To be continued, you say. Well… let’s hit resume play and get this show on the road…
Evie knew her decision to hand over a bag full of diamonds wasn’t going to be a popular one. She knew that the moment she opened her front door, there was going to be two sets of eyes looming over towards her, glaring at her with judgement. That’s why Evie took the last five minutes before her three-hour time window was up, to enjoy the intoxicating joys of nicotine in the form of two cigarettes she chain smoked on her front patio. As she crushed the last butt into the flowerpot by the front door, she moved some of the soil over it to hide the evidence. However, even Evie knew that wasn’t going to protect her from the smell of smoke that had seeped into her hair and clothes. With a painful sigh, she turned towards her front door and reached for the handle but before she could twisted it to let herself in, the door swung inwards as Ben greeted her with a cheerful grin.
Ben couldn’t hide his concern, even with his big goofy smile on his face the look in his crystal-clear blue eyes said it all he was worried about Evie. He was worried about her decision to pay her sister off, he was troubled by the words he had heard his wife speak earlier. Did Evie really want to get to know her long lost half-sister? Was Ayla someone that Evie really wanted in her life? Then to hear her shut Evie down like a flock of ducks in open season, Ben knew Evie didn’t handle rejection well. It wasn’t a reaction Evie was used to, Evie was the type of girl who nine times out of ten got what she wanted and if she was every denied the tenth object, she moved and heaven and hell to get it by any means necessary. However, Evie’s outstretched hand, that she offered toward Ayla early was slapped away with ease.
The Jordan’s just oddly stood there one on either side of the door frame, unsure what to do next as Ben was busy studying his wife. While Evie was trying to figure out what was going on in that big adorable head of his. She couldn’t tell if he were mad at her, she couldn’t tell if this were the calm before the storm, but all Evie could be certain of, is that she was glad she was home in one piece. There was no gun fire, there was no fist fights, no war, no new scars, and that was rare for her.
Evie made the first move as she walked right into Ben’s opens arms and instantly his strong muscular arms closed around her. Pulling her in towards him, Ben made sure Evie was out of the way before the door collected them on the way past. She could feel his hands checking her over, even if he tried to hide it as a hug. Ben pulled his face away from hers, his hands reaching up to hold her arms as he looked directly into her eyes.
“Are you hurt?” Ben whispered.
There was a tone of concern in his voice that had Evie wanting to reassure him as quickly as possible.
“No. I’m good.” Evie replied.
Evie looked herself up and down, she wasn’t sure why she knew no harm had been done to her, but it was a strange feeling to come back from a “mission” without an odd bump or bruise. It was new to her, but then again it wasn’t like she was fighting the unknown she was dealing with her half-sister who she might not have known in person but from the information Calista and herself were able to dig up there was no cause for alarm for Evie’s safety. It was just the uncertain feeling of that Ayla wasn’t working alone but who knows, Evie couldn’t know for sure she just had to hope that today’s offerings were enough to keep Ayla satisfied and not leak any of Evie’s past discretions.
“Are you okay?” Ben questioned.
Ben watched his wife take a step back, her mind running over time. Was she okay? Evie had just reached out to her half-sister looking to extend an olive branch and it was all thrown in her face over a stupid request for money. Deep down Evie wanted some form of family in her life. It wasn’t that Ben wasn’t enough for her, he was, and he was more than enough it was just since the death of her father Evie thought she was the last living Baang. Since finding out that there was a sibling, even if Ayla was only halfblooded, there was still that family tie that subconsciously she didn’t want to let go of. Evie looked back up towards Ben, he could see the grimace on her face, so he knew she was about to sugar-coat her feelings for the moment.
“It is what it is.” Evie complained.
The disappointment in her tone was evident, it wasn’t the elephant in the room anymore. It was well and truly known. Ayla’s behaviour had crushed Evie, even if she was unwilling to say those exact words out loud. Evie just walked back into Ben’s opened arms and rested her forehead against his chest, thankful that things had at least gone smooth enough today that she was able to walk back into her house unharmed, alive, and back into Ben’s arms. Regardless of what had happened earlier Evie was back in her happy place, and even though her trademark smile was on her face for now, she was grateful for the blessing that was before her eyes, and in her arms. Their hug didn’t last for long, as the sound of their voices had travelled down the hallway into their bedroom and like the speed of lightening Bear was hurdling towards them both, unremorseful of any causalities as he skidded towards their knees at full speed. All the Jordan’s could do was brace for impact as sixty-five kilograms of fluffy excitement spear headed towards them, tongue out, drool spooling and fur flying.
