Page 9 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)
-:- COLTON -:-
It’s been one fuck of a busy week, but it’s Friday morning and tonight we have the fights. I walk over to Knuckles who is sitting on one side of the common room checking over paperwork of some kind.
“Knuckles, is everything ready for tonight?” I ask as I take a seat opposite him at the table.
“Yeah, I’m checking everything is in place. The hires for the doors will be paid at the end of the evening, but I’ve spoken to some of the brothers and they’ll cover the doors too. That way, we’ll be sure the hires don’t fuck off with the takings.”
“I reckon Jo has got you loosening your tongue. You talk far more than you used to,” I state, while wearing a smirk.
Grunting, Knuckles gives nothing more as he picks up a piece of paper and hands it to me. Looking, I see a list of the fights, but I’m only interested in my four brothers' fights. Fist is fighting someone I don’t recognize. Iron Lungs! What sort of name is that?
“Iron Lungs?” I ask Knuckles who smirks in response to my question along with a shrug.
Looking back at the paper, Lincoln is down to fight Steve Howlins, known as SH. Now, I can give Lincoln tips on him as I’ve been up against him previously.
Bones is against Braden ‘Torrent’ Briggs, who is a good fighter but loses his concentration at times. Another I can give information on weaknesses in their style .
Last, I look at Chaos’ opponent and it’s none other than Dave ‘Right Hook’ Clark. I know Chaos has gone up against him before, so this is a rematch, and I’m sure Dave is going to regret his decision to take Chaos on again. Let’s be honest, Chaos did not get his name because he’s a pussy-cat.
“I don’t think any of these will be a problem. What do you think?” I ask Knuckles who is folding up papers and placing everything into a folder.
“No, they should all walk it.” Knuckles takes the paper from my hand and places it in the folder before walking away without another word. Now, that’s more like the Knuckles of old!
****
Checking Fist for his fight, I look over my shoulder at the man named Iron Lungs. He’s a big man, slightly taller than Fist, but much heavier. It is obvious that he’s carrying a lot of fat on his body, and he has no muscle definition. Something about him feels familiar, but I’m not sure why.
I walk beside Fist, knowing not to speak to him as he’s getting into his zone. We all have our quirks before a fight, and we all are happy to allow each of us to follow any superstitions we have.
“Any hints on this one?” Fist asks, and I’m pleased he has, as I’ve been given some information about Iron Lungs in the last half an hour.
“Well, it seems he is the ex-boxer Luke Wolfe, you know the one they used to call the ‘Bulldozer’. He retired when he lost a lung in a vehicle accident. It’s the right side, so make sure you target the left. ”
Fist flicks his eyes toward me, and I give him a nod that I’m telling the truth. “Okay, thanks, brother.”
That’s as much as we have time for as we reach the ring side.
I stand at Fist’s corner as he climbs in, bouncing gently on his toes to keep his muscles soft and ready.
“Fist,” I quickly gain his attention and he squats to hear what I have to say.
“Take him out fast. He was an excellent boxer, did a lot of knock-outs. Don’t give him time to do a fuckin’ thing.
Hit him where I said, do it fast and hard, and get this done. ”
When the bell that Grit is using rings, Fist goes in faster than I’ve ever seen him before.
One, two, jump back. One, two, three, move right.
It’s like watching a dance, but faster than you’d imagine it could be.
The man has no chance at all against Fist. He’s doing his best but each time Fist hits his side he has to take a gasping breath.
Ten minutes and I shout, “Stop fuckin’ with him, Fist.”
A long series of punches while the man is doing his best to twist his side away from Fist, trying to take a lung full of air has left him with no defense at all.
Fist throws a massive punch and hits the man’s chin, spinning him with the force as his eyes roll back and he drops as if dead to the ground.
Stitch, who is helping tonight rushes into the ring and gives a thumbs up. That tells everyone the man isn’t dead, just out for the count.
