Page 56 of Heartbreaker
Tonight is all about puttingRykerover, setting up his character to become EWE’s new big bad so he can successfully lead the new faction. The faction is meant to include only the wrestlers deemed the most “elite” by none other than Chelsea, and soon her brother Theo when he makes his on-screen return. The wrestlers involved in this faction, namedThe Corporation, will be aligned with the Raffertys (“corporate”) and will be deemed part of the show’s authority. And tonight,The Corporationis adding a new person to their clique. Who is it? I’m not sure, but whoever it is will be coming toRyker’s aid very soon. AfterBrooks Taylor“turned” onChelseafollowing my win for her against her brother, it was only a matter of time before she came after me. That story was one of the few times I’ve pushed back on a storyline and won. Amos came to me with the idea for a love interest storyline betweenBrooks TaylorandChelsea, but it wasn’t something I felt comfortable with. Want me to be her lackey? Sure. Want me to do her bidding? You got it. But getting involved with the boss’s daughter felt like crossing a line, one that I wasn’t willing to cross. And now, I’m suffering the consequences.
Rykerrolls out of the ring and throws me into the barricade. My back absorbs most of the shock, but a small twinge shoots through my shoulder where I land on it. The crowd explodes when he looks to them for approval, and I struggle to get back to my feet. We’ve always had a love-hate relationship, the fans and I, but when the time comes for them to be on my side, they never disappoint. Besides, sometimes it’s fun being the guy they love to hate, even if I’m not a heel.
Colinlifts the apron that covers the belly of the ring. Under the ring is where you’ll find an array of different treasures—tables, ladders, chairs, Kendo sticks, maybe even one of the production crew members—all at our disposal. From my spot against the barricade, I see him pull out a Kendo stick.
Fuck, I groan.
Kendo sticks are hollow bamboo shoots taped together at each end. The tape allows them to spread apart when smashed against your opponent, and the impact hurts like hell. Using the barricade, I pull myself up, only to fall back to one knee whenRykerstrikes the stick across my back.
“Oh, that’s gotta hurt,” I overhearScott Harringtonsay from behind the announcer’s desk.
You fucking think, Scott?
“I thought you were the champ,”Colinsays, and another strike follows. “Look more like a chump to me.” He goes for another swing, but this time, I catch the stick in the palm of my hand, and his eyes widen.
I rip the stick from his hands and toss it behind me, butRykertakes off around the ring. And as much as I don’t want to follow, I do, only to be met with a “surprise” boot to the face. The impact sends me back down to the floor and puts my opponent back in control of the match. I watch him dig through the underpart of the ring again, this time pulling out two steel chairs. He tosses them over the ropes and into the ring before he turns back to me. I give him an inconspicuous nod, and he reaches down, hauling me to my feet and pushing me under the bottom rope.
Rykerslides into the ring and picks up one of the chairs. He waits until I’m about halfway up before he swings. The strike doesn’t land flat like it should. Instead, it’s turned slightly on impact, and I feel the metal edge scratch the side of my head. The sound it makes is sickening, and the crowd gasps when I fall to one knee. My hand instinctively reaches up when I feel the first bead down the side of my face—blood.Shit.
Savannah’s backstage watching, and she’s not going to be happy when she sees this. She warned me about working with Colin—told me how he used to get a little rough in the ring while they were in NextGen. He liked to do things like rip the padding of the turnbuckle or undo the tape on the ropes before throwing his opponent into it without much warning.Colin Rykeris a heel through and through, no doubt about that, and he knows putting a beatdown on someone like me is one of the best ways to make a name for himself. But that’s part of what we do; sometimes we work with people who aren’t as fluid—aren’t as nuanced—and that’s okay. We make it work. We help them become better. That’s the name of the game, and it’s always a risk when you step foot in the squared circle.
It’s not a lot of blood, but enough to elicit a reaction from Mike, the referee. “You good?”
I nod, waving him off. This is nothing. I’ve competed with blood pouring down my face before. I’ve competed with a torn muscle. I can handle a little scrape. Wiping my hand on my pants, I don’t have to look to knowRykeris standing behind me, teeth bared, poised to strike again, but then everything comes to a halt.