#
Evie moved further into her house and she was greeted with smiling face of her best friend Calista. Calista had already taken over Ben’s large TV in the living room. His remotes had been pushed to one side, as now two laptops sat upon their round coffee table, a cord ran from one laptop towards the TV. Evie didn’t waste any more time as she reached up to the top button on her black leather jacket, ripping it off with ease she tossed it up in the air towards Calista who caught it. Ben watched on as the two girls go to work at lightening fast speed, as Calista broke down the button that was in fact a small camera. She slipped out a micro SD card and within seconds the card was slotted into the smaller silver laptop. The TV flickered to life and now on the screen was a replay of today earlier events.
Evie didn’t bother to walk around her expensive leather chairs, she leapt over the back of it, before taking a seat. Bear had made his way round, he was used to family movie days and night and he thought today was no different. Ben on the other hand chose to stand in the corner and watch Calista and Evie work. He wasn’t sure why they were replaying Ayla’s words from this morning, but he could tell by the way Evie was counting the knocking sound of Ayla’s fingertips tapping the table that there must have been a message in there somewhere.
Evie rocked forward in her chair, her elbows came to rest on the top of her knees as she looked up at the TV screen, trying to analyse her little sister’s body language. There was no way on god’s green earth that Ayla belonged in this game, she was too shaky, to nervous and to scripted, to be a big bad crime lord. Just as Evie went to reach across the coffee table and grab hold of a pen and paper, she was distracted by the sound of Calista coughing, before her head tilted backwards as if to shift Evie’s attention towards Ben. Turning back to look at Ben, Evie could tell there was trouble brewing and without a moment missed, the words fired out of Ben’s lips.
“I can’t believe you gave her diamonds.” Ben scoffed.
The TV was now showing the moment that Evie handed over her prized black Birkin bag that contained 20 million dollars-worth of diamonds. Evie saw the heated look in Ben’s eyes she knew this could have been an issue. This was never an outcome the pair had spoken about and from all their previous conversations Evie wasn’t the type of girl to pay anyone off even if it meant keeping her identity safe. Evie had other ways to keeping people quiet and reaching into the pockets of the Jordan’s was one of them. Evie looked towards Calista, even her best friend was giving her that look that screamed “I can’t believe you did this.”
“They weren’t our Diamonds, so please the both of you calm down.” Evie huffed.
Evie tried to return her focus to the audio, trying to piece together what her sister was trying to tell her with the tapping of her fingernail onto the hard table top but she couldn’t stay focused for long as she felt two sets of eyes glaring right at her. three if you wanted to count Bears.
“So, you stole some to pay her off?” Ben’s eyebrows came together, confused.
Ben made his way across the room, he was patient man with Evie and never just went off at her without letting her give an explanation first. Evie watched as he made his way over towards her, so she held his gaze when she replied.
“No recently, if that’s what you’re asking?” Evie snapped back. “I’ve had them for ages.” She smirked.
Evie was trying to keep this light, but she knew Calista and Ben weren’t just going to let this go. She watched as Ben took a seat on the armrest of the brown leather couch, his eyes darting between Evie and the TV. Calista couldn’t help herself as she let out a giggle, she knew exactly what diamonds Evie was talking about now and things were starting to make sense for her part.
“The Tower of London job from 2014?” Calista chuckled to herself.
Reaching across Calista squeezed Evie’s right leg. The Tower of London job was one of their greatest heists and yet, they rarely ever spoke of it. However, Evie couldn’t wipe the smile off her face once Calista had mentioned it.
“Yes.” Evie laughed back.
Ben watched as his wife and her best friend exchanged a glance that only two best friends could, it was as if they were retelling the story without exchanging any words. It took a while for it to sink in, but once it had, Ben pushed himself back off the arm rest with a powerful stride.
“HEY…” Ben shouted. “I took you to the Tower of London and you said you had never been there before?” he questioned.
