She was volatile, hot-blooded, just a ticking bomb waiting to explode without warning. Sure she and her little tag team partner, her little Chicken Nugget had pulled off another victory and had advanced into the finals of the Blast from the Past… and yet she was staring down the screen of her phone like it was a barrel of a gun. Evie was humiliated tonight and not a single fuck was given by any of her peers. It’s as if they had forgotten whom the fuck she was and what she was capable of. It was as if no thought or consideration had gone into her past in ring encounters and yet here she was sitting in the Bombshell’s locker room about to flick the red button.
She felt like an idiot, considering she had just signed back with Sin City Wrestling, only to be dragged through that match by Amy Marshall of all people. Did she even matter to them? Or on the other hand, was she just a number on a page? So, she just sat there alone, running her hands over the screen of her red IPhone 8 plus, Evie was trying to calm her nerves but nothing was working. She was catching her breathe, inhaling for three, exhaling for four and yet the more she stayed conscious the more the anger just burned. There was tantrum building within her that the likes of Sin City Wrestling had never seen. Yet, the thought of acting like a child was enough to bury the flames smothering them into a cinder.
Evie would never allow her colleagues, the satisfaction of seeing her in this state. As of a result, through gritted teeth and a fake smile a sigh escaped her crimson lips. Looking at the screen of her phone, she could still see the cut on her forehead, which Amy Marshall had gifted her. Evie watched as the blood continued to drip down her face, like a teardrop rolling down a cheek she watched it splash down and pool at her feet. Times like these reminded her, she truly was alone. It had been at least forty minutes after her match and not a single soul had approached her, to see if she was okay, to see if they could help. They just walked past her, collected their things and stared at her as if she was a freak. Not even the Sin City Wrestling medical team had bothered to rush by and check her out.
Was she nothing to them?
The number on a page thought was racing in her mind; Evie knew she was not easy to get along with, yet she could not help but think to herself. Jessie Salco weeks before had gone on a thoughtless, disgusting racist rampage and yet people still flocked to her, like moths drawn to a flame. Amy and Joshua defended her, checked on her and made their stances known to the world. Nevertheless, here Evie was battered, embarrassed, volatile and alone.
Did she mean anything to anyone?
Evie had always been an outcast it was part of her charm, yet somehow this was eating her alive. Looking up from her phone, she dropped it to the floor to narrow minded to care if she broke it, to absent minded to check. She made her way to her feet, looking around to see that the locker room was empty, not even a bag of her peers left in sight. The young Australian Bombshell, made her way over towards the body length mirror across the room, beside it there was a generic first aid kit glued to the wall accompanied by a first extinguisher. There was two options, staring her blatantly in the face, health care or warfare. Her bloody lips parted and a smile crept over her face before her right hand swiftly grabbed the first aid kit. The thought of being childish and trashing the locker room was still appealing to her, it would help feed her rage but yet the glimpse of her bloody face in the mirror was enough to hinder her natural advances.
She plonked the first aid kit in the middle or a round table that was just to her left, before she opened it rummaging through it like Halloween candy. The Aussie finally found what she was looking for and she was quick to get to work. Grabbing an alcohol rub, Evie ripped the foil packaging apart before she turned back to look at her reflection. She removed the alcohol wipe from its wrapper before she started to clean up her face. There was no delaying the inevitable as she went for the cut first. The alcohol from the wipe seeped into her wound above her brow and in spite of that, Evie didn’t murmur. Not a single sound of pain was unleashed, not a single grimace crossed her face. She was used to pain and this was nothing to her. Her body was numb due to lack of caring, yet her subconscious recently had been begging her to feel.
Removing the once white wipe from her face, she balled it up and tossed it into the bin that was near the locker room door. Before, she turned back to look into the first aid kit, her green eyes stumbling across what she needed. It wasn’t long until her hands found the inside of two gloves and before a needle became home to a strand of medical thread. Evie turned and looked back into the mirror and there she stood, all alone, stitching herself back together. As the needle pierced the skin, Evie exhaled as she did what she did best, when she was in Sin City Wrestling and that was take care of herself. With each loop of the thread, Evie’s temper was teetering on overdrive. Her cold green eyes never losing focus from the reflection in front of her, and yet while she stitched herself up she couldn’t help but ask.
What had she become?
##
Lucky Beaver Bar and Grill – Reno.
