29- Ariyah “Nova” Stevens
By the time I made it to the back, I was running off pure adrenaline.
My body was fucked up, and that was me putting it nicely.
My wrist was wrapped, but it probably needed to be in a cast. My left eye had given up on life, and my lungs were screaming take me to the king, but still, I couldn’t stop smiling.
I had won my first professional fight, and it was by knockout.
There was nothing higher than me right now.
I just wished I could celebrate properly.
I couldn’t wait to get my ass somewhere and lay down.
Sitting for a while required muscles I no longer had access to.
“Hey, gorgeous. You wanna hit the club, and finish with a nightcap at my spot?” I looked at Danger trying to see if he was serious. When I saw that he was, I fell out laughing.
“Nigga, please! I’m good on that.” I noticed he looked at the reporters and then proceeded to grab my hand.
Back when I first heard his interview, I told Stone I didn’t like what he was implying.
He assured me it was just to get the people talking, and it made for a good fight.
I wasn’t about to willingly participate in his shenanigans.
Snatching away, I spoke loud enough for anyone listening to hear.
“Danger, there will never be an us. Get that shit through your head. Enjoy your night.” He looked pissed, but I didn’t give a fuck.
I walked off, and they followed behind me.
Now that this was over, I was going to find my own gym.
Away from Landon, and away from Danger. I needed to focus, and that was the only way I knew how.
“I thought all that shit you was doing was supposed to fuck with his head. Why the hell is he still showing up?” Hearing Stone say that to Danger, I slowed, trying to process it. Who were they talking about? Landon?
“Nigga, I’m doing my part.” By this time, I had completely turned and tuned in to their conversation. “Maybe you need to be questioning her ass on why the fuck he was here.” Danger nodded towards me alerting Stone that I was listening. He looked at me with a fake smile on his face.
“You ready?” I nodded acting as if nothing was wrong, just to get him alone. Him and Danger dapped up, and we made our way outside.
“What was that all about?” This nigga looked at me as if he didn’t know what I was talking about.
“What?”
“You and Stone. You said something about him fucking with his head. Who?”
“Breaker’s.” I was shocked he admitted it so easily.
“So, what? You and Danger in some type of dick swinging contest with Landon?” Stone sighed as if he was irritated.
“Ariyah, this does not concern you. All you need to worry about is who you want to fight next.” Agent Stone was back.
“Oh, it definitely concerns me. I asked you about the comments he made referencing me, and you told me it was how the shit went. Now, I want answers. Why are you discussing Landon with Danger?”
“Because his plan is not working. If it was, there was no way he would have come to that fight to help you.” Now I was confused.
“What plan?”
“You can’t be this slow. If Breaker is fucked up in the head, then he loses the fight. He won’t be in the right frame of mind.”
“Why do you care what space he’s in?” Did this nigga bet on the fight?
“I represent Danger now. He’s a money asset, so of course I want him to win.”
“So, let me see if I got this right. You represent me. You represent Danger, and now you two are plotting on ways to get in his head.”
“Yes, and that’s all you need to know. I’ve never explained my business to you before, and I’m not about to start. You need a ride home?”
“I’m good.” Limping off, I made my way to my car.
Getting inside, I sat there for a minute.
I had so many questions, with so few answers.
What Stone said made sense, but it wasn’t sizzling right in my spirit.
Driving off, I rode through the city of Miami trying to figure out what my next move was.
If Stone is representing Danger, there is no way I was going to allow him to keep representing me.
The fact that they tried to dangle me on the line to get in his head wasn’t cool.
I wasn’t a fucking pawn, and neither were my hurt feelings.
I continued to ride in silence. No music, no destination.
Just my thoughts. Was Stone his agent before he sent me there?
I thought back to our conversation, and he said he was representing somebody, but not who.
Was it Danger? If so, did he know he was going to use me?
The thing that was bothering me the most was trying to figure out how he was using me to get in Landon’s head.
Training me? Dating me? Why would they do that to him?
Nope, I was not about to do this. I was not about to sit here and take a piece of information and rewrite what happened.
I wasn’t sure what their plan was, but I was certain of one thing.
Landon still played me. However, that knowledge left me with more questions.
I still didn’t know why he did that. To make matters worse, he came to the fight.
I didn’t expect to see him there, and I damn sure didn’t expect for him to start coaching me.
None of this made sense and the last thing I needed was a headache.
Tricky already damn near knocked my head off my shoulders.
Looking up, somehow, I was passing by The Ninth Round.
That was the last place I needed to go. Then again, it was the only place that held some of the answers I needed.
Keep Driving.
The voice inside my head was loud, but my feelings were louder.
Cursing myself, I parked. Seeing his car caused me to laugh.
Of course, this nigga would be here. It was time to shit or get off the pot.
Opening the door, I climbed out of my car.
Walking to the door, I stood there for a second before pulling the door open.
I was shocked to see how empty it was. I almost turned around to leave, but then I heard talking.
A woman. You would think my common sense would have kicked in and told my ass to go, instead, I slowly walked toward the sound.
“Can you show me how to hit this one?” The voice from the club. Her shit was embedded in my membrane.
“Tan, even if I show you, your ass won’t know what you doing.” My legs kept moving closer.
“Teach me something, and then I’ll teach you something.” I rolled my good eye hard as hell, and the closed one damn near got stuck.
“Ouch. That hurt.”
“I ain’t do shit. Your ass swung at the bag.”
“Well, I told you to teach me.” By this time, they were in view.
She tried to hit him, but he caught her by the arm.
My stomach dropped. Even though it wasn’t a sexual touch and you could clearly see there was no chemistry, I still felt a way.
It reminded me of all the nights me and Landon stood in this very gym training with each other.
I was the bitch giggling in his face while he taught me techniques.
I moved to leave, but Tan looked up and saw me.
Landon followed her stare, and we locked eyes.
“Ariyah, what are you doing here?” Damn, a bitch couldn’t even get a hello. For a while, I tried to come up with a reason, but nothing came out. Finally, I decided on the truth.
“I don’t know. So, you brought this bitch here.” Tan’s head snapped around, but I kept looking at Landon.
“This ain’t your spot no more.”
“Boy, fuck you!”
“Fuck me? You got some nerve bringing your ass in my shit. Then you skip past nerve and have the audacity to question me. Fuck out of here.”
“You know what? This was a fucking mistake. Be happy with your lil groupie.”
“I will, all night. Get the fuck out of my gym.” Not responding, I did just that.