Mason:Inked Reapers MC(91)

"That's just terrible."



"And he's losing sponsors and money," Kait was talking quickly and  loudly, the alcohol having loosened her tongue. "If it carries on, he'll  soon have nothing left!"



"You can't let that happen!" Anna declared fervently.



"But what can I do?" Kait's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I've already  told Jasper what I think is going on, and I've even challenged Carl, but  it's done no good."



"He sounds like an absolute creep," Anna lamented, "Carl, that is. I've  seen him on television slinking about the ring like an unwanted snake."



Kait laughed, and the sound came out like a snort which made both women burst in to fits of drunken giggles.



"He's a little heavy to be a snake," Kait laughed.



"Maybe a snake that's just been fed!" Anna quipped. "You know when they  feed, and they, like, double in size as their latest meal bulges inside  them? That's Carl Santino. A big, fat, bulging snake!"



Kait was laughing so hard that she started to cry.



"Who the hell does he think he is? Slithering around and poisoning his own clients?" Anna continued.



"There must be something in it for him," Kait nodded thoughtfully to herself, her laughter abating.



"Like money?" Anna arched an eyebrow at her friend.



"Maybe," Kait drank some more of her wine. "There definitely has to be something. And he's done it before to his other clients."



"Could you get in touch with them, ask for their side of the story?" Anna suggested helpfully.



"Yeah!" Kait leapt at the idea.



"You could email them or something?" Anna shrugged. "Dear whoever, did Carl the snake screw you over?"



Kait was laughing again, her cheeks starting to ache.



"But seriously, Kait," Anna picked up her own glass and drew it up to  her pink glossed lips. "If this asshole is messing with Jasper, then you  need to stop him. You know it's the right thing to do, and if you let  him sabotage Jasper's career the way he intends to, you'll never forgive  yourself."                       
       
           



       



"So what? I email his old clients?"



"I'd say first step, yes," Anna nodded briskly.



"Second step?"



"Take the head off the snake."



"And how do you propose I do that?"



"By playing him at his own game," Anna smiled mischievously.



"Meaning?"



"He's all about giving Jasper these weird energy drinks, right?"



"Right."



"Then let's eliminate the issue at the source. You say that they're in his apartment, in his refrigerator?"



"Yes," Kait thought of the fancy unit with its sleek silver doors. "But I  don't think all the bottles are contaminated, just a few. That way  Jasper doesn't get too suspicious."



"See how slippery our snake is?" Anna remarked coldly. "What you need to  do is empty all the bottles and refill them with water. That way when  Carl goes to grab his poisoned chalice, he won't realize the switch has  been made. Jasper doesn't ingest any sedative during his next fight and  should hopefully knock out the other guy!"



"Okay," Kait was nodding, going over the plan in her mind. "But how do I  make the switch without Jasper noticing? He doesn't appreciate me  getting suspicious about Carl."



"Use your feminine mystique," Anna smirked. "Lure him in to bed, give  him the night of his life, and while he sleeps it off, you sneak out and  do what needs to be done."



"And Carl?"



"Sounds like he'll show his true colors and slithery self when Jasper wins instead of loses."



"Yeah," Kait drank more of her wine. Everything Anna said was right. She  did need to step in and save Jasper's career before it was too late.



"Can you help me email some of Carl's old clients?" Kait asked hopefully.



"Sure thing," Anna grinned. "Grab your laptop and some more wine, and let's get on it!"





Chapter 102



"This fight," Carl smacked a fist against the palm of his hand as he talked. "This is the one where you make your big comeback."



"I don't know," Jasper was still in his dressing gown, rolled out across  his sofa whilst Carl stood beside the television facing him. After Kait  had left, there had been a second knock at his door less than an hour  later. This time it was agent coming to check in on him.



"You said the last fight was when I was supposed to make my big come back and look how that turned out."



Jasper hadn't even been able to bring himself to check online reactions  to the fight. He could already imagine the terrible things people were  saying about him; he didn't need to see it.



"You went out too soon, you weren't ready, that's all," Carl was bright  and animated as he spoke. "You killed it in the first round!"



"Yeah," Jasper agreed, feeling a slight swell of pride, "I did."



"But then everything came undone in the second round."



"Uh huh," the feeling of pride was quickly replaced with shame.



"Then, it's your endurance we need to work on," Carl explained. "Your  punches and kicks were spot on; all that's missing is your level of  fitness, and we can work on that, it's no problem."



"You really think I can win my next fight?" Jasper wondered dubiously.  He knew full well that his career couldn't take another devastating  defeat. To drop in the second round again like he had done would truly  be the end of it all. No one could come back from such humiliation. Not  even the great Jasper Duboix.



"We gear ourselves up for an old grudge match," Carl was explaining,  rubbing his hands together as though trying to warm them by a fire.



"You go out there, pummel them, and show the world that you've still got  it. Your sponsors will come knocking again, and you'll be back on top."



"It all sounds good," Jasper admitted. "Almost too good."



"What do you mean?"



"I thought I had it this time, Carl. I was on fire when I walked in to  that ring, but come the second round the wind had well and truly been  knocked out of my sails, and I was just … I well and truly failed. I can't  face that kind of humiliation again. And it scared Kait; she thought  the worst when the lights went out for me."



"But you're fine!" Carl insisted brightly. "You've taken hard knocks before, Jasper. Don't let her reaction put you off!"                       
       
           



       



"She wasn't the only one who got scared, Carl. The way I lost it out there, it was unreal. I just fell to pieces."



"Endurance, stamina, that's all it comes down to," Carl was clapping his hands together on the key words.



"We'll get you in the pool swimming laps and running at least two miles a day. When did you last go swimming?"



Jasper had to pause to think. It obviously wasn't a recent memory.



"Exactly!" Carl pointed excitedly at him. "You've been slipping with your training. You used to swim every day."



"Back when I was trying to create muscle tone," Jasper defended himself.  He no longer had time to swim. It had been pushed to the bottom of the  list of his priorities against weights and reps.



"That's your problem! You've been neglecting the elements which help you  with endurance. It's not all about power, Jasper. I shouldn't have to  tell you that."



"I know, I know," Jasper leaned forward and cradled his head in his  hands. He wished he still had his trainer. The American had been tough,  but he knew his stuff. He'd make sure Jasper could endure the end of the  world, let alone a second round in the ring.



"This next fight, this is your chance to shine, and we'll be properly  ready this time," Carl promised. "You'll taste victory again, Jasper."



"I hope so," Jasper sighed. Because if he didn't, it was all over.





Chapter 103



"Thanks so much for meeting me," Kait slid in to the booth across from  Michael Daniels, a former champion fighter whose career had ended just  before Jasper's began.



Michael was broad with powerful shoulders and a friendly smile that lit  up his old face. Kait vaguely recalled hearing his name when she was  younger. Michael had been known as the Gentle Giant. He had a kind face  and a pleasant disposition, but the moment he was in the ring, all that  changed. At the height of his career, he was a household name, but he  abruptly lost everything thanks to a string of devastating losses.