The show had wrapped and almost on cue, Ben Jordan had sent out his infamous “Pub?” Tweet. Evie wasn’t going to go at first, the last time those two had hung out it didn’t end well for the rumour mill. However, she needed something to drown the voice inside of her that was eating her alive. “What had she become?” “Did she mean anything to anyone?” “Was she nothing to them?” “Why was she even still here?” Four questions that just replayed repeatedly in her mind, irritating her, like a clock that just ticks over reminding you that you are still alive. It didn’t take her long to spot Ben at the large round table, with Fenris and Aron in fact she heard them cat call her over with such ruckus once they spotted her enter the establishment.
Looking around at her surrounds, Evie screwed up her nose. This place looked like a haven for tetanus but Ben and Fenris seemed to be enjoying their shot challenge. The Aussie was dressed casually with a pair of cute ankle cut off boots, black of course while she was wearing pair of super tight, deep blue denim jeans. A little bit of her midriff was on display as she had a black ACDC shirt on that she had tied into a bow at the hem over her belly bottom. Around her shoulders was a thick black leather jacket, while her long brownish-black hair was down, straightened and sleek. She had just the slight bit of makeup on her face, choosing to display her stitches on her forehead, rather than cover them up.
It didn’t take her long to be at the table, she watched as Ben signalled the bar staff from clicking his fingers and it was as if the bar keep knew exactly what he wanted. As after a few seconds of her cheeks hitting the seat, there was a drink with her name all over it placed down before her. Evie looked down at the whiskey, straight on the rocks and that tell-tale smirk was on her face. She was impressed, she was for sure he would have forgotten her drink of choice. The barkeep watched as the Aussie brought the glass to her lips and without any hesitation, the liquid disappeared. She placed the glass back onto the table and without even acknowledging his existence the barkeep took her glass and wandered back over towards the bar.
“You look like hell?”
Ben’s voice was slightly slurred already, as he reached across the table to touch Evie’s right hand. He was looking into her eyes, as if he was contemplating for something. Evie just exhaled, she would love to let him know what was on her mind, but right now, she wasn’t going to get serious Ben she was faced with party Jordan.
“I’ve been through worse.”
The Cockney king retracted his hand from Evie’s as his bright blue eyes lit up with excitement as from behind her the barkeep returned with two round trays filled with shots. The Australian watched as Fenris and Ben’s eyes lit up like little kids who were receiving their gifts on Christmas day. Her green eyes shifting towards Fenris who was at the head of the table, next to his brother. Evie just reached forward grabbing a shot before she opened her lips to speak to him.
“Hæ”
Fenris just smiled sarcastically his tone matching hers as they both brought a shot glass to their lips, before they proceeded to down it at the exact same time. Ah, Fenris. The thorn in Evie’s side. Gabriel’s new toy, she wanted to hate him but the fact that she shared far too many similarities with the Icelandic dill; she just couldn’t bring herself to. He did have a face that she wanted to punch, that stupid cheeky smirk he got on his face was enough to warrant it. Ben watched on, not overly sure how this would boil down but he was quick witted.
“Hey, HEY… no fighting you two… save it for the finals…”
Evie raised her right eyebrow, as she swept her tongue across her top teeth. Fenris’ eyes beamed with delight at the thought of these two; even though they couldn’t fight one another inside that six-sided ring, he wanted nothing more than to win the Blast from the Past. He had everything to gain and nothing to lose, yet Evie was the one with her reputation on the line. The crown to defend and the two of them knew, without even speaking a single word to one another that it was “game on” their animalistic behaviour was evident as they both eyed off the prize, like two wolves looking at the same slaughter. The sound of a glass hitting the wooden table brought their attention back to the task at hand, as Ben Jordan finished off another drink. Evie looked back at Ben, the hard expression on her face shifted, as his blue eyes sized her up for her reaction.
“I’ll behave.”
She said while rolling her eyes, to which Ben just cheekily smiled resting back into his seat as if he had just unlocked world peace. Evie pulled a strand of her long brown hair out of her face and pushed it behind her ear, showing Ben, Aron and Fenris the fresh set of stitches on her forehead and without a single second to spare Fenris let out a chuckle.
“Ég verð að tilkynna Courtney að þú hafir í raun veikleika.”
Ben didn’t understand a word that Fenris had just said to Evie, but from the heated glare that she was now giving him across the table he knew Fenris had said something to peak her interest. The Aussie just ran the tip of her tongue between her lips, before she turned to Fenris and with a wicked smirk upon her face the harshness of her accent-helped drive these words home.
