With his arms so high, his huge, firm gut makes an appealing target, and I shift my posture to deliver a series of crushing left hands low into his right side. I can practically feel his liver shrieking and hemorrhaging under his skin as he bends forward, crumpling from the internal abuse. His arms drop involuntarily to protect his torso, and I take a step back, time seeming to slow down even further as I tee up the perfect shot.
The man in front of me, the man who had taunted me, the man who represents all the doubts I had about myself looks up at me with glassy eyes and his mouth parted, struggling for the breath I’ve beaten out of him. I have only one mercy I can bestow upon him. I raise my right fist high and bring it down on his jaw, his face crumpling as though a meteor had crashed through the roof of the arena and slammed directly into his jaw. I leap back a step as the man pitches forward, his limp body slamming into the canvas so hard he bounces once before coming to rest in a sprawl of loose limbs and humiliation.
I stand above him in perfect silence, the sounds and fury of the crowd around me unable, at first, to pierce the perfect clarity and focus I had created. Only when I begin to release it do the incredible sensations of the gathered crowd break through, as my family and the love of my life race into the ring to wrap me in their arms.
“You did it!” my father roars as he picks me up by my waist briefly, then drops my feet back to the mat. “Damn, son, I always forget how heavy you’ve gotten,” he huffs before Jude wraps me in a hug.
“Be proud, Xavier. That…that was a thing of beauty,” Jude says.
When Cass steps between us Jude backs away, both of them grinning broadly. “You found it, didn’t you?” Cass asks me as she wraps her arms around my waist.
I bend down slightly to kiss her, then wrap my arms around her and lean back to raise her into the air. “You helped me find it,” I confirm. “I couldn’t shake the doubts by myself. I couldn’t see myself the way you do. What you said, though, the way you looked at me tonight, it finally got through to me. I’m not living up to a legacy or following in anyone’s footsteps. I’m just me.”
“Well, ‘just you’ is the greatest fighter, and the best lover, in all the world,” Cass teases as I set her back down on her feet.
“Only because I’ve got the best woman in my corner keeping my head on straight,” I reply.
I know that without Cassidy, even if I could have accomplished everything that I have, it never would have the same meaning. She helped bring me here, where I need to be, which is right by her side forever.
Epilogue
Xavier
It’s been two weeks since my big win, and I’m still riding the incredible high. It’s better than anything I’ve ever felt, making me certain that I made the right decision by giving up law for the cage.
And while I’m dog-tired after another full day of training, ready to get home to see Cass, I stop by Coach Briggs’ office before leaving since my dad said he needed to see me before I leave.
“Hey, Coach. What’s up?” I ask when I step through his open office door after my shower with my duffle bag hanging over my shoulder.
“Xavier!” he says in greeting when he gets to his feet behind his desk wearing his usual black and red Havoc shirt. “I know you’re ready to get home. I just wanted to let you know that Macy and I are headed off to North Carolina tomorrow morning. We’ll be down there for a few weeks helping to get Sage, one of Linc Abrams’ twins, ready for his welterweight title fight against Cyrus Cutler.” Narrowing his eyes and wagging his finger at me, Coach says, “Don’t you dare fucking slack off while I’m gone! Keep up your training with Jax and the other coaches.”
“I will,” I agree with a chuckle. “And send my condolences to the Abramses. I wouldn’t want to fight that mean son of a bitch even with a sixty-pound advantage.”
Nodding his head in agreement, Coach says, “Cyrus has built his reputation on fear because he’s not that great on his feet or on the ground. He’s known for fighting dirty, but that shit won’t fly against the Abrams’ twin.”
“Yeah, let’s hope not.”
“Before I leave, I needed to give you this,” Coach says when he picks up a white envelope from his desk and holds it out to me.
“What is it?” I ask when I take it.
“Your purse from your first fight and a contract to look over for your next one.”
Dropping my duffle to the floor, I tear the envelope open on the side to dump out a cashiers’ check with a whole bunch of zeros. “Holy shit, that’s a lot of money,” I remark. “More than we agreed on.”
Coach laughs. “The IFC was feeling generous after you helped their ratings go through the roof with your win. That’s why they gave you a bonus and are offering you a pay-per-view fight next for a helluva lot more money.”
“Wow. That’s…amazing,” I say nearly speechless.
“You sound surprised.”
“Yeah, I guess I am. I wasn’t sure I would win, much less get a second fight. I think I’m still in shock.”
“Well, kid, have a little fun with your payday, but don’t spend it all in one place.”
“I won’t. I’ve got a few bills to pay first,” I agree with a grin, knowing the one thing I do plan to splurge on. “Thanks for everything, Coach.”
“Hell, I just made a few calls and