Iron Lungs is carried out of the ring and to the dressing room, where Stitch will make sure he recovers. Fist is handed a wad of cash as we walk past Grit, and all the brothers who turned up give Fist a slap on the back while laughing at the way the fight panned out.
The next fight I don’t bother with, it’s a time filler after all.
The next up is Lincoln and I’m more than a little interested in seeing how he copes with SH, and what his style is.
I heard Lincoln has multiple fighting styles, and he was known for winning while serving.
Lincoln was taken on by many who thought they could knock him down.
According to Bones, Lincoln learned a lot from making sure Jo was safe, and had an overwhelming need to be the best fighter he could be.
Lincoln’s fight is starting, but I’m dragged to the main door when a group of kids are demanding entry. It seems they are trying at each of the doors to the building. Now, the brothers are going to enjoy this if the fuckers keep it up.
As I reach the main door I overhear Clay snarling, “What did I just tell you, you little punk?”
The hired help steps back, shaking his head. “I’m not here to get involved with this shit.”
Before I can question him, the fucker turns and runs into the crowd, and I snarl turning to stand next to Clay. “What’s going on?”
“These fuckers think they can get in here free of charge. Oh, and they’re telling me… me , that I’m done and they are taking over.” Clay steps nearer the four kids, because that’s what they are, maybe seventeen!
Cracking my knuckles and grinning, because hey, I didn’t think I’d get to fight tonight.
I turn, looking at the four standing in front of us.
I let my smirk grow and my eyes harden, and the nervousness in these four grows fast. “You want to take over? Fine, fight for the right. I’m here waiting for you to take me on.
I’m the organizer along with another, so come on.
” I turn my hand palm up and flick my fingers in a come-on motion.
When they don’t move I step forward but before I can grab one they turn and run.
“Shit, that’s my fight over for the night. ”
Clay laughs, “Fuckin’ hell, Colton. Who are the little punks?”
“No idea, but that extra help knew. I’ll send someone to stand with you while I find him, and some answers.
” Slapping Clay on the back as I walk away, I look around for someone to stand at the door.
Seeing Fist now standing with his arms folded I walk over to him.
“Do you reckon you could stand on the door with Clay? We just had an issue with what looks like a gang of youths. Not sure if they’ve gone or going for backup? ”
“Sure. I hope they come back, ‘cause I’ve still some steam left to let off. If needed, of course.”
“Of course,” I chuckle as I walk away. That’s when I see Lincoln in the ring, jump into the air, flip right in front of SH and kick his heel into SH’s temple.
The crowd goes wild and I can’t see a thing as they are jumping up and down in front of me.
Damn, I wanted to see how he fought, but seems I’ll have to wait for another time.
Time is called by Grit and Lincoln is announced the winner, but I’m still fighting to get to the front near the cage.
Once I do, it’s a young man I’ve never met before, fighting against a much older opponent.
I look at Grit and give him an evil glare, as this match should not be happening.
But to my surprise, the younger man takes down the other quickly and easily, gaining my admiration.
That was so fast it hardly was a match at all.
Not long after Bones steps into the center of the fighting cage, it’s evident to the crowd that the two competitors are facing off, their bodies tense with anticipation.
It sends a crackle of energy throughout the crowd.
When Bones holds his fist out for the other to bump, which is returned quickly and a roar of eagerness swells for the clash to begin .
With a sudden bell ringing, the two lunge at each other, exchanging a flurry of punches and kicks, each movement a testament to their training and skill.
I’m mesmerized by how skilled Bones is at his favored styles.
The sound of fists meeting flesh echoes through the room, punctuated by the occasional grunt of exertion.
As the fight progresses, Bones begins to gain the upper hand, deftly dodging attacks and countering with precision, while the other struggles to regain composure.
The intensity of the match heightens, drawing the crowd deeper into the strength and strategy happening in front of them.
I must be standing with my mouth agape as Grit pushes my mouth closed with his pointer finger.
Bones takes the man down, choking him out until he loses consciousness. Then bounces to his feet, roaring with satisfaction to a crowd going wild with excitement.
