Joker by Andi Rhodes

Chapter Nineteen

^{Now it’s time to lay some roots.}

Riley

“So… what do you think?”

I ignore Fabian’s question and roam my eyes over the gym for a final time before I make a decision. It’s strange considering a new gym. A new trainer. Energie America was the gym my father trained in and the only one I’ve known.

But it’s time for a new life. A time to plant roots of my own. After this brief sabbatical, it’s become clear that boxing is who I am and I’ll never be able to quit. My hands itch to feel the leather of the bag against my knuckles and my mind takes on a brutal concentration just spotting the gym’s ring.

This is who I am, and I’ll never walk away. But I don’t think I could ever walk away from Joker either.

Oregon is who I am. The Soulless Kings. Joker.

I love the man. I couldn’t sleep last night while my mind fought the sensation, but as I came to accept it, my body melted into the bed and I felt at peace. At home.

Now it’s time to lay some roots. And I truly think my dad would be proud of me.

“It’s nice,” I say, nodding and not meeting my new trainer’s eyes. I peel my gaze away from the ring and meet his gaze before holding out my hand. “I’m in.”

A smile blooms on his face and he jovially shakes my hand. I’m as high a profile fighter as he’s ever seen and probably ever going to see, so I’m sure I’ve just made his fucking year. He’s no Damian, but his gym has a good soul. I’ve spotted three boxers so far with exceptional form, so I have a good feeling about Fabian.

“There’s a condition, though.”

“What’s that?” he asks, his smile faltering.

“I won’t be able to start training right away. It’ll probably be a few weeks, enough time for me to get settled.”

As far as Fabian knows, I’m not even officially here yet. Just visiting to scope things out before I commit. Little does he know, I have bigger plans in store for the coming days.

He nods, but his eyebrows pinch like he knows I’m lying.

“I should warn you, Riley. We have a strict policy about fighting outside the gym.”

I pause for a minute, staring at him. How the fuck did he know?

He sighs. “So who told you about the underground club?”

I keep my face blank but I’m tense. Word must be spreading already and Joker hasn’t even called the meeting with the rest of the club.

Joker and I have figured out the perfect opportunity to draw the stalker out of whatever rat hole he’s been hiding in. There’s an unofficial light-on-the-rules, no gloves, boxing ring in Portland that’s more like a fight club. They have men and women and apparently it’s a pretty big deal, although it’s supposed to be kept hushed. They have a tournament next week that I’m being entered in as soon as Joker gets the green light from the rest of the guys.

I have a feeling they’re going to be happy to okay it. The entrees for the tournament are only known by the coordinators, so I’ll have no idea who my opponents are. I have zero worries, but with it being no gloves, I’m bound to get hurt. I’m sure the Soulless Kings will take great joy in that. Why they voted to keep me around at all is beyond me.

They’ll be standing guard during the tournament, watching for anyone in the crowd who looks threatening. After my fight, I’ll conveniently slip off, seemingly alone, and give the stalker an opportunity too good to pass up.

And then we’ll kill the son of a bitch and I’ll move on with my life. Here.

“Let me guess,” he says when I don’t answer. He nods toward the gym door. “The entourage outside tipped you off.”

“How did you—”

“The Soulless Kings aren’t a secret around here, Riley. They’re perfectly fine making themselves known. They have their hands in pretty much everyone’s pocket, including the club they’re about to have you fight in.”

He takes a breath and flicks his gaze between the door and me. “Look, I’m excited to have you here. Hell, we all are.” He gestures around the gym. “You’re not officially fighting for me, so whatever you do before your first day here is inconsequential. But after you’re here…”

“I got it,” I say with a nod. “I’m well aware of the rules.”

He stares at me, then breaks his gaze to look towards his office. “Okay. Let’s go over your contract then, shall we?”

I fall into step behind him and we sit in his office for a half hour, going over the details of the league I’ll be joining and Fabian’s cut. It’s a fair deal. Better than I was getting with Damian, even. Fabian is asking for eight percent while Damian took eleven, but I suspect there’s a catch. I’ll be starting over in a new league, so the fights I get are bound to pay less at first.

I have no problem working my way up.

I sign my name at the bottom of the stack of papers that could be a book and stand. We shake hands one last time, and I make my way to the office door. Before I open it, he calls my name to stop me.

“Yes?” I ask, turning to look at him.

“Be careful with those guys out there, all right? They’re dangerous and not a crowd you want to get caught up in.”

You have no idea.

“I’ll be careful, Coach.”

