Orlando, Florida. Tuesday 1st July. (Off-Camera)

Today was a day where Liam was going to catch someone that's done a crime that was horrific, almost as if it was planned too easy. Before every crime the officers take out, they always have a meeting on which fellow criminals they want to tackle on. It was early in the evening when the meeting was taking place because the guy was known to be located in the evening. In fact, a lot of fellow officers wanted to help Liam tackle the guy down, but Liam said no, he'll do it all by himself and wants to do the interrogation all by himself as well. Which was a brave move from Liam, although the other officers didn't get why.

But once Liam explained the story of why he wanted to go out and tackle this crime by himself, it was completely understandable and they understood. The last location of the guy was at the Greenwood Cemetery, looking for a grave to what they assumed to destroy. Liam leaves the police station and heads in the police car to go out searching for the criminal as it was late at night.

Went to the last location of the criminal known as the tough man who they know consistently brags about the attempted murder of a kid's father that he tried to drown while the father was out, catching fish on the sea for the guy to try to dump the father's body at sea. Only it was discovered later on that the guy somehow survived.

But it was still for attempted murder and that was something they had to tackle down rather quickly before the guy was going to try and kill if not, murder more people from drowning at sea. So he rushed his police car all the way to Greenwood Cemetery, the last location of the male criminal who was built like to be a piece of shit that gathered attention by bragging, by being the biggest piece of shit in the world.

Liam got to the Greenwood Cemetery and got out of his car as he stands behind the fence as to not immediately spook him and he uses the binoculars with the picture of the criminal he wanted to get in front of him. He nodded his head, quietly speaking in his head.

Liam Davis: “There's that piece of shit.”

He was watching every move of the criminal as he puts the binoculars away and he jumps over the part of the wall where there's no graves around as the metal gate would cause too much noise and he had his handcuffs and the stick ready to stop this evil criminal that's done such sickening acts that he deserves to be stopped.

Liam hides behind a tree before he took a peek and it wasn't exactly what officers were saying, but close enough as Liam quickly got a small camera and filmed the criminal defacing the grave of the father from another child, one he did try to throw off at the sea a couple of weeks ago.

Suddenly, as soon as he was half way of the defacing the grave of a dead father, Liam rushed in and took the guy to the ground and shouts this.

Liam Davis: “You're under a arrest for attempted murders at sea and defacing a grave. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Come on, lets take you back to the police station for interrogation before we lock you up in bars.”

Liam then puts the guy in handcuffs and picks him up to take him straight into the car with placing a seatbelt on the guy before he closes the door and then gets into his side of the car and drives with the criminal in the back after reading the quotes. The guy was kicking and punching the cage of the car, knowing he did a smart thing before arresting the criminal as he ignores everything, even vile words that had been heard many times before. Liam was a tough nut that he was able to ignore everything. He aggressively stopped the car that he parked at the police station and got the guy out of the car with pure aggression and dragged him all the way to the interrogation room without hesitation.

He dragged him in the room with the other police officer, his brothers in arms took the handcuffs from the guy before he sat him down and they lock the doors as the cameras were already rolling and Liam looking at the fully tattooed guy with scruffy hair and a beard. He aggressively looks at the guy and starts asking questions.

Liam Davis: “Mr James Carter, I'm sure your aware of the damages you've tried to do over the past few weeks of trying to drown people's father's and defacing graves, right?”

James Carter: “With my own buddy who did the crime with me yes.”

Liam Davis: “Thank you for dropping in another name that we will also find ways of where the man is at. So tell me James, what was the purpose of trying to throw men who are fathers to their children to attempt drowning in the sea?”

James Carter: “The purpose is to be the biggest piece of shit of the world and I wanted to win a boxing championship belt so bad that I would do anything to get it.”

Liam got some of the answers and he wasn't satisfied with it and he knew anything that he'll say will go against him in court and he knew from speaking to the boxing promoter beforehand that he was going to make the claims as he says this.

Liam Davis: “From speaking to your boxing promoter, he didn't tell you to go and attempt a murder of drowning people's father's did he?”

James Carter: “He's lying because he did tell me to do just that.”

