Chapter 13 - FIGHT DAYLas Vegas woke up talking about Cole Maddox and Darius Kane.
Sports radio argued over the odds.
Television analysts broke down footwork.
Fans wearing Maddox shirts filled casino floors.
Nobody knew that one of Cole's closest friends was tied to a chair somewhere in the city.
Maya wanted the fight canceled.
"No."
"Cole."
"No."
She stood inside his suite with her arms crossed.
"This is no longer just a suspected manipulation scheme. Victor has been abducted."
"Then report that."
"I did."
Cole looked at her.
"You what?"
"I forwarded the photograph."
"Roman will know."
"Roman already knows we're against him."
Ray stood silently near the wall.
Maya continued.
"Police are working on Victor. Athletic regulators know there are credible security concerns. You're not walking through the arena alone."
"I'm still fighting."
"Why?"
Cole looked at her.
"Because Roman expects fear to make everybody do exactly what he wants."
"That is not a legal strategy."
"It's not supposed to be."
"It's also not a survival strategy."
Cole stepped closer.
"If I pull out, what happens to Darius?"
Maya paused.
"Roman owns him for another year."
"And Victor?"
"We find him."
"And the betting evidence?"
"We investigate."
"Roman wipes it."
"You don't know that."
"He survived this long because he cleans up."
Maya's frustration flashed.
"You cannot solve your brother's death by becoming your brother."
Cole went still.
Ray looked toward the floor.
Maya immediately regretted the words.
"Cole—"
"No. You're right."
That surprised her.
He sat down.
"Ethan thought carrying everything alone made him strong."
Maya softened.
Cole continued.
"I'm not doing that."
He looked at her.
"You handle Victor."
Then Ray.
"You handle my corner."
Finally he looked at his phone.
"I handle Darius."
Maya watched him carefully.
"And Roman?"
Cole shook his head.
"Roman doesn't get handled by fists."
That was the first decision he had made all day that made her breathe easier.
At noon, Elaine called.
"Are you eating?"
Cole laughed.
"Mom."
"I'm serious."
"Yes."
"Protein?"
"Yes."
"Carbs?"
"Yes."
She was hiding fear behind motherhood.
He let her.
Then she said, "If anything feels wrong, walk away."
"I know."
"No belt is worth—"
"I know."
Silence.
"Cole?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm proud of you whether you win or not."
His throat tightened.
"I know."
"Your brother would be too."
After the call, Cole opened his gym bag.
Inside he had placed one thing from Ethan's locker.
An old red hand wrap.
He tied it around the handle of his bag.
Not superstition.
May you like
A reminder.
Don't become owned.
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