Chapter 7 - THE WARNING IN THE PARKING GARAGEThe convoy reached the arena without incident.
That almost made Cole more nervous.
Roman had threatened him.
Photographed Hannah.
Removed the briefcase.
Bought information from Tyler.
Then silence.
Cole entered through a secure underground loading area.
Commission officials checked credentials.
Police presence was visible.
Frank whispered:
“Maybe he backed off.”
Cole looked at him.
“You believe that?”
“No.”
They walked toward the locker room.
At the garage entrance, an elderly janitor approached.
“Mr. Maddox?”
Security stopped him.
The man raised both hands.
“Someone told me to give him this.”
A folded paper.
Security opened it first.
A photograph.
Cole’s mother’s grave in Phoenix.
Fresh flowers placed on it.
On the back:
Jack should have taken the money.
Cole felt his chest tighten.
No direct threat.
No crime obvious enough to stop anything.
Just psychological pressure.
Frank whispered:
“Don’t let him in your head.”
“He’s already there.”
“Then charge rent.”
Cole almost smiled.
Inside the locker room, inspectors checked his gloves.
Every seam.
Every tape roll.
Everything photographed.
Darius’s camp underwent the same.
The undercard began.
Crowd noise vibrated through concrete.
Cole shadowboxed.
He usually loved this period.
The tunnel feeling.
Everything narrowing toward the bell.
Tonight his mind kept drifting.
Jack.
Roman.
Hannah.
The photo.
Frank slapped his shoulder lightly.
“Eyes here.”
Cole focused.
“Jab.”
Cole threw.
“Again.”
Jab.
“Right hand.”
He moved.
Rhythm returned.
Boxing was simple.
Hands.
Feet.
Distance.
Timing.
No forged documents.
No shell companies.
No secret bets.
Just another man trying to hit you before you hit him.
Then Elena entered.
“We have a problem.”
Cole stopped.
“What?”
“Leo Valdez attempted to enter Darius’s locker room using another credential.”
“Why?”
“He claims he wanted to wish his fighter luck.”
Frank scoffed.
“Sure.”
“He’s removed from the building.”
Cole nodded.
“Anything else?”
Elena hesitated.
“A text was found on his phone under warrant.”
Cole waited.
“From Roman?”
“Likely.”
“What?”
She did not show the entire message.
But summarized.
Stay on schedule. Six matters.
Cole exhaled.
That was significant.
“Can you stop the fight now?”
Elena shook her head.
“Not necessarily.”
“Why not?”
“Because the fighters appear clean and willing. We’ve removed compromised corner personnel. Enforcement agencies are monitoring.”
Frank stared.
“You’re using the fight.”
Elena’s expression hardened.
“We are trying to protect it and investigate misconduct.”
Cole understood the difference.
Frank did not care.
“What if somebody gets hurt?”
“This is boxing. Somebody may get hurt regardless.”
Cole intervened.
“I’m fighting.”
Frank turned.
“I know.”
“Then stop arguing with the only person in the room who can shut it down.”
Elena nodded once.
She respected directness.
Twenty minutes later, Cole’s phone—held by an official—received another unknown message.
A video.
Hannah walking into her house.
Timestamp: ten minutes earlier.
Cole stood.
Frank grabbed his shoulder.
“No.”
Cole’s breathing changed.
A caption appeared:
Last chance.
Cole looked at Elena.
“This enough?”
She immediately called law enforcement.
Henderson police went to Hannah’s house.
She was safe.
Officers found no intruder.
A vehicle had passed several times.
Plate obscured.
Roman’s intimidation continued without crossing cleanly into an actionable line.
Cole wanted to leave.
Not the arena.
To go to Hannah.
That was the point.
Roman did not need to hurt her.
He needed Cole afraid enough to choose losing over risking her.
Hannah called.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not staying there.”
“Police are here.”
“Go with Sarah.”
“I’m not leaving because some asshole sent you a video.”
“Hannah.”
“No.”
Cole closed his eyes.
She sounded like Jack.
Stubborn.
Maybe like him too.
“Please.”
She softened.
“Okay.”
“I need to know you’re safe.”
“I will be.”
Cole whispered:
“I can pull out.”
Silence.
Then Hannah said:
“If you want to pull out because you don’t want to fight, do it.”
Cole listened.
“But don’t let Roman turn me into the reason you obey him.”
His throat tightened.
“Hannah—”
“Fight your fight.”
The call ended.
Frank looked at him.
“What did she say?”
Cole picked up his wraps.
“She’s Dad’s daughter.”
Frank understood.
The arena announcer’s voice boomed through the building.
Main event approaching.
Darius’s locker room requested confirmation that Cole remained in.
Cole said yes.
Ten minutes later, a commission inspector noticed something strange with one pair of spare gloves delivered for Cole.
The padding had been tampered with.
Not his primary approved gloves.
Spare gloves.
Still, everyone froze.
Who had access?
Equipment chain records led to a contractor.
The contractor disappeared from his assigned station.
Frank stared at Cole.
“This is it. We pull out.”
Cole looked at Elena.
“Can you guarantee my gloves?”
“Yes. The primary pair has remained under direct supervision.”
“Darius’s?”
“Yes.”
“Wraps?”
“Yes.”
“Officials?”
“Yes.”
Cole turned to Frank.
“We fight.”
Frank looked furious.
Then scared.
“You’re impossible.”
“I pay you for that opinion?”
“No. You pay me to keep you alive.”
Cole smiled slightly.
“Then do your job.”
Frank tied the final tape.
Outside, the crowd erupted as the co-main event ended.
The hallway suddenly felt too quiet.
One commission officer opened the door.
“Ten minutes.”
Cole stood.
Frank placed both hands on his shoulders.
“Listen to me.”
Cole looked at him.
“You are not your father.”
Cole nodded.
“You do not owe Jack a martyrdom.”
Another nod.
“You fight smart.”
“Yes.”
“You see something wrong, you tell me.”
“Yes.”
“And if Mercer hits you clean, you respect him.”
Cole smiled.
“Always.”
Frank stepped back.
Cole bounced lightly.
His body was ready.
His mind finally quiet.
Then someone knocked.
A young security officer entered holding a small envelope.
“Found this outside.”
Frank cursed.
Cole opened it.
No photograph.
No threat.
Only five words.
Sixth round. Last warning, son.
Cole stared at the word son.
Roman had called him that deliberately.
Jack.
The past.
Control.
Cole tore the paper once.
Then again.
Dropped it in the trash.
Frank smiled.
“That’s better.”
Cole put on his robe.
The arena lights dimmed.
His music began.
For the first time that day, Cole smiled.
Roman had spent twenty-four hours trying to keep him from reaching the ring.
May you like
Cole stepped into the tunnel.
And kept walking.
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