Takedown Read online

  “What’s up?” Kiki asked as Rex shut the door, making himself comfortable in the chair in front of her desk.

  “I just need to get the quarterly stats on the fighters.”

  Kiki hesitated a moment. “I don’t know what that is.”

  “It’s a spreadsheet Vi puts together quarterly to tell us how the fighters are ranked, based on the money they bring in. Essentially to see if they are making money for the gym.”

  “Okay.” Kiki nodded. “I bet she has a previous one saved on the computer. I’ll find it and replicate it with this quarter’s info. How soon do you need it?”

  Sitting back in the chair, Rex fanned his hands out. “Today? Tomorrow? Unless you have other pressing matters, I’d like this to be top priority. If we have to cut a fighter, I like to do it as soon as possible.”

  Kiki shook her head in disbelief. “Cut a fighter?” She’d never heard of a fighter getting cut from the gym. Although, she was still learning about the business agreements, and contracts between the fighters and the gym. As much as the gym had a family vibe, she was smart enough to know that the men didn’t get to train for free.

  “Yep,” Rex said matter-of-factly. “It happens for various reasons. If they aren’t booking fights, losing too many fights, or causing problems at the gym, they gotta go. But monetary is the biggest reason. Your paycheck comes from these guys.” Rex winked at her.

  Kiki giggled. “Yep. I’ll get on it right away. I’m pretty sure I can have it to you by the end of the day.”

  “Fantastic,” Rex said, getting up from the chair.

  “Hey, just out of curiosity, how often do we let fighters go?”

  “It varies. In the last year, if you count Gav, we’ve had three fighters leave the gym. One left on his own accord, and one was let go. So, it doesn’t happen often.” Rex cleared his throat. “Thanks, sweetie,” he called over his shoulder as he left her office.

  Kiki turned back to the computer, feeling guilty at the excitement she felt being able to research the income of the thirty fighters at the gym. While she’d heard stories of men making six-figures for one fight, she’d never had any way to verify it. She felt a little snoopy, but she reminded herself this was her job, and this task was urgent.

  * * * *

  It took almost two hours for Kiki to complete the report Rex had requested. Surely there was a more efficient way to compile the report, but Kiki had been diligent and carefully reviewed the numbers multiple times.

  Kiki let out a heavy sigh as she looked at the bottom of the list again. Rex hadn’t told her what the magic number was that a fighter needed to make in order to stay at the gym, but a negative number had to be a sure thing.

  Kiki hit the print button. Taking the papers off the printer, she headed out of her office, seeking out Rex. It was still early enough in the day that he would be out on the floor working with the guys, and though she didn’t like the idea of interrupting him, he seemed to want this report as soon as possible.

  “Everything okay?” Lawson asked as he stood from his chair.

  “Yeah? Why?”

  “You just look a little pale.”

  She felt a little pale, and sick, but she suspected bad news would do that to anyone.

  “I think I’ve just been cooped up in that office too long.” Kiki shrugged. “Have you seen Rex?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “No. Want me to page him?”

  “Oh, no. I’ll go find him. Thanks!” Kiki gave a wave before she headed out into the sweaty gym.

  The echo of body parts slamming against punching pads drown out the rock music playing overhead. The smell of sweat and musk no longer bothered her; since she’d started training those sounds and smells meant determination and hard work. It even made her anxious to get back in the ring and train more. You’ll have to find a new partner first.

  Walking up to the boxing ring, she folded her arms as she watched Rex circle around as Silvio hit the mats Rex held out. MMA had a strange grace to it, Kiki thought as she got caught up in the mesmerizing trance.

  “’Sup, girl?” a voice called as she heard Velcro come apart.

  Kiki’s spine straightened as she turned to see Joshua undoing his gloves with his teeth. She shook her head at the action, it grossed her out. Those gloves were dirty and were community use, but everyone seemed to use that technique. It was the easiest way.

  But right now her body recoiled at the action of Joshua walking toward her. She’d managed to avoid him at the gym. And when he sent her texts she found a way to keep it to one word answers or to blow it off altogether. She’d hoped that he would take the hint. But the way he’d gone on thinking everything was fine between them was eerie.

