Page 6 of Risky Fight

“Lou,” I get a fright when Will talks to me, “what are you doing after work?” I turn to look at him.

“You hopefully,” I wink at him and he blushes, “I thought we could go to your place and wrestle,” I say, smiling at how his boyish face lights up. “Or we could do my taxes, those are due soon,” I mock him.

“Option one is much more appealing.” Will smacks my ass as I increase the speed on the treadmill and says, “I’ll hit the showers and wait for you.”

“I have to lock up, Callum isn’t back,” I say knowing I might be longer than he cares to hang around.

“I guess I’ll start kicking people out then.” He smirks at me and I shake my head, he’ll wait. He’s looking to get lucky tonight.

Chapter4 - Roark

The guys roughed up the O’Neill boys pretty badly by the sounds of it, but everyone is focused on the Russian deal. Making the old fishing boats into fight-ships is a fucking brilliant plan, and Alek was very happy to have me backing things. He knows I know both ends of the fighting business, and exclusive illegal fights offshore on a boat will attract the high rollers. It’s the same way dog fights and cock fights do, old men with small willies and too much money, showing off. They are all the same. I know what sort of shady characters will be involved, and the type of fights he will host. I shouldn’t be okay with it but in my family you can’t speak up against crime.

Being in a legit industry in the public eye made me aware of how wrong my family’s business actually is. But show business and fighting aren’t a whole heap better, they just hide things under the guise of being wholesome entertainment. Bookies are all the fucking same, and promoters are shady as all hell. Ring-bunnies, mostly trafficked women stuck in the sex industry, trying to find a foothold to get out. Money laundering, racketeering, they own the press and all the tiny cogs that keep the wheels turning. There’s money, drugs, women, guns. All in a shiny wrapper that says it’s legal fighting, sanctioned by a board. It’s dirty, and sick, and I loved everything about it.

“You daydreaming?” my dad asks me, I’m sitting at the large mahogany desk in his office still ignoring calls from anyone and everyone. Our family lawyer is on the way to see me about Nolan, we need to make sure everything is legit and no one can come along and try claim him. He’s set it up so I can legally adopt my own son and had the letters from his mother’s lawyer vetted. If I am doing this, it’ll be done so no one can undo it. “Roark, are you sure about the boy? We can make sure he is cared for back in the States, this is a big responsibility.” My father doubts I can do this, he thinks little boys need momma’s.

“He’s my son, he should be with me, and his real family. I’ll manage.” I know it’s not going to be easy, but I won’t let him down.

“Where are you going to live? This house is already full to the rafters with your sisters and Milly.” Milly, my stepmom who could be my sister — of course there’s no room for me. Her daughters have taken over the place, they have been handy for babysitting, but I don’t want to live here.

“I have a realtor looking into a few places for me, should have something sorted out in the next few days. Once I do, I’ll let Raymond know I am not going back.”

“You’re not?” My father sounds shocked, but I meant it when I told him I was home.

“No,” I shake my head, “I’m done, I got to the top. I don’t need to slowly fall down and humiliate myself as new younger fighters climb the ranks. I bow out and put family first. I’m a dad, I can’t risk having a hard injury or something horrible happening to me. Look at Rory losing her memory for months and ending up married. It’s time to settle the fuck down.”

He looks impressed that I would make such a grownup choice, given that the last five years have been headlined by my wild behavior, and partying. “If you need help getting a place, you can tell me.”

“I have money, Dad, remember when I left? I supported you lot for ages, you only got where you’re at because I floated you. I can manage to take care of myself and Nolan, I promise, but it won’t last forever so I do need to be working with you — earning my keep.” I know the value of a hard day’s work, and I want him to know I haven’t forgotten the lessons he taught me. “I am done fighting, hung up my gloves.” I just haven’t told my manger, or my coach, or anyone else.

I ran away. It wasn’t my finest moment.

“You always have a place at the table, son,” he says, “I know I can trust you, and you did save this family. You took that opportunity and you cared for us the whole time.” Even when he married Milly, I still took care of them all. “I’m proud of you.” It means so much to hear that from him. He’s not an affectionate man, so anytime he expresses any emotion it’s like I am winning a title fight. I never had his approval as a boy, and I so desperately wanted it. I plan to do better with my own son.

