Nick pulled into the back of the building and into the enclosed garage. He stepped out of his car and walked up the stairs where he saw a man waiting just inside the door.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t come, Nick,” said the man.
“That was a waste of time,” Nick retorted. “I don’t pay you to think.”
The man nodded his head and removed his shirt. Nick pulled his shirt and shoes off, going to stand in the middle of the room.
“Come at me,” Nick commanded.
“What about your arm?” the man responded quietly as he circled him.
Nick stared at the lethal man that was going to attempt to beat him. “I’ll worry about my arm; you just try to give me your best.”
He jumped when he felt the first hit from the fighter. Nick never knew how the attack would begin. He had ordered the fighter to use a variety of moves, using both fists and kicks, as long as he didn’t leave any bruises on his face. He couldn’t let anyone see the marks that would show he was fighting despite doctor’s orders.
Although he was glad for the break from constant training, if he listened to them, it would take months to get back in shape. Therefore, he was using being out of commission to his benefit. This way, he could pick and choose his opponents and hone his skills.
As the fighter continued his attempts to take him down, Nick was able to focus on ignoring the pain from his arm, giving him the focus he needed to watch the amazing skill the street-fighter used.
When he went back in the ring, he wouldn’t be going down.
Chapter 5
“Another round of Buds, Chris!” Ria yelled at Chris from across the bar.
It was another Saturday night, and the crowd was rowdy. Fortunately, everyone seemed to be in a good mood. The local baseball team had won a game, and the fans were out celebrating. It had been a good night for all of the waitresses.
Ria looked around and breathed a sigh of relief. For once, she was actually enjoying herself in this shithole. She hated waitressing, but she got along with everyone who worked there. She was used to feeling like an outsider, yet everyone there was just like her: hard workers merely trying to make ends meet.
It was nothing like when she was younger and every move she made was watched. Her father had been involved in a cartel. Her mother had attempted to protect her as she grew older, but her downward spiral into drug use had taken her from a caring mother to a drug addict who needed constant monitoring.
She shook off those thoughts. Her mother was doing okay now. Her stint in rehab had cleaned her up. Ria simply worried she hadn’t stayed long enough to keep her that way.
“Coming at you,” Chris hollered back.
She watched Chris pop open the lids of the beers and hand them to her. He was the only bartender tonight, and he was doing a good job of keeping up with the demand. As he turned back to the next customer with his adorable smile, she saw the look of impatience disappear from the young woman’s face, replaced with flirtation. Ria shook her head. She would probably end up being Chris’s next easy target for a quick romp.
Ria took the beers to one of her tables. The young men appeared to be in college, and were out for a good time.
“Here you go, fellas.” Ria gave them each their beers. “Need anything else?”
“Just a high five!” One of the young, drunk men raised his hand in the air toward her, almost falling off the stool in the process.
Ria laughed and steadied him then reached up to smack his hand still in the air.
“Go, Tigers!” he slurred.
“Go, Tigers,” Ria replied, and the group laughed.
Ria attended to her other tables and went to stand by the bar to take a breather since she had just delivered everyone fresh drinks. She looked toward Chris, and he winked at her as he poured a shot of tequila for one of the customers in line. Ria smiled back, used to Chris’s flirtatious ways. He winked at all of the waitresses.
The rest of the night went well, and when Chris counted the money out for the girls, he handed Ria eight hundred dollars. It was one hell of a night. She wished the team won every weekend. Ria sighed and felt herself relax. The money would help get her through the next two months.
They all cleaned the bar and walked to their cars for the night as Chris stood watch. Once he saw them safely into their vehicles, Ria watched him walk to his car where the woman from earlier was waiting for him. Ria was proud of herself for calling that one. She watched Chris open the door for her and then get in to take off to who knows where.
Ria put the keys in the ignition of her car and went to start it, but nothing happened. She tried again. It wouldn’t start. She looked around to see if anyone was around; however, she had taken too long to try to get her car started, and now the parking lot was empty. She looked down to see if there was anything to indicate why her car wasn’t starting and cussed at herself. She had left the fucking lights on.