EPILOGUE…
FIVE YEARS LATER…
DEVIN “THE MERCENARY” MERCER
Looking over at Brianna, I could tell this wasn’t a good idea, but Landon insisted.
He had officially gone pro, and tonight was his first match.
She kept yelling it was no way she wouldn’t be there to support her child, and now she was crying and trying her best to cover her and my middle child’s face.
Outside of Landon and Mila, we had another daughter Mela who is three, and my son Milo was about to turn one.
They all were in attendance, but Mila had on headphones playing on her phone, and the baby was too young to know what was going on.
My OG was standing on her feet cursing at the top of her lungs, and I couldn’t do shit but shake my head. Landon was losing right now, and it was pretty bad. He was working my boy over and damn near knocked him out a few times.
“Nigga, quit looking stupid and do something. All that money you got, and you can’t pay that nigga to stop beating on my grandchild.” I opened my mouth but closed it back. It was no point in arguing with this lady right now.
“If you don’t get your ass up and do something we are going to have a problem.
Go and get my son out of that fucking ring.
” I looked at Brianna and I knew she wasn’t playing, so I got up and walked to the ring.
I had to wait for the bell to ring, so I stood there.
I wasn’t about to pull him out, but I was going to tell him what he needed to hear.
If he didn’t want both of our asses beat when this was over, he was gone have to do something.
The bell finally rang, and he walked over to his corner.
“Son.”
“Pops, I got this. I’m just trying to learn his patterns.”
“You don’t have time for that. He about to knock yo goofy ass out. Listen, sometimes that shit work and sometimes it doesn’t. You don’t leave that shit to chance. You have a monster inside of you, so use it.”
“What’s that?”
“Your past son. Think about everything you been through and what you had to do to get here. That nigga in the ring had this shit handed to him. He boxing because he thinks he’s good at it.
You’re boxing as an outlet. Use that mufucking outlet.
I know you got this, but I need you to know it.
Besides, if you don’t win your mama and nana gone fuck both of us up and then I’mma have to beat your ass. ” He laughed, but I was serious.
“I got this. Thank you, pops.” His trainers took his stool, so he was about to go back out there.
“Oh, and son.”
“Yeah.”
“Knock that nigga out. Right now!” He looked at me and I swear I could see his eyes change over. Walking off, I went back to my seat and sat down.
“I know you heard me tell you to get my baby out of there.”
“I don’t need to. The fight about to be over.
” I know they thought I meant Landon was about to lose, but they would see in a minute.
I knew my lil nigga like I knew myself. The bell rang and they went back out there, and you could see the change in Landon.
He wasn’t swinging, but his form and his confidence was different.
You could see the exact moment he unleashed his monster.
Side stepping the punch, he ducked slightly and came up with a punch that sent that nigga’s jaw to the moon.
The crowd erupted, but I sat there with a smile on my face.
“Oh my God. Did you see that? He knocked that nigga out,” my mama screamed. The countdown was over, and Landon looked at me and pointed with his glove.
“I love you, pops.” I pointed back at him and mouthed it back. He had won his first match and walked away with a belt.
“Landon “Breaker” Mercer, how does it feel? You just got your first win, and it wasn’t going in your favor. How did you turn it around and get the knockout?”
“I owe my win and everything I am to my Pops. He reminded me who I was and what I was fighting for.”
“You speak a lot about your pops, NBA superstar Devin Mercer. He adopted you some years ago, but do you have something to say to the family that left you behind?”
“I don’t know what family you speak of. The only family I have is sitting right there crying with pride and adoration on their faces. He’s an NBA superstar to yall, but he’s just my superhero.” Landon walked off and I couldn’t do shit but laugh.
“Oh God! He’s going to be just like your ass. Why did he treat that man’s life like that and walk off?” Brianna looked horrified.
“He saw how the media did me, he know how yall are. I love it.”
“Me too. Fuck them reporters, Jr.” My mama yelled out causing all of us around her to laugh.
I loved my family and even though I was still playing ball, I couldn’t wait for Landon’s story to unfold.
It was his turn, and I was going to make sure he got it all.
I looked around at my lil family and I knew I was blessed.