VJ

32 - He promised no secrets!

Chloe

I’m not sure I like where Candi-Rose has brought us. Cage fighting is not my thing, even if Amy is beside herself with excitement. Amy loves this kind of thing, so I get why Candi-Rose did this. She wanted to do something special for her baby sister.

Who am I to spoil that?

Even if I want to roll my eyes and walk away. God, I’m going to be bored out of my tree!

What’s so fun about watching two sweaty men beating the crap out of each other, anyway?

“I cannot believe you got tickets to this event. They said it was sold out when I asked! It’s going to be huge!”

Candi-Rose winks at Amy. “You know me, little sister, I can do anything I set my mind to.”

“True that! Even getting tickets to an underground cage fight.” Amy throws her arm around Candi-Rose’s shoulder, and they walk ahead, laughing.

“Wait!” They turn to look at me. “Are you telling me this fight is illegal?

Candi-Rose rolls her eyes. “Live a little, Chloe. You never know; you might like it.” With that, she turns away from me.

I can’t believe I’m doing this! If the police turn up, I’m leaving these bitche.s and making a run for it.

My eyes lock on a poster on the wall to my right. Beast VS The Goon. “Dumb name,” I mumble to myself.

Candi-Rose hands the doorman our tickets, and I follow her to our seats.

“How did you manage to get front-row seats?”

“Pulled in a favor. Just enjoy it, Chloe.”

Of all the places to sit. I would have preferred the back row. We could get splattered by blood and all sorts in these seats. The police could get to us first! But it’s not my birthday gift; it’s Amy’s, and I need to pretend to be interested for her sake. I don’t want to spoil this for her.

I can’t believe how close the cage is to where we’re sitting. Okay, it’s not as close as it seems, but how big the thing is is daunting. I’m going to get a first-hand, close-up look at two men beating the crap out of each other. I would rather not see that, but it is what it is, I suppose.

I look around the room and notice at least twelve people on security, both men and women. Each one seems like they could rip a person’s throat out with their bare hands. They’re so well-built. I didn’t even know women could be so muscular! I’m not sure even a riot would warrant that kind of force. However, I’ve never been to a cage fight, and I don’t know what goes on inside the ring, let alone outside of it.

I shouldn’t be here. I’m pregnant, and anything could happen. If things start to look iffy outside the ring, even a sniff of someone moving their hand the wrong way, I’m out of here in a heartbeat. I will not risk anything happening to my child. Nothing!

There are so many people here that the room is emitting a lot of heat, even with the AC running. For a warehouse, this place is weirdly spotless. The six back rows of seats are all plush, and each one is full. They run in a circle around the cage, and there are so many people here that some are standing. Whoever these fighters are must be very popular.

I notice a bar to the left of the room. Not that I’d be able to get to it and order a drink it’s crowded. There’s also a bookie to the right, taking bets on the fight. This Beast guy must be good; everyone is talking about him, making bets on him to win the fight.

“Who’s this Beast character?” I ask Candi-Rose because she’s more likely to know about the fighters than I am. Hell, I don’t know a thing about this kind of sport.

“You’ll see.” She smirks.

I roll my eyes because I don’t see why she has to be so secretive about something so simple.

“Have you ever actually even been to one of these fights before? Because you’ve never mentioned it.” Candi-Rose is my best friend, but I don’t know everything she gets up to. We don’t live in each other’s pockets. Plus, she never mentioned this to me in the past.

Candi-Rose shakes her head. “Amy has, but I haven’t. You and I are cage fight virgins.”

I nod my head in thought. “Do you know anything about the fighters?” I know she does, but she’s been odd about telling me for some reason.

She relents with a smirk. “Well,” She turns in her seat to face me. “The Goon hasn’t lost a fight all year. He’s fast, strong, and takes his opponents down in the first round. Beast, however, hasn’t fought in almost two years. He was once undefeated. From what I’ve heard, he’s vicious and has never gone longer than two minutes before he defeats his opponent.”

What is the point of all of this for a two-minute or less fight?

Surely it costs thousands to host one of these events?

How much money would they be making to allow something to end so quickly?

I can’t get my head around the expense of it all. There’s the venue cost, equipment, security, and staff to work the bar and room. Then there’s the announcer, the ref, the judges, not to mention the fighters themselves, and God knows what else. Whoever organizes these things must pull in a massive profit. The betting alone must make thousands.

Why else would they plow money into a fight like this if they weren’t going to make money from it?

I narrow my eyes when they land on Draven Vidal, Mafia Boss. I, like everyone else, would know Draven Vidal anywhere. There is no mistaking who that man is when you look at him.

He’s standing at the side of the cage, talking with a handful of men in suits. I’d ask what he’s doing here, but I already know now that this is his event. Nothing happens in this town or the ones surrounding it without Don Vidal knowing about it. I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before now.

Damn, he’s massive and incredibly intimidating.

