Chapter Fifteen

The fight between Mercer and Echo is in an old run down warehouse building on the Eastside. The inside of the building is vastly different from the outside. In the centre of the room is what Mercer explained is called an octagon, there is no seating anywhere in the building, so it must be a standing room only type of an event. A huge bar runs along the back wall, filled with all the liquor imaginable. I’m amazed at how busy it is here. There is no if or maybe about this all being illegal. The smell of weed fills the air and kids I have seen at parties have drinks in their hands. I can guarantee that my uncle's name is nowhere to be found in relation to this building but he would make a pretty penny from these fights. All the guys are here except Maximus, his anxiety couldn’t handle a crowd like this.

Mercer is out the back somewhere with Rocky getting ready for the fight and Levi and Rory are on babysitting duty with me.

“How good is Mercer at all of this?” I ask them. I’m all for watching him fight but it never occurred to me to ask if he was any good. I just assumed that he was. I don’t want him to get hurt.

“He's really good,” Levi assures me.

Echo must not have gotten the memo that he should be getting ready; he swaggers over towards us wrapped in a red silk robe and bare foot and gives me a megawatt smile.

“Sure you don’t want to change your mind about all of this B,” he says, opening his robe to show off his naked chest. I laugh at him and shake my head no.

“In your dreams.”

I use my hands to grab Rory and Levi’s arms to stop them from doing anything stupid.

“Every night until I met a girl with big brown eyes.”

I know he is talking about Chloe. “I never was into brunettes.”

“Is everything above board here?” I ask with a stern expression on my face. I need to know if he's going to fight dirty.

“Depends on what you mean about being above board,” he answers with a shrug of his shoulders.

“The fighting Echo, are you going to fight dirty?”

“I’m wounded B, but to answer your question. No, the one thing above board are the rules. Your uncle doesn’t need unnecessary deaths or injuries to make the cops sniff around more. MMA rules apply. I can’t promise I won’t mess up the pretty boy’s face though.”

“Give it your best shot, I can play nurse after,” I tease and Echo groans and looks at my guys.

“I hope you know how lucky you dudes are.”

Rory and Levi nod and Echo’s attention is pulled away by one of his friends.

Fights have started in the octagon and the announcer is doing his thing, I don’t understand a damn thing they are saying and the crowd is super thick around the ring. People are yelling and cheering as the guys punch and kick the shit out of each other.

The guys lead me around to the back of the ring to an alcove where we can wait until Mercer’s fight and move in closer. Between each fight people tend to move away and mingle while waiting for the next fight to start.

I spot my uncle heading our way, dressed to impress in his all black suit, his gold chain and rings that sparkle under the lights as he moves closer.

“Bristol, I’m glad you could make it,” he says, pulling me into a hug.

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

“Your brother is here so just be careful, he’s a bit weird that one. I’m glad your father has taken him under his wing for his business. The kid ain’t cut out for this side of the fence. It’s a shame Milo isn’t around, he had potential. You my dear were always my first choice but a deal is a deal. If you ever decide to join me, I would be happy to have you.”

“As flattered as I am, I don’t think a life of crime is in the cards for me,” I say and he laughs. I can feel the tension radiating from Rory and Levi but they’re smart to just stand there.

“It’s only a crime if you get caught B, innocent until proven guilty in this country.”

“Semantics, Uncle.”

“Maybe, but if you ever decide to continue your passion of becoming a lawyer, I could use you on my side. I better go make sure Echo is getting ready. The kid has talent but he gets distracted easily.” He places his hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. It’s surreal that most of the people in my life I don’t remember yet with my uncle I feel in my gut that we were close.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out and see it’s an unknown number. I hold it up to the guys and motion that I’m going outside. There are still a couple of fights before Mercer’s so I have some time.

“Hello,” I say but the line is silent. I walk faster and step out a side door. Rory follows me out and Levi stands at the door so it doesn’t close over and lock us out. “Hello.”

“Bristol.”

“Yes,” I say. The voice is familiar but I can’t place it. “Who is this?”

“Shit,” whoever it is says under their breath. “It’s true that you have no memories.”

