"So here’s what’s happened…"
It’s funny how quickly things escalate in this business. One minute, you’re celebrating a hard-fought win against Kris in what felt like a defining moment, and the next, you’re thrown headfirst into utter chaos.
That match with Kris? It wasn’t just any match. It was a reminder that I could hang with the best SCW had to offer, and damn it, I proved that. But as the confetti settled and the adrenaline faded, I didn’t have time to bask in the moment because life had other plans.
It started innocently enough—or as innocent as it gets in SCW. I was walking backstage when I saw Logan Hunter doing what Logan Hunter does best—being an absolute bellend. This asshole hadn’t even been here long enough for cuppa and he decides that he is going to attack Caleb Storms. He had Caleb down on the ground, beating the hell out of him like it was some sort of sick performance. And of course, right by his side was his ever-so-faithful twat of a girlfriend, Brooke Shields.
No, not that Brooke Shields, though let’s be honest, the comparisons write themselves, and trust me, she hates them. Poor thing. So sad....
ANYWAY, there’s Logan, reveling in his brutality, and something inside me just snapped. I didn’t think twice—I stormed in, grabbed Logan, and yanked him off Caleb. It wasn’t heroic or noble; it was instinct. I wasn’t about to let him carry on like that. But little did I know, that one act would spark what feels like a never-ending war between us.
From that moment on, Logan and I have been at each other’s throats. He’d try something shady, and I’d be there to shut it down. I’d be walking backstage, and the next thing I knew, we were throwing punches like it was an unsanctioned brawl. Climax Control became less about matches and more about avoiding Logan—or, let’s be honest, hunting him down before he could get to me.
And then there was the last Climax Control before Inception. The moment when things finally boiled over. I should’ve seen it coming. I should’ve known Logan couldn’t resist taking things to a whole new level. But I wasn’t prepared for what happened that night.
I was heading out to my car, tired, ready to call it a night and just waiting for Alexandra when....when they jumped me. Logan, Brooke, and whatever twisted sense of satisfaction fuels their sorry excuse for a relationship. They got me down, wrapped a chain around my feet, and then—because why not—they attached that chain to a bloody motorcycle.
Next thing I knew, I was being dragged across the parking lot like some sort of trophy. The gravel tore at my jeans, my boots scraped against the ground, and if it weren’t for the leather jacket I was wearing, I’d probably still be in the hospital. The jacket saved me from worse damage, but it didn’t save me from the humiliation.
That’s what Logan wanted, wasn’t it? To humiliate me. To make me feel powerless. To send some sort of twisted message. Well, message received.
But here’s the thing Logan doesn’t understand. Dragging me across a parking lot doesn’t make me afraid of him. It doesn’t make me want to run or hide. If anything, it’s done the exact opposite.
Because now? Now it’s personal.
The medics worked hurriedly around him, their hands moving with the kind of practiced precision reserved for emergencies. LJ Kasey sat slouched on a steel chair in the medical area backstage, his face a mask of pain and simmering fury. His leather jacket, now torn and scuffed from the assault, hung off one shoulder, while his jeans were ripped at the knees, exposing raw, scraped skin. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead, trailing down the side of his face.
“You need to go to the hospital,” one of the medics insisted, his tone firm but not unkind.
LJ shot him a glare, his lips curling into a defiant sneer. “I don’t need a bloody hospital. I’m fine.”
“Fine?” The other medic raised an eyebrow. “You were just dragged across a parking lot by a chain attached to a motorcycle. You could have internal damage. Broken bones. God knows what else—”
“I said I’m fine,” LJ snapped, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, and pointed a bloodied hand toward the medics. “Just patch me up. Stitch me if you have to, but I’m not going anywhere.”
The medics exchanged uneasy glances but stepped back slightly, clearly aware they weren’t going to win this argument.
Nearby, Alexandra Callaway stood with her arms crossed, her expression a mixture of worry and fury. Her dark eyes narrowed as she watched LJ stubbornly wave off the medics, her jaw tightening. She had been there with him every step of the way, standing by his side through every run-in with Logan Hunter and his ever-present girlfriend, Brooke Shields. But tonight, Logan and Brooke had struck when Ally wasn’t there to back him up, and that fact burned hotter than anything else.
