Fighting for Chloe Read online

  Patricks eyes are dark and dangerous. I know my dad used to dabble in gambling in his spare time when I was growing up. But this is all so much to take in. He may have been a shitty father but he did good business, or so I thought. How much has changed in the three years I’ve been gone?

  ‘Well, as I said, my dad and I are no longer on speaking terms and it’s been that way for some years now. I really don’t think he’s going to drop everything and rush over here to save his estranged daughter. Especially if he doesn’t have the money to pay you back. You could just let me go and I won’t report it to the authorities. This could all end now.’ I chew on my lip nervously while waiting for him to respond. Patrick stands abruptly and makes his way to the door, pulling it open, as he leaves he turns back towards me—his parting words crystal clear.

  ‘He will pay, or else.’

  Dom

  I HAVEN’T SLEPT well in days. Nan isn’t well and I’ve been up with her through the night. Thank fuck for Zoe next door. If not for her I’d never be able to fight at the weekends. If I don’t fight I can’t pay nans mortgage. She shouldn’t even have a mortgage at her age, no-one in their right mind would give her one, but somehow my deadbeat father, managed to swindle her. Whichever crook went along with him, convinced her to sign the fucking paperwork to re-mortgage her home for the next five years. Nan has no income other than her pension and the house was outright owned. Only way to get that debt paid off would be to sell, but all her memories are here, of my grandad and even my best childhood memories too. No. There is no way she’s not living out her last days here. That’s why I fight for money. It’s a quick earner, and it means I’m around through the day for her.

  Zoe thinks I’m working the door at various clubs, it’s a good cover because of the times I leave for ‘work’. She sits in with nan who’s usually asleep, but it gives me peace of mind, and Zoe gets cash in hand and gets to watch Sky TV in return. I pay for that too because my nan loves the alibi channel. Always with the crime and murder solving shows. All from about two decades ago. But it keeps her happy with hours on hours of her favourites, so I pay the ridiculous bill every month regardless. I’m not beyond working a regular job and I’d do it in a snap if I didn’t have nan to care for around the clock. Yeah, I could get a nurse in and whatever the authorities would sort for her home help, meals made and that sort of stuff. But it would be minimal and she’d be alone the majority of the time, and I can’t live with that.

  It’s Friday night and fight night. My mind wanders again to the auburn-haired woman I saw last week... I’ve thought about her every day. And most definitely every night. She’s been the last image in my head when sleep has finally taken me.

  I’ve prepared for tonight. I’ve watched YouTube videos of my opponent and I know his tells, where he’s weak and what I can do to take him out. So I’m quite relaxed as I wrap my hands in the shitty bathroom in the back. A commotion clamours on the other side of the door and I’m sure I hear a woman scream. I check to see what’s going on and as I push the door open I get an eyeful of two brawny men in black suits. One of them is bent at the waist picking up a woman from the concrete floor. I take in the sight of her and quickly realise she’s the woman. The one who’s been playing on my mind for a week.

  Without thinking, I move in front of the guy trying to haul her up off the floor, it’s clear she doesn’t want his hands on her.

  ‘Hey,’ I warn him. ‘Leave her alone.’

  ‘What’s it to you, prick?’ He puts his hands on me. That’s his first mistake. His second is when he tries to pick the woman up from the floor again. Forcibly. No. That’s not how you treat a woman. I cock my arm and punch him square in the jaw. He goes down without a problem. But we’ve attracted a crowd, it seems the fight in the cage isn’t holding the crowd’s attention anymore. As the second guy throws a punch, I duck and jab, hitting him twice consecutively in the solar plexus. He gasps for air and gives me the perfect opportunity to haul her up from the floor, and into my arms. She’s bleeding from her nose and her face is all scraped up. Bastards. I walk us back into the toilets, but she panics.

  ‘I need to get out of here, please help me, they’re going to kill me—’

  ‘Who is? What the hell is going on?’

  ‘Please I need to get out of here now, before he finds out I’m gone.’ She’s slurring and her pupils are huge. She’s fucking high. Great.

  ‘He kidnapped me.’

