Chapter 1 Eris
Present
The air was too thick with cigar and weed smoke, along with smog from the cameras that flashed every second.
Wealth was in the building; any name of celebrity sat in one section of the arena.
It was too much money. I wondered how they spent it all.
Or what do they do when they’re bored with it.
If I had their problems, life would be too damn good.
I mean, mine was okay, but we’re always aiming for great.
“Girl, you’re not scanning for cavities.” Suki nudged me with a giggle. “You need to be choosing your next nigga.”
I rolled my eyes. “Girl, bye. I’m here for a good time.”
“Not a long time,” Rhea added.
We slapped fives.
“Anyways, this ain’t chill.” I slowly turned my head toward Suki. “How did we end up at a… fight?”
Scanning the room…
The men looked dangerous, large and mean. The women were smitten with them, piling in circles, picking who they wanted. It looked fluent as the chatter grew louder than the music.
“Relax. It’s Miami, boo. We’re getting into all the things tonight.” Rhea grabbed shots from a passing waitress like they were meant for us. She dropped money on the tray.
It felt dangerous, but I couldn’t lie, I was intrigued.
“Drink! Be Merry! And Happy Birthday, my girl!” Suki shouted.
Damn right it was my special day.
I had no plans back home but my girls who always come through when I least expect it, had my bags packed and put me on a flight early this morning. I still couldn’t believe it.
I’ve been doing life too much and it’s time to live a little.
The lights dimmed like something was about to happen.
“We need to get to our table.” Suki dragged me, sitting us not too far away from where we were. In the middle of the crowd. Before sitting, I apprehensively looked around.
“E,” Rhea called out.
My eyes snapped on her.
Before I could say something, Travis Scott’s “FE!N” blared through the speakers.
“Fighting in the blue corner… 6’1, weighing two twenty-five… from Newark, New Jersey… Jarvis ‘Flow’ Harris!”
A small entourage trekked behind the fighter wearing white shirts with GO WITH THE FLOW printed on the back.
They were loud, feeding the crowd and feeding him.
Flow jogged out in an ivory robe, chin high, talking shit along the way.
Like he knew he had it in the bag. The crowd clapped and cheered, amping him up more.
He climbed the ring and threw his arms up, basking in it all. His second was up as the crowd died down. Then, the lights dropped.
There was a gleam in everyone’s eyes as they anticipated what’s next. It made me feel it too.
“What’s happen–”
The sound of a winding noise cut me off. Jeezy’s “Standing Ovation” drowned out the sound of the pending crowd. The bass vibrated the floors and your body. The liquor in the glass moved as it skipped across the table.
Everyone jumped to their feet as they went wild.
“And his opponent… fighting out of the red corner… 6’1, weighing two hundred, twenty-eight pounds, from Atlanta, Georgia… Courtland ‘Rayzor’ Kirkland!”
Smoke cascaded from the tunnel as a shadow emerged.
My eyes dragged across the crowd, leaving me in awe how a man had everyone’s undivided attention. Not a soul looking away. Even my girls had their eyes and mouths open at his entrance. Insane.
“Rayzor’s that nigga,” Suki whispered, and Rhea co-signed.
My sight was still on the ghost as it emerged through the smoke.
The boxer’s face was covered with a red and black silk hood.
“Y’all know him?” I questioned.
His crowd of men were more controlled, wearing all black, following behind him, unlike Flow’s crew. The gloves and material both shined under the lights. I was anxious to see his face.
“Girl, yeah. Everybody who’s anybody knows his ass.”
“Not everybody,” I retorted.
“That’s because you be in the house,” Rhea murmured.
Rayzor stepped into the ring and when he removed his hood, the energy in the room shifted. It took your breath away. His aura breathed control.
“Damn,” I murmured. He was so damn fine, and looked like he didn’t take no shit.
“That’s because you don’t be outside. Rayzor’s not your lane,” Rhea commented.
“My lane?” I countered. “He’s just a boxer. I don’t need a lane for that.”
“But he’s not just a boxer though…” Rhea’s words lingered. “Just enjoy the fight.”
Her words hung in the air.
I glanced at my girls, and they’d both dropped the situation.
I shrugged and turned back toward the ring.
Flashes from the cameras blinded you from afar. Paparazzi was screaming for him to look their way, and the audience screamed for his attention as well. Screens lit the place as everyone captured their moment. I was too engrossed with everyone else that I forgot to take out my phone.
“Goddamn,” I whispered when he removed his robe and handed it off to the side.
His brown skin glistened under the lights. His muscles sculpted perfectly with swollen pecks and tatted from front to back. A low-cut Cesar cut with a sharp line like he’d just gotten out the chair before taking the stage. He had waves deep enough to make you seasick.