It’s at this moment I remember I’m supposed to be looking for the missing door helper, but if he was getting away from the door, he’s well gone by now.
The evening concludes with Chaos’ fight, and it was a decent one if you like a tiger against a domestic cat. That’s how it came over when you considered the skill Chaos used against Right Hook Clark. I think Clark must have left his hook at home, because I don’t reckon he landed a punch on Chaos.
Bored with the fight because it’s obvious Chaos is playing with his opponent, I wander toward the door but see Bones and Arrow whispering to each other. You guessed, I head right over and ask what’s going on.
“I overheard some punks saying they were taking over the building after tonight’s done. But you know, Colt, if there was no building, they couldn’t, now could they?” Arrow says with a smirk on his face .
Knuckles walks over looking a little frazzled, which is very unusual.
“Colton, Arrow, Bones. Something is going on. We’ve had punks at each of the doors, mouthing off about being the next fight promoters.
But I’ve been watching them, and you know they are not organized, not as you’d expect if they were doing a takeover.
But one has consistently been on his phone, relaying everything that’s been going on.
We need to bring this to Axel. Let him know something’s stirring. ”
Arrow and Bones look at each other, then walk away without another word. I shrug as I look at Knuckles because honestly, I’ve no idea what is going on half the time.
“Grit’s leaving tomorrow. He’s taken his cut of the takings and won’t be back once he’s gone.
I can’t say I blame him. We’ve all been doing this a long time, and it is really time to call it a day.
But Axel won’t want someone else taking up the fights in our territory.
I’m positive about that, so we’ll need to keep our ears to the ground. ”
“Yeah, you're right, Knuckles. Seems these kids will need to be checked out, too,” I add, but with no reply except for a nod from Knuckles we head to the dressing room. We need to clear out everything and everyone. This place is done.
Thinking nothing more about the place and happy that everything is packed into vans and trucks where it will be taken to our storage facility, we head out and towards the clubhouse.
It’s four in the morning before we walk into the clubhouse, and Axel is sitting at the bar, obviously waiting for us to return. Knuckles hands him the profits that the club gets as their cut. That is, after we’ve paid the brothers for door duty, and any help they gave in other areas .
What we don’t expect is what Axel states. “So, you torched the place?”
“What?” Both myself and Knuckles say at the same time.
Chuckling is heard from behind us as the door opens, and Brag walks in with Ruger at his side. They are hooting at something. They were both there tonight helping, so maybe they are just happy about the amount of cash they earned?
Brag senses being watched, and looking up he grins, “Well, that sorted the fuckin’ problem.”
“What problem?” I ask.
“That gang of youths wanting the place. Arrow overheard a ton of shit, so he and Bones torched the place. Now the fuckers won’t be taking over your fighting Knuckles.” Brag slaps Ruger on the back as they both pass us and head to their rooms.
Axel is very quiet, which has me more than a little nervous. Turning slowly to look at him, then wishing I hadn’t. “You both find out what the fuck is going on with these kids. Then report back to me. You have a week before I set Drag, BS, Buzz, Target and even Meat on the issue. You get me?”
“Yes, Pres,” we both say and watch as Axel turns and heads out through the kitchen and probably home to Mia.
“Fuck, Knuckles. We are in trouble now.”
“Goddamn, from tomorrow we’ll start scouring the streets,” Knuckles states as he shakes his head as he heads home to Jo.
I wander to the kitchen where I make a drink and settle back at a table, wondering how the hell we got into this mess, and how we’re going to find out where these punks are hiding. There is no doubt they will hide, especially after tonight with the building being torched.
Forest will make sure it goes down as an electrical fault or some shit, just so we are kept out of it.
But it could have been tricky. We’ll have to watch Arrow and Bones don’t go off doing their own thing from now on.
Trust us to get more crazy fuckers at the club, and I’ve no doubt they will become full brothers. Shit, and I’ve made friends of them!