Page 4 of The Fight For Survival
Cade wouldn't have been able to open the shop if it weren't for his wonderful parents surprising him on his eighteenth birthday with a very generous trust fund. We were so proud of him for doing something worthwhile with the money.
He studied art at college for a year, but once he had his own business up and running, he dropped out, finding it tiresome juggling the shop and school. He hired his friend Jake who had the talent and experience to teach him everything he knew, and Cade's been thriving ever since.
Being one of the best tattooists in Washington State, Cade has made many friends. People are coming from all over to get inked. His waiting list for appointments is growing, and soon he will have to hire a couple more people. 'Chasing ink' is where Cade met Braylon. He started inking him when his shop opened, and they are now great friends. I would say best friends, but Cade doesn't like to call him that. I don't think he wants to replace Kane, even though it's been five years since he left town.
Braylon is an underground fighter. He has a permanent spot at Noxious, one of the most famous underground fighting rings in the US, and Cade has been attending his fights for a couple of years now. At first, it was to support his friend. Lately, he has been going to his fights more often, making me think that he subconsciously wants to feel closer to Kane.
It's just my theory and something I will never ask. As time passes, we talk less and less about Kane to each other. His name is a constant reminder of what we lost and what we will never have.
Cade repeatedly refused to let Zoe and I go to watch the fights because it gets rowdy sometimes, and it's not strictly legal in the underground fight club. The man is very protective of us, me especially. After months of asking, I finally convinced him to let us come and watch this weekend. If I had known a strip tease was all it would take to convince him, we would have been to one long before now.
After meeting Braylon, I was curious about the fight club and wanted to see it for myself. Part of me just wanted to see if the rumors were true. That Bray is deadly in the ring. I couldn't see it myself. The man is a teddy bear. Don't get me wrong, he would look intimidating if you didn't know him. 6 foot 4, bodybuilder physique. Blue/grey eyes with a pronounced brow that gives him a permanent frown. Broad straight nose, pouty lips, and a bushy beard growing longer by the day. Add his shoulder-length dirty blond hair; he looks like he should be living in the wild.
So yeah, I was excited to see him fight until Braylon broke the news to us a year ago that Kane is also a fighter. He found out through a video of a match he watched on social media. He changed his last name, but Bray recognized him from the photos we have of him scattered around the house. Suddenly not so excited.
I blink rapidly when I see motion in front of my face. "Hello! Mia? I asked you a question," Zoe says, waving her hand in my face. "Sorry," shaking my head to clear my thoughts. "All I know is that Braylon's fighting tonight, but his opponent hasn't been named yet."
Even though I'm reluctant to go tonight, I'm still intrigued to watch Braylon in the ring. The thought of watching all those toned, tattooed muscles rippling, slick with sweat, as he bloodies up his opponent gets me a little worked up. In love or not, I know when a man is hot, I'm not blind.
Stop crushing on your boyfriend's friend Mia!
Grabbing my flat slip-on shoes from the floor at the end of my bed, I put my feet into them. If we're going to be standing all night, there's no way I want to be wearing six-inch heels like my crazy friend here.
"How can you wear heels like that? What if you get knocked over and break your ankle?"
"Well, we're not all as lucky as you with your perfect height," she responds in fake disdain.
"5 foot 6 isn't that tall."
"Well, it's taller than me. Anyhow, if I get knocked over, maybe some hot knight in shining armor will come to my rescue. Ever think of that?" she says with a deadly serious face.
"Well, I guess you can dream," I snort, grabbing my little silver 'Coach' bag.
A shocked laugh falls from her lips, "bitch," she jokes.
"Ho," I smirk.
Rolling her eyes, with a smile touching her lips, "come on, girl, let's meet Cade from work and get some food before we watch the fight."
Cade
(Daniel)
Ilookattheclock on the wall and smile. Mia will be here in five minutes. I quickly clean my station with an antibacterial wipe, making sure everything is tidy and put away before slipping on my leather jacket.
"I'm leaving now, Jake. Meet you at Noxious in an hour?"
Jake is my work partner. I hired him when I opened my shop. He didn't give me shit for being inexperienced but still opening a tattoo shop anyway. He took me under his wing and taught me everything he knew. He's become a good friend of mine.
"Yep, have a beer ready for me, man. I'm just finishing this piece, and I'll lock up." He responds with a nod, not taking his eyes off of the delicate shading he's doing on his client's back.
After saying goodbye, I head outside to see Mia getting out of the car. My breath catches in my throat as my body fills with heat. My woman has always been beautiful, but when she does herself up, she is fucking breathtaking. Her waist-length red hair is blowing in the breeze. Pouty, kissable lips are shining with some shit women like to put on to make it near impossible to resist them. Her eyes, man, her eyes can grab your attention and hold you within their orbs for minutes at a time. They are a mesmerizing green; I could happily stare into them all day. Yeah, I have it so bad for this woman.
Sashaying towards me with a sway to her hips, she smiles my way. "Hi, babe. I thought we could grab a bite to eat before we go to this thing." Mia says 'thing, meaning the fight, with a grimace on her face making me bark out a laugh.
"Baby, you've been begging me to let you come to one of thesethingsfor months. Why the sour face?" I ask, pulling her forward with a tug on her hand.
I stroke her face with the back of my hand, making her shiver. I love that after four and a half years, I still affect her with a simple touch.