The crowd erupts whenSavvy Skye’s music follows her down the ramp as she seemingly comes to my aid. What is she doing? She’s supposed to be banned from ringside. Everyone is banned, except…
Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
“Get out of here, Skye!” the referee yells, but she steps through the ropes anyway, as if she doesn’t hear him.
She comes to stand in front of me, eyes locked onColin Ryker, daring my opponent to take a step forward, until I watch her face slowly morph into something more sinister on the big screen.Brooks Taylorcan’t react, though. So, I’m forced to play along. Pretend I haven’t noticed.
A twisted smile crosses her lips—fuck, that was kind of hot—andColinlaughs, handing over the chair. The referee tries to interfere, but the look inRyker’s eye sends him stumbling back a few paces. It takes a moment for the crowd to catch up to what’s happening, and when I finally come to my feet, my opponent nods.
Savvyturns, shoving the edge of the chair into my gut before hitting me over the head. When I fall to the mat, she smashes the steel across my back—once, twice, three times. Damage done, she drops the chair beside me, and through the slits of my eyes, I watch her slowly back herself into the corner.
“What is she doing?” I can hearJude Paul’s voice from the commentator’s table, along with so many others in the crowd. “Savvy Skye has just turned against Brooks Taylor.”
Savvysilently sits on the top turnbuckle, watching asColinfinishes the match. He spears me when I stagger to my feet, then rolls me onto my back, hooking my leg for the pin. The referee refuses to start the count. This is exactly howRykerand I planned it. Well, how the writers planned it, except for the part where they forgot to mention it was my girlfriend who would interfere.
Any second now, we’ll be joined by—
“What are you waiting for?”Chelsea’s scratchy female voice comes over the speakers. She walks out from backstage, standing at the top of the ramp. “Count!Now!”
The referee looks between the four of us, and with a heavy sigh, he falls to the mat. His hand comes down three times, declaringColin Rykerthe winner.
Still perched on the rope,Savvydoesn’t even look at the man she just aided in my demise; instead, her gaze is locked on me. Her walls are up, keeping her personal feelings about this locked away, not even allowing me to penetrate them. Finally, she rips her gaze from mine, jumping down and ripping the belt from the referee’s hands as soon as he collects it. She gives it toColinand raises his hand in victory. She bites down on her bottom lip, beaming up at him, but looks away when he tries to lean down for a kiss.
At least I didn’t have to watchthat.
He leans down again, this time whispering something in her ear before she nods.Savvypicks up the chair again, running her fingers over the edges of the slick metal. She glances at me, unfolding and sitting it on top of my chest, pinning me for the second time tonight. The pressure is instantaneous, knocking the air out of my lungs, and I remind myself to breathe. This is Savannah. My girlfriend. While she might be working a storyline, she isn’t going to do anything that will actually hurt me. She hasn’t remotely put any weight on the seat. I can’t see, but I can guess she’s hovering above it, only making it appear like she’s sitting down. Still, I struggle beneath her, selling the moment.
Savvysits backwards, showing no remorse for what she just did. She stares down at me over the back of the chair, straight into my eyes, as she speaks. “You never saw it coming, did you, baby?” Her voice is sickeningly sweet before she scoffs. “You were so busy playing the hero, you didn’t see what was happening right under your nose. Theysaw me for what I really am, but you, Brooks Taylor…you thought I was just here to be your cheerleader.To stand on the sidelines and help you shine. I’m not here foryou.I was never here for you.I’m here for me.”
When she stands, I push the chair off my chest and take in a large gulp of air.Savvypauses at the ropes, meeting my gaze over her shoulder one last time, and for a brief moment, I’m looking at Savannah, notSavvy Skye. The hint of a smile, almost remorseful, tugs at her lips.
“Let’s go, Skye!”Chelsea’s voice echoes down the ramp. I shake my head, pleading with her to stay, because that’s whatBrooks Taylorwould do. And that’s who I’m supposed to be right now, not John Brooks.Savvytakes the final step out of the ring and jumps down from the apron. She walks backwards up the ramp to a chorus of boos, watching the officials surround the ring to check on me, but I shoo them away. I don’t need their help. I pull myself up using the ropes and watch asChelseagrabs hold ofSavvy’s wrist and lifts her hand into the air.