Liam Davis: “Or was it your friend who you refuse to name?”

James Carter: “I did it yes and my buddy did it, but I refuse for you to point me out as an enemy and I'm a real and legit person.”

Liam Davis: “You're indeed the enemy and as far as I'm concerned, you have shown zero remorse, zero abilities to give me a real reason why you've not only attempted murders which we've seen you do more than once as evidence given by many people that were on board a ship on that day. Tell me what your excuse was for doing those acts?”

It was clear as day that Liam almost swore because he was so angry at the guy for being a complete coward in his eyes and that's what it came down to, especially being a boxer as well and he knew the information about his boxing record as well. So the guy even though Liam really didn't want to hear what the guy was saying, but he had to for evidence.

James Carter: “Because I want to make a mark of being known as a criminal. I want to do these acts because I can and I will. My buddy Kevin Hawkes enjoyed the crime too. We love to make people suffer.”

Liam Davis: “Throwing defenceless men off the boat to drown them for no apparent reason when you couldn't even beat boxers in a fight makes you a coward and so does Kevin as well. You certainly making such stupid excuses for yourself and Kevin. It isn't looking in your favour too well, James Carter, especially I know you're a WBO amateur boxing champion right now that you will be stripped from.”

James Carter: “But I had to start from the bottom because I lost my WBC title and I left because I was in a family crisis situation.”

It was almost the very same story that reminded Liam way too much of the opponent he was facing and in a way, it was mocking his opponent, little did James know, but not his fault he couldn't compare his opponent to the situation here, only it was about the guy being a boxing champion than a wrestling champion.

Liam Davis: “I don't know if I believe you that happened all those years ago on you having a family crisis. I think you got knocked down so bad that your cowardly butt ran away because all that bragging you did in interviews in the past of you being the best boxer in the world with your ego got you done for.”

James Carter: “Well, if you were a boxer, wouldn't you develop an ego to brag about being the best in the world?”

Liam Davis: “No because it's subjective. You can rack up all those wins all you want, but yet, you chose to attack someone's father over words being said about you? Real boxers ignore and move on. There was no reason for you and your boxing buddy to do what you did. Especially defacing graves with bodily fluid of someone's father being dead from the boxing fight because you hate their sons so much?”

James Carter: “Because it makes me feel good about doing what I did and I don't give a shit what I or Kevin did. I enjoyed it, I enjoy making people suffer. Why should I beat some scrawny weak people when I can throw them off boats to drown them and piss on graves?”

Liam was shaking his head and he clearly needed time out as the officer came in to keep an eye out on him and walked out for the time being, mostly to recompose himself as he knew he had to act professional, compared to when he had to face wrestlers that he can say whatever he wanted. Liam went to get some water to drink as he shook his head, fuming on his criminal being a bitch. It took him ten minutes to get back into the room. The officer then left the room for Liam to get back in and respond to him.

Liam Davis: “I tell you why you sniffling weasel, because real men just walk away or real man like you in this case would actually get them to be in the ring with you and knock you out, not throwing weak defenceless people over the board of a ship and certainly not spreading bodily fluids all over someone's grave just because you don't like them. I find it funny someone being a boxer like yourself can't seem to handle heat, despite causing heat himself.”

James Carter: “Then it makes me a pushover if I don't stand up for myself.”

Liam Davis: “That's irrelevant because you start this sort of crap without the other party doing anything wrong to you. You can't admit you're not so tough and not so much of a bad ass either because you can't seem to keep your activities of being tough inside of the boxing ring. You can't seem to be a good fighter if you resort to using tactics.”

Liam just wanted to stop this interview, but at the same time, there was a smirk on his face, almost as if he had gotten into James clearly and it was as if then, he should feel some guilt, but it was clear he didn't and it seemed to Liam as if he got the former Boxing Heavyweight champion where he wanted. Which Liam goes to discuss.

Liam Davis: “To me, you don't seem much like a heavyweight boxer at all. Anyone in prison can kick your ass and I'm not just saying that. I've met some tough criminals who are even more evil than you, but what I see is a guy who's more of a bridgerweight division boxer which is originally where you should be ranked.”

