I applied some heavy makeup to my face and my eyes. It’s a requirement that we looked good doing what we do. Our goal is to make the patrons happy. The happier they are, the more money they spend.
Ramone banged on the door, and I rolled my eyes. I grabbed my bag, took off Brad’s t-shirt and walked out. The look on Ramone’s face repulsed me, but, as I said, I wasn’t Ayana anymore. I was someone else.
I gave him the finger.
“Anytime, Baby Doll. Just say the word.”
Yup, that’s what they called me, “Baby Doll.” I guess I looked fragile and wholesome compared to some of the girls. Man, when I said these girls looked rough, I wasn’t exaggerating. They seemed to have lived very hard and very tough lives. This was how they survived, but I didn’t knock their hustle.
Ramone walked ahead of me and spoke to one of the punks that ran shit down here while I looked around. Damn, this place was packed. Men and some half-dressed woman milled around the area and watched a “show,” as they called it, which was already in progress.
I turned to see Ramone standing in front of me, all serious and business like.
I guess it’s show time.
“You ready?”
I nodded and followed him to my spot and we went through the motions of getting ready.
I moved to the floor and stood there while my opponent made her way to the floor. She was huge. I looked back at Ramone to see a huge toothy grin and I shook my head.
I truly hate that son of a bitch.
I put my mouthpiece in, banged my gloved fists in my hands and watched this girl as she approached me. I told you she was bigger than I was, about 5’11,” solid mean-looking white girl that any other day I would be running the other way from. Today, unfortunately, was not the day. I took a deep breath and thought about Noelle. I needed to do this for her.
Someone rang a bell and the yelling started. I heard my name called and I heard hers… Bruiser.
Yeah, it figures.
I moved my head side to side, cracking my neck as I sized up my opponent. There’s always a weakness visible in almost anyone you fight. The problem was they could probably find yours too. So the object is to figure out theirs first and as I found hers.
I smiled.
*******
“You were a little slow with that one,” Ramone said in my ear.
I couldn’t respond… my chest was on fire. That amazon hit like a freaking ten-foot man. Not that I knew what that felt like, but I think I did now.
Damn!
He wasn’t wrong. It took everything in me to bring this girl down. I ended up doing a move that brought me on her shoulders with her head between my legs. My legs are one of my greatest strengths, and I made use of them. I choked her until she passed out.
That was before, of course, she landed a few in my chest, stomach, back and ear.
Oh, and I couldn’t hear out of my left ear.
I rose slowly from the bench, ready to call this a night when Ramone was approached by someone I assumed ran things down here; “here” was affectionately known as “The Hollow.”. Illegal fighting and gambling took place in the Hollow, underneath a strip club on Northwest Highway in Dallas. Men and some women went down here to see women grapple it out until someone fell.
Ramone looked at me as the guy talked to him. I watched him closely, hoping I wouldn’t have to fight again. I was tired and sore. I knew I wouldn’t be able to beat anyone in this place right now.
So far, I was undefeated. What’s driving me to do this stupid shit, you ask? Noelle Foster was my motivation, as well as the sure fire will to survive.
Ramone came over to me ecstatic.
“You’re in.” We moved to the exit together as he continued. “We have a fight scheduled for tomorrow night. They’ll email me the place and time. I need you to be ready. This is what we’ve been waiting for.”
I just nodded and we walked out of the building into fresh air. I tried to walk as fast as I could to my car, but Ramone kept following. When we got to my car, he turned to me.
“This is almost over, and we’ll have the players that we need,” he vowed.
I nodded again. “I’m going to go see Noelle and tell her the good news.”
He leaned in closer to me. “Watch your back. If anyone follows you to where she is, that could put her in more danger than she’s in already.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m always careful.”
He grunted. “You sure you don’t want to work for us?”
“Hell no… and when are you going to find one of your agents to keep this undercover thing going? I can’t do this forever. The deal was to get you in. You’re in. You have the reputation you needed and you have a name for yourself.”
“Yeah, and it just so happens so do you. You’re so fucking popular in that room it’s sickening. Yes, you’re the one that got us in and you’re the one they want. We promised to replace you and we will. We just need to get in and see what we’re working with. Two or three more fights and that’s it.”