Ben made his way behind Evie, he reached out and place his hands on her shoulders giving them a tight squeeze. He wasn’t hurting her, but he wanted her to know he was right behind her. Evie looked up at the Tv and she could see the outline of his reflection. There was a cool goofy smile on his face, Evie could tell that by the tone in Ben’s voice. Evie tilted her head back, so she could look up at her husband with a beautiful smile on her face.
“Well...” Evie paused. “It’s not a lie… technically you took me for the first time, the other time I didn’t have a great deal of time to look around and take in the history.” She smiled.
Evie winked at him, but Ben let go of her shoulders and the features on his face changed as he acted hurt by her words. She watched as Ben made his way around the front of the chair, to look her in the eye when he spoke.
“This is explains why when we went into see the Queen’s Jewels you were like” Ben paused. “Oh my god wow they look so real.” His tone had changed to a mocking Australian accent.
Calista and Evie couldn’t help themselves as they laughed at Ben’s Australian accent. Ben threw his hands up in the air defeated. He wasn’t really mad at Evie, he knew she had a life before him and at times he would learn things about her that would rattle him a little. Evie was surprised she wasn’t thrown out of the house right then and there for hijacking some of his beloved Queen’s jewels, but Ben seemed to be keeping a lid on that conversation, to made a little bit later when Calista wasn’t around.
“Well on that note, I’m going to go work out how many white lies I’ve been given over the years.” Ben joked.
Evie smiled at Ben, as Ben looked towards Calista who was googling coordinates as she thought that might have been what Ayla was trying to lead them to. He knew it was going to be a long day for the two females and if he knew anything, that was not be in the way when they were trying to figure something out. Ben took his leave from the room, and Evie called out just as Ben was walking down the hallway towards their bedroom.
“I love you.” Evie called out.
She didn’t even turn to look at him, she didn’t have to Evie knew he was still smiling but Ben quickly called back towards her.
“No… I’m still processing that one as well.” Ben called back.
Calista looked up at Evie catching a frown, but the frown didn’t last long as the two girls got straight back into work. Evie knew she had some making up to do with Ben later, but right now they had to figure out what Ayla was trying to tell her, or had she been fooled once more by her little sister?
#
Evie and Calista spent the next two hours trying to figure out the message and from their years of working together and in this game it didn’t take them long to discover it wasn’t a phone number, it wasn’t a location, it wasn’t a combination it was a code. Ayla was reaching out with the old alphabet code that alone help confirm that Ayla wasn’t from this world. The two words that Ayla was spelling out are what shocked Evie the most… HELP ME. Evie hadn’t been a sister for long but even she knew that wasn’t something that would be easy for a sister to ask another especially when they knew nothing about each other. Evie wasn’t sure what she meant or how she was meant to help, or what to even help her from but she was going to do everything in her power to find out the who, what, when, where and why of this situation. Deep down Evie wanted Ayla in her life, she didn’t know why, nor she could even try and explain it. Family was family after all.
Moving away from her position on the couch, Evie went to make he way down the hallway to let Ben know the good news, however the sound of his bare feet slapping against the wooden floorboards brought Evie to a dead stop, before she even reached the hallway.
“OH, THAT’S IT… THIS… THIS I CAN’T STAND FOR.” Ben called from across the room. “WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS THIS?” Ben shouted.
Ben was making his way down the hallway in his left hand was a bunched-up piece of material. His hands were balled up as fists as he shook his empty on towards Evie as he made his way back into the living room. Calista was looking up at them both from her seat across the room, a weird look on her face as she had no idea what was going on, but Evie on the other hand was smiling as if she had just won the lotto.
“That’s a West Ham shirt, my love.” Evie smirked.
Evie watched Ben’s eyes grow wide, so much so the whites that surrounded his crystal blues were highlighted. Ben made the last few steps towards Evie, he ducked down to speak directly into her face.
“Do I look like a West Ham supporter to you?” Ben fought back.
Evie was almost choking on her laughter while Ben was livid towards her. Before Evie could explain the shirt situation to Ben, Calista’ soft spoken voice stole their attention.
“I’m not sure... what this all means.” Calista frowned, confused.
Evie looked towards her best friend who had made her way from the couch over towards the pair of them. She wasn’t sure if this was a real right or one of those ones Ben and Evie did mucking around to keep each other on their toes. Ben however, looked as if Evie had murdered a puppy. Evie turned to look towards Calista with a wild smirk on her face.