“Segðu litlu stúlkunni að koma með það”
The two shared a smirk before they lifted their new drinks up, the glass hitting their lips as Aron and Ben watched on. With those words exchanged, nothing more of the upcoming match was uttered. It was just a night filled with drunken shenanigans. An episode that consisted of a “purple dinosaur” also known as a pot plant and well a shot challenge that neither party (Fenris or Ben) wanted to lose. The night ended with table dancing and a plan to knock out a pot plant (aka the dinosaur) that ended in a minor injury. Yet while the wild boys continued on their crazy ways, Evie was at the table looking down at the glass in her hand as she swirled around the two remaining ice cubes.
She barely had gotten past Amy Marshall at Climax Control, just hours ago how was she going to silence the roar that was Courtney Pierce? Evie had never been in this predicament before and the uncertainty was starting to consume her.
##
Somewhere between Las Vegas and London.
Evie rarely experienced hangovers, yet today her head was kicking her arse. Her temples were pulsing at the thought of having to sit on this plane for the next nine hours. She didn’t have to go to London; there was no appearance or event waiting for her at the other side of this flight, the young Aussie just needed to get away. The urge to tie up loose ends in place she had spent a bit of her past in was calling her, and well it was time for her to answer. The Aussie was on a private jet, I mean after she informed Mundo of her decision to go, he supplied her with his finest G6 and of course one of his many off siders. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her, it was just the thought of her going anywhere without him was enough to make him ill with worry. After all, she had a past of disappearing. As Evie sat in her large fawn coloured leather chair she looked down at her phone staring at the screen and as if on cue, the face beamed to life with a blind light. The words “Chicken little” buzzing across her screen. She didn’t waste any time accepting the FaceTime request from her tag team partner.
“Yo, Sugar Tits!”
His voice was loud and booming, as his face lit up the screen of her IPhone. Evie would never admit this aloud but she had grown fond of her little tag team partner and seeing his face, made her smile. It wasn’t a girly smile; it was more of an evil smile without the window of doubt lingering over his head if she would punt him off a stage. For some reason she had grown protective over him, even though he was doing a mighty job at holding his own.
“My little Chicken Nugget.”
Evie’s green eyes lit up with excitement, as she thought this was the social call she needed to help pass the time on this flight. However, she drew her eyebrows together in confusion as she watched Devin’s face turn from happy go lucky to firm and mad.
“This isn’t a social call; this is a what the fuck are you thinking call? Why would you be on a plane to London when you have a match this Sunday? Do you want to just give Courtney the win?”
The vein was slightly popping on his forehead, but Evie didn’t want to get into a fight, she was too meh to care about that sort of hogwash at the moment. Her match was on Sunday and the thought of it was already eating at her, she just hoped she could sneak away for a few days and relax before coming back and getting to work.
“I’m fine thank you, thanks for asking… how about yourself?”
Her thick Australian accent was harsh, she didn’t sound anything like those two annoying Aussie in that other wrestling universe. Evie smirked towards her screen while she brushed a strand of her long brown hair out of her eye.
“I’m not messing around Sugar Tits. First you’re hanging out with Fenris is bars and now you’re globe jumping, days out before your match. What gives?”
Devin seemed bothered; his whole attitude on the phone was unlike anything Evie had ever seen from him before. Sure, these two went back and forth with banter, insults and probably some truths hidden as jokes but they seemed to be working together as a well-oiled machine. Yet, here he was looking down at her, even though he was projected to her through her phone screen.
“I didn’t realise that I had a keeper.”
She was being tongue in cheek with him, seeing how many buttons she could push but from the look on his face Devin wasn’t playing around. He rolled his eyes before he went straight back on the attack.
“I’m not your keeper, but you and I made a deal and I’m just failing to see you up holding your end of it. Now, explain yourself.”
He wanted answers and she couldn’t blame him, it was very unlike her to just get on a plane days out from the biggest match since her Sin City Wrestling return. Leaving her training schedule high and dry and for what reason? Devin demanded answers; he wanted to know what was running though her mind and how she thought this was a good idea.
“Relax Devin; everything is, as it was. I want what you want and that is to beat Fenris and his chew toy Courtney. Fenris and I didn’t share any deep dark secrets at the Lucky Beaver, if anything I learnt a few tricks you could focus on.”