James Carter: “I lost a lot of weight because I was doing nothing for many years after that loss and I knew I lost everything when I lost the title.”

Liam Davis: “Maybe I can believe that part, but still, bragging about drowning victims is not something I appreciate or anything people would do. You still haven't come up with a reason why you attempted to drown someone's father and I don't think we'll get anywhere with that. Also since I saw you with spraying your bodily fluids, you will get yourself a maximum fine of five hundred dollars. But you're ass will be in prison.”

James Carter: “I don't give a shit, I'm not backing down on me not being guilty for the crimes I did when they called me names, especially on social media.”

Liam only smirked especially it was too much of a familiar story about his opponent and the guy was arrogant, Liam knew it and he said this.

Liam Davis: “How do you know it was that guy?”

James Carter: “Because I've seen him so many times and he's popped a visit to the boxing gym a few times.”

Liam Davis: “I think I've had enough of hearing from you to be honest because it seems to me you're a coward. We're putting you in jail and good luck having your time in there because you're going to need it.”

Liam dragged James from the room and the other officers had the handcuffs put on him and then he took him to the jail cell to lock him up in until the court case was going to happen which hasn't been set a date yet and Liam felt like he done everything he could to do everything to trigger the guy he had in his interrogation room. This was going to be a different story in Grand Junction, Colorado where Liam can expose Kevin Carter, even to the point on information none of the other wrestlers know because they don't work for police department. He relaxes in a room and gets himself some pasta salad to eat for dinner before he heads back home to sleep.

--------------------------

Time to take down the biggest fraudulent toxic piece of shit bitch I've encountered in the wrestling business personal video diary. (On-Camera)

“Well fought Justin Smith, you have my respect regardless because you did give me a tough fight out there, regardless of what the idiots, including my opponent say about you. I made you a star that others simply refuse to do. Keep doing a good job of doing what you do because you have my respect.

Something that Kevin Carter will never get from me because if you want to talk about unoriginality and fake, that's perfect definition of you Kevin Carter because to be honest, everything you say is the same old shit every single week and you wonder why Carter and Miles say the same old shit about you? Because you do it consistently and you don't fucking change anything Kevin. You don't listen to them that you should to change your approach to your fucking opponents. There's lots of scumbags in the wrestling business so please tell the world how you're entertaining and more of an asshole than anyone else in the wrestling business. Because you're not, you're a carbon copy of those other asshole wrestlers and I fought many criminals who are a lot tougher and bigger than than you. In fact those criminals I met could easily kick your ass because you're just a scrawny piece of shit that everyone would like to beat up since you're not worth a threat to them. You'd get murdered by the prisoners because you're a lightweight.

There's plenty of Kevin Carter's entitled attitude walking around this business every single day. You're not original and you don't come across authentic either. The truth is you try so very hard to not humanise yourself, when the whole world has seen you been nice and respectful to Ripley and Lilith Locke who you don't even like following or supporting your ass, but suddenly you became nice to Lilith and act like she's a threat to Bea? Nobody is buying through your fraudulent behaviour Kevin. Nobody is buying the fact you're a piece of shit all the time.

Everyone including you has their flaws Kevin and you have plenty. One of them is how much of a snowflake you actually are. How soft your bitch ass is You whine, cry and bitch every single week on twitter and especially in your videos on how much you're sick of facing opponents and that shows how piss poor you are as a champion.

If you hate wrestling the same wrestlers so badly, if you're so much better than everyone in SCW, If you think the staff are so biased, why the fuck are you in SCW? Why the fuck won't you go to millions of other wrestling companies that will provide you with competition. Are you afraid of facing tougher competition in other companies that would kick your ass, knowing you worth nothing of value? You don't give a shit about professional wrestling. You and James are doing everything you can to kill the business. I've never met a horseshit Internet champion who trashes every single opponent like a weasel you are that doesn't view anyone as a threat. You're such a coward, especially addressing me on social media of calling me fake when I'm not on there to defend myself, on top of you having responses to only people who follow you because your bitch ass is afraid to be called out on your unoriginal and unauthentic bullshit. You're the biggest hypocrite anyone has ever seen in the wrestling business, period.