  “Really?” Kiki gave a flat smile, rolling her eyes.

  “Yeah…I should have thought that through.” Joshua laughed. “What’s up?”

  “I just need to talk with Rex, but I wanted to wait until he was done with Silvio,” Kiki explained, hoping he’d take the hint and leave her alone.

  “I thought you might be itching to get back in the ring. We need to schedule something soon so you don’t get ring rust.”

  Kiki sighed inwardly. Hell no! There was no way she was ever going to get in the ring with that man again, but she couldn’t come out and say it. She was stuck in between not wanting to hurt her friend Joshua and not wanting to anger the other Joshua.

  “I’ve been so busy since Vi left for her honeymoon. I don’t know when I’ll be free.” Kiki shrugged, refusing to make eye contact.

  “Sure.” Joshua nodded. “Yo, Rex,” he hollered toward the ring.

  Rex waved his arms, letting Silvio know they were breaking, before making his way ringside.

  “What’s up?”

  “Sorry to bother you. I finished that project you asked me to work on, and I wasn’t sure how quickly you wanted to see it.” Kiki shrugged.

  Rex’s brow furrowed, before he nodded. “Oh, yes.” He pressed his lips together. “How’d it look?”

  Kiki sighed. “Not good.” She gave a flat smile, trying to keep her composure. She had someone’s career in the palm of her hands, and the fate of which was clear.

  Rex blew out a hard breath before pushing off the cage. “Hey, Joshua, why don’t you come in here and do some sparring with Silvio until I get back.”

  Kiki remained silent as Rex gave the men a few instructions before coming to her. He held out his hand, gesturing for the paperwork. Handing it over, Kiki took a step back as she watched him flip through it, quickly making his way to the last page. Rex clicked his tongue in his cheek and shook his head. “Come on, sweet pea, let’s go to your office.” Kiki followed with no words, only a throbbing in her ears, knowing this wasn’t going to be good.

  The sound of the door clicking closed echoed off the walls of the small office, and Kiki gulped hard.

  “What happens now?” she asked.

  “We have to let him go.” Rex shook his head. “I shouldn’t be surprised. I haven’t been able to book him a fight in months, and in all honesty, the other fighters don’t care for him much.”

  She’d heard that before, and at the time it was hard to believe, but now, not so much. Secretly, she was happy to see him go. It would be one less stressor at work, and would make it easier to avoid him.

  “Can you just transfer him to another gym?”

  “Kiki, I understand he’s your friend, and this is going to be hard for you, but there’s nothing more that can be done. He’s a grown man, and there is an expectation that he takes initiative in his own career. We aren’t here to hold his hand.” Rex gave her a halfhearted smile. “Can you have Lawson get the exit paperwork ready? Page me once it’s ready, and I’ll bring him back to your office.”

  Kiki’s heart sank. “Why back to my office? Can you do it in your office?”

  The sympathy on Rex’s face was not reassuring. “Typically, as the owner, Vi is the one to let people go, and I sit in on it. Since she’s gone, I’ll do the talking,
but you have to be there.”

  Kiki felt sick. This wasn’t only going to be bad, it was going to be a fucking disaster.

  * * * *

  Kiki couldn’t bring herself to look Joshua in the eye as Rex escorted him into the office.

  “Hey, Kiki. What’s going on here?” Joshua asked skeptically with narrowed eyes.

  “Have a seat,” Rex offered, patting Joshua on the back.

  “No. I think I’d rather stand.”

  The hard look Rex shot Kiki had her nerves on high end. She remained sitting, watching the interaction. This wasn’t going to be pretty, but she wasn’t sure just how ugly it was going to get.

  “All right.” Rex paused. “Joshua, we’re letting you go. It’s not working out here anymore, and we think you might have a better opportunity to be more successful at another gym.”

  “What the fuck? I don’t want to go to another gym. What’s not working out exactly?” Joshua looked at Kiki. “Is this because of the other night?” he accused. “I fucking apologized!”