Evie was trying to reassure her tag team partner but she could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t amused. It was a shitty feeling knowing that her tag team partner had his doubts about her; after all, she had just spent the last twenty-four hours doing that to herself.
“I’m not a magician; and I’m also not buying this.”
His vein was popping from his forehead as he spoke to her, Devin had a purpose in this tournament and that was to win it all and to be taken seriously. The thought of Evie dragging that down the hill at the final peak was infuriating to him.
“What do you want me to say Devin? Read my lips and hear me when I say this. I have the chance to become the first EVER, two-time Blast from the Past champion; I am the reigning champion of the tournament… I want nothing more than to have that title bestowed to me once again. I will not be seen as a weakness, I will NOT be a weakness. I know what I’m doing… I know what I want and there is nothing that will stop me. So, save your breathe. I know the outcome you’re seeking and trust me little one, you will find it.”
Evie’s blood red lips caressed together as she finished talking, hoping her words would put Devin’s mind at ease and subconsciously hoping it would do the same to the doubts that were swirling around in her head. She had never been second-guessed before and it was enough to internally cripple her.
“You better not screw this up, if you lose to Courtney this weekend… that puts us in a really shitty place coming to the finals.”
Devin was a smart man and he had a point, he had a big point and right now Evie was trying not to think of an outcome where she didn’t walk away from this match without a win. She needed to win this if she wanted any chance of heading to the finals feeling confident. She looked down at her phone and with a simple sigh, she replied.
“I know this.”
Her voice sounded defeated as she looked at him through the screen, but as she answered him, she noticed the look of anger slightly shifted from his face. Devin was finally getting somewhere with Evie and now it was time to chip away at her to break the walls down.
“So what are you doing about it Sugar Tits? Because getting shit-faced with the enemy and jet setting to Jordan-Land doesn’t really scream, preparing for war.”
He had a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he took his shot, hoping that his choice of words would spark a reaction out of her. Evie wasn’t dumb, she knew what he was playing at but she couldn’t help but smirk, war? He wanted war? Her mind was racing, thinking of all the times she had done to others in the past and Devin was trying to coach that out of her? He was a genius.
“Oh you want war?”
Her thick accent made that sound like a threat and that is exactly what Devin wanted, he wanted Evie to light that fire she had been keeping a lid on lately. It was time to release the smoulder and let it finally burn bright. Devin looked at her, his eyes directly pin pointing hers as he spoke down the phone.
“I want the Evie fucking Baang that dominated the competition last year, because thus far, I seem to be doing all the work.”
He licked his lips, confidently as she cracked his knuckles and it was as if he was counting down her reaction time in his head because the smile on his face was priceless.
“You accomplish two pinfalls and that makes you the captain?”
It was a joke, but the way she retorted to his statement was vicious her tone was almost sinister. He really though that he was the one carrying the team? He needed to plant that seed of doubt in her mind so she could grow it and turn it into something fantastic. Evie could feel her blood starting to heat up in her body; awaken senses that had laid dormant for a while. She was tied of being the victim, for so long she was the alpha the seeker and since her time of torture, she felt like a lioness trapped inside a kitten’s body.
“Well, your head seems to be in the damn clouds lately. Now, what have I got to do to you, to light that fire?”
He was doing it now, yet she was still reserved about how far she could push herself. Evie had spent twenty-six days in darkness and now even though she was back in the light the fighter inside of her way still afraid to venture from the shadows.
“You could breathe?”
Her tone was sarcastic, bitter and dry as she looked down at her screen at Devin. Who was smiling towards her, he must have felt like the puppet master as he equally sarcastically replied.
“Ha-Ha.”
He was faking a laugh; one that she couldn’t help but think was mockery. Yet she needed this little bit of a wakeup call, to remind herself who she was.
“What do you want from me?”
Her bright white teeth came together, as she snarled. Her eyes narrowing as she wanted to hear his response. Devin wanted to win Blast from the Past and at this minute, he wasn’t sure if this was an obtainable goal with how Evie was reacting to last week’s match. Therefore, he led her to the cliff and was just about to give her a little push.
“You to focus.”
Devin had a smug smirk on his face as he looked towards the phone in his hands before he waited for her reply. Evie on the other hand was looking at him, unsure of why the tables had turned and why she was feeling like the little person but hey, whatever works, works right?
“I am focused.”