Also I don't think you understand how the wrestling business works. If someone has won a title contention match for your title, it means they earned it you stupid fuck. I never known anyone to be this fucking clueless about the wrestling business. I mean it's not like you deserved to win that Internet title when you lost to Miles before that title match. Basicially you didn't deserve that internet title match after that, making you as a joke.

I admit I didn't deserve this title shot and I never wanted an Internet title shot this early. Heck the titles didn't even escape from my lips because yes I called you out because I'm not a coward like you who avoids doing any harm to the original Carter, Finn, Alex because you're afraid to step up to them and they've called you out more than I wanted to face you without the title actually because to prove that I can beat you. I'll find a way to do so because nobody fears your scrawny ass since you're fucking weak. I proudly called you out because you're destroying the wrestling business, you contribution to the business is complete utter shit because you don't give a shit about SCW whatsoever the amount of times you've trashed the place.

Because you trash and don't view anyone as your opponent, nor have any dream opponents you want to face which every wrestler should. Congratulations on killing every single buzz you have for people wanting to watch your matches because you refuse to show anyone a threat. Because you're not watchable to watch in the ring and all this thanks for the free win only shows how pathetic you are. I called you out, not because you're good or anything, because you're such an entitled fucking bitch who acts like you're better than every other wrestler. You're too scared to admit that you know you can be beaten any day of the week.

You're too scared of being proven wrong. Because you play this whole wrestlers being on Logan, Justin and Bill level opponents every fucking week and you call the opponents you lost to in your career a fucking joke. I think you need to look in the mirror because you use the same fucking tactic every week and it's getting old Kevin. You're toxic piece of shit ways doesn't seem to ever evolve or develop.

You were doing this same shit fourteen years ago, you know when you're two World Title reigns were nothing, but a fluke. Being beaten by Goth who you called a joke for some reason and Drake Green. What happened after you lost to Drake Green? You pissed all over this company and quit SCW like a little bitch who couldn't handle he wasn't a good wrestler, couldn't handle the losses he got. No wonder why you're afraid of challenging Carter, Finn and Alex to matches or even attack them because you're nowhere near their level as much as you try to convince to everyone you are. The fact you call wrestlers you lost to a joke is fucking insanity to say. If I lost to wrestlers, I wouldn't dare to call them a joke, not even you as much as you're a piss poor champion who only has his title defended when he's forced to. Are you going to call me a joke when I beat your ass in the ring for the Internet title? Of course you will because that's the Kevin Carter mentality of things to shrug off losses and not admit he fucked up.

Kevin, I know very confidential information about you that I will expose right here and now and I can since I work in the police force Kevin so don't go and bitch at me for this for exposing this in public. Did anyone know that Kevin Carter's son, Wyatt Carter is in prison right now? Want to guess why he is? Because his son done assault charge on a student. You're son hates your guts from what I've been told by an officer I know who works in that prison he's in. So if I was a fake cop Kevin, I wouldn't know that information, would I? What you gonna do Kevin now I've expose that to the world which you deserve since you trash and mock and go personal with Miles and Carter's relationship every five minutes. For all these opponents you say I've beaten are a joke, it means your internet title reign and all of your opponents you've beaten are a compete joke too. So all this asshole act, is just that, an act because your ex partners were stupid to date a piece of trash like you.

You're nothing more than J2H's puppet and to be honest, you're the weak link of the two of you and funny thing is, for you to side with him destroys any chances you have in facing him, unless your too scared to lose to a great wrestler like James. Nobody views you as a main event talent because the Internet title is holding you back. So why don't you be a good little boy and have the balls which you lack any to drop your title to me. Why don't you lay on your back and let me pin you to remove the title that you clearly say is beneath you.

Because the internet title deserves to go to a much more of a worthy recipient, someone that isn't going to bitch, moan and complain about every challenger he gets in front of him. Someone who will elevate and make wrestlers better than they are because the current champion is too selfish for that and most importantly a champion who won't categorise wrestlers in sorts of levels that the current champion does. A champion that will do open challenges, a champion that will force Finn, Alex, even Aiden, Miles, LJ, literally anyone for the title.