“Who is this?” I ask cautiously.

“I’m your cousin Arden, but you can’t tell anyone I called you.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t have time to explain, but you need to be careful of everyone around you and trust no one.”

There’s a second voice in the background but it’s muffled. “Get off the phone no one can know I’m here.” is all I can make out.

“I didn’t say shit,” Arden whispers. “She needs to be safe until we figure this out.”

The line goes dead and I look up at the guys and shrug.

“Telemarketer.” I lie, I don’t want to worry them until after Mercer is finished and we’re all together. I wonder if I should call Lissa, but she doesn’t want to talk to me. She made it clear that she’s pissed and doesn’t want Levi involved in my life. Which I understand and can't blame her, Levi is the only family she has.

I wonder how much more family I have that I don’t know about. I had never even considered having a cousin.

We all walk back inside and take our spot again; I notice Carter standing on the other side of the ring and he heads towards us. He is so out of place here it isn’t funny, he screams wealth whereas most of the people here look as if they really don’t care, they’re dressed for comfort, not for style.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Carter when he reaches us.

“I could ask you the same thing, this isn’t exactly a safe place for a girl.”

“I’m perfectly safe with my boyfriends, friends and our uncle.”

Carter scoffs. “You really trust our uncle and your gangbanger friend? And your boyfriends are not from around here, running in these circles is not the same as some small seaside town.”

“I could say the same for you, your outfit is worth more than most of these people make in a month.”

Carter's attitude towards me has started to change. He was nice in the beginning but the more freedom I have, the weirder he gets. Maybe he’s just being overprotective after everything that has happened. From what I can gather, I was close to Milo and he could possibly be trying to take over the big brother role.

“No one will touch me with our uncle here, they all want to stay in his good graces. I’m surprised he and our father are okay with you hanging around your boyfriends with the court case still pending.”

“Didn’t you hear, all charges have been dropped,” Rory states and Carter’s eyebrows drop before he smiles.

“That’s good to hear, glad you were able to sort it all out.”

“Carter.”

We all turn towards the voice and my uncle waves him over. He turns back to us and smiles again. “See you at home,” and walks off.

“I don’t know how I feel about him,” Levi mutters and Rory quickly agrees.

“He’s my brother,” I retort with a shrug. “I have to at least try and get along with him. At least until I get my memories back.”

I glance around the room and see Chloe heading towards us. I smile at her too cute outfit, a black and white checked dress with a black t-shirt underneath, knee high black socks and a pair of chunky black heels. Her brown curls fall at her shoulders and the black rimmed glasses make her look a cross between adorable and stylish.

“Did I miss it?” she puffs, holding her chest. “Chev made an ass of himself when I told him I was coming. I kicked him in the nuts and made a run for it once we got here. He’s going to be pissed.”

“Not yet, they should be on soon. Did you ride here with Chev?”

She nods her head. “I had no choice, I was about to leave and he was parked behind me. When I asked him to move his car he refused and caused a fight, so I told him where I was going and he said he was also coming here. So I jumped in his car and refused to get out and here we are.”

I laugh, I’m so glad that she is starting to stand up to her stepbrother. He can be a total douche but I can see how much he cares about her.

The lights dim and the MC walks into the middle of the octagon. “Tonight we have something special for you all.”

A rap song I’m not familiar with starts playing and I tune out the MC and see Echo walk out from a side entrance. He swaggers with the song, all smiles and cockiness, and makes a show of getting to the ring.

The MC announces Mercer and runs through his stats. The crowd isn’t going as wild for him since none of them have heard of him before.

Rough riders by DMX plays and Mercer walks out with Rocky by his side. Mercer isn’t cocky like Echo, he is confident and powerful. He must say something to Rocky because he laughs and pats him on the shoulder before he jumps into the octagon.

“Oh my gosh, we made it.” Comes a higher pitched voice from out of my line of sight. I glance to my right and smile, Carson and Phillip are here.

“I didn’t know you were coming.” I say to Carson as Rory and Levi shake hands with Phillip.

“I watch all of his fights. Not that I understand any of it with the punching and kicking but it’s what he loves to do and we support him.”

