Page 5 of Hold ‘Em Tight (Solidarity Academy #4)

CHAPTER FIVE

T he crowd explodes as I take another right hook to my cheek, and this time, I hear a cracking as the pain hits. Well, it looks like I just broke my cheekbone.

I smile, blood covering my teeth, and my opponent grimaces.

“Dude, fight back,” he urges, but I shake my head.

I didn't come here to fight. I came here to end it all. I can't keep living with half of my heart missing. It hurts too much.

I struggle with emotions. I was taught men don’t cry. They suck it up, or they get even.

Destroying the apartment today was a wakeup call. I’m too destructive. The rage blinds me, and I can't risk hurting someone I love.

“Teo, fight or get the fuck out,” my cousin, Angelo, shouts from outside the cage, and I just laugh.

He should be happy I'm here. The way people are betting for my failure will line his pockets for months.

I wave at him with a smirk on my lips, then shuffle closer to my opponent. He's a big guy. Tattoos cover his chest and arms, and he has a teardrop below his right eye.

I think we may have fought before, but who knows. My uncle and cousin have a type, and gangsters straight out of prison are one of their specialties.

“Kid, are you on drugs or something?” he asks, and I shrug.

“Would it matter if I was?”

I'm not… Well, besides the fifth of Jack Daniel's I swallowed on the way here. It's better to be numb these days.

Rylee hasn't come down to the apartment in almost three weeks. Donny says Trevor is hovering over her, as if she needs protection or something.

She's pulling away. Maybe it's better this way. When I'm gone, she won't miss me.

I'm just another disappointment in her life. I promised her that if she came back to Solidarity Academy, I'd keep her safe.

All pretty lies with a poisonous tongue.

I shake my head again as the laughter escapes my lips.

“Fuck, kid, you're crazy.”

I fake left and raise my fist, as if I'm going to take my first swing. I'm not, but he reacts all the same, hitting me in the ribs, and then the temple.

I fall to my knees and take in some shaky breaths.

I always knew my life would end like this. Beaten to death in a fight. It's ironic that I'm here today without any coercion.

For a moment there, I thought maybe we were free. My uncle's gone. I started to picture a future with Rylee and Lennox.

A house on the beach, maybe some kids. I should have known that's all it would ever be... a fantasy.

Groaning, I use my hands to push myself back to my feet, wincing as my ribs twinge.

“Fuck, kid, stay down!” he barks, but I just give him a smirk and return to my fighting stance.

The crowd is going wild, and I hope someone is recording this. Maybe I'll be TikTok famous when I'm gone.

The man who lost everything and gave up… Maybe Len will see, and actually take a moment to grieve for me. To feel remorse for what he's done.

Yeah… right. He knew exactly what he was doing. Taking that snake to bed behind our backs, ruining our family. No regrets.

He's a lot more like his father than I thought. I never should have let him in.

We circle each other a few times, and I know the crowd is becoming restless. Beer bottles are shattered along the cage, and soon I'm covered and sticky.

“Kid, seriously, fucking hit me,” he roars and I grin. “Throw a punch! I'm not going to fight some pain junkie.”

Opening my mouth to reply, I see something in the crowd that makes me freeze. But when I glance around again, I don't see anything there.

Fuck, I think I might be wasted. Whatever. It doesn't matter. Soon this will all be over.

I lean forward and charge. He throws a punch to the back of my head, causing me to see double.

I grip his waist tight, as he fights to get me to let go.

“Just end me. I don't want to be here anymore. Please,” I beg, my eyes watering.

His body tenses and he rips me off of him, throwing me away.

Stumbling, I fall onto my back, knocking the breath out of me as my head starts to throb.

Why is this taking so long? Crouching over me, he places his hand onto my chest, begging me with his eyes.

“Stay down, kid.”

Groaning, I push his hand off of me, then roll onto my side and climb back onto my feet.

He shakes his head and looks around.

“I can't kill a kid. He's got a deathwish, Angelo. I'm out,” he shouts to the crowd, and they start to boo and complain.

Who would have thought this convict has a heart of gold?

“I don't care,” I slur, shaking the cobwebs from my brain. “Just fucking do it.”

The crowd quietens and someone laughs, but it's not a happy sound.

“Wow, hear that, Colt. He doesn't care…”

“Donny,” I mumble, turning to where my friends stand.

They came to say goodbye. My heart jumps and I smile. I thought I wouldn't get a chance to see them again.

I look behind them for my Red, but remember she's not here. That's okay. It's better this way.

I stumble toward the cage and Angelo frowns. People are talking all around me, and they are confused about whether the fight is over or not.