“It’s from Ben’s emergency escape plan bag…” Evie chuckled. “It so you couldn’t be identified. I couldn’t send you into the world with a Millwall jersey on, now could I? That would give you away.” Evie sighed.
She looked back towards Ben, who had dramatically thrown the shirt onto the floor in rage. Calista watched on as Evie reached out towards Ben who just weaved his way out of her hands.
“I’d rather be dead than be seen in this.” Ben scowled.
Ben stepped over the jersey before he moved towards the kitchen bench where Evie had left his get away passport. He was peaking in frustration and Evie could tell he was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. It was the Millwall blood that was flowing through his veins, that couldn’t let him see the genius behind his disguise. Ben reached across the bench and snapped up his passport and he turned around, to glare at Evie.
“And let me guess you gave me a terrible alias?” Ben huffed. “Let me see here… my new name is Maxwell Samson Dean.” His voice trailed off.
As Ben spoke his loud voice trailed off into a much softer calmer tone as he read the name Evie had arrange for him on his passport. It was a mixture of three of his best friend’s names all mashed together. Maxwell for Max Burke, Samson for Sam Marlowe, and Dean as in Jamie Dean. A cheeky nod to Jamie Dean as well, if one day he ever discovered that Evie had given Ben his last name, she was sure he would faint from excitement.
“Horrible innit?” Evie mocked him, the British accent dripped in her tone.
Evie smiled, she knew he felt like an idiot from the way his head dropped, and he made his way over towards her. Ben didn’t waste a second as he wrapped his arms around Evie bringing her into a hug, before he bent down and place his lips on her cheek giving her a soft delicate kiss.
“I love you.” He said softly.
Evie continued to smile as refused to hug him back before she wittily bit back at him.
“I thought you weren’t so sure of that?” Evie grinned wildly.
Before Evie could wiggle free from his arms, he held onto her and bear hugged her. Evie turned towards him and gave him the smile he was chasing and the two quickly and briefly exchanged a small kiss on the lips. Calista just shook her head from side to side, she couldn’t keep up with the Jordan’s the way they were hot and cold with each other and yet, at the end of the day there they were in each other’s arms adoring each other. Their relationship to a lot of people didn’t make sense at times, but it was days and moments like these that reminded the outsiders looking in that they would always have each other’s backs and they would forever keep each other entertained and on their toes as they never fully expected what the other would or could do next. Today had been a successful day and now, looking forward all Evie had to worry about is what on earth her sister Ayla wanted her help with?
##
The scene opened up just outside the Jordan’s Bar Harbour Lake house. Evie could be seen standing on the edge of the pier that hung over the water and she looked towards the calmness of her surroundings. She was dressed in all black, from her thick wrestling boots, to her black ripped jeans, to a black tank top that was tucked into them. Around her waist was a large Gucci belt buckle, while draped proudly over her right shoulder was the prestigious Sin City Wrestling World Bombshell Championship. As the camera made its way towards Evie, she head the first wooden slat on the pier creak under the camera man’s foot and that’s when she knew she was in ear shot of the microphones.
“Alicia... Alicia… Alicia… You’re like the dog with a bone that refuses to give up. I beat you at Summer XXXTreme and then again at Climax Control to retain my prestigious World Bombshell Championship… and that result didn’t sit well with you, it rattled you so much so, you had to take a moment in time and weigh up your options and you chose to remove yourself from the title picture… and yet, that turned out to be a lie as soon as the first chance stumbled across your hands, you reached out and took that battle royal by both hands and you shocked the life out of it. You made sure, that your name was the one in lights because just like Kate… you love the glitz, not so much the glamour but you love having your name surrounded by lights, you love having your name attached to the World Bombshell Championship, that you couldn’t even allow someone else the chance to reach their full potential and why would you? You’re a World Championship title whore… You’re always fucking hungry whenever there is a belt to be won, a title to secure, a trophy to be awarded.” Evie sighed.
Evie turned to look down at her World Bombshell Championship proudly. She was sick of seeing it being passed around like some best dressed award, since winning it she had taken a lot of pride in knowing she wasn’t just another transitional champion in this company. However, she didn’t have time to dive into that she had other things to focus on. Lifting her hand up she looked towards the camera once more and continued with her promotional video.
