights. For whatever reason, the public loved to hear about the roughed-up cage fighter, and his delicate pregnant woman. Seemed the public made him, Mandy, and their unborn child the latest intriguing story in a world consumed by reality TV.
They finally made it to the locker room where Python made sure the only ones who entered were the other Serpents, Mamba’s trainer, and one of the owners of the warehouse, Samson.
Mamba pointed at Mandy, then ordered, “I want you to sit down.”
She gave him a small salute, and Mamba headed for the showers.
Fifteen minutes later, he was showered, changed and ready to go. “Party at our house.” Mamba swept his arm around the room including all the Serpents and Samson.
The fight ended at eleven and Mamba loved to entertain the guys at his newly purchased four thousand square foot house in the Spanish Trail section of the Las Vegas suburb. The place represented a stability and a sense of permanence. Mandy argued they didn’t need such a lavish home, but Mamba insisted telling her he wanted her to only have the best.
Samson flanked him. “Can I have a word?”
Mamba nodded to Python. “Take Mandy to the SUV. I’ll be out in a minute.” He stopped letting her ride the back of his Harley two months ago. She ragged on him for being overprotective but he stood firm. If being a little overprotective kept them safe then it was all good.
Nothing was gonna mess with his good fortune.
“What’s up?” Mamba faced Samson. They were equal in size, but Samson’s somber expression tightened Mamba’s gut.
Two years ago, Samson and his friend Nick came to Vegas looking for a new home for their multi-million-dollar nightclub, away from the ties of the New York mob. The Serpents helped them with some connections and investments, and they opened Club Wicked to rave reviews. One of the investments was the Valley View warehouse. Over the last year, Samson and Mamba developed a fast friendship centering around their love of throwing fists in the cage, bad past decisions, and fatal addictions.
“I’ve been hearing some disturbing shit going around.” Samson didn’t beat around the bush, which Mamba usually appreciated.
“Like?”
“Like you’ve been borrowing money from the wrong people.”
“Who’d you hear that from?”
“Not important, but my source is seldom wrong, and if—”
“Your source is wrong.” Mamba plastered his signature smirk in place. “I don’t owe any money.”
“I don’t wanna get in your business, but if you need something, come to me or the Serpents, not somebody who’s gonna cut off your balls the first time you miss a payment.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mamba waved his arm around the locker room. “Why would I need to borrow money with the take I make on the fights?”
“Shit is expensive, I get it and with a kid on the way, plus—”
“You and whoever got it all wrong. I got everything under control.”
“All right.” Samson cocked his head. “But if you don’t, these are not the guys you wanna owe.”
“You worry too much, fucker.” Mamba gripped Samson around the shoulders. Along with the Serpents, Mamba counted Samson as a trusted friend. “Now, let’s go to my place, and have a cold beer.”
* * *
Hours later,after everyone left, Mamba stood on the balcony off their bedroom overlooking the freestyle in-ground pool, the mini lights illuminating the path to the covered outdoor area complete with a full kitchen and bar. The view never got old and the satisfaction of knowing he provided this for Mandy and their unborn child made it all the sweeter.
Living on the road with his old man traveling from one shit hole gym to another until the booze made him unable to fight. Making do and doing without were a way of life. Then crazy enough, Mamba copied the same lifestyle. He started throwing his fists in underground, unsanctioned fights, and picking up random snatch for the night. Meeting Python at an abandoned garage in North Vegas led to meeting Cobra, and after a rocky start and almost a year of prospecting he became a Serpent. That day, and getting with Mandy, changed his life, and he swore he’d never put any of it in jeopardy.