A buzzer sounds and Carson squeals and takes my hand. The guys circle each other with their fists held high, both bopping from one foot to another. Echo kicks and Mercer jumps out of the way, narrowly missing his foot.

Things progress fast; punches, kicks and at one point they’re on the floor trying to pin each other down. I squeeze Carson's hand in excitement. Every time it looks as if Mercer has the upper hand Carson jumps with joy.

After the first three rounds both guys are covered in blood. Rocky talks to Mercer and he nods before they’re sent in for the fourth round. Mercer doesn’t hold back this time, he moves forward on Echo throwing a kick that makes him stumble. Mercer swings and connects with Echo’s head, sending him to the floor.

The referee holds out a hand for Mercer to stop and before I know it Mercer is being announced as the winner. Echo comes around quickly which is a relief. Chloe excuses herself and runs towards Echo. His friend is wiping down his face and saying something. Both of them see Chloe at the same time and they smile widely at her. She reaches Echo and he pulls her between his legs and wraps his arms around her, resting his head against her stomach. Mossy has his arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind. Both of them touch her like it’s the last time they will ever get to and it makes me happy that she can have that.

Carson moves towards the octagon alongside me. Mercer and Rocky are standing outside of it now and I let go of Carson’s hand and run to Merce and throw myself at him. His arms wrap around my waist, my legs coming off the ground.

“You were amazing as always son,” Carson says as Mercer puts me back on the ground pulling me into his side.

“Thanks dad. I told you that you didn't have to drive all this way to watch this fight.”

Phillip joins us and stands besides Carson. Carson hisses as if Mercer just burned him.

“I haven’t missed a fight and I don’t ever plan to. Especially when you’re fighting for your girl's honour.”

“Dad,” Mercer groans. “I wasn’t fighting for her honour. The other guy never had a chance.”

Rocky laughs from beside Mercer.

“Ain’t that the truth. You know how good looking we are Mr Cole, no one stands a chance when it comes to us.”

“Modest as aways Rocky.” Phillip says with a boisterous laugh.

“I can’t help it if it’s true,” he throws back at Phillip and this time we all laugh.

Phillip and Carson say their goodbyes, they have a long drive home and Phillip has to work tomorrow.

Surrounded by my guys, we decide to go and grab something to eat. I look around for Chloe and a commotion catches my attention.

“She’s coming home with me!” Chev shouts as Echo steps forward blocking Chloe as she curls into Mossy.

“I don’t think you heard me. She isn’t going anywhere with you. Anyone who makes my girl cry is not a friend of mine.”

“Your girl?” Chev scoffs. “You don’t even know her.”

Echo steps up to Chev so they are chest to chest. Echo is slightly taller and leaner than Chev but not by a lot. I drag the guys closer in case anything goes down.

“I know that she’s smart, beautiful and someone I want to get to know.”

“You just see her as a conquest, a tight pussy to fuck if she lets you between her legs.”

Echo’s hand balls into a fist. “Like you did? You treated her like a whore and when she walked away you didn’t like it. Well guess what bro, I treat my girl like a queen and will worship the ground she walks on. The only tears she has to worry about around me are ones of joy. So get the fuck out of here with the toxic crap that spews from your mouth.”

“She’s mine,” Chev demands.

“She may still love you but you lost her,” he says, poking Chev in the chest. “Real men don’t treat women the way you do.”

Chev laughs in Echo’s face. “You’re nothing but a two bit drug dealer with no future. You think someone like you deserves someone like her.”

“Oh god no. I don’t deserve her but that isn’t my choice to make, so I will worship the ground she walks on until she realises that.”

With that Echo pushes Chev and just before any fists can be thrown my uncle slaps Chev on the shoulder.

“You know my rules boys, no fists are thrown outside of the ring. It looks like you now have your next opponent Echo.”

Chev goes to protest but thinks better of it, you don’t argue with my uncle. These are his streets and once he has you in his sights, you fall in line.

I smile, extremely giddy. I remembered that, it wasn’t a flashback, just an ingrained memory. I might just remember everything soon enough.