“Look who’s always at the front of the line when it comes to World Bombshell Championship opportunities? Look who can’t help themselves and always has to be the cat amongst the pigeons. You know for a woman who tells the world that she is a standout, that she is so different from everyone else... Alicia, you sure as hell like to wear the same fucking shoes as the rest of them.” Evie smirked.
Evie’s smirk couldn’t be hidden it was highlighted by her blood red lips, her bright white teeth on displace. He had a smile of a wolf, always proud of the hunt, always boasting of the kill. Evie swept a lock of her long black hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear before she continued.
“On one hand you’re no different from them all, like a moth to a flame… if it glitters in this company, the Bombshells flutter their eyelids and get title drunk, always reaching out with greedy fucking hands, waiting for a hand out… and yet, unlike the rest Alicia you have worked had for your chance to secure another one on one match with me, however… I can’t say this is all just because of the World Bombshell Championship. As much as you say, this isn’t personal it’s business… this is a neutral respect, I can’t help but notice the fact we are neck and neck in singles matches, has you breaking out into hives. It’s almost as if your allergic to match someone. It’s almost as if you’re ashamed to be bested… and yet when it did. You couldn’t help but sing my praises, but we all know deep down… it’s eating you alive, we all know deep down the reason you chose an Iron Woman match, was so you could try and swing the result your way. I’m not an idiot. I’m not Stevie Wonder… the whole world can see why you chose this… because win or lose you will still count the falls that happen in the match and WHEN I beat you, you will still have the golden opportunity to flap your gums about how you “pinned me” during the match this many times and that by some fucked up logic in your head, still means that we will forever be equal.” Evie sighed.
Evie couldn’t help but tilt her head to the side before she smiled once more. It didn’t take long for her red lips to part once more as she spoke.
“Let this run through your head… we will never be equal.” Evie smiled.
Her emerald eyes locked with the lens of the camera, she wanted that point to be driven home when Alicia heard it. Truth be told Alicia and Evie weren’t enemies but, in this company, at times you had to cement your dominance in a title defence was one of them. Evie titled her head back to the centre before she carried on.
“Pathetic isn’t it? The fact that you so desperate to be the best, that you’re so hungry for the title that you’re willing to put the cart before the horse… just ask Kate how that worked out for her? just ask Kate how well her grand plans went last week at Climax Control? She thought she could sneak into our match at Violent Conduct by securing a victory over me, and yet… I never allowed that to happen. So, if you think for a single second, I’m going to stroke your ego or I’m going to play into your conceptions about how you’re going to be the rightful winner between you and I… you have another thing coming. You see doubt used to plague me… it used to follow me… it used to hunt me… but now, I use the doubt to fuel me. No one believed I had what it took to come back and win the Blast from the Past for the second time, no one thought I had it in me to beat Andrea and no one, thought I had a chance at beating you in a one on one match up and yet, here we are all tied up and only one way out of it… a match at Violent Conduct… not just any match, the match type you chose, in the main event.”
Evie held her gaze with the camera as she spoke, her eyes piercing the lens. That was one thing she could never been frowned upon, Evie was always focused on her target and she had always given them her full attention in her promotional videos. As the win picked up across the lake, Evie moved her hair to one side, showing off a line of scars that tattooed her skin down her right arm. She didn’t move the title to cover them, she worn them like a badge of honour and continued.
“Some might say I have bitten off more than I can chew, giving Alicia Lukas the power to choose our match type at Violent Conduct. Some might say, I have just given her the keys to the kingdom that I current sit high above watching over week in and week out as the reigning World Bombshell Champion. So may even say that I was foolish to allow one of the best mat based wrestlers in the history of this sport, to choose a match best suited to her liking… yet, to me… Violent Conduct will mark the moment in history where I finally get the beat Alicia Lukas at her own game, I finally get the shut the fucking critics up and I finally get the say good fucking riddance to Alicia Lukas in the World Bombshell Championship picture.” Evie smirked, wildly.
Evie couldn’t help but laugh, she knew that was never going to happen, but a girl could dream. At least she knew Alicia and herself would give the SCW fans the match they deserved even if she despised them.
