Page 3 of The Midnight Delivery

ROUND TWO

Alejandro pivoted onhis heels and headed towards a stair case on the right side of the gym which led to a small office on the second floor. The office itself was unkempt, with papers strewn about all over the overly large wooden desk and floor. Large bookcases lined with manuals on human anatomy, fight technique and various sports legends stood as guardians on the walls. The entire left side was nothing but glass which gave a bird’s eye view of the lower landing and the gym floor below. The entire room gave off an air of a physical education teacher.

Alejandro waved his hand to the lone metal folding chair on the opposite side of the desk as he sat in the plush, black leather one behind it. The metal seat was cold and unforgiving, and as I looked into the steely eyes of the man on the other side of the desk, I could see why. We stared at each other for a good minute, with the silence only broken by the rasp of his breaths as he inhaled and exhaled the humid air.

I decided to break the stale-mate. “You know why I’m here?”

Alejandro reached below the desktop and pulled. A drawer slid open and gave him a pack of cigarettes. Choosing one, he placed it in his mouth and lit it with a silver lighter, using his other hand to cover the flame. After a long drag, he leaned back and cast his glance skyward. “What kind of question is that, Ariana? I already told you I did.”

He was trying to push my buttons, but I swallowed hard and ignored the heat as it climbed my neck. This wasn’t unfamiliar territory to me. The men in these negotiations always underestimated me and it proved to be their downfall on many occasions. If Uncle AJ wasn’t careful with the way he dealt with me, he would regret it.Keep it together Ari. This is just another negotiation on behalf of your brother.

“You want me to train Dustin,” he continued. “The Midnight Prize fight is coming up, and you want to win, and to do that you need the best trainer in the business. Me.”

“Will you do it?”

Alejandro leaned forward and returned his seat to its full upright position. He stared at me and searched my face as his eyes danced back and forth in their sockets. Their rapid movements were quite annoying. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for as he studied my expression, but I had long ago perfected the art of showing no tells. If he wanted me to reveal anything, he would be in for a long wait.

“Will youdoit?” I repeated.

“No,” he stated and leaned back in his chair, puffing on his cigarette as he went.

I clenched my fingers into tight balls, but placed them out of sight on my knees. “Why?”

“Don’t get me wrong, Ari. I’d love to, but I can’t.”

“And why not?”

“Because,” he said and took another long drag on that blasted cigarette. “I’ve already placed my own bet, and it’s against Dustin.”

I punched my knees with my fists. “What the hell? Why would you do that?”

“Because you and I both know that as good as Dustin is, he’s not in Hunter’s league as a fighter.”

“Fuck you,” I seethed.

“Don’t be like that, Ari. Any other time, any other fight, I’d have no problem training Dustin. But Damian Wolf is in a whole other category, and I have bills to pay.”

“Fuck your bills. He’s family. He’s your damn nephew.”

“Don’t try to pull on my heartstrings, Ari. You know better than that.”

I did. I’d thought...no, I’d hoped there was a chance this no-good schmuck would be better than I’d remembered. That there would have been some redeeming qualities about him after all this time. Some reason to forgive him for abandoning his brother’s children in our time of need. But, I was wrong.

“This is business, Ari. It’s not personal,” he continued.

I squeezed my fingers as tight as I could and closed my eyes. With a deep inhaled breath, I opened my eyes, stood and exhaled. “It feels pretty personal to me. And don’t call me, ‘Ari.’ You lost that privilege when you turned your back on us the first time. You damn sure don’t get it when you’re turning your back on us for a second time.”

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