It was eighty-five percent convincing as she glared back down at him, Devin let a chuckle escape his lips before he followed it up with one last little jab at his tag team partner.
“Prove it, tear Courtney apart this week and make her wish she doesn’t have to face you again in two weeks’ time at Into the Void.”
Evie had to admit, the little person was good at giving pep talks and this one was going to play on her mind for a while. He had grown a set of balls since winning his elimination chamber match in honour wrestling and the confidence was oozing from him as he looked down the line to see the Blast from the Past victory within his grasp.
“That’s the plan? I mean I would hate for all of this to be said and done and I’m the one they see as the joke, and you’re the one they take seriously.”
She licked her lips to soothe them, as she looked down at Devin waiting to see his reaction. Evie wasn’t being mean, she was joking it was their thing they had been like this since finding out they were stuck with each other as a team. Devin was not surprised that Evie would take a swipe at him to save herself; it was what she did best.
“You’re not even mean anymore, you know that right?”
She was smiling brightly as she looked down at his face in her hands, before she winked at him. Evie was not trying to be mean; she was just trying to shift the topic of conversation. She wasn’t used to being called a weakness and right now that’s the last thing she needed to be playing on her mind.
“I don’t need to be… now settle the fuck down and relax, Sin City Wrestling will see the little man on top soon, just get off my case. I know what I need to do.”
A little bit of confidence arose to the occasion as Evie smiled devilish towards Devin. She knew she would have to dig deep to beat Courtney this coming Sunday, she knew she had a lot riding on the outcome of this match. A win was necessary. She couldn’t walk away with a loss because that would taint her return record and would put her team on the underdog status for Into the Void and if Evie knew one thing about herself. She was the one that everyone could bank on in a fight, she was the one that would take her opponents to their limits just to watch them trip fumble and fall to her feet. Evie was the wolf, the wolf that called Sin City Wrestling home for so long, before this “white wolf” decided to venture out of the unknowns. Evie was the alpha, the one that laughed in the face of pain, danger and fear. She was the one at the peak of her career had people begging not to face her, Evie just had to find her. She had to find that warrior, dust of her boots and get her back into work.
“Well hurry up and do it?”
Devin almost spat his words out of his mouth as if he was reading her mind. He needed her to wake up, see what she was worth, and see that she was needed in this team for it to work. Devin knew he couldn’t win this alone and he knew that by fate he had been teamed up with his best chance of taking out this tournament. Yet, Evie who doubted him on first sight had grown to discover that he was the missing link to her mission on getting back on top of her game. They needed each other, it was odd but it was beautiful and there was no way on God’s little green earth that Evie was going to let him down this coming Sunday. I mean just look at his little face, just staring back at her begging her to find the switch inside herself and flick it the fuck back on. Devin needed Evie at her absolute best and he was determined to do everything in his power to bring her back.
“I’ll see you Sunday; make sure your eyes are on my back and not watching my arse.”
Evie broke the silence with a joke, before she winked at him again Devin just poked his tongue out before pointing his right index finger down his throat as if he was going to be sick. They had toyed with the Sin City Wrestling fans with their cute nicknames but other than that, this was the beginning of a grand friendship. That would hopefully be topped off with the title of Mr and Ms Blast from the Past 2018 it was basically the Sin City edition of prom king and prom queen, except only better. The two didn’t share a goodbye as they just waved at their screen sarcastically before they terminated the FaceTime call.
The Aussie put her phone back down to her side, before she glanced at her watch she still had four hours left of this flight and there wasn’t enough time in the world to sort out her thoughts. Looking out the window all she could see was glare of the sun beaming off into the distance, which drew her mind back to the day she was freed from darkness. The brightness of the sun burned at her eyes then as it burned at her eyes now, she was blinded, dazed and confused and she only had six days left on her side to sort her shit out. Which Evie would be turning up to Climax Control? The Wolf? The Shepard? Or, alternatively, the one that was currently plaguing her, the vulnerable little mess that those twenty-six days turned her into. Only time would tell, as for right now Evie was going to pass it by shutting her eyes and falling asleep.
##
Hammersmith Bridge – West London.