“To many of you, you have already over looked me… you have already started to raising your flags towards a Alicia Lukas and Roxi Johnson showdown at High Stakes, but here I am once again in the right place at the right time to remind you… just who the fuck I am and what I’m capable of. You think of a moment that I don’t have what it takes to beat Alicia Lukas next Sunday? You’re fucking kidding yourself. You see why you all paint this picture, you always seem to keep the same two bombshells on the top… Mikah and Alicia… Alicia and Mikah and yet, some of your out there seem to overlook the ones that are standing right before your very eyes… it’s okay… it’s fine… because believe me, the doubt my championship reign has generated has done nothing but fuel me and come Violent Conduct, I won’t allow the thoughts, the small insufficient thoughts of others get in my way of being the last woman standing, of being the woman with the most pinfalls racked up… I will have the last fucking laugh and there is nothing that you can do about it Alicia Lukas.” Evie paused.
Evie smirked towards the camera, there was still a lot left unsaid, so she continued on her way as the sun started to slip from the sky behind her as it flirted with the horizon.
“Alicia, you might think you have played the match type into your strengths, but I can promise you, all those who believe they have the advantage, rarely prosper.” Evie smiled, confidently.
Evie adjusted her World Bombshell Championship just at the right time, as if to rub it in Alicia’s nose that the title wouldn’t be leaving Evie’s side after Violent Conduct. It was the little things that she knew Alicia would pick up on, she normally went through peoples videos with a fine-tooth comb so if she could add to the fun, why not?
“It’s time that someone put you on fucking notice, it’s time that someone knocked you down a few pegs so you can realise that you’re not the measuring stick for Sin City Wrestling, you might be one if not the greatest World Bombshell Champion in our history, however, that doesn’t give you an automatic victory every time you step up to the plate. Times have changed around here, and the past you once dominated… is now being over shadowed by the future and well let me remind you Alicia, the future of this company is looking mighty fucking bright and guess what, it doesn’t require you to save it or destroy it… because since I have become the World Bombshell Champion, the main event scene has been reigning Jordan and no I’m not talking about my husband…I have taken this beautiful title and I have captured the minds, the attention and the respect that is deserves… so believe me, the World Bombshell Championship is doing just fine without you… it doesn’t need you, it doesn’t need your greedy fucking hands, it doesn’t need your toxic need for self-gratification…” Evie paused.
That million-dollar smile was on her face once more as Evie boasted with her words. However, the way she was standing backed up her confidence. She had to be confident heading into her match with Alicia, or everyone would try and eat her alive for it. Perhaps it was time for the rest of the world to see that Evie Jordan had what it took to be a long-time champion and not just the next hot potato for Alicia Lukas.
“At Violent Conduct I’ll remind you, what it’s like to get into the ring with me, you see you might think you’re the highlight of this company… but every bulb has it day and trust me, the coil in yours is just about to snap and burst. I’ve shown you that twice before and Violent Conduct will be thirds times a charm for me. You see, a third time proving to you that I am in fact the better women’s wrestler in this business, would do nothing by cement my name into World Bombshell Champion history and if you think I’m going to let that chance rush past me? You have another thing coming…” Evie’s accent dripped with venom.
Evie looked towards the camera and gave a cheeky little wink before she started to wrap this one up. After all, she still had another week under her belt to come towards Alicia she didn’t need to use it all up now.
“So, Alicia as you jingle those keys to the kingdom in your hands, under your false predictions of walking away from our match at Violent Conduct as the new World Bombshell Champion… I’ll be here to remind you… that I changed the fucking locks… over a hundred days ago.” Evie smiled brightly.
Her focus never shifted from the camera as she spoke, Evie needed this to drive home. She was sick of being counted out when it came to the big matches. Evie adjusted her World Bombshell Championship once more, letting the light capture it as it shone towards the cameras.
“I’ll see you at Violent Conduct Alicia and believe me… the outcome of our match, wont be the one you’re currently banking on.” Evie smirked.
Evie looked down at the World Bombshell Championship and she proudly ran her hand over the nameplate highlighting that it said “Evie Jordan” along the gold. She gave the title a soft pat, as if to say it wasn’t going anywhere before she looked back towards the camera with a smile. It didn’t take the cameras long to zoom in on her World Bombshell Championship the sole prize in the main event at Violent Conduct before the footage faded away and the screen ended up in darkness.