“Thanks,” I say, “that means a lot.” I know this will not be easy, but somehow I know I am in the right place. He sits down behind the desk as Lawrence, our attorney, comes into the office. He’s a slimy fucking bastard, him and his crocodile skin briefcase.

“Roark,” he greets me in his thick accent, and I remember I have spent five years hiding mine, “I have all the paperwork you asked me for, and I checked that you are not in breach of any of your fight contracts. They have all expired, they just presumed you’d stay so were careless about keeping up the admin.” I knew that but needed to be sure I am a free agent. I can quit if I want to. He riffles though papers and hands me a pile, along with a cheap black pen. For a mob lawyer he’s a stingy fucker. “This is iron clad. The girl’s family can’t come after the boy or claim rights. I have made arrangements for him to become a citizen. No questions asked, and it’s costing you.” I couldn’t care what it costs.

“That’s fine, I will pay whatever it costs.” Nothing is too much. “I am buying a house and I want it put into his name. No trace to me directly, but also so he’s got an inheritance.” Lawrence gives a curt nod and makes a note of my requests before he and my father move on to other business. He’s a dinosaur as far as lawyers go, but he knows the mob like no one else. In all my life no charge against anyone he works for has ever stuck, he knows who to pay and who to kill to get away with anything.

I’m distracted and lose track of their conversation. I’m drawn back in when my father mentions Lou’s brothers again. They owe a fuck ton of money, not just to us. By the sound of it they have made enemies all over the city, and other places too. Roughing them up was a warning shot — they’re going to have to find the cash or they’ll end up without a pulse soon enough. There are other less lenient bookies out there, my father isn’t as merciless as some others.

“They owe enough to be in deep with every lender, shady loan shark and bookmaker I know. All of them say they can’t pay if they’re dead. But I am wondering if they’d ever be able to pay what they owe. You might have to teach one a lesson and hope you pick the one that is resourceful enough to pay up.” I am not sure I like the direction this conversation is going in, I couldn’t give two shits about those guys, but what if Lou lands up in the crossfire?

“Let me look into this, maybe they’re sitting on hidden money, before we go making anyone less alive than they are.” I curse myself the minute I say it, because I know they’re broke, but it gives me an excuse to talk to Lou, as scary as that is. I know I hurt her. There will be wrath, and probably a punch or two thrown my way, but I want to tell her I am sorry, and see if I can help her get the future she wanted. Because her brothers will drag her straight down to hell with them.

“You think they have two pennies to rub together? I am almost certain Damon is squatting in the flat where we found him, and the other free loads off his girlfriend,” my father says, “I don’t think they have anything, not even common sense, those two twits.” He’s not wrong, but I just have a gut feeling that there’s another way to handle this.

“I will find a way to get them to pay or find something they have that is worth the money.” I can be resourceful, being away from family and friends taught me to do things on my own. “There is always something priceless they would do anything or pay anything to keep.” It’s always there you just have to find the weakness and exploit it.

“True,” Lawrence says, “you think you can find what it is?” I already know what their weakness is, I’m just not sure I want to exploit it. Or let them know that I know.

“Maybe,” I nod, “I can try, they don’t know I am here. They won’t know I am poking around until it’s too late. I have the element of surprise.” My old man looks impressed, and I eat up the positive attention. It’s sick how I crave his approval even when it was me who has supported him. I saved his business.

“You’re right,” he says after a while, “I’m letting you take the lead on this. We have a few balls in the air, and I could use the extra hand,” he pauses, “you can handle this while you and Nolan ease into things here, getting settled is important if you really do plan to stay.” He’s unsure of my intentions, he can’t understand why I’d give up the fame, and fortune. I’m not sure I understand it myself, other than it feels right.

“You also need to make a press statement, and let your agent know you are not going back. It’s the right thing to do. I know you’re covered but we don’t want them finding a reason to sue you.” He’s right, they’re going to be pissed and the longer I wait the worse that will be.

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