Page 123 of Sacrifice
“No buts, Jules. If he gets pissed later, blame it on me. I’m going to the gym now to let Sal know if he hasn’t heard about it already. I’ll break it to Crew that he was there so you don’t have to. Butdo nottell him the rest.”
“Are you sure?”
“No.” He laughs. I hear a door shut and a car engine start. “But I think this is our only option.”
“Thanks, Will.”
“Thank me later. Pray for me now that Crew doesn’t kill me for being the messenger.”
FIFTY
CREW
I finish my round with Victor in the ring. This is the last time we’ll spar before the fight.
“Hey, man,” he says, sticking his glove out. I knock it with mine. “Good luck this weekend. You’re ready.”
“Thanks,” I say, climbing over the rope. I take my gloves off and toss them on the floor. I search for Sal, who’s strangely missing from the gym. I turn the corner to his office and see him sitting at his desk, Will across from it.
I lean against the doorframe and watch them. I know something’s going on. I see it on their faces. I feel it in my stomach.
Sal glances at Will and nods. He leans back in his chair and rubs his temple.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Will.
“How was training?”
“Shut up and tell me why you’re here.”
He looks to Sal one more time before pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Sal called me in here to talk about some stuff.”
“What do the two of you need to talk about?”
“Have you heard from Jules today?” Will asks, narrowing his eyes.
“No. I just checked my phone before I got in the ring with Victor. Why? Is Everleigh okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. She’s fine. They’re on their way home, actually.”
I breathe easier until I realize that not only has Will talked to Sal, but also to Julia.
Something’s fucking wrong.
“The NAFL called this evening,” Sal says, his chair rolling back as he stands. “Davidson donated a few thousand dollars to your niece’s care today and they wanted to know if you wanted to make a statement.”
“He did what?”
Sal shrugs. “It’s a publicity stunt, gets him bonus points with some of the fans. I think his camp was taken aback by how many people are rooting for you in this fight. So this just makes him look slightly better in the press.”
“Fuck him,” I say, still not sure I have the whole story. There’s a bubble of uneasiness sitting in my stomach, threatening to burst.
“They’ve got this press release coming out about how generous he is, a modern-day Robin Hood or some shit. They’re spinning this whole thing and making him a saint. It’s disgusting. I don’t know how you want to respond,” Sal says calmly, but I sense the uneasiness in his voice.
“What else?” I look between them, waiting for someone to start saying the things they aren’t saying.
“What else what?” Will asks, not looking me in the eye.
“What else is going on? I’m not fucking stupid.” I look at Sal. “Someone better talk.”