  Kiki’s face went pale when Rex gave her a wide-eyed look of shock.

  “Of…of course not. This has nothing to do with me.”

  “Did you tell Wade or something? You came on to me, bitch.”

  Joshua’s outburst scared Kiki more than she’d ever remembered being. Even surrounded by a gym full of strong men, she didn’t feel protected.

  “Hey!” Rex said, his booming voice echoing off the walls. “Settle down now.” Rex stepped between Joshua’s line of sight to Kiki. “I don’t know what happened between you and Kiki, but this isn’t on her. This is on you, son. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

  “Harder than it has to be? You haven’t even told me why I’m being kicked out.”

  “In the last three months, you’ve lost us a little over fifteen grand. You haven’t had a fight in close to five months. There are no free rides in life.” Rex shrugged.

  “It’s because of you, old man! I could have been great, but you spend all your time with the pretty boy. You fucked me over!” Joshua paced the small room with his fists clenched.

  “Lawson has a box for you up front with the stuff from your locker in it,” Rex said matter-of-factly. “You can man up and walk out, or I can have you thrown out.”

  “I won’t give you the satisfaction of having me thrown out of here.”

  Joshua opened the door and stormed out, grabbing the box sitting on the reception desk. Kiki stood behind Rex as they watched him leave the gym. She gave a little sigh of relief once he was outside, only to be startled when he came back, kicking out the glass in the front door.

  “Lawson, call the cops!” Rex hollered.

  Kiki’s heart sank, and there was no controlling the tears now. There was a dark Joshua, a man she never knew, and would never want to. What scared her the most was that all signs of the other man were gone.

  Rex turned, engulfing her in a hug as she cried hard tears against his chest. “Sweet pea, I think you ought to talk to the police when they come too. Yeah?”

  Kiki only nodded against his shirt. She was scared to talk to them, which was why she hadn’t called them in the first place. Kiki had rationalized the situation. What would the police say, ‘just a misunderstanding among friends,’ or maybe they’d tell her ‘she brought it on herself’ just like she’d beaten herself up about.

  Chapter 21

  Kiki checked her face in the office mirror, wiping back the smudged black eyeliner, and praying that the puffiness would subside sooner rather than later. Today had been another long day, in a very long month, and she was at her breaking point. Talking to the cops was just the icing on the cake. Just something new to put her in the center of more drama. The police didn’t seem to put much stock into her report, but then again, she wasn’t very convincing that it was an issue. She’d downplayed the whole thing, and even now she didn’t know why. It was serious. But she wanted Joshua to get help, not go to jail.

  When Kiki opened the office door to leave, she saw a wide-eyed Leena approaching her, and Kiki knew she was in for it. Leena was going to be worse than the police. Kiki assumed that Rex had been behind that. She couldn’t blame him; he was only looking out for her, like he did with all his girls. It was sweet, but unnecessary. She didn’t want to be some fragile thing that people had to take care of. She was a grown-up and could handle this on her own.

  Kiki leveled her eyes at Leena with a warning, only to have the same warning shot back at her. It was almost laughable that Kiki thought she would be able to tell the ever-insistent Leena no.

  “My sweet Kiki, I’m here to take you to dinner, then I can drop you off at home,” Leena said with a smile.

  “That’s nice of you, but I’m not hungry. I’m just going to head home.” Kiki pulled her purse up to the crook of her arm before turning to lock the office door.

  “Well then, I’ll just take you home.” Leena smiled with a shrug.

  “Why are you here, Leena?” Kiki asked point-blank. She was tired of all the beating around the bush.

  “I’m worried about you. Uncle said that Joshua went off on you, specifically, that he said some pretty harsh words. That maybe there was more to the story.” Leena’s eyes softened as she spoke quietly.

  Yep. Uncle. This must mean she was family if Uncle was getting involved. The thought made Kiki smile slightly.

  “All right, I’ll let you drive me home,” Kiki conceding as the events of the day had her shaken, and not having to focus on the road seemed like a smart idea.

