TateThe next day I grab everything I have on The Underground, and shove it into an unmarked envelope. NDA, Rules, Plane ticket, all of it.Stamping the dorms address on the front, I drop it off at the post office and await for Keegan to get it.I may not be able to say a word about The Underground but what is stopping some college student who is looking for her shot at a news anchor position from getting some anonymous tip?The Underground hurt someone I love, and who knows how many people died after being put in the cage like savage animals. It has to stop.CamdenLying in bed I stare up at the dark ceiling. Thoughts of trying to get back in the octagon keeping me up.I didn't kill Chase, so maybe I can get back in the game.The thought circles in my mind like a horror show on repeat. Tate stirs next to me and I move my arm off of her, nervous I'm putting too much weight on her."Can't sleep?" she mumbles half asleep. I furrow my brows in thought."Do you th
One week later.CamdenHitting the bag I display I don't have cage rust, and can still fight. My new coach watches pensively, his eyes narrowed with focus. His name is Les and he's fifty-three years old, and a retired MMA fighter. He's strict, but has a lot of respect for the sport. "You definitely have a strong hit, Camden. Let's see what you have when it comes to grappling." Les points at a man standing outside the ring. "Camden, this is Franklin, he's going to be your own living breathing punching bag."Franklin is the same height as me, looks to be the same age. Only difference is he has a bleach blond pretty boy haircut, and an eagle tattooed on his chest. He'll be a good sparring buddy, but he's not Pinky. I should refer Pinky here, he'd have a much better outcome and he could be my personal sparring partner.Until then, this guy will have to do.Franklin tries to grab me and I turn on my feet putting him into a choke hold. He's not very quick, and doesn't seem very
Seven months laterI watch Camden fight in the ring. His body is sweaty, his muscles bulging as he circles the ring. He's the sexiest thing I've seen. We've been training side by side every day for the last six months. We found a trainer in LA and flew them to Chicago to prepare Camden and I. Camden for this fight, and I have a fight next month in Detroit. WE are doing it, we are making dreams come true. We just had to have each other to make it happen.The crowd is going wild, chanting Camden's name as he takes Jake the Snake to the ground. I stand on my toes my fingers crossed as I watch Camden. Camden still as he straddles Jake on the floor. He looks to the side, looking for me. His extra push.I shove past the MFC crew and into the stage lights where he can see me. I give my nod, and it's all he needs. He flips Jake into a Rear Naked Choke hold and Jake instantly taps out. Camden jumps to his feet in victory."YOU DID IT!!" I scream jumping up and down in my spot. Ca
Sitting at my desk I chew on the end of my pen awaiting for Professor Kelly to finish writing on the whiteboard. This class drags by and it being at noon I'm always hungry half way through.Bored I trace the words stenciled into the top of my desk with my index finger.'Lick it before you stick it.'Where do people even come up with this stuff?"I love how her hand erases half of what she writes as she moves across the board," Keegan whispers next to me, bringing my attention from my tracing to Professor Kelly. Sure enough, the sentence on the left is half wiped off as she continues to write along the board. Keegan is the only person I talk to here at UCLA. I don't know if I would call her a friend, more of a roommate, and study partner. College isn't any different than high school and I'd rather stay to myself. If you're making friends then you're a part of the drama. Who is screwing who, drugs, and mean girls it's a vicious circle.Keegan and I click because she's diffe
TateGripping the steering wheel my hands begin to break in a nervous sweat. The setting sun casts an orange glow along the horizon and blinds my already stinging, blood shot eyes. The countless miles and hours of driving wearing me thin. The sign for Chicago Illinois finally comes into view and I sag into my seat with relief.My home. Finally.My chest constricts as I enter the city, my sudden unease slightly waking me from my catatonic state. I've been driving off and on for two days now, and I'm more than ready for a shower and a warm bed. Easing my way into the north side, my hands begin to tremble and my heart rate picks up. I knew coming back home wouldn't be easy.I moved to California four years ago for college. Sure I flew back home for Christmas, but I always had a return flight back, and quickly. When I left home I left behind heart ache, and I thought forgetting would be best for everyone. I was wrong though, because here I am... driving right back into it al
Police sirens startle me awake. Peeling my eyes open, red and blue lights flash along the walls of Chloe's room."What is that?" I groan pulling myself from the floor. Growing up we hardly ever saw police in this area. Has it gone downhill over the years?Chloe groans pulling her pillow over her face. Getting up I step on her bed to look out the window.Spreading the blinds apart, I spot the cop car stopping in front my old house and what looks like my sister and dad outside yelling at each other. Adrenaline wakes me like a cold glass of water to the face."Shit!" Jumping off Chloe's bed I nearly trip on the air mattress rushing out of the house."What is it?" Chloe hollers, but I don't stop.Exiting her house, the screen door slams as I run four houses up."No, you don't understand daddy." Journey pleads, her hands pressed up against my father's chest."I understand alright and he's going to jail!" My father points over Journey's shoulder. Following his finger I spo