It was a cool afternoon in London, I mean the locals probably wouldn’t have agreed but to Evie it was brisk. The breeze was icy enough for her to have a large black coat wrapped around her. This small chunky green bridge wasn’t known to many as a tourist attraction but Evie had found herself standing in the middle of the pedestrian walkway, her elbows pressed against the steel as she stared off into the distance. The River Thames was still bustling with life as competitive rowers, rowed up and down this stretch of the Thames while small boats continued to motor along. Regardless of the cars, travelling between Hammersmith and Fulham it was almost peaceful. Evie could feel the cars drive past her as the whipping of wind from their movements clapped her on the back but still her green eyes just danced with the reflections on the river. She was a million miles away from home, and as of right now he mind wasn’t with her body.
She watched as families walked along the riverbank enjoying their time together. Children swinging from their parent’s hands, giggling and screaming with happiness. It was a vision all too sweet that was enough to snap her back into reality. What was she doing here? She had promised her Fiancé that she wouldn’t visit the old places she used to haunt and yet her she was, overlooking a familiar place from her past. If he had known she was here, he probably would have put up more of a fight to keep her in the States. She brought her hands together and interlocked her fingers as she leant into the handrail, looking down into the murky water thinking off all the times she had been in this spot before. However, as busy as everyone seemed to be around her Evie looked as if she wasn’t in any rush.
“I never knew… I raised a fucking moron.”
His voice was deep, sinister and commanding as the unknown soul approached the young Australian from behind. He was dressed from top to tail in all black, with a large black leather jacket, keeping him warm. He didn’t linger behind her, as he quickly pressed himself against her back, causing Evie to stand up straight. She didn’t have the nerve to look back, there was a pained look across her face one that pleaded for her to run but she couldn’t.
“What did I tell you about coming back here? What didn’t you process about the threats I made?”
His voice was powerful, yet quiet, as he didn’t want to alert anyone that was passing by. He had his right hand raised, to the middle of her spine it was concealed by his thick leather jacket but a small handgun was pushing into the back of Evie’s trench coat.
“What can I say? I’m bad at taking directions.”
She wanted to look over her right shoulder, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn her neck. There was very few in this world that provoked this reaction out of her, and here she was standing in the middle of the Hammersmith bridge in a cloud of fear.
“You think this is funny?”
He was now looking out towards the River, probably thinking how easy it would be to end her life right here and right now before dumping her body into the Thames never to be seen again but he entertained her sassy attitude.
“I find it fucking hilarious.”
Evie bit back her tone was vicious, snake like as she gritted her teeth. She could feel him press the barrel of the gun into her back. He was using his full force for her to feel the round imprint of the gun through her thick layers. This wasn’t surprising, she knew exactly who was standing behind her she had known for a while. Evie was just here to double check her intuition.
“Oh you disappoint me.”
Those words brought a smile to her face, she might have feared the man that was standing behind he but she knew that history tarnished those statements. Evie used to be his golden student, the one he would trust no matter what, his prized jewel in his crown full of thieves. Now he acted as if he didn’t need her as if she was last night’s scraps. It was all too amusing to the young Australian who just exhaled deeply before snapping back.
“I’ll be sure to add your name to the list of others.”
Evie looked out towards the city of London, thinking of the people she had disappointed. It was a long list, she was going to need a while if she wanted to picture them all one by one, but the man behind her obviously didn’t have time for a trip down memory lane.
“You think it’s amusing to be this stupid?”
He brought his left hand up to the side of her head and he pushed his index finger into the side of her head. Not once did Evie lose focus of the River in front of her, she wasn’t game to turn around and confirm her suspicions just yet. As much as he scared her, she was still going test the waters before coming face to face with the man that ruined her life.
“Why are you here?”
He barked at her like a dog, demanding an answer. He wasn’t the type of man that would wait for long as she proceeded to push the gun into her spine a little harder. Evie bite her tongue, she had a game plan it wasn’t a very smart one but she had a reason for being here tonight. This whole trip to London wasn’t just some ploy.
“Answer me?”
Her lack of response was angering him, he didn’t like silence. In his world, no one ever left a commanded unanswered. He was the top dog, the leader of the pack, the master. The rulebook and Evie was just a player in his game, but she was finally playing back daring to make her own moves.
“I want to know why?”
He brought his head to the side of her, but Evie’s eye never shifted from the view in front of her. His voice drilled into her ear replaying on her mind repeatedly. It was almost comedic knowing that he was somewhat begging her for her reason for being in London, as if he owned these streets. Evie knew it was a ballsy move to come back here, but it was one she had to make
“Why?”
