Page 46 of Tandem
He leaned back, a knowing look in his eyes. “Well, that’s good to hear. Because I'm looking forward to seeing you in the ring tonight. And trust me, AJ, I won’t be betting on you.” I sighed, my patience wearing thin.
“Jabari, I’m just here to eat my lunch, dog. I don’t have time for your games.” I couldn’t give a fuck if he bet on my opponent. Shit, I hoped he did because he would go down like the rest ofthe idiots that went up against me this year. This guy would be no different.
He laughed at me. “AJ, I feel like you think you’re still going up against Jerome tonight, don’t you?” Now what was this bullshit he was trying to pull? I gave him a little more of my attention because, by the look on his face, he had something he was just dying to tell me. “Well, sad to say Jerome is missing. T spent the last 4 days trying to find the guy, but his car turned up ransacked two nights ago. With no word in sight, T pushed you through to the next round. Surprised he hadn’t told you yet.”
I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms in front of me and crossing my ankles under the table. I’d be damn sure to ask T why Jabari was telling me this first later and if it were true.
He leaned forward, confidence radiating from him. “A’ight, so you know what this means, AJ. Tonight, I’m gonna be your opponent. Championship match.” I raised an eyebrow, amused by his cocky attitude.
“You? Seriously? Don’t you still have another match yourself?” Jabari's grin widened, and he nodded with absolute certainty.
“That’s right. Except he forfeited the match, came into some money, didn’t need it anymore. I’ve been training hard, AJ. I’ve been waiting for this chance, and tonight, I’m gonna kick your ass in front of everyone. Again. Maybe this time you’ll take the hint and stay outta my fight ring like the bitch you are,” he sneered back at me, his eyes angry.
I couldn’t help but chuckle, finding his smug, cocky attitude amusing. The arrogant ones always fell the hardest in the ring. “You’ve got some guts, I’ll give you that. But remember, Jabari, it’s not just about talking. You’ve gotta walk the walk. Let’s see you do it without cheating this year.”
He leaned back, confidence undeterred. “Don’t worry, AJ. I’m gonna prove myself tonight as the undisputed champion, inall thefairways in the ring. You’re gonna see a side of me you never expected.” With that, he pushed out of my booth and back into the group, walking toward the door, food in hand.
I watched them slip into a green SUV and drive off down the block. If it were true, man, I couldn’t wait to knock Jabari’s cocky ass onto the hard ground in front of the entire street fighting community. He needed a good lesson of humiliation in front of his fans. And I needed my title back.
As I prepared to leave, my phone suddenly lit up with a new message. It was from T, the organizer of the underground fights.
I quickly opened the message and scanned its contents. The text confirmed the details of tonight’s fight, including the time and location in Los Angeles. But what caught my attention was the confirmation that Jabari was indeed my opponent. “Your fights have been bumped to a different opponent. Tonight, 10 p.m. Abandoned warehouse on 5th Street. Jabari’s been itching for this. It’s on. Don’t let a brother down. I got 20K in bets on you winning tonight.”
A mixture of excitement and determination coursed through my veins. I’d get revenge for the stolen win of last year’s championship. Tonight, under the flickering lights of that abandoned warehouse, I would face Jabari in a showdown that had been set in motion since last season ended.
This fight was personal, and I was more ready than ever to step into the ring and prove I was the one deserving of the title this year and not some cheating bitch of a man. And it was the perfect fight to show my girl just who I was. Ready to stop hiding any part of me, I pulled out my phone and texted her. Hopefully, she was able to handle this last hidden piece of me.
CHAPTER 27
ROSALIE
I was loungingon the couch, engrossed in a magazine article about new concept cars, when my phone buzzed on the coffee table. Startled, I put down my magazine and grabbed my phone. The screen displayed AJ’s name, and my heart skipped a beat. His messages always made my heart pound in my chest, and today was no exception.
AJ
Hey, baby girl. There’s something I wanna to show you. The last part of me you don’t know. Meet me at our spot in an hour?
Rosalie
Yes! I’ll be there, don’t worry!
My heart fluttered as I sent my reply. Our spot had become the little alley right next to Dad’s custom car shop where we started to meet on my lunch most days for some making out and, more often than not, sex. And it was the hottest quickie in the world. At least, that was what I think they were called.
Exactly one hour from the time I got his text, I was leaning against my Skyline’s hood in our meeting spot, then I heard his lowrider’s engine purr as he came down the street in frontof Dad’s shop. As he rolled to a stop, I pushed off my car and walked quickly over. Opening the door, I slid inside all the way to the middle. “Hey, AJ.” I leaned up to kiss him, and he pulled me in with so much need to taste me it took my breath away as our lips touched. After a few long and hard kisses, he pulled back.
“Hey, baby girl. This is it. The last thing I haven’t told you about me. You have to promise me one thing. You won’t leave the spots I tell you to, all right?” I slowly nodded. He seemed so serious.
“Of course!” I said excitedly.
AJ stared at me one more time. “Don’t talk to anyone else, understand? Don’t go anywhere with anyone else, either.” I nodded faster a second time.
He slowly turned back to the windshield and started driving the car. We drove into the ghetto to an old food storage building. Was this place even open anymore? We rolled up next to a bunch of other cars, and AJ tugged on his mask, making sure it was secure. He pulled on his ball cap and threw his hood over the hat. “Let’s go,” he said.
We left the car and began to walk down the dimly lit parking lot toward the back entrance, which light poured out of.
My heart raced, a mixture of nervousness and curiosity coursing through me as I shoved my hands deeper into my jacket pockets. AJ, feeling more possessive than usual, kept me close, his arm around my shoulders a reassuring presence.
He shot me a sidelong glance, his eyes filled with seriousness and desire. “Remember, Rosalie, this is a different world here,” he cautioned in a low voice, his grip on me firm. “Stay close to me, and don’t engage with anyone you don’t know. It can get rough.”