  ‘Who did?’ But the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I have a bad feeling she’s telling me the truth. When I saw her that first time she looked stunning, beautiful and fresh. That was a week ago. And she’s still in the same clothes. Her hair is ragged and she has old makeup on her face. Fuck. What the hell have I got myself into? Only seconds have passed and she’s begging me to get her out. I grab my bag and pull out my hoodie, throwing it over her head and shoulders. I pull the hood up and over her hair and tell her to step into my joggers, like the hoodie they bury her. Trying to think quick, I unwrap my hand, and using it as a belt, wrap it around the top of the pants. It looks ridiculous and probably won’t work for shit, but when I pull the hoodie back down over her waist, tucking it under a little to hide the length, she looks like she could almost pass for a teenager.

  ‘You need to walk right out of this door and go to the entrance, you walk with me, don’t look at anyone okay?’ She nods at me, but I’m not convinced. I should just call the police, but then on the other hand I’m here, and this whole fucking place is illegal. I can’t go to jail; my nan needs me.

  ‘Listen to me okay, you want to get out of here, you do what I say? You understand?’

  ‘Yes...yes...Please just let’s go.’ The desperation in her voice is clear despite the slurred speech. I push the door open and make my way to the front doors with her on my heel, still wearing my shorts and t-shirt. Luckily the fight in the cage has everyone’s attention again, despite the two guys still knocked out by the door. I walk casually and as we get through the entrance I feel her physically stiffen as she grabs hold of my waistband. Her fingers are literally inside my shorts. I turn to check her out, to make sure she’s doing okay, but in my peripheral, I see the reason for her alarm. We pass the guy she’s scared of with ease just as the place erupts into cheers and applause. The fight must be coming to a close. Do I stay and fight or flee with her? If I go they will know I took her. As quick as the plan forms, I turn a corner and head for the main street, hailing a cab. I rummage in my bag and get my phone. I put her in the back seat and give the cabbie my address, handing him twenty quid.

  ‘Straight there, and make sure she gets in safely, okay?’

  ‘Sure, no problem,’ he answers.

  I turn to her. ‘I’m going back in for my fight, that way they won’t know you are with me, okay?’ She nods but I don’t think she’s registering what I’m saying. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can. I want you to stay inside once you get there.’ She nods again. I have to accept it. I tap on the roof and the cabbie takes off. I run back down the side street and type out a quick text.

  Me: Zoe a friend of mine is on her way. I’ve put her in a cab, please let her in and make her comfortable till I get home. Thanks.

  Zoe: Sure no problem.

  Me: Don’t leave until I get home though.

  Zoe: kk

  The announcer calls my name just as I walk back through the door. I stash my stuff under the canvas and move up the stairs. I only have one wrap on my right hand. The other is around her waist. Fuck. I don’t even know her name. I look over to the door of the bathroom; the guys are gone. I look over to the other door where I saw them take her last week. Two men stand guard, not the same two men, although they have the same suits and ties as the others. There’s no doubt in my mind that they work for the big money who runs this operation.

  My mind is not on the fight and I’m not prepared at all when my opponent swings and hits me square in the nose. Fuck Dom get your damn head in the game. I shake my head and
clear the blur of fogginess caused by the right hook. I focus and dance as the guy moves.

  I’m quick on my feet and have enough muscle to take down any man. This guy is a good fighter, against people who don’t plan, and strategize. Against me, he has little chance of getting another lucky hit like that first one. It pisses me off he got that one. But it only makes me more determined to end this quickly. I don’t want to waste any time but I also don’t want to rush it. Rushing means mistakes. I can’t afford mistakes, especially not tonight. I sidestep as he goes in to swipe my legs. He catches the shin on my right leg instead of the back of my calves like he intended. It hurts, but the look on his face as the small bones in his foot connect with my shin bone, tells me it hurt him a fuck load more than it did me. I smile. My eyes are wide and I grin as I move in to take him down. I jab to the solar plexus, ribs and kidneys, as I dance around him, repeating it twice. As the second kidney punch connects, his breath rushes from his lungs and he lands on his knees. His hands go out to stop him face planting the canvas. Normally I would wait until he’s back on his feet. But I have no time for that shit, I need to be gone. A punch to the temple. And he’s out. I’m done. I don’t celebrate. I just make my way to the cage door and move to grab my stuff, the announcer throws all sorts of praise my way, but I’m already moving to the desk to get my winnings. It’s as I wait for my money I spot the two goons I knocked out earlier. Great. One stands either side of the desk. The money man is counting out my payroll and hands me my money. I thank him and turn to leave. But the two guys flank me on either side and steer me toward the door I wasn’t allowed through before. On the other side is a small office a big desk and an older guy behind it.

