Page 39 of Implode

Graham narrows his eyes as he studies my face. “Because it looks like you need to hit someone and it isn’t even noon yet.”

I nod. “Accurate.”

“Turns out, so do I.”

* * *

The cool thing about having an influx of money is that special privileges are granted freely. Just the nameHoffmanholds a lot of power in the city of Portland. Our name implies influence and opportunity. It is easy to walk into the converted warehouse boxing gym and get access to all of the equipment without being on the schedule. The owner knows us and clears out the venue for our own private use. It helps that Graham owns a percentage of the chain and often contributes financially to the upgrades. To him, it is charity. The owner allots time each day for usage of the rings for underprivileged kids, almost as an after-school type program. Angsty teens need a place to expel their pent-up aggression. So, what better place than the ring?

Ironically, it is the same facility where Graham and I often practiced our skills during our high school days. Mom or Dad would take time out of their schedules to drop us off and pick us back up. If it wasn’t for them believing in us, we would have never been the athletes we became. Championships cannot be won without hard work and dedication. It was on these mats where we learned discipline and resilience—life skills that have carried over into our current work ethic.

“What are you in the mood for?” Graham asks me. He knows I am not ready to talk yet. He knows that he needs to coax my emotions out of me in order for me to open up.

“I’m up for whatever.”

“Let’s go old school,” he says with a smirk.

I nod and hit up the locker room to change into a pair of spandex pants and headgear. Graham and I have a stash of equipment here, and the owner hired a worker to handle the laundry in the industrial machines he invested in.

I stretch in the middle of the rubber cushioned ring, making sure my joints and muscles are limber and ready to be challenged. Graham and I are each other’s most worthy opponents because we think alike. This will be fun.

We smack hands with each other and get into position. Hired refs are on standby to facilitate any pickup matches. I wave one over and wait for the whistle to be blown to signify the start.

Graham and I circle each other, looking for an opening. He infiltrates my defensive stance first and does a take down, from which I escape. We scurry about the mat until I can take him down with a trip move and then use an arm bar move to pin him—which he escapes.

After several rounds and no actual score being kept, we call off the referee and really get our sweat on by going freestyle. No points are kept. We just have fun and try to pin each other as our ultimate goal.

“Now are you ready to talk?” Graham asks, tossing me a towel and a bottle of water.

“Tara showed up in my office today.”

“Damn. How did she get through security?”

“That’s a problem I am handling. And trust me, when I find out who let her through, they will pay the price of losing their job and being blacklisted from the industry. It is unacceptable. I thought I made myself clear to every worker who managed to not get fired thus far that I do not piss around.”

“Yeah, you’ve made quite the name for yourself at HH,” Graham says with a slight edge of humor to his tone. “You even earned a new nickname.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. It’s all hearsay though.”

“Do share,” I chuckle. “I’m sure it’s a good one.”

“Oh, it is. Rumor has it that you are basically known as The Nictator.”

“That’s cute,” I deadpan. I wonder who orchestrated that development?

“Jokes aside, I’m relieved that I have one less worry with you taking up the lead on all of this.”

“Not sure how good of a job I’m doing when there are still people sneaking into the building in broad daylight,” I mutter, clearly annoyed. I run the clean white towel over my face and neck, gathering up my sweat. It feels great to work out. Already I can tell my mood is less hostile.

“I have confidence that you will figure this all out.”

I nod, taking a big sip from my water bottle. “And when I do, those who have double-crossed me will pay.”

“I have zero doubt.”

* * *

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