9 Years OldTate"Come on baby, I need to get to the church, Mrs. Bailey locked herself out again and I'm the only other person with a key." My mom shakes her head as she pulls the pie from the oven for our new next door neighbors. That's my mom, always doing the right thing. She has a big heart daddy says."Do we have to go over there?" I whine, pulling my hair into a tight pony tail."Yes. It's the neighborly thing to do. Besides, they might have a little girl you can play with this summer. Wouldn't that be ni- Tatum Davis, do you always have to put your hair up? It's looks so pretty when you wear it down." My momma puts her hands on her hips and tilts her head to the side.Momma is always trying to girly me up. I hate it. To emphasis my disliking of such a thing I point my finger down my throat and act as if I'm gagging.She laughs at my reaction and puts an ovenmit on to carry the hot pie."How come Journey doesn't have to go?""Journey is at summer camp, you now th
TateSitting on the steps of Chloe's house I palm the cup of joe, and blow a the steam swirling from it. It's windy, and warm outside this morning. Sweat beads at the back of my legs as I embrace the quietness."Sup ho?" Chloe plops her ass right next to mine. "You going to see your dad this morning?" Glancing up the street I spot my old man spraying bushes out front. "Hell no." I pick at the peeling paint of nail polish. After our conversation last night, I think we both made it clear what we think of I being back.Looking above the rim of my mug as I take another sip I eye the blue and white bungalow sitting next door."He still comes through here you know."My eyes snap to hers. "What? Who?" I try to play off that I don't know what she's talking about."Camden, he comes through here a couple times a week. Checks on the house and things, some say he is renting the place out." She looks down the street, her lips scrunched in thought. Hearing his name is a karate
Seven months laterI watch Camden fight in the ring. His body is sweaty, his muscles bulging as he circles the ring. He's the sexiest thing I've seen. We've been training side by side every day for the last six months. We found a trainer in LA and flew them to Chicago to prepare Camden and I. Camden for this fight, and I have a fight next month in Detroit. WE are doing it, we are making dreams come true. We just had to have each other to make it happen.The crowd is going wild, chanting Camden's name as he takes Jake the Snake to the ground. I stand on my toes my fingers crossed as I watch Camden. Camden still as he straddles Jake on the floor. He looks to the side, looking for me. His extra push.I shove past the MFC crew and into the stage lights where he can see me. I give my nod, and it's all he needs. He flips Jake into a Rear Naked Choke hold and Jake instantly taps out. Camden jumps to his feet in victory."YOU DID IT!!" I scream jumping up and down in my spot. Ca
One week later.CamdenHitting the bag I display I don't have cage rust, and can still fight. My new coach watches pensively, his eyes narrowed with focus. His name is Les and he's fifty-three years old, and a retired MMA fighter. He's strict, but has a lot of respect for the sport. "You definitely have a strong hit, Camden. Let's see what you have when it comes to grappling." Les points at a man standing outside the ring. "Camden, this is Franklin, he's going to be your own living breathing punching bag."Franklin is the same height as me, looks to be the same age. Only difference is he has a bleach blond pretty boy haircut, and an eagle tattooed on his chest. He'll be a good sparring buddy, but he's not Pinky. I should refer Pinky here, he'd have a much better outcome and he could be my personal sparring partner.Until then, this guy will have to do.Franklin tries to grab me and I turn on my feet putting him into a choke hold. He's not very quick, and doesn't seem very
TateThe next day I grab everything I have on The Underground, and shove it into an unmarked envelope. NDA, Rules, Plane ticket, all of it.Stamping the dorms address on the front, I drop it off at the post office and await for Keegan to get it.I may not be able to say a word about The Underground but what is stopping some college student who is looking for her shot at a news anchor position from getting some anonymous tip?The Underground hurt someone I love, and who knows how many people died after being put in the cage like savage animals. It has to stop.CamdenLying in bed I stare up at the dark ceiling. Thoughts of trying to get back in the octagon keeping me up.I didn't kill Chase, so maybe I can get back in the game.The thought circles in my mind like a horror show on repeat. Tate stirs next to me and I move my arm off of her, nervous I'm putting too much weight on her."Can't sleep?" she mumbles half asleep. I furrow my brows in thought."Do you th