That someone is me and I gladly will beat the living shit out of you because you've had it coming for a long time and you're absolutely worthless of an opponent. I'm not even doing this brutal and vital beat down for myself, I'm doing it for the entire SCW roster who's sick and tired of you running your generic boring mouth being James's puppet who can't break free from him because you know if you and James were to face each other, you'd be irrelevant and you're too scared to face him.

I'm beating you all by myself without anyone doing so and also, not my fault if Alexander happens to attack you because you're worthless ass deserves it and nobody will feel sorry for Kevin, nobody will feel sorry for the revenge you've had coming from him for a long time. I'm going to show you how tough I'm really am that has morals and trust me, if you're not Kevin Carter or Guy, I wouldn't stoop to these levels because I respect all of you, apart from Kevin, Guy and possibly James.

Because I will send your ass packing from SCW and remove you permanently from this roster because you don't have the passion for this company or the wrestling business as a whole. Nobody will miss you and nobody will care of seeing your toxicity ass anymore. I don't even care if you've had so many wins, they are irrelevant to me because I'm going to destroy you, I'm going to give you a brutal beating that nobody has seen from me and I will walk away as the new Internet Champion and you'll go and do your Liam beating me is a joke quotes you always do when you lose to a wrestler because you know you're just not that good and you know it.”

The buzz of the door lock echoed louder than it should have.

LJ stepped in slowly behind Miles, instinctively lowering his voice and posture. The security protocols had been intense, metal detectors, check-ins, even a brief talk with the attending officer stationed nearby, but it was all necessary. Kevin was protected, physically and legally. But emotionally, that was a whole other story.

The room was more like a studio apartment than a hospital suite. Comfortable furniture. Lots and lots of natural light. Books stacked in uneven towers on the desk. A few movie posters on the wall, faded, curling at the edges. It was a space trying hard not to feel clinical, but the presence of quiet orderlies just outside the door was a reminder this wasn’t exactly a safe house.

Kevin sat curled up on the window seat, knees tucked to his chest, hoodie sleeves covering his hands. His hair had grown longer since LJ had seen him in photos, dark, messy, and falling in front of his eyes like a curtain. He was staring out the window, unmoving, but his voice was alert, "I heard the door.”

Miles kept his tone soft, “Yeah mate, it’s just me and someone I wanted you to meet.”

Kevin didn’t turn around, “I don’t recall saying that I wanted company today, Miles.”

“I know,” Miles said gently, “But I thought maybe today you might, I dunno, tolerate some.”

Kevin snorted, “Must have caught me when I was high on the pain meds they had me on because that doesn’t sound like me.”

“Fair enough, bruv. But...” Miles glanced at LJ, “I wanted to introduce my half-brother to you. This is LJ. He was with me a few times when we were trying to find you. In fact, he was the one that thought about the motels around the area.”

LJ raised his hand instinctively, “Hey there, Kev. It’s good to finally meet you..”

Silence, then, after a beat, Kevin spits back, “I didn’t ask fuckin’ introductions either.”

Miles winced, but LJ stepped forward anyway, cautious but unfazed. He’d seen that edge before—in kids who’d been through hell, built walls with steel instead of stone.

“I just wanted to say thanks,” LJ said, looking at Miles uncomfortably for a moment, before clearing his throat, “For hanging in there. I know you don’t know me. I helped Miles look for you, though. So, I guess I already kinda care about you, whether that’s fair or not.”

Kevin finally turned his head. His eyes were red-rimmed, shadowed. Tired in a way no sixteen-year-old should ever look, “You helped him find me?”

“Yeah, man. He and I went practically every corner of Vegas before we found out you had gone back to LA, supposedly to try and talk to yer da.”

Kevin stared at him a long time, eyes narrowing, "Did you actually help, or were you just another guy standing behind him acting like backup?”

LJ blinked, "I..I mean...”

Kevin sat up straight and glared towards LJ, “I don’t need more people pretending to care. I’ve got enough of that.”

The words weren’t loud, but they hit hard.

LJ’s shoulders dropped, "I’m not pretending. But, okay. If you don’t want me here, I’ll go.”

