3. Secrets and Lies

Over the next few days, I worked on the painting for Rylee. I still wasn't sure why she wanted it in the first place. She's never shown an interest in art before. So why now?

I took a look at the final piece before calling Rylee to come over to look at it. She wasn't going to be able to come over for a few hours, so I decided to go to the gym to work out. I was surprised to find the gym empty when I got there. Normally I can find at least one family member here, most commonly the twins. So to find it empty was a big eye-opener.

For the past while I had been teaching myself, Krav Maga. This wasn't a style I would practice with my brothers, as Krav Maga is one of the most dangerous forms of martial arts. The main reason is unlike other forms of Martial arts, Krav Maga had no rules. Blows to the head or to weak spots were what it enforced. Krav Maga was more about the quick takedown as opposed to drawing out a fight in hopes of getting someone to surrender. 

Whenever I trained by myself I would use a mix of punching bags and punching dummies. Though the only problem with practicing by myself was that I could never test its true effectiveness. I so badly wanted to fight someone to test my skills. Sure I may fight against my brothers, but it wasn't the same. Even though they told me they didn't I knew they held back. They never gave me their all, knowing that it could be dangerous. I needed to find a place that I could use as an outlet. To fight against people that won’t be afraid to hurt me. Which is when it hit me. If I want to go after them, then I need to go to them first. I needed to find an underground fight club. A place known for fighting without rules. A place in which I could be treated like everyone else.

What better way to find an underground fight club than by finding out directly from the source? I ran to my room and quickly got changed. I made my way to my car and drove out to the city. It didn't take long for me to find a boxing club. I snuck in through a back door and searched for clues. The club seemed busy, which was good. It meant I had a higher chance to get the info I wanted. I snuck around the corner and hid beside a water cooler as I listened to a group of guys talking. They looked like your typical bad boys, arms covered in tattoos, six-packs, and scars covering their bodies. It may seem stereotypical, but if anyone knew how to get into the flight club, I was willing to bet that these guys knew.

"So when's your next fight?" One of the guys asked.

Wow, that was easy. I thought to myself.

"Tonight. I just hope my opponent can at least put up a fight this time. The last idiot barely lasted a minute." The guy remarked overconfidently.

"I know right? Like where do they even find those guys?" Another asked, laughing.

"I don't know. But unless I can find some real competition, I don't think I'm going to stick around for too long." The other guy says.

"So see ya there?" One of the guys calls out, walking in the other direction. 

"You know it!" The man says, walking towards me.

Sh*t! I need to get out of here before they see me. I twist to sneak around the corner, only to run smak dab into a firm wall. I look up to see one of the men from just a moment ago staring down at me. His arms are crossed in a menacing manner.

"Sorry.. I was.. uh.. just leaving.." I spit out, trying to run in the opposite direction, only to run into another firm chest. 

"What do we have here?" The second man asks, turning me around so that I'm looking at him.

"Nothing. I was just leaving." I say, trying to get away from them.

However, the man seemed to have another idea. He reached his arm out to stop me, however, my instincts went into overdrive. Before the guy had a chance to fathom what was going on, I'd grabbed his arm and twisted it around his back.

"AH!" He shouted out in surprise and pain.

"Hey!" The first man shouts grabbing my attention. He reaches out and I quickly dodge his attack and push past him, pushing him into the other guy. I manage to hold onto his arm twisting it around his back, like I had done to the other guy. I hear their heads collide as they moan out in pain.

"Stop! We don't want to hurt you." A third guy comes towards me with his hands raised in surrender. I look back at the other guys who managed to stumble away from me holding their heads. The guy whose arm I'm holding looks like he'd rather be anywhere else but here at this moment.

I look back at the third guy keeping my guard up, ready to attack. Not willing to release the man yet, until I know they won't hurt me.

"Sheesh, firecracker. You can stop. None of us here want to hurt you." The third man says. I nod my head and then drop my guard, letting go of the first guy's arm.

"Why are you here?" He asks.

"I wanted to know the location of the underground fight club." I state.

"Why would a girl like you want to know something like that?" The third guy asks, however, I remain silent not wishing to respond.

"Why don't we start from the beginning? My name's Ace. The man behind you is Jason, and the other one is Nick. What's your name?" The third guy asks, however, once more I remain silent. I can't disclose who I really am. If they find out, it will make its way back to my father. So I choose to remain silent instead.

"Ok. Firecracker it is. If you're not going to tell us who you are, then at least start with why you're here."

"I already told you that."

"True. But you never said why?"

"Do you know or not?" I question back.

"I do. But these things are underground for a reason. We don't just let anyone know." The man remarks.

"Fine. What do you want?" I ask.

"What makes you think I want something?"

"You're still standing here intimidating me. So you must want something." I state.

"You find me intimidating?" The man questions, quirking a brow as he steps towards me.

Before Ace has a chance to approach, I spin around him, grabbing his arm I twist him so his chest is against the wall, as I push his arm behind his back.

"Chill, Firecracker. I'll tell you.. But you have to do something for me first." He remarks.

"What?" 

"Be my date." He states matter-of-factly.

"Why? An underground fight club hardly seems like a place to bring a date." I say, not interested.

"That's true. But this way we both get what we want. You get your answer, and I get to have you on my arm." He says.

"Or I can just find out some other way." I state, letting him go, preparing to walk out the door.

"Ok. Wait. I'll tell you. But not now." He remarks.

"Then when?" I ask.

"Meet me at the back of Billie Bones pub, 7 PM sharp." Ace says before walking away.

"Wait!" I shout back at him.

"Yes, Firecracker?" Ace asks, with a smirk on his face.

"How do I know I can trust you?" I remark.

"You don't." Is his reply as he waves to Nick and Jason to follow him back inside the club.

I turn around and head back to my car. On the way back home I think about Ace's proposal. Should I go? How do I know it's not a trap? How do I know that if I go there, his friends won't come after me?

I shrug the doubts off. I knew it was a risk, but I didn't have another option. This was my only lead. I would just have to trust that everything would be ok.

By the time I got home, I had completely forgotten about inviting Rylee over. I found her standing in my room looking as though I'd just told her I bought her a new car. When she saw me she turned around to run towards me.