He pressed for an answer once more, this time his left hand coming up to cup the back of her neck. He was trying to pin down her pressure points, to drive his point home that he didn’t have all day to stand out in the middle of the afternoon looking for answers. Evie just rubbed her lips together, letting her lipstick moisten her lips before she spoke.
“Why, you want to know why? Why… I would ever mourn for you after everything you have done to me.”
Her white teeth were on display like a wolf, sizing up her next meal. A snarl on her face, expressed it all she was riddled with pain for this man, but for some reason she couldn’t work out why she let him control him they way that he did. Well she knew why, but she didn’t want to lead on to him that she knew who he was.
“And what was your conclusion?”
He almost chuckled as he spoke; still thinking that he was holding the keys to this game. However, Evie was a bitch after all and she was going to milk this for all that it was worth. As she felt his left hand slid down her back, she cringed at the thought of his hands on her body. This could go on all night as they were both as stubborn as each other, but Evie was going to make him work for it.
“That I’m fucking stupid.”
She could feel the heat from his breath on the back of her neck, as she kept her eyes on the city in front of her. Meanwhile she felt the gun slap into her back once more. He was getting tired of the games. He wanted to prove his dominance but something was holding him back. Evie knew that if anyone else had given him this much cheek they would have been in the Thames by now but here she was still living and breathing. She heard a sigh escape his lips in frustration as he finally spoke.
“I don’t have time for your games; you have twenty-four hours to leave this city.”
The gun dropped from her back as he drew his hands back down to his side. This brought a smile across her face, she knew that he still cared for her regardless of all the terrible things he had done to her or arranged for her. The fact that he was letting her go right now was proof that he still needed her, or otherwise they still wouldn’t be trapped in this conversation.
“Or what?”
She was dancing with danger as she toyed with him, as if she was coaching his next words out of his mouth. Evie wanted to see what level he would go to, to have her out of his life. She was baiting him and for once in his life, he couldn’t see it. Evie felt the man behind her step to the side, but his head tucked into the side of her face so he could speak to her softly.
“Or your fancy fucking Fiancé will have something to mourn over.”
Evie green eyes grew wide, she had no idea how he knew about her Mundo. No one knew only herself and him. Yet here he was standing behind her with Intel on this secret. It rocked her but she couldn’t show any signs on her face, but he knew that he a riled her up. He knew that he had gotten under her skin. If this was, a game of one up, he was defiantly miles ahead. There was only two people on this earth that Evie would literally do anything for and that was her best friend Calista and her man. Even though the unknown male hadn’t threatened either of them this didn’t sit well with her, it was her lively hood on the line. A life that she intended on living out with her soon to be husband.
“How did you?”
He could tell by her tone that she was shocked, but he could also tell that she wasn’t surprised that he had once again threatened her life. It was almost a daily occurrence for him to want her gone. The smile of success was beaming on his face as he brought his lips right next to her left ear so he could speak deeply into it.
“A father always knows.”
Evie froze, she knew it was him all along but he had finally admitted it. Her father didn’t wait around for her reaction he just quickly took his leave from the Hammersmith Bridge leaving his daughter to look out into the waiting night unable to move. She was too busy processing everything that had ever happened in her life and finally she was able to lay to rest the nagging question of who was behind it all. It was her father, her loving doting father that had brought her into this world of darkness only to turn against her in an instant and for what? For power. Evie took a long hard look off into the distance before she lowered her head the urge to scream was crippling her. As her gums ached from the pressure of her jaw being clenched tightly. Her knuckles were white as they formed fists by her side. The maker of her madness finally had a face, now what would she do with this information, next?
##
Somewhere fancy - London.
It had been a few days since her encounter with her father but Evie refused to leave the United Kingdom. It was the least she could do to stick the middle finger up to her father who wanted nothing to do with her for the time being. It was funny, how he played her as a yo-yo using her for her skills when it only suited himself. Only to cast her out once he was done with her. The young Australian had known for a while that her father was still alive she just didn’t realise that he would be the cause of all her misery.
Evie had stayed true to her promise to her Mundo, telling him of the interaction soon after it happened. She needed to get it all off her chest, he had begged for her to return home but he knew she was just as stubborn. That’s why he took matters into his own hands and made his way to her.
He had taken her by surprise meeting up with her in Kensington, where her hotel was. Shocking her with a large bouquet of long stemmed red roses and dinner reservations at a private restaurant over looking the Tower Bridge. So there they were sitting across a glass round table from one another deep in conversation.