TateThree Days LaterI lay in Camden's bed, my body aching from head to toe. The second day was the worst when it came to pain, and each day gets better but I still hurt. My bruises are black and purple and look horrible. Breathing is still a chore with it comes to my ribs too. It's going to take some time to heal from this one.My hands under my chin, I stare at the half empty duffle bag sitting on the floor across the room. I paid Dad's debt and the house. He doesn't know, and I don't plan on telling him. I'm hoping he just thinks the banks gave up trying to get money. If I told him I took care of everything he'd think of it as a handout when in reality I'm trying to keep us together. My family is too fragile to lose something so sentimental. It would break us all over again if we lost the house.Fingers walk up my spine, as Camden lays next to me on his bed. The hairs on my neck raise from the tickle they leave behind."How do you feel?" he whispers in my ear. His brea
TateCamden and I sit in the back of the car on the way to the air-port. I made Debs get her own ride in fear of me killing her before we reached the air-port. Upon leaving The Underground I can feel Camden's concern and worry dissipating into anger.He's going to be mad, but I'm just glad he knows."I can't believe you gave up the contract after all that," Camden mutters under his breath as he stares out the window."It was the right thing to do," I reply, looking at my feet.His head whips in my direction. His face turning into a blistering red."The right thing to do was to tell me about it! You lied! You fucking betrayed me... AGAIN!" I swallow, tears threatening to spill from bloodshot eyes. My heart beats against my chest in panic, looking for the words to defend my actions but they're lost. Every excuse floating in my head so fast I can't grab on to one."I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but you weren't completely honest with me either-" I cry."I've been complete
CamdenMy untapped fists drive into Chase's face one after another. So much anger and rage release through each it, I can't fucking stop.Each hit ricocheting from my knuckles up my wrist and forearm, the sound of skin against skin fueling me toward dominating this mother fucker.Nobody lays a hand on my woman.It's just monster against beast now.He struggles trying to block my hits but his weak attempts are no match for my experience.His legs come up trying to wrap around me and I anchor myself on top of him, he's not going anywhere.My vision turns red as rage takes over my original intent of being in this fucking cage. I came to protect Tate, but being in this ring the beast wants out. A feral roar rips up my throat as I grab hold of Chase's head ready to snap his life into nothing. Chase's mangled faces blurs into Bret's and I clinch my eyes shut. "You know what I think you're problem is? You're stuck in the past and can't move forward Camden. You have to forg
CamdenPissed that Tate hasn't even texted me back I throw the fucking phone across the gym as a roar erupts through my throat."Dude, what the fuck?" Cate lifts her hands up as she eyes my shattered phone.Swiping my hands through my hair I exhale an angry breath."I can't find Tate anywhere and she's not answering her phone." I inform frantically. I know she didn't leave town because all of her stuff is still at mine and her dads place. So where the fuck is she?Cate's eyes flick to the left way too quickly. Her part mouth and sudden tension telling me she knows something."Do you know where she is?" I ask more aggressively than I intended.She rubs at her forehead."Look, I heard Debs and Tate talking the other day and I heard she was fighting in a place in Nashville Tennessee-""A fight?" I step forward my heart skipping a beat. I didn't hear anything about a fight, surely Tate would have told me, why would she not?"Yeah, an underground one or something. I thou
TateThree weeks come and go. It's not been easy keeping this from Camden or my family. It's killing me. I feel like shit, and have almost told Camden on more than one occasion, but then I fear maybe something bad would happen to them if they did know. Thankfully with all the training I've been doing with Camden, and fucking, his mission of trying to figure out what I'm hiding as faded. I love being close to Camden when were naked and in bed, but it's a mere band aid to the guilt eating me from the inside out. Paranoia has me on edge, and constantly angry.I can't keep doing this. I'm going to tell Camden when I get back. I have to. I love him and don't want this to come between us. I don't want to lose him again. Not over this."You ready?" Debs asks grabbing her suitcase from the conveyer belt. The sound of airplanes and idle chit chat from the airport near deafening.I inhale a ragged breath and grab my bags as well."As I'll ever be."Nashville is hot, and ... full o
TateLooking over the NDA my head spins. Party A, and provisions all sounding the same. "Do I get a copy of this?" I ask thumbing the pages that seem to go on forever."Yes." Debs huffs giving me more papers to read and sign. "Just make sure you keep it in a vault or locked up. Silvia is not joking around when it comes to disclosure."Sitting back in the gyms chair I exhale looking over the paper's again. "This seems sketchy, illegal even. Does the MFC know about it?" I look up at Debs who is biting her nails."I don't know, who cares. It gets you to the top and us rich," she quips.I hate her outlook. There is more to the game then getting rich. "What about respect?" I ask.She eyes me like I'm crazy, and that's how I know we are of a different breed. After this fight, I think I need to find another coach.The doors to the gym open, blowing posters along the wall everywhere.Someone's here. Quickly I push my copy of the NDA and rules in my gym bag and stand