Chapter 5 - THE CHAMPION THEY BUILTThe betting line began moving less than three hours after the weigh-in.
Maya called Cole from a hotel conference room.
"Something's wrong."
Cole was eating grilled chicken while Ray watched fight footage.
"What?"
"Money is flooding into very specific proposition bets."
"People bet stupid things during big fights."
"Not like this."
Cole put down his fork.
"Explain."
"Large wagers. Multiple books. Same outcome."
"What outcome?"
She hesitated.
"Cole Maddox loses in Round Seven."
Ray looked up.
Cole put Maya on speaker.
"How much?"
"Enough to attract attention."
Ray muttered something under his breath.
Cole remembered Ethan.
Sixth round.
Body shot.
Stay down.
"Roman never gave me a round."
"Then somebody else did."
Ray stood.
"Victor."
Cole looked at him.
Their manager had been strangely absent since the weigh-in.
"Where is he?"
Ray called.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
Maya said, "I checked something else."
"What?"
"An account associated with one of the largest wagers has a beneficial owner you know."
Cole waited.
"Victor Sloan."
Cole felt surprisingly little shock.
Maybe because part of him had already suspected it.
He drove to Victor's suite at the Bellagio.
Victor opened the door wearing slacks and an untucked dress shirt.
His eyes went straight to Cole's face.
"What's wrong?"
Cole walked inside.
Ray followed.
Maya came last.
Cole closed the door.
"Round Seven."
Victor froze.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Enough.
Cole crossed the room.
"How much did you bet?"
Victor backed up.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Maya spoke.
"Don't insult us."
Victor looked at her.
"You're not his attorney."
"I am tonight."
Cole stared at his manager.
Victor had been with him for nine years.
He negotiated his contracts.
Attended family dinners.
Carried Ethan's casket.
"How much?"
Victor sat down.
No answer.
Cole stepped closer.
"How much, Victor?"
"Four hundred thousand."
Ray exploded.
"You bet four hundred grand against your own fighter?"
Victor shot to his feet.
"It's not like that."
Cole almost laughed.
"What is it like?"
Victor ran both hands through his hair.
"I owe people."
"Roman."
Silence.
"How much?"
Victor whispered, "Six million."
Ray stared at him.
"You idiot."
"I was trying to fix it."
"By gambling more?"
Victor looked sick.
"It started with sports books. Then private games. Roman extended credit."
Cole felt disgust rather than anger.
"How long?"
"Three years."
"And your way out is selling me?"
Victor snapped.
"You think I wanted this?"
Cole took one step forward.
Victor retreated.
"Roman said you take the fall in seven, my debt disappears. You get paid. Everyone walks away."
"Everyone?"
Victor's face changed.
There was something else.
Cole saw it immediately.
"Who did he threaten?"
Victor looked down.
"Answer me."
"Your mother."
Cole went completely still.
Ray whispered, "Victor…"
Victor's voice shook.
"He knows where Elaine lives. He knows her routine. He sent me photographs."
Cole grabbed Victor by the shirt.
Maya moved quickly.
"Cole."
He didn't hit him.
He simply held him against the wall.
"You had pictures of my mother and didn't tell me?"
"I was trying to handle it."
"You can't handle tying your shoes without borrowing money from somebody."
"Cole."
Maya's voice again.
Cole released him.
Victor slid away.
Cole headed for the door.
"Cole, listen."
He turned.
Victor looked terrified.
"Roman isn't bluffing."
May you like
Cole stared at him.
"You better pray he is."
Related Stories
