Page 108 of Sacrifice
“Lowell from Boston MMA. Davidson, this is for you. We know the last time you met with Gentry, he took you to the final minute of the fight. And he beat you. Granted, you’re both in much different places right now, but what’s your prediction of this fight?”
Davidson’s laughter fills the room. It’s like nails down a chalkboard. “Yeah, I’d say we’re in a different place right now. I’m a professional fighter, the champ no less, and he’s making eighteen dollars an hour on the docks.” I don’t know what he does, but the crowd laughs again. “Seriously, none of my opponents have taken me outta round two. I think it’s safe to say this fight will be ended fast and hard.”
“Oni from One Division. Gentry, your last fight that we know of took place against Davidson and concurrently ended your career. Now you’re back. What makes you think you can walk back into the fighting world and be competitive?”
Oni gives the mic back and stands with his notepad and watches me. He has on his requisite MMA shirt and smarmy smile. I laugh because no matter what I say, a guy like this won’t get it.
I lean towards the mic attached to the table in front of me. “Once a fighter, always a fighter.”
The journalists all begin chattering, cameras clicking again, and I lean back and watch.
“Jerry from Meosho Tribune. Gentry, word going around is that you’re fighting so your niece can get a medical procedure. Is that true? If so, are you prepared to fight or are you just doing it for a paycheck?”
“Let me cut in here real quick,” Kyle says, glancing at me. “Crew’s contract is an all or nothing deal, which means if he doesn’t win, he gets nothing. He only gets paid if he wins. So I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say the kid is ready to fight. It’d be pointless otherwise.”
“It’s pointless anyway,.” Davidson chuckles through his mic.
I start to scoot my chair back when Sal shakes his head and points again to his temple.
Breathe.
“The rumors are partially true,” I say, feeling one hundred sets of eyes on me. “My niece is sick and I will pay for her treatment with my winnings. But I can’t say I’m not chomping at the bit to knock this guy out.”
“So, you’re predicting a knockout?” Jerry asks, pulling the mic back in front of him. “Can we quote you on that?”
I shrug. “Quote what you want. I’m telling you I’ll win this fight.”
“Lisa with Sports One. Gentry, what can you tell us about your niece? How serious is it?”
“I want to keep the focus on the fight, on me and Davidson. Whatever happens after the fight, what I do with my earnings, is none of anyone’s concern.”
“You seem very sure of yourself,” she replies.
“I’m just sure of what I know.”
“Don with Qurom. Davidson, does what your opponent is fighting for make any difference to you?”
“You know,” Davidson says, “the charitable side of me almost just paid the tab. But I got to thinking about it and the fighter side of me couldn’t pass up the opportunity to kick this guy’s ass.”
“Frank with The Tribe. Davidson, what are you looking forward to most about this fight? You’ve already been quoted as saying you think it’s going to be ‘fun.’ Is that what you’re excited about? Or is it clearing your record? Maybe giving the fans something they’ve been demanding for the past few months?”
“Frank, I’m ready for all of it. Getting in the ring is like home to me. The people in this organization, the fans, they’ve all been great to me and just slipping inside the cage is the only place I want to be. Getting to humiliate this guy in the process is the cherry on top.”
“Do you worry that maybe getting in the ring with the one guy that’s beat you is a bad idea?” Jerry asks him. “Have you considered what’ll happen to your career if he beats you again?”
Davidson laughs loudly. “Uh, no. I haven’t. Let’s be real.”
“I like that question, Jerry,” I say, causing the room to erupt.
“Do you think you have the key to stopping him?” someone shouts from across the room.
“I think the past speaks for itself,” I say into the mic. “I have nothing to prove. I’m just going to go out there and do what I know how to do: beat him.”
“I’ve waited for this day for years,” Davidson says, turning in his chair. Kyle steps back so we’re looking directly at each other. It doesn’t get by me that three large men step onto the stage discreetly, there to keep us from ripping into each other right here. “You might have gotten one over on me in our younger years, but I’ll guarantee you I will destroy you. It’s gonna hurt, brother, hurt like a bitch.” He leans towards me and away from the mic. With a lowered voice and a glimmer in his eye, he says, “You’ll be in the ground before your niece.”
I’m off the chair in a flash, sending it barreling back into the table. I lunge at Hunter, blood soaring in my eardrums so loudly that I’m oblivious to the commotion my actions have caused below. He stands and I’m twisting to throw my first punch when I’m grabbed from behind and pulled backwards.
I fight against the security, ripping my arms out of their grasps. I struggle forward, needing to feel his blood on me, when I’m hit with another set of arms around my waist.