Some thugs storm up to Angelo and insist on him following the rules.

You can't leave the cage unless you're unconscious or the victor. It's always been this way.

They start to argue as Donny moves closer to me, gripping my hand through the cage.

He's pissed, and Colt has tears in his eyes. I sigh.

I didn't want to hurt them anymore. No matter what I do, I'm always a fucking disappointment.

“Please, Teo, just come home. Things will get better. Don't do this.” Donny's voice trembles, and I shake my head again.

“Let me go. Take care of our girl. Make her a family. I was never meant to stay.”

He scoffs and shoves my fingers away, then runs his hand through his messy blond hair.

“That's a copout and you fucking know it! What about us?” Donny screams against the cage.

“We are still your family, Teo! What about Nando, Brenna, and your mom?

Do they mean nothing to you? And what about Rylee?

She's already lost one man that she loves. Are you going to make her heartbreak even worse?”

I turn back and put my fists up once more, ignoring Donny and Colton, who are screaming at me to listen to them.

It's too late. My mind is made up. I could have taken the easy way, gone back to my hometown and bought something on the corner, but I've always been a fighter.

My opponent looks over my shoulder at my friend's and he groans. “Just knock me out and go home, kid. It's not worth it. Looks like you have people who love you,” he mumbles just for me to hear.

“Okay, I'm over this fucking shit! You aren't the only fights on tonight's roster,” Angelo calls. “The first person to knock the other unconscious gets double pay. Someone just fucking end it!” he roars, and the crowd starts to cheer again.

My opponent looks at me and shrugs. “Sorry, I have kids to feed.” Before I can even raise my hands up to block, he knocks me in the temple, hard.

I know I'm going down. My eyes close and my body slams into the mat.

“Fucking finally,” Angelo cheers, and I can hear the chains rattling, unlocking the cage.

“Let me get my idiot cousin out of here and we can settle up in my office,” he tells the guy.

Someone touches my shoulder, rolling me onto my back, but my head aches and the darkness is seeping in.

“No, Teo. Fuck! Wake up. He's not opening his eyes. Someone call an ambulance!” I can hear the panic in Donny's voice, but no matter how hard I try, my mouth won't open.

I fight to reassure him, but I'm too weak. I think a nap sounds good right about now…

“Respirations sound good, but I'm still going to give him some air,” someone shouts. Something is put over my mouth, and a rush of air fills my nose. “Kid's lucky. Looks like he had a fight with a meat grinder though.”

A man laughs, and I peek my eyes open, groaning. It's so bright. My head's killing me.

I lift my hand and rip the mask from my face. “What happened?” I croak.

“Hey, no, cut that shit out. You need the oxygen,” the man replies, sighing. He takes the mask and replaces it with a nasal cannula.

Still annoying, but at least now I can speak. I open my eyes wider and grunt.

“Can ya dim the fucking lights?” I slur, and he leans over, flipping a switch. Only a dim glow remains, and I sigh.

I glance around and frown when I see I'm all alone. I could have sworn Donny and Colt were at the fight. But maybe I imagined them there.

The paramedic catches on to my unasked question.

“Your friends are following the rig. You can meet up with them in triage.”

I nod, then wince. “Ya got my phone?”

He leans over, checking on my IV, then nods.

“It's bagged with your other belongings.”

“Please.” I gasp, my chest feeling tighter.

He looks over my head at his partner, who is driving, then sighs and pulls out my stuff.

“Who do you want to call?” he asks, scrolling through my contacts. I grumble and reconsider not having a pass code.

He looks at me with impatience as I contemplate whether I'm really doing this.

I know I shouldn't bother, but I just need to hear his voice. I can't believe I'm so stupid. Donny was right. I can think clearer now that the alcohol and self pity has worn off.

There are too many people depending on me… and my mama, fuck, she wouldn’t be able to come back if I left her. Losing my father was hard enough.

“Lennox, it's under ‘Baby’,” I whisper, and watch as his eyebrows lift. I wait for the judgement but nothing comes. He presses call and puts it on speaker.

I hold my hand out and he shakes his head. “I splinted your wrist.” I look down at my hand, just now noticing the splint, and nod.

The phone dials once, then an automated message plays, shattering my heart even more.

“We're sorry, the person you are trying to reach is unavailable.”

“Tough break, man,” the paramedic says, ending the call. I turn my head away from him, not wanting to show him my weakness, as a tear slips from the corner of my eye.

He actually blocked me.

“Anyone else you wanna try?” he asks and I nod.

“Can you text Red? Tell her that I love her and I miss her.”