Chapter 6 - SOMEONE INSIDE COLE’S TEAMAt six the next morning, Frank discovered Cole’s water bottle had been opened.
The seal was broken.
Cole stared at it.
Neither man touched it.
They called commission security.
Testing later showed nothing suspicious.
Maybe someone opened it accidentally.
Maybe not.
That uncertainty was enough.
Everything consumable now stayed sealed until Cole opened it himself.
Frank said:
“This is insane.”
Cole answered:
“Welcome to fight day.”
“You’re joking?”
“Trying.”
Frank did not laugh.
Cole’s team included four men besides Frank.
Cutman Luis Ortega.
Strength coach Mike Danner.
Assistant trainer Reggie Price.
Nutritionist Tyler Boone.
All had worked with Cole for at least two years.
Roman somehow knew private details.
Training schedule.
Weight cuts.
Entry routes.
Hannah’s restaurant.
Someone might be leaking information.
Commission investigators interviewed everyone.
Nobody admitted anything.
Then Cole received a message from Roman.
Nice blue hoodie.
Cole looked down.
Blue hoodie.
He was inside a secure hotel floor.
No public cameras.
Someone nearby had told Roman what he wore.
Cole turned to Frank.
“Phone collection.”
Every team member surrendered devices voluntarily except Tyler.
“Why?”
Tyler looked offended.
“My phone has personal stuff.”
Cole stared.
“We all have personal stuff.”
“You’re accusing me?”
“I’m asking.”
Tyler hesitated.
Then handed it over.
Investigators found deleted messages with an unknown prepaid number.
Mostly harmless.
Schedule questions.
What time does Cole train?
What floor are you staying on?
Who’s with him?
Tyler claimed he thought the messages came from a sports bettor willing to pay for insider training information.
Cole stared at him.
“You sold my location?”
“I didn’t know it was Roman.”
“You sold my location.”
Tyler’s face reddened.
“I needed money.”
“How much?”
“Five grand.”
Frank stepped between them even though Cole had not moved.
Cole’s voice stayed calm.
“You’re done.”
“Cole—”
“Leave.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Leave.”
Tyler was escorted away.
No violence.
No screaming.
But Cole felt worse than if they had fought.
Another person trading trust for money.
Roman’s favorite currency.
Investigators questioned Tyler further.
He admitted sending Hannah’s public dinner plan after seeing a family group message.
Roman’s people could then photograph her.
Cole nearly lost control hearing that.
He called Hannah.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I brought this to you.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Cole, stop.”
He closed his eyes.
Hannah continued:
“Dad spent his whole life blaming himself for what Roman did.”
Cole went still.
“Mom told me that.”
“What?”
“He thought if he’d just taken the money, everyone would’ve been better.”
Cole stared at the wall.
Hannah’s voice softened.
“Don’t become Dad in the other direction.”
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t think refusing Roman means you have to sacrifice everything.”
Cole absorbed it.
His father had confused stubbornness with honor.
Maybe Cole did too sometimes.
“I’m still fighting.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“But I’m not doing it alone.”
“That’s better.”
Tyler’s leak explained many things.
Not all.
Roman had also known details Tyler could not know.
Someone closer to the event remained.
The commission removed Tyler’s credentials.
Cole’s nutrition was transferred to an approved independent staff member.
Every bottle sealed.
Every glove inspected.
Every wrap witnessed.
It felt less like boxing and more like evidence handling.
At noon, Darius requested to meet Cole with both trainers and commission officials present.
Elena agreed.
Darius arrived without Leo.
“My manager’s suspended from my corner pending review.”
Cole nodded.
“You okay?”
Darius laughed.
“No.”
“Same.”
They sat across from each other.
Darius said:
“I want the fight.”
“So do I.”
“I’m not taking a dive.”
“Neither am I.”
“Then we fight clean.”
Cole extended a wrapped fist.
Darius tapped it.
“Clean.”
Elena watched.
“Good. Now understand this: if either corner gives improper instructions, alert an official.”
Darius nodded.
Cole asked:
“What happens to Leo?”
“Investigation continues.”
Darius looked furious.
“He’s been with me nine years.”
Cole understood.
Frank had lied to him too.
Different scale.
Same wound.
Later, Frank admitted:
“I should’ve told you about your dad years ago.”
“Yes.”
“I was scared you’d chase Roman.”
“I probably would have.”
“That’s why.”
Cole looked at him.
“Still wrong.”
“I know.”
That mattered.
Frank did not justify forever.
He admitted wrong.
Cole wished other adults in his life had learned that skill.
Three hours before departure for the arena, hotel security found a black SUV idling in the service alley.
Registered to a private transport company tied to one of Roman’s businesses.
No law broken.
But the message was obvious.
Cole’s route changed.
Police escort.
Unmarked vehicle.
Different entrance.
Roman’s promise echoed.
First, make it to the ring.
Cole pulled on his jacket.
Frank said:
“Ready?”
“No.”
Frank smiled.
“Good answer.”
Cole looked at himself in the mirror.
Thirty years old.
Fifteen years of boxing.
A father whose reputation had been stolen.
A sister he wanted safe.
A team partly broken.
A man named Roman trying to decide when Cole should fall.
Cole picked up his duffel bag.
“Let’s go.”
May you like
He made it out of the hotel.
But the hardest part of reaching the ring had not started yet.
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