“You’re so damn stubborn,” Ally said finally, her voice low and sharp as she stepped closer to him. “I told you to watch your back. I told you they’d pull something like this the second I wasn’t there.”
LJ sighed, dragging a hand through his sweat-matted hair. “It’s not your fault, Angel. You’ve been right there with me this whole time. This? This was on Logan. And trust me, he’s going to pay for it.”
Her arms dropped to her sides, fists clenched. “They think they’re clever, attacking you like that. Brooke’s just as much of a coward as Logan. I swear, the next time I see her—”
“You’ll get your chance,” LJ interrupted, his voice firm but steady. “But first, I’ve got to deal with him.”
As if on cue, the sound of a camera crew approaching broke the tension. The bright red light of the recording equipment flickered on, signaling that the entire exchange was now live for the world to see. LJ straightened in his seat, the defiance in his eyes hardening into something colder, more focused.
He stared directly into the camera, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. “Logan Hunter,” he began, his accent sharper than usual, each word laced with venom. “You think you’ve got the upper hand, don’t you? Dragging me around the parking lot like some bloody trophy. You think that makes you tough? Nah, mate, it just proves what I already knew—you’re a coward. A snake. A bloody joke.”
Ally stepped behind him, her arms crossed once more as she watched him speak, nodding silently at every word.
“You couldn’t fight me face-to-face,” LJ continued, his voice rising slightly, the anger boiling closer to the surface. “So you had to jump me. You and your little twat of a girlfriend—yeah, I said it, Brooke. Twat. What are you going to do about it? Nothing, because you’re just as pathetic as he is.”
The intensity in his tone made the air in the room feel heavier, each word landing like a punch. LJ leaned forward again, his elbows on his knees, his fists clenched tightly together.
“But here’s the thing, Logan,” he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “You’ve crossed a line you can’t uncross. You’ve made this personal. And at Inception, we’re not having a match. Nah. What we’re going to have is a knockdown, drag-out brawl. And I’m taking you to the woodshed, mate. I’m going to beat your ass like your mama should’ve.”
The camera zoomed in on his face, capturing every ounce of the raw emotion etched into his features. Ally stood silently behind him, her expression mirroring the fury in his voice.
“So here’s how it’s going to go,” LJ continued, his voice now filled with cold, unrelenting resolve. “At Inception, in Las Vegas, it’s going to be No Disqualifications. No rules. No mercy. And just to make sure you can’t run when I’m done with you, it’s going to be Falls Count Anywhere. That means the ring, the ramp, the parking lot—you name it. Hell, I’ll pin you in the bloody desert if I have to. And, bruv...I am going to make you bleed.”
He stood suddenly, brushing off the medics and shrugging his tattered jacket back over his shoulders. His gaze never left the camera as he delivered his final words.
“Come hell or high water, Logan, I’m walking out of Inception the winner. And you? You’re walking out in a big bloody mess and torn to pieces. I’ll see you in Vegas, sunshine.”
Without another word, LJ stormed off, his boots echoing loudly on the concrete floor. Ally followed closely behind, her expression unreadable but her fists still clenched tightly at her sides. The camera lingered on the empty chair, the medics frozen in uneasy silence, before the scene finally faded to black.
The camera crew dispersed, their murmurs fading into the background as LJ and Ally made their way down the corridor. Every step LJ took sent a jolt of pain shooting up his legs, but he didn’t falter. Not now. Not when Logan Hunter was still out there somewhere, likely smirking to himself and thinking he’d won this round.
Ally walked beside him, her silence deafening. LJ could feel the storm brewing just beneath her calm exterior, the fire in her eyes unmistakable. She’d been his rock through all of this, but tonight, the fury radiating off her was almost palpable.
Finally, she broke the silence. “Are you even going to make it to Inception in one piece?”
He glanced sideways at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his bruised lips. “I’ve been through worse.”
“That’s not the point,” she snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel. “Logan doesn’t fight fair, LJ. You know that better than anyone. And now he’s got Brooke egging him on every step of the way. You think he’s going to stop at dragging you across a parking lot? What happens when he escalates again? You can’t keep playing the hero. You’re not invincible.”
