Page 43 of Fight Me Daddy

Calix

The last thingI'd expected to see the night before was Gabriele. He'd appeared out of nowhere and when we'd made eye contact, it took everything in me not to climb out of the ring and ask him what the hell his problem was. At least once I saw him there it spurred my irritation and I focused more than I ever had before.

Thanks for the win, Gabriele.

"Carlos, come over here!"

I glanced up and acknowledged Mickey as he raised his hand. Maybe one day I'll tell him my real name. I felt bad about lying to him, but considering I was meeting him in a seedy bar, I had no idea what he was involved with. And I couldn't let anything stain the name I had slowly made for myself in the world of MMA.

Mickey grinned as I walked over. He slid a bottle of beer toward me and I took it. After last night, finally seeing Gabriele after he went a-wall, I needed a thousand drinks. I could still feel his hand touching mine and see the concern etched on his face even though it had been twenty-four hours since I’d been anywhere near him.

He feels bad, but that's his problem.

I sat down across from Mickey. There was another man with him with red hair and a beard. He smiled at me and gave a short nod. I returned the gesture before I picked up my beer and took a long chug of it.

"You alright there, boyo?" Mickey asked.

I shook myself free of the melancholy that sat on my shoulders like stones. "Yeah, yeah I'm alright," I said with a small smile. "What are we doing here and who's this?" I asked, quickly turning the conversation away from me.

"This is Conor Kelley," he said with a nod. "My boss."

Conor reached out a hand. "Carlos, it’s nice to meet you," he said and I noted his thick Irish accent that matched Mickey's.

I shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too."

"Skip all the pleasantries," Mickey laughed. "Carlos, you mentioned you needed money fast last time we hung out and I found a perfect solution for you."

I raised a brow. "What kind of solution?"

"It's nothing illegal," Conor cut in as he grinned. "Well, no more illegal than what you’ve been doing already. Although it's probably more dangerous."

"Okay," I said slowly. "What is it?"

Conor raised a hand. "Let's have another drink first. Do you want a beer or something stronger?"

"Well, I don't know what you're about to ask me to do so let's go with something stronger."

He chuckled. "I like you," he said before he turned to the waitress. "Two shots of your best whiskey. And Mickey, take a hike."

Mickey groaned. "You're so paranoid."

"Go," Conor said calmly.

Mickey gave me an apologetic look before he pushed out of the booth and walked toward the front door. It was just me and Conor now. My stomach clenched and it took everything not to show how nervous this man made me.

"Two shots of whiskey," the woman said as she sat down our drinks.

"Thank you." Conor pushed one over to me. "Can we drop the bullshit?" he asked.

I raised a brow. "I didn't know there was bullshit," I said.

Conor's grin widened. "Your name is Calix, right?"

I stiffened. "Does it matter?"

He shook his head. "Not really, but I want you to know that I'm aware of who you are and who you're working for as you pay off your debt. I'm telling you that first because I have a way you can get out of your predicament a lot sooner and if I’m truthful with you, you’ll trust me."

"Sounds manipulative and too good to be true," I muttered before I snatched up the shot and downed it. Liquid fire burned my throat and warmth blossomed in my chest. "What do you want?"

---