  If she was going to spill to Leena, she didn’t want to do it in the middle of the gym. Although, she might as well; as fast as news traveled around this place she wasn’t sure anyone could keep a secret.

  Leena didn’t say much on the car ride to Kiki’s house. While Kiki spilled about what had happened, she’d expected at least a few swear words from her friend, but there was nothing; and it was eerie.

  Leena pulled in front of the building, parked the car, and got out. This was unusual behavior for Leena, and it was starting to scare Kiki, to the point that she might need to call Vi for help. Kiki hopped out of the car, following a fast-paced Leena into the building, stopping at the elevators.

  “Are you angry with me?” Kiki finally asked. The silence was killing her.

  “No, and yes,” Leena said, brushing her hands through her hair. “How he talked to you today was terrible, but the shit he pulled the other day at your apartment is unacceptable. He assaulted you, even sexually assaulted you. Just because it wasn’t rape doesn’t mean it was nothing.”

  Leena wiped back a tear before it could fall down her face, and the sight of that made Kiki’s insides ache. It was a rare Leena that let such emotions show.

  The elevator pinged and the doors opened. Kiki followed Leena in and pushed the button for her floor.

  “I’m angry because we live in a world where women are told that an attack like yours is nothing, that just because it wasn’t rape that it’s not a big deal. I’m angry that you had to go through this. I’m angry that you didn’t tell me sooner. And I’m only angry because I love you so much and I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  The words stabbed at Kiki, fear tingling across her skin. This had been more serious than she wanted to admit, and Leena’s blunt words did nothing to comfort the facts. Kiki wanted to throw sugar on the whole situation and see the brighter side, but the only brighter side of this was that it could have been worse.

  “I’m sorry, Leena. I just… I just… It was weird,” Kiki said, unable to verbalize her feelings. “I didn’t know how to handle the situation. Everything about it threw me off. I mean, he’s my friend.”

  “No.” Leena turned to her pointedly. “He is not your fucking friend. He is a monster.” Leena shook her head.

  The elevator pinged again, the doors opening to their floor, and they got off.

  “How many of your neighbors do you know?”

  Kiki shrugged. “Not many, wh
y?”

  “Do you have any mace?” Leena asked, ignoring Kiki’s question.

  “No.”

  Leena stopped at Kiki’s door. “It’s good to know your neighbors in case of any type of emergency. And a woman should always have mace in the nightstand drawer.” Leena smiled. “Right next to the condoms.”

  Kiki smiled at the light comment Leena threw in to cut through the dark, serious conversation they were having.

  “I’ll look into it.” Kiki smiled.

  “I’m going to call you when I get home. Either Gav or I will pick you up for work tomorrow, so just let us know when you want us here.”

  “Leena, that isn’t necessary.”

  “Yes, it is! At least for a couple of days until everyone has a chance to cool down. Besides, you don’t have your car.” Leena put a hand on her hip. “We are playing this my way. Better safe than sorry.”

  Kiki tried not to roll her eyes. She knew Leena was right, but it still felt like an overreaction.

  “Thank you,” Kiki said, giving her friend a big hug.

  “All right, get your cute butt inside, I’m gonna wait here until you lock the door.”

  Kiki was at a loss. Leena was seriously concerned, over-the-top even, and Kiki was frazzled. She was on overload and needed a minute to herself to unwind, to figure out what was what.

  Kiki had just changed into her favorite pajamas when she heard the ping of her cellphone. She rushed toward the phone, knowing that if she didn’t respond to Leena she would have hell to pay. But when she picked up the phone she was pleasantly surprised by the name on the screen.

  Him: Hey, baby. I tried to come say hi today, but Rex said some shit went down and you were talking to the cops. Everything okay?

  Kiki scoffed at the message as she paced the living room. Had everyone heard about Joshua’s terrorization at the gym? What else did Wade know? It seemed like Rex had given Leena a lot of information; she only hoped that he held back when it came to Wade.

  Kiki: Just a bad day, but I’m fine.

  Him: I’m sorry. Let me take you out for a drink, or coffee? We can talk about it.