Miles stepped in quickly, tone even but protective, "Kevin, come on, mate.”

“I said I’m done!” Kevin’s voice spiked, sharp enough to draw a nurse’s attention from the hallway. His hands were shaking now, clenched in his hoodie sleeves. He pulled his knees tighter to his chest, rocking slightly, "I can’t. Not today, okay? Not today. Just get the hell out of here.”

Miles turned toward LJ with a quiet sigh and nodded toward the door, "Let’s give him some space.”

LJ nodded, and they slipped out silently. The door clicked shut behind them.

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and old coffee. LJ hated it already.

He stood by a row of chairs that looked like they hadn’t been updated since the nineties, watching through the glass panel of Kevin’s room. Inside, Kevin sat curled on his bed, knees pulled up tight to his chest, eyes blank. A nurse murmured something soothing, but the kid didn’t seem to hear.

Miles had tried. God, he’d tried. Walked in slow, gentle voice, introduced LJ like it might mean something. But Kevin flinched away, voice rising until the nurses intervened. Now Miles was leaning against the wall outside the room, arms folded tight over his chest, jaw locked so hard LJ could see the muscle ticking along his cheek.

LJ stayed quiet for a while, letting the moment settle. The hum of fluorescent lights overhead was the only real sound between them. Finally, he spoke, "Not exactly how you pictured that going, huh?”

Miles didn’t look at him but just shook his head, “He’s been through hell.”

“I know.”

Miles exhaled through his nose, "There are times...He barely even remembers me at that moment in time. And when he does, he remembers everything else, too. The doctors say it’s why his stay is going to be a lot longer than just his medical needs.”

LJ nodded. His gaze drifted back to Kevin. He could feel how fragile the air was around them, like one wrong word might shatter the whole day.

A long beat passed before Miles pushed off the wall, scrubbing a hand over his face, "We should go. He’s not gonna want to see anyone else today.”

They left the hallway and stepped into the elevator. LJ hit the button for the lobby. The doors slid shut with a metallic groan, trapping them in the quiet.

LJ looked sideways at his brother.

“So, are you gonna tell me why we actually went through with all that boxing crap?”

Miles didn’t answer right away. He just stared at the floor, as if he could burn a hole through it.

“I mean,” LJ went on, his voice softer, “why we really did it. ‘Cause King Guy said so’? Or because, I dunno, you wanted to prove something?”

Miles scoffed under his breath, "It was never about proving anything.”

“Then what was it about?”

The elevator jolted as it descended. Miles rested his hands on the rail behind him, leaning back. His voice was low, quiet, "Sometimes, brothers gotta beat the hell out of each other so they don’t end up hating each other.”

LJ blinked, "What?”

Miles finally met his eyes, "LJ we had 20-plus years of not getting to grow up together. Our ol’ man fucked around on both of our mothers, and then shuffled loose the mortal coil, leaving absolutely hell in it’s wake. We didn’t get the big brother/little brother scuffle out of our system. I looked at it from a standpoint of this being the chance. That...If we didn’t get that out of our system, it was gonna sit there between us and fester worse than Lyle Kasey’s corpse. If we didn’t go through with it, you’d start thinking I didn’t respect you. I’d start thinking you didn’t want me around and one day, it would’ve come out way uglier than three rounds with gloves on.” He shrugged, "It was better we did it that way.”

LJ couldn’t help it—he let out a short, humorless laugh, "So… what? You punch me in the face so we can be closer?”

Miles smirked, “It worked, didn’t it?”

LJ rolled his eyes, “Barely.”

Miles smirked. But the humor faded almost as quickly as it came. A shadow passed over his face, “It wasn’t just the boxing match. I said a lot of stupid shit during that whole 2 weeks of Queen and King for a Day. Some to Ally. Some to you.”

LJ raised an eyebrow, "Like telling Ally I see her more than I see you?”

Miles winced, and shook his head and motioned with his hand before slapping it down onto the railing, “Yeah. That. I was angry at the whole situation, especially with Ally doing what she did to Artie. I’m trying to fix everything and I can’t fix Kevin, and I can’t fix how the crew in the locker room talk about us, and you and Ally and....and I couldn’t figure out how to keep you from getting pulled into the same mess. And I took it out on you both.”