LJ stopped in his tracks, turning to face her fully. His blue eyes, shadowed with exhaustion and pain, met hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch. “I know I’m not invincible, Ally. Trust me, I feel every bruise, every cut, every damn scrape. But this isn’t about being a hero. It’s about standing up to that bastard and showing him that he can’t break me.”
Her expression softened, just slightly, but the worry in her eyes remained. “I just don’t want to see you hurt worse than you already are.”
He reached out, his hand brushing against hers. “I know. And I appreciate it, Angel. But this is something I have to do. Logan needs to be put in his place, and if I don’t do it, he’s just going to keep running roughshod over everyone else.”
She sighed, her shoulders sagging as some of the tension left her body. “Fine. But if he so much as looks at you wrong again, I’m getting involved. No arguments.”
LJ chuckled, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at the tender muscles in his side. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
They continued down the corridor, the sounds of the arena fading behind them. Outside, the cool night air hit LJ like a welcome reprieve, the sharp sting of it grounding him in the moment. His car was parked just a few feet away, but he hesitated, turning to Ally once more.
“Hey,” he said, his voice softer now. “Thank you. For always having my back.”
She smiled, the fire in her eyes dimming to a warm glow. “Always. Just don’t make me regret it.”
He nodded, opening the car door and sliding in. Ally joined him, and as the engine roared to life, LJ’s mind was already racing ahead to Inception. The bruises and cuts didn’t matter. The pain didn’t matter. All that mattered was making Logan Hunter regret the day he ever decided to cross him.
Because come hell or high water, LJ Kasey wasn’t just fighting to win. He was fighting to make a statement.
And Logan Hunter? He was about to find out exactly what happens when you push the wrong man too far.
Mail Call
It had been nearly a week of private bliss for LJ and Ally in his new Las Vegas apartment. The two had spent time reconnecting and reveling in the calm after months of chaos in LJ’s life. But now, the stillness was interrupted by a dose of reality: mail call day.
LJ walked into the apartment, a small stack of letters in his hands. He dropped them onto the kitchen table with a heavy sigh, the corners of large envelopes peeking out. Ally, sitting on the couch with her feet curled under her, raised an eyebrow at his uncharacteristic lack of enthusiasm.
“What’s all that?” she asked, standing and padding over to the table.
“Just some of the post,” LJ muttered, moving past her to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. He avoided her gaze, keeping his back to her as he twisted the cap off.
Ally’s curiosity got the better of her, and she flipped through the pile. Her eyes widened as she saw the logos on the envelopes: UNLV, USC Gould School of Law, Columbia School of Law, and The University of Texas School of Law. She glanced at him, her mouth slightly open in disbelief.
“LJ,” she began, holding up the envelope from Columbia. “This is huge. Why aren’t you excited about this? You’ve got some of the best law schools in the country wanting you!”
LJ leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. He looked at her with a mix of frustration and resignation. “I don’t know, Ally. I mean... I’m almost 23. I feel like I’ve got roots here. I moved to Vegas to be closer to Miles, and I stayed because I’m finally building something for myself. Now, this?” He gestured to the pile of letters. “It feels like... like it’s pulling me in a direction I’m not sure I want to go.”
Ally walked over to him, placing the envelopes down on the counter and wrapping her arms around his waist. “You applied to these schools for a reason, LJ. What changed?”
He hesitated, then sighed. “I applied to Texas to be closer to you. But now, everything’s different. I’m finally making progress in wrestling. Miles is here. You and I... we’re good. Why would I risk all of that?”
Ally reached up, cupping his face and making him look at her. “LJ, listen to me. You don’t have to decide right this second. And whatever you choose, I’ll be there. If you stay in Vegas, I’ll be here. If you go to Austin or New York or anywhere else, I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth. This isn’t just your journey—it’s ours.”
He searched her eyes, finding nothing but sincerity and love. The weight on his chest lightened, just a little. “You mean that?”
“Every word,” she said firmly. “But you need to do what feels right for you. Not for me, not for Miles, not for anyone else. This is your life, LJ.”