“You didn’t have to come all they way here, I’m a big girl, I can look after myself.”
He watched her as she spoke making sure she knew he had his full attention, as Evie took a bite of meal she couldn’t help but feel like a little girl about to get in trouble. Mundo looked at her with a protective stare, he knew she would end up getting into trouble coming here alone and yet he knew she still needed to test the water. Evie had unfinished business in her past and he was a fool to think that she would just let it be. She was a intense woman who refused to let a task go unfinished.
“I know.”
His voice was clear and direct, hoping to give Evie some clearance on not being in trouble. It wasn’t like he was her keeper, it was just she knew that he had warned her about the possible outcome. It was an I told you so moment, but Mundo was a smart enough man not to utter those words. After all he valued his life.
“I just figured I would surprise you, my work in the States was done... plus this gives me the chance to finally take you ring shopping.”
She looked up at him, redirecting her gaze from her meal. It wasn’t until he heard her cutlery hitting the pristine white plate her steak was sitting on, that it registered that he had said something wrong. Evie was at a loss of words as she stared down the man she loved, completely taken off guard. Twice in the space of four days it was all a bit too much for the Aussie to handle.
“I thought we decided against rings?”
It wasn’t that she was against the thought of the rings to show off their love and dedication. It was just with the lives they lived, they had both decided that it wasn’t the right time to be screaming their union at the top of their lungs. He was a super successful businessman who had never mentioned her to anyone in his life, not because he was ashamed but because his private life was private. It was his domain, his escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Evie was his escape from everything that was stressful or hard so, the thought of bringing her into his spotlight was enough to make her feel uneasy. Mundo respected her decision to stay in the dark. Evie on the other hand couldn’t risk his life by bringing him into the fold of the life she once had lived, not right now while there was still people out their hunting her.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Looking over towards her, he reached across the table to hold her left hand. Running his fingers over her ring finger, feeling disgusted in the pit of his stomach that he had left it bare for so long. Evie deserved the best and in his mind, right now he wasn’t delivering.
“What about?”
Before she could continue he had brought his right hand up, flagging her down stopping her mid sentence.
“I don’t care, for any obstacle you try and put in front of this. I’m ready, whenever you are, my love.”
Evie’s green eyes were dancing with his clear blue eyes as he watched her like a hawk. This was new to her, was she ready to have him on display for the rest of the world? Was he ready to debut her into his world? For so long it had just been the two of them, now the thought of the public being able to weigh in on them was playing on her mind. Evie watched as her Mundo smiled towards her, his toothy smirk that was enough to melt the whole Antarctic. He himself could quite easily be the cause of global warming. It was that pure smile that lead to her final answer.
“Well, I don’t see any harm in looking?”
She was playing it off cool, she didn’t want him to know what she was a puddle of emotions inside. As soon as those words escaped her lips, he brought her left hand up to his lips kissing her ring finger softly. All the while his gaze never left hers. This was a big step for them both, but it was one they were going to take together. As he held her hand across the table, her Apple Watch started to vibrate capturing his attention as the name “Ben Jordan” flashed up on the screen. His eyes lifted back up to meet Evie’s and with a smirk on his face.
“Still helping the strays I see?”
Evie just ignored the call and kept her focus on her Mundo, there was a history there that they hadn’t overly spoken about. Mundo was able to forgive Evie over the solo kiss she shared with Ben years ago but he wasn’t so forgiving when it came to Ben.
“You two should really get to know each other, some day.”
The look on his face said it all, it was never goi g to happen but right now they didn’t have time for dramatics. They only had time for one another. The two continued to dine in the luxurious restaurant that over looked the city, the glittering lights as their backdrop providing the most romantic touch to their very special night. This wasn’t the life she was used to growing up, but it was definitely the life she could very well grow to adore.
##
Well here we go, the first singles match I have had since my Sin City Wrestling return happens this Sunday night at Climax Control. To say I’m a little nervous would be an understatement, as it seems that I have had to rely on my tag team partner for this whole tournament. No doubt Courtney will use this against me, she will say that I am the dead weight in this team. However this week we get to go toe to toe just the two of us.
She is currently undefeated, I know what that is like. I know the pressure that comes with such responsibility. I know what’s it’s like to have that pressure on your shoulders. I just hope that like all rookies this Sunday night she compresses under the pressure, and learns the hard way that even the greatest runs can turn on you and come to an end.