LJ softened, his own gaze dropping, “Yeah. Well. You’re not the only one trying to figure stuff out.”

Miles eyed him, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

The elevator dinged as it hit the lobby. The doors slid open, but neither of them moved. LJ hesitated, then let out a slow breath.

“It means after Summer Xxxtreme and the cruise, I’m probably moving to Texas. Permently.”

Miles blinked, "Wait. Texas? As in Dallas, Texas? The whole damn state that takes at least 2 days to travel through if the weather is decent, Texas?”

LJ nodded, “Ally and I, we’ve been talking about things. Her and I have been together practically a year now and I don’t know, it seems like bouncing back and forth between my place in Vegas and her house outside of Dallas, is getting expensive. I wanna go to law school. I’ve been playing around with the final decision for long enough and there is a school near there that is fucking amazing. Vegas has been good to me. But it’s… it’s not home. Not anymore. I feel more comfortable and less stressed when I’m with her and that’s what I want in my life right now.”

Miles stared at him like he was trying to solve an equation in his head, "So that’s it? You’re just leaving?”

“I’m not leaving you,” LJ said, firmly, “I’m not leaving wrestling either. But I need to build something that’s mine, outside the ring. I don’t wanna wake up in ten years and wonder why I didn’t try.”

Miles swallowed hard. He looked away, pressing his lips together, "Are you sure about this?”

LJ’s voice was quiet but certain, "Yeah. I am.”

Miles nodded slowly, eyes a little glassy but no tears. He clapped LJ gently on the shoulder.

“Then I’ll help you pack.”

LJ gave a small smile, "I know.”

They stepped out of the elevator together, walking into the sunlit lobby. Whatever lay ahead, Texas, law school, or the next fight, they’d figure it out.

Miles sighs looking at his taller yet younger brother, “Well, I guess that’s how I know you’re really growing up.”

LJ grinned, "That or losing my mind.”

Miles patted his shoulder, "Meh, same thing. I up and left New York to move to Vegas and then moved a man that had the extreme hots for me.”

“And you for him, if I can recall the story properly.”

“Yeah...and the rest, as they say, is history.”

They stood there for a moment longer, brothers in the middle of the hallway, somewhere between past regrets and uncertain futures.

Brothers.

Gloves off.

-----

Grand Junction, CO
The hotel room of LJ Kasey and Alexandra Callaway
Early Evening

The last rays of Colorado sun spilled through the half-open curtains, painting gold lines across the hotel room’s white duvet. LJ set his duffel bag down by the wall with a quiet thump. He rolled his shoulder, wincing a little as he rotated it in its socket. Nothing serious, just the echoes of a few rough weeks.

Ally looked up from where she sat cross-legged on the bed, her phone in one hand, a bottled water in the other. She smiled the second she saw him, "There’s my world traveler.”

LJ grinned, moving over to drop a kiss on her forehead, "Hey, angel.”

She tilted her head, studying his face, "So, how was Vegas?”

LJ let out a breath, plopping down on the edge of the bed beside her, "Heavy. Like majorly heavy.”

“Kevin?”

“Yeah,” he said softly, "The kid is having a rough time. Miles...well, he’s carrying a lot. He’s trying so hard to fix everything. But it’s not the kind of thing you can just patch up.”

Ally gently touched his arm, "And what about the two of you?”

LJ gave a small laugh, "We’re okay, love. He does want to apologize to you, especially. For Queen for a Day week. For that crack about how I see you more than I see him.”

Ally raised a brow, "Oh, he does, does he?”

“He does,” LJ said, "But he wants to do it right. So, give him time and be prepared. This is Milo Kasey that we are talking about so anything is possible, complete with you being serenaded in front of God and everybody.”

She considered that, then nodded, "Okay. I can give him time.”

He leaned his head briefly against hers, soaking up the quiet comfort she always seemed to radiate.

“You know what’s weird?” he murmured.

“What?”

“This whole year, everything that’s happened, it feels like it’s all pointing me here, to this weekend. To us teaming up for the first time.”

