The empty coldness behind me broke my sleep, causing me to jump up immediately as my heart began to race.
"N-no.." I whispered to myself.
"I'm right here.." Clarence spoke deeply, from the chair next to the bed causing me to calm.
"I thought y-"
"You thought I left.." he finished for me.
"I'll never do that again, you won't have to worry." He told me, sincerity deep on his words.
"And when I do, I'll always come back...". He said softly.
"W-why are you there, and dressed?" I asked eyeing his appearance.
He sighed before speaking, "they told you what I do here right?" He asked, hinting to what I assume was boxing—causing me to nod.
"Well that's what I'm about to go do, I have—a match." He said lowly.
"Why are you doing that, y-you don't have to." I told him.
"Stop," he shook his head, "I have to do everything he says, if I don't, I won't even be the one to get hurt. The people I care about will." He told me.
"Rodrigo kept you alive for the simple reason that your another leash for me. André played into his game and now you're life is basically over. You don't get it Jay, I'm a slave and now you are too."
When his phone vibrated he stood up,
"I have to go, I'll be back in a couple of hours." He told me before walking towards the bed.
"Can I go?" I asked ignorantly, looking up at him.
"No," he said flatly before leaning in and placing a kiss on my lips.
He then grabbed his gym bag and walked out the door.
I watched as he left, nerves instantly beginning to consume me.
"He'll come back, it's fine..." I whispered to myself.
I stepped out of the SUV—dozens of security guards flanking my sides as I walked into the venue.
Cars were everywhere, surrounding the makeshift ring in the middle.
"Your on in 10," a voice spoke, "Rodrigo is betting 500 grand on you tonight, don't disappoint."
Joel was one of the guards who stood out among the rest. He wasn't a sheep in black like the others, he was like Rodrigos right hand man.
"Have I ever?" I replied flatly.
He scoffed and walked away, signaling the other guards to follow.
This was it, the only time I was truly alone was before a match.
This was the only freedom Rodrigo granted me.
I pulled off my shirt and put in my mouth guard,taking a seat on the hood of the car.
I'll come back to you, I promise.
I grabbed the gloves from beside me and put them on securely, punching my fists together.
I spotted Joel from a distance—waving me over.
I took one last breath before hopping off the truck and walking over.
"500 grand, keep your mind on it." He said, I eyed him with a bored expression before nodding.
"NEXT UP, WE GOT THE REAL 'MOST DANGEROUS MAN ON THE PLANET' THE KING OF THE JUNGLE, RICARDOS LATIN DEMON, HE DOESNT HAVE A NAME, BUT HIS OPPONENTS KNOW HIM AS A NIGHTMARE"
I tuned everything out, silence, that's all I heard, darkness—that's all that surrounded me.
I stepped in the ring, staring over at the man across from me, my prey.
We eyed each other harshly, there was no touching gloves for respect here. It was eat or be eaten.
DING!
Hands up, the sound of the bell meant it was time for the hunt, no remorse.
We met each other in the center—posturing, both of us looking for an opening.
"You don't look as scary as people make you out to be." My opponent spoke, his words dowsed in confidence.
Found it
I uppercut his gut, driving out a screech of pain from him.
Ribs
When I found my spot of aggression I started my attack.
Punching furiously, forcing him to cover up—there was no dodging for him.
Punch
Punch
Punch
"You don't have to do this"
My eyes widened when Joshua's words rang throughout my head.
A hard punch to my jaw, then ribs, snapped me back.
"What the hell Clarence, the fuck was that!" Joel yelled from outside the ring.
I didn't get distracted, I never did.
Now I was on the defensive, dodging—blocking. Avoiding shots to vital areas.
Here, there were no rounds—you fought until you collapsed, or until you were dead.
I felt my temper rising, after I dodged a punch to my nose I uppercut him, sending his head flying back.
Then his gut, causing him to hunch over, I repeated that again—and again. I physically felt his nose crunch through my gloves, I heard him yell when I sent a devastating punch to his gut.
I liked it—not why I was doing it, But how it made me feel.
Call me sick but it was satisfying.
I sent one last knockout punch to his jaw causing him to tumble over.
Blood poured from his mouth and nose, causing his team to run over to him frantically.
I stared down at the entire scene with a bored expression before eyeing the bell keeper.
He had a traumatized look on his face but quickly rang the bell when we made eye contact.
He announced me as the winner allowing me to exit the ring and make my way back to the truck.
"Your money will be transferred in the coming hours as usual." Joel spoke during the drive, I stayed silent, ignoring his presence.
"I have no doubt that this will look good for you and your brother," he nodded, "and your lover." He smiled deviously.
My head shot over to him, "lover?" I asked.
"Don't be silly Clarence, Rodrigo notices everything, and your lover did not do well to hide it, neither have you honestly—have you forgotten your one wish?" He asked.
"My one wish was to keep him away?" I said flatly.
"A failed effort you made to protect him," he said nonchalantly, waving me off, "say, how do you explain the call you made to him earlier?" He asked with a smirk.
"That was my brother," I shook my head.
"Ah ah ah, you made a call too, Oh what, please don't tell me you think because you simply did not speak words, we wouldn't know?" He chuckled.
I stayed silent eyeing him, I clenched my fist, I wanted to kill him.With everything in me even down to my cells I wanted to take his life.
But the first move I would make would leave me riddled with bullets, it would leave Joshua and André with the same.
"I don't want him apart of this.." I told him lowly.
"And he'll be left alone, he'll still be monitored due to his knowledge. But he won't be touched, as long as you continue to do your job." He said flatly.
With that last sentence we came to a stop, signaling I was home.
I stepped out, bag in hand as the guard opened the door.
It was a little after 4 in the morning so it was still relatively dark.
I walked inside my house, closing the door behind me and making my way upstairs.
Once I made it to my room I made eye contact with an anxious looking Joshua, laying on his side.
When he saw me he jumped up and ran, hugging me tightly around my waist.
I winced as he grabbed my aching muscles tightly.
"you should be asleep." I told him.
"I couldn't," he sniffed, "I-I was scared."
"What did I tell you," I sighed, wrapping my arms around him.
"I know but still, I couldn't help it." He said lowly.
"It's ok, I'm here. Now let go, I'm dirty." I demanded, unraveling myself from him.
He nodded and backed up, "I'll be back, gonna take a quick shower," I told him causing him to nod and return to bed.
I dropped my bag and grabbed extra clothes before making me way to the bathroom.
I felt my muscles relax when the hot water beat down on me.
When I began to fall asleep on my feet I knew it was time to get out.
After I was dressed I left the bathroom and made my way back over to my room. Joshua laid in the same position, staring at the doorway.
Once again when I walked in I saw him relax.
This was my fault, I made him like this.
I sighed to myself and made my way inside the bed, behind him.
I embraced him and closed my eyes, finally—sleeping.
After all these months... I was resting.
"Clare.." Joshua whispered lowly.
"Hmm?" I responded groggily—half asleep.
"are you scared—of him?" he asked.
"Rodrigo?" I asked lowly.
"mhmm." He responded.
"no," I told him truthfully.
"how? I am, he's intimi—"
I instinctively tightened my arms around him, "don't be, he won't touch you—ever." I said sternly.
"It's late, we should sleep." I told him, pulling him closer.
"Yeah.." he responded lightly.
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Forgive any possible errors please