I must have been staring holes into the back of the Don’s head because he turns to face me. Draven’s eyes narrow, then widen, and I swallow hard. He whispers something to Tony, his number one, without looking away from me. Tony nods and then makes his way over to me.

I swallow hard. I don’t know why because I know I have nothing to fear. Draven has no reason to hurt me. I have done nothing wrong. Still, my stomach is turning over with nerves.

I’ve never met Draven through my man because VJ hasn’t introduced us. However, I do know Draven through his children attending my music classes. I’ve never had a problem with him before. He’s always spoken to me with respect, and I returned that respect because I had no reason not to.

Tony leans down and looks me right in the eye, ensuring I can read his lips when he talks. I’m grateful because I can’t hear very well right now. I can only hear Candi-Rose because she’s sitting beside me, and she leans close to speak in my ear.

“Chloe, will you come with me, please?”

“What’s this about?” Candi-Rose asks.

“That would be none of your business, young woman. This isn’t a request, Chloe. The Don would like a word with you.”

I nod my head at Tony. There is no point in refusing the Don; it would only end badly.

Candi-Rose grabs my arm. “What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know, Candi-Rose. But I need to go see what Draven wants. He’ll only come and find me himself if I don’t.”

Candi-Rose swallows hard. She’s nervous and a little scared about what’s happening, but she has nothing to worry about. I trust Draven and know I’ve done nothing wrong to cause him to turn against me.

I hug Candi-Rose and Amy before leaving my seat and following Tony. Whatever Draven wants to speak to me about can’t be anything bad. I have to tell myself that, or I’ll have a damn panic attack.

“Ah, Chloe,” Draven smiles at me as soon as I enter the room where Tony led me. An office just through a long corridor on the right of the warehouse.

“Is something wrong?” I ask while nervously taking the seat he offered me.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Chloe.” Draven adjusts his expensive gray tie, and I nervously smooth my hands over my black pant legs.

“I came with my friends. Amy, the girl with the red hair, it’s her birthday. She loves cage fighting, so Candi-Rose, the other girl, surprised her with the tickets. It’s not really my thing, but she got me one too; that’s why I’m here.”

“I see.” Draven scratches his chin with his thumbnail in thought. “What do you know about my fighter?”

I shake my head. I don’t even know which one of them is Draven’s fighter. “I wasn’t aware that one of them was yours.”

Draven nods his head. “Beast.” He tells me. “This is his first fight back in a while. There’s a lot riding on this fight, and Beast can’t afford any distractions.”

I stare at Draven.

Is he saying that I’d be a distraction to his fighter?

I don’t even know the man!

“I need to get out there; the fight is about to start.” Draven gets out of his seat and adjusts his tie. I get out of mine, wondering what the hell all this was about. “Not you.”

“Excuse me?”

What the hell is going on?

“You’ll wait here until I return after the fight.”

“But Don Vidal, my friends, will be wondering where I am.”

“Tony will inform them that you’ll be along shortly.”

They’re going to leave me alone?

I don’t understand any of this!

What the hell is so wrong with me seeing the fight?

“I don’t understand why you think I’d distract your fighter. I don’t even know him.”

Draven makes his way to the door, and I have a horrible churning in my stomach. I do not like this one little bit.

He turns his head and looks at me, remembering that it’s better to face me in case I don’t hear his words.

“Because of who he is. Sit tight, Princess. We’ll be back before you know it.”

They’re gone before I can protest, and I jump when I hear the lock click. They locked me in! I pace the floor, nervously biting the pad of my thumb. I can hear loud cheering coming from outside. I’m guessing the fighters are being introduced, or the fight has begun.

I shouldn’t have come here. Candi-Rose and Amy would have been okay with me going home. Okay, maybe not Candi-Rose, but she would have gotten over it. I feel like I’m suffocating in this room. I want out! I don’t enjoy being locked in at the best of times.

I grab my phone from my jacket pocket and send Candi-Rose a text. I know Draven said that Tony would let her know I’d be back, but I’m not sure he did.

Chloe: I don’t want you to worry, but Draven Vidal locked me in his office.

Did Tony let you know where I am?

Candi-Rose doesn’t reply right away. I realize it’s because the fight must be over if the deafening cheers are anything to go by. Damn, that was quick.

Candi-Rose: Yeah, he told me.

I didn’t know Vidal had locked you in, but I’m guessing it was because he didn’t want you to figure out who Beast is. Not before the fight was over, at least.

Chloe: I don’t get why it matters.

Candi-Rose: Oh, Chlo, LOL.

You really don’t have a clue, do you?

I’m about to answer Candy’s message when a picture comes through. I stare at it for so long that my eyes blur. I drop down into the chair and shake my head. I feel sick.

Why would he do this?

Why would he not tell me about it?

We’re a partnership, or so I thought. I don’t understand why he wouldn’t tell me he used to do this and why he’s doing it now.

Do I mean so little to him?

He promised no secrets!

“Oh, VJ, what have you done?”