  ‘Dominic the dominator!’

  I frown. ‘That’s the circus name, name’s Dom.’ I stretch my hand out for him to shake and he takes it.

  ‘You’re a good fighter.’

  ‘I like to get paid,’ I answer abruptly. ‘Listen I have places I need to be, what can I do for you?’ We need to get to the fucking point.

  ‘Well it’s funny you should talk about getting paid, it’s something we both have in common. You see if I don’t get paid, I get pissed and when I’m pissed there’s never a good outcome. Usually I don’t have any problems getting paid. But…and it’s a big but, there was one exception. I was ripped off and I don’t take kindly to that, Dominic, not kindly at all.’

  I frown at him in question. ‘What the fuck has that got to do with me? Sure as shit I didn’t steal your money.’

  ‘No, quite right, you didn’t. But I believe you did take something that belongs to me?’

  I shake my head and purse my lips. ‘Nah you’re mistaken I’m not a thief.’

  ‘Well my men here tell me otherwise.’

  I look at them both. ‘Is that right? What’d I steal?’ I shrug my shoulders and turn my question back to the guy behind the desk.

  ‘A woman.’

  I laugh, glancing at the two guys beside me, before I turn back.

  ‘You mean the woman they were beating on when I was getting changed?’ He looks at them both with a glare before his eyes settle back on me.

  ‘That would be the woman in question, yes.’

  I shake my head and shrug my shoulders. ‘No clue where she went. I went back into the changing room to wrap my other hand, but it was too late and I had to fight without it. I didn’t see where she went, she your daughter?’ I don’t think she is at all, but I’m trying to bluff my way out of this mess. He doesn’t answer, in-fact he doesn’t acknowledge the question, he just goes on like I didn’t speak at all.

  ‘I am going to ask again and this time I’d like the truth.’ He talks to me as though he’s talking to a small child.

  ‘I told you, I went right back into the changing room after I knocked these two on their asses. It’s not right you know, to treat a woman like that. I don’t know where she went. I come here for the money, nothing more. I certainly don’t come for the fucking women.’ I laugh, because there generally aren’t that many decent ones. There are the occasional fuck bunnies, in their fur coats and expensive shoes, clinging to a man’s arm three times their age, as they fawn all over them like they’re actually in love. Not my kinda girl.

  ‘So you don’t know where she went? You have no idea?’

  ‘That’s correct sorry.’ I shrug.

  ‘Okay. Sebastian, see him out. And, Dominic, if I find out you’re lying to me, there will be consequences. Are we clear?’

  ‘Crystal,’ I tell him as I walk out of his office.

  ***

  Chloe

  My head is so cloudy. They’ve been forcing pills down my throat for the past week to keep me quiet and asleep. Mainly so I don’t attempt to escape again.

  I pretended to be asleep when the big oaf came back to give me another dose. The moment he turned to open the door, I bolted. Seeing as my vision isn’t very clear and my legs are super wobbly, I didn’t get very far. That bastard smacked me across the face, but then the man from the fight the other night showed up and saved me. Thank God!

  ‘Hey, lady! Do me a favour and try to stay conscious back there. We’re almost there.’ The cabbie’s voice jolts me awake and I sit upright, somehow manage to knock my head into the handrail on the way.

  ‘Damn it that hurt!’ I mumble to myself.

  ‘Sorry ma’am. I just didn’t want to have to call someone to come get you and you looked like you were about to take a little kip in the back of my cab. Anyway, we’re pulling in now.’ He points up to the two story brick house to our right. ‘The gentleman paid me to make sure you got in safely, so go on up and I’ll wait out here until you get in the door.’