He nodded slowly, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Thanks, angel. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” she whispered, holding him close. For now, the stack of letters remained untouched, a decision waiting for another day. “I cannot believe you applied to UT though.”
LJ sheepishly smiled, “Surprise?”
“A bit, yeah...” Ally looked up at him, “Especially because you practically just moved into this apartment, which isn’t bad. It’s spacious and you seem to be making it a space for you.”
“It’s just a place for me to sleep and hold my stuff though. It’s felt more like home this week than it has any other time...mostly because of you. After everything though, it’s going to take a lot of thinking about. I’ve heard positive things about pro/con lists but it’s not really my style.” LJ shrugs, looking around, “Hell, when I decided to come to Vegas, I flipped a coin and ignored what it said and went anyway.”
“Well this is going to be a bit bigger than a coin flip, I’d think.”
“That it is. How about this? ...we order some pizza, and I’ll let it lull in my brain and we’ll just veg tonight.”
Ally gets up to her tip toes and gives him a quick kiss on the lips “Perfect.”
The late-night quiet in LJ’s apartment was broken only by the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional rustle of wind outside the window. LJ sat on the couch, his fingers drumming lightly on his knee. Alexandra was curled up beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. She’d been telling him about her plans to get Ashlynn settled when she arrived next week, but her words had only half-registered in his mind. He’d been preoccupied, her earlier statement about following him anywhere looping endlessly in his thoughts.
He glanced down at her, watching how her dark hair framed her face, how her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. This was the woman who had stood by him when he felt like the world had written him off. The woman who saw potential in him even when he doubted it himself. And now, she had said she’d follow him anywhere. That wasn’t just a passing comment. It was a promise.
“Ally?” he said softly, his voice tinged with hesitation.
She stirred, lifting her head to look at him. “Hmm? What is it?”
He swallowed hard, searching for the right words. “I… I’ve been thinking about what you said a little earlier. About following me anywhere.”
Her expression softened, and a small smile tugged at her lips. “Yeah? What about it?”
LJ’s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining as he looked down at their joined hands. “It just… it hit me. You didn’t have to say that, but you did. And I don’t think I realized until now just how much that means to me.” He looked up, his blue eyes meeting hers. “Ally, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone… love me like that before. Not like you do.”
Her gaze searched his, her smile growing as she squeezed his hand. “LJ, I’ve always seen who you are. Beyond the wrestler, beyond the doubts you carry. You’re one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. I meant what I said. I’m with you, no matter where life takes us.”
He let out a shaky breath, her words settling in his chest like a warm flame. “You have no idea how much that means to me,” he said. “I… I’ve been so scared of messing this up. Scared that I’d let you down, or that maybe… maybe you’d wake up one day and realize you deserve better than some guy who’s still figuring things out.”
Ally cupped his cheek, tilting his face toward her. “LJ, stop. You’re not just some guy. You’re kind, you’re passionate, and you’ve got a heart bigger than you even realize. Ashlynn sees it. I see it. And I’m not going anywhere.”
He blinked back the sudden sting of emotion in his eyes, a grin breaking through his features. “You really mean that?”
She nodded, her own eyes glistening. “I do.”
LJ pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as though afraid she might disappear. “I love you, Ally,” he whispered into her hair. “And I’m not just saying that because of what you said. I mean it. I love you. And I love Ashlynn. I want you both in my life for as long as you’ll have me.”
Her breath hitched, and when she pulled back to look at him, there were tears streaming down her face. “LJ…” She touched his face, her fingers tracing his jaw. “I love you too. So much.”
He leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that felt like both a promise and a revelation. When they parted, she rested her forehead against his, a soft laugh escaping her lips.
“You’re going to make me cry again when Ashlynn gets here, you know that, right?” she teased.
LJ chuckled, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. “If she’s anything like her mom, she’ll call me out on it too.”
Ally laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth. “Oh, she’s absolutely like me. And she already adores you, you know.”
“Yeah?” LJ said, his grin widening.
“Yeah,” Ally confirmed. “So you better be ready, because you’re stuck with both of us now.”
He tightened his hold on her, his heart swelling with a happiness he hadn’t known he could feel. “Good. Because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