The strength wasn’t only in his body, it’s the way he patiently waited. Unbothered by Flow’s antics. Staring him down with the gaze of death; it was intimidating.
Diverting my attention to the boxes in the overhead, I spotted a mysterious silhouette behind a glass tinted booth. It must’ve been a boss or someone more important than those on the floor.
The world was moving, hyped and in sync awaiting the event, but the figure was glued to Rayzor’s presence. Like they knew something we didn’t. Rayzor was unaware, but I saw it.
Rayzor resembled the quiet before the storm.
“He’s got everybody in a chokehold,” I murmured.
The fighters separated, but not before Rayzor faced the crowd again. They chanted his name, held up signs, barked for his attention.
His eyes meticulously scanned the crowd for something as the world was his oyster.
His dark hues landed near where we sat.
I turned around, being nosey to see what was behind me.
Nothing but foot traffic.
Suki leaned over. “Oop, bitch, is he looking at one of us?”
She pointed to herself. Rayzor’s eyes shifted. Then Rhea. Nothing. Suki pointed to me. His stare bore into me.
My breathing hitched.
“That’s sand you keep away from the beach,” Rhea murmured to me.
My heart steadily thumped. I couldn’t break away.
“Bitch, is he looking at you?” Suki whispered then giggled.
I froze. My girls leaned in.
“No,” I lied because you couldn’t mistake it.
“Don’t fall for it,” Rhea warned.
“I’m not…”
I clutched my bag and shifted in my seat. I felt myself falling deeper into his trance as the noise around me faded. Smoke rose from underneath his feet. Or maybe it was just me. Whatever the hell was happening, I had no control over it or my body.
“Whew, that shit must be good in her head,” Suki commented.
I heard her but I couldn’t pull myself away.
The world came alive when he walked away, releasing me from the unwarranted hold.
Second round
Just before the second round ended, one of Rayzor’s security and another man stalked through the crowd. I paid attention, but nobody else seemed to care.
“Having fun, E?” Suki asked, oblivious to the men heading our way.
I turned to her, peripheral on the men.
“Better than I thought. You see the way Rayzor turned that man every way but loose,” I engaged.
“Hell yeah. He’s going to take over the industry. He’s already on the–”
“After the fight, stay here,” the man interrupted. “Rayzor wants you to come backstage.”
I didn’t look up, thinking he was talking to someone else.
“E, he’s talking to your ass, girl.” Suki nudged.
“Me?” I repeated, pointing to myself and turning toward the men.
“Yeah, you,” he said, unamused.
“Why?” I asked. “Who you?”
“City,” Suki and the man said at the same time.
City’s eyes went from me to Suki.
Her demeanor immediately changed. Shoulders stiff. And I didn’t miss the subtle way she rolled her eyes at him either. He made her feel a way.
“You know him?” I asked, brows hiked.
“Girl, he’s talking to you.” She ignored. “Not me.”
“Yeah,” Rhea cackled. “What do he want with her?”
I tooted my nose because I didn’t like the way she said that.
“This shit ain’t a quiz. I’ll be back to get you after my boy wins this fight,” he said.
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
“Oh, you don’t believe it?” City questioned.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I shrugged.
“Watch my boy work then.”
“It’s my girl birthday too. Tell him that.”
He subtly nodded and tapped security before leaving us.
City watched the exchanged.
“That nigga is trying to fuck,” Rhea commented.
“Rhea, shut the hell up sounding like a hater.”
“You know that shits true though. Rayzor ain’t shit and you know it.”
“What you mean?” I asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Rhea mumbled.
“Does it matter. What’s the worst thing that can happen?” Suki said.
The rest of the fight was a blur. I was in my head wondering what Rayzor wanted with me. He looked at me a couple times, but I thought that’s something they all did– look into the crowd.
Flow was counting sheep.
The crowd was on their feet chanting Rayzor’s name. Confetti rained down. He took the crowd in graciously. I thought I saw a small smirk on his face, but Rhea tapped me, breaking me from my thoughts for us to go.
We were packing up to leave when security tapped my arm.
“I told you not to leave. Come on,” City said, scanning the crowd.
I glanced over at my girls.
Suki nudged. “Girl, go.”
“If you want to.” Rhea shrugged.
I grabbed my purse then my girls’ hands.
The crowd swirled around us as we walked through. Eyes followed us exiting through the back and disappearing into a quieter scene. Backstage, people moved in sync working to get the arena under order and cleaned.
Security guarded the room’s door.
The room had a bunch of energy. His entourage snapped pictures all around him, having multiple conversations as they chanted the win. Yet, he was calm.