  ‘Thank you’ I reach and open the door, and start to head up to the house. Only to lose my footing because of the bulky clothes and my foggy head, landing on my knee. I’m sure I’ll have a huge bruise come the morning. Hands reach under my armpits and start to help me up.

  ‘Here, miss let me help you to the door.’ The driver helps me along the pavement.

  ‘Thank you so much for your help. I truly appreciate it.’ He knocks and a young woman answers the door.

  ‘Hi. You must be Dom’s friend? He told me to expect you. Come on in. I’m Zoe.’ For some reason, my heart sinks. I shouldn’t be bothered that he has a girlfriend. And she’s stunning, which doesn’t surprise me because he is absolutely godlike. Dom! Even his name is perfect!

  The cabbie leaves and I follow her into the house. ‘Thank you for letting me stay here for a bit. I’m Chloe Richards.’ She leads me to a sitting room that has a huge television on the wall that’s playing the Alibi channel. I sit down on the sofa and that’s when I notice an older lady sitting in a recliner asleep.

  ‘Let me just take her into her room, and I’ll be right back.’ Zoe turns and rouses the lady from her slumber, and helps her down the hall. The aftereffects of the drugs are taking a toll on me. I must’ve dozed off as soon as she walked away, because next thing I know I’m waking in panic. My head feels better and I can think clearer. I need to get out of here now. These people don’t deserve me bringing all this trouble. For all I know, those two goons could have followed me and could be making their way here right now. I have to get out of here before any harm comes to Zoe or the older woman, whom I’m assuming is an elderly relative of one of them.

  Even though my clothes stink, are filthy, and have a couple rips, I can’t keep on the clothes Dom put me in. Now that my head is clearer, I know just what I need to do. I untie the long belt thing he put around my waist to keep the pants up and take them off. I fold them neatly and then last minute decide to keep the hoodie on so I have something to cover my face if need be. Making my way to the door, I pull the hood up and turn the knob to make my way out. Just as I get through the entryway, I run into a brick wall. Hands reach out and grab me before I fall backwards.

  ‘Where are you heading off to?’ I look up into the most beautiful root beer coloured brown eyes and realize it’s Dom’
s arms I’ve landed in. I’m having a hard time tearing my gaze from his, but I know I need to go.

  ‘I’m sorry I shouldn’t have come here.’

  ‘You said you’re in trouble, let me help you.’

  ‘But what if they’ve followed me or even you? I don’t want to bring any danger to you, or your girlfriend.’ He nudges me back into the house and closes the door behind him.

  ‘Hey, there you are.’ Zoe says as she walks towards where we stand in the hallway. ‘I went back into the living room but you were out like a light. Then heard talking so thought maybe you were up. Hey, Dom. Glad you’re back. Your nan is all set in bed. Surprise, surprise, she fell asleep watching Castle again.’ She laughs and makes her way to the coat rack grabbing her jacket and purse from the peg.

  ‘Thanks again for keeping an eye on her. You’re a godsend, Zoe!’ He hugs her. She opens the door and makes her way out.

  ‘You know it’s no problem and I’m happy to help out. It was nice meeting you, Chloe.’ she waves disappearing around the corner before I can respond.

  ‘So, Zoe is your nan’s carer?’ I know I shouldn’t be concerned with this right now, but I can’t seem to get my mouth on board with my brain.

  ‘She’s my neighbour and helps take care of Nan on the weekends when I have a fight. But she doesn’t know that I fight, so I’m hoping you didn’t say anything to her?’ He wrinkles his nose.

  ‘No, no! We barely spoke. When we came in your grandmother was asleep and she took her into her bedroom. I must’ve fallen asleep on the couch for a bit. When I woke I figured I probably shouldn’t be here so I was on my way out the door.’ I try to move around him to the door, but his arm comes out and blocks my way.

  ‘Why don’t you fill me in on what’s going on and if I don’t think I can help, you can be on your way.’ He walks, into what must be the dining room and sits at the table. I follow, the last thing I want is to sit, so begin to pace back and forth. I don’t know what to do. ‘I personally think we should be calling the police since you said that you were kidnapped. But honestly, I’m not hot about them finding out I’m an illegal fighter. If you’d like to call, I can take you to the cafe down the street and you can call from there?’