She smiled, soft but fierce, "Well it’s about time, don’t you think?”

“It’s long overdue so...hell yeah.” LJ’s grin widened, but there was steel behind it now, "I am so tired of losing. I’m tired of people acting like I’m just Miles’ brother who got lucky to be here. I want to show them who the hell I am. We’re gonna show them.”

Ally poked his chest lightly, "Then let’s make it count.”

-----

The Colorado air was cool, tinged with the smell of brewing coffee from a café down the block. Streetlights glowed overhead as LJ strolled the sidewalk, hoodie pulled over his hair, hands buried in the pockets. The sidewalk under his boots felt solid, grounding him in a way the ring sometimes didn’t.

He stopped under a flickering neon sign, stared straight into the camera that trailed him for a pre-match spot.

He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly.

“Grand Junction. Actually, no, SCW in total”

He tilted his head, voice steady but edged.

“You’ve seen me lose. Over… and over… and over. People are beginning to think that I’m cursed. I’m sure there are even some people who say I’m just the guy who shows up, puts on a good fight, and goes home empty-handed.”

He let a smirk twist his lips, "But here’s the thing about me: I don’t stay down. And I sure as hell don’t forget.”

He shifted his weight, eyes burning a little brighter under the neon glow.

“This Sunday, myself and Ally, yeah, the same Ally who’s been fighting her own wars, who’s bled for this business just like I have, we’re stepping in there together for the first time. And on the other side of the ring… we got Song. And we got Justin Smith.”

“This Sunday, I am teaming up with Ally Callaway — yeah, that Ally — for the first time. First time since we started this thing a year ago. And we’re stepping into the ring against Song and Justin Smith. One of those weird ‘lethal lottery’ deals.”

He paused for effect.

“Song, I’ve seen what you’re about. You move like you’re five steps ahead, and you’ve got experience on your side. But the one thing you don’t have?”

He pointed to himself, then directly at the camera.

“You don’t have Ally. And I do.”

There was a different edge to his voice now, not fire, not bitterness. Faith. Pure and unshakable.

“She’s not just my partner. She’s one of the toughest women in this business. She’s fought her way out of every corner she’s ever been shoved into, and came out swinging. And when it comes to this match? I don’t have a single doubt in my mind.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“You try and test her, Song, you’ll find out exactly why I trust her to finish the job. She’s got her eyes locked on you, and I promise you, she’s ready for whatever you’re bringing.”

Then, LJ turned the attention squarely to his own half of the match.

He spat Justin’s name like a challenge.

“Justin, you’ve been running your mouth since you got here. Acting like you’re some big deal. Like you’re above me. But guess what? You’re not. You really aren’t. You’re the same as me, a guy who’s been chasing wins and coming up short. Except there’s a difference between us.”

He pointed to his chest.

“I know who I am. And I know that I’m done living in my brother’s shadow. I’m done living in anyone’s shadow. Sunday, I’m not walking out there looking for a moral victory. I’m looking to win.”

His jaw flexed, voice growing sharper.

“You’re gonna find out real fast, Justin, that there’s nothing more dangerous than a man who’s got nothing left to lose. I’m tired of being the guy who almost made it. I’m tired of people writing me off.”

He paused, lowering his voice, every word deliberate.

“This is my time. Our time. Me and Ally, we’re not just some couple trying to play nice in a mixed tag. We’re a unit. We’re coming to fight. And Sunday, we’re putting a full stop on this losing streak.”

A small grin flickered across his face as he stepped back.

“So bring your best. Because I’m bringing mine and I know damn well Ally is going to bring hers.”

He dropped his hood and let the cool breeze hit his face, eyes glinting under the lights.

“I’m done waiting for my moment, I’m fucking taking it.”

He turned and kept walking into the night, his footsteps echoing off the quiet storefronts behind him.

He let the words hang, then lowered his tone again, driving it home.

“This Sunday, me and Ally? We’re not just stepping out for bragging rights. We’re stepping out to prove a point. You call it a random pairing.”

He gave the camera one last look, this one with weight.

“I call it destiny.”