I turn and walk from his office, my feet point toward the front entrance. Before I get there, I have a change of heart. There’s a gnawing in my gut that won’t seem to go away, and I suspect it won’t until I make peace with it.

I stride to the bathroom and lock the door behind me. Pulling out my disposable cell phone, I take a deep breath. I pull up the number I’ve been neglecting to dial and press the call button before I can chicken out.

It rings.

And rings.

Then a click.

“Hello?”

My breath catches in my throat.

“Hello?” Damian reiterates in a higher-pitched tone.

I clear my throat. “Hey, Damian.”

“Riles?” His voice is still in a higher pitch. “Is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Listen, I know I should’ve called a hell of a lot sooner.”

“You’re damn right you should’ve called. Do you have any fucking idea how big of an idiot I look? I cancelled two of your fights and had to tell everyone you were on leave. Come to find out, you’re not even in the damn state and—”

“Wait, how did you know that?”

There’s a pause. “Your letter was postmarked in Oregon, Riles. It wasn’t hard to figure out.”

“What letter?” I ask, my eyes closing. I already know who sent it. “What did it say?”

Damian is silent, probably confused.

“Damian, whoever sent you that letter, it wasn’t me. It was the same guy who sent me all that other shit. That’s why I’m here. After Kai…”

“Shit,” Damian says on a breath. “I know that’s why you left, Riles. I get it, I really do. But not even saying goodbye after everything we’ve--”

“I know… It was shitty, and I’m sorry. Truly, I am. But right now, I really need to know what was in that later. Please, Damian.”

“It was on an Oregon postcard, a picture of ocean waves and trees and shit. Hold on, let me find it.” There’s some ruffling and after a minute Damian comes back on the line. “‘Kay, I’ve got it. It says, ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t come back. Thank you for the memories. Riles’.”

“Riles,” I say, my tone sharp. “The guy signed off with that?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Because you’re the only one who calls me by that name.”

There’s static on the other end of the phone, and I think I’ve lost Damian until he mutters. “Shit. How would he know that?”

“He knows me.”

I wasn’t sure until now, but it’s the most plausible explanation I can come up with. I run through my head all the people who are around Damian and me together. There’s our crew, the other fighters, reporters maybe. Hell, it could be the damn water boy for all I know.

But it has to be one of them.

“You think he’s been snooping around?”

“I’m not sure… I’m almost positive he’s here now, but keep an eye out, okay?”

“Yeah, you too. Fuck, I really didn’t know it was this serious.”

“I know. Neither did I.” I flick my gaze toward the locked bathroom door. “Have you noticed anyone disappearing on you since I left? Anyone suddenly not around?”

Damian laughs and it’s filled with contempt. “Are you kidding? I lost my best fighter. Some of the trainees were here just to be in the same gym as you. So, yeah, people have left.”

“Fuck.” I press a hand to my forehead. “Leah.”

“Yep, she’s gone. Fucking tears in her eyes when she found out you’d vanished. She looked up to you.”

“I know, I know. I fucked up. I’ll give her a call after I hang up with you. But more importantly, I really need you to think hard. Was there anyone on my crew specifically who stopped showing up? Maybe someone who would’ve gone unnoticed?”

Damian’s silent while he thinks.

“Lucas is gone,” he finally says.

“Lucas?”

“Yeah, Lucas, the maintenance guy. He wasn’t exactly on your crew, but he’s been in the gym plenty of times while you’ve been here. He cleans up the mats when you’re done.”

“Lucas.” My eyes go wide. “He would’ve been close enough to know you call me Riles.”

“I’m pretty sure of it.”

“When did he stop showing up?”

“I’m not certain, but I think when you left. I don’t know. To be honest, I was too pissed off to remember when exactly everyone took off.”

“Can you check when the last time he got a paycheck was? Isn’t there like a time stamp or—”

“He was paid under the table.”

Of course he was.

I roll my eyes. “Can you send me all the information you have on him? Even if it’s just a full name?”

“You bet. Already looking it up.”

My lips tug into a tiny smile. “Thanks, Damian.”

“You’re welcome, Riles. And listen, I’m pissed as hell at you, but I love you. You’re family. You know that.”

“I do know that, and I love you too.”

There’s a pause for a minute and then an incoming text comes through. It’s Damian with a name and address. Lucas Meadows. 1201 S Barkley. I’m guessing the address won’t do much for me now. I imagine Mr. Meadows won’t be there. He’s too busy in Oregon fucking terrorizing me.

But I’ve got you now, you son of a bitch.

“Are you planning on coming back? Because, seriously, I don’t know what you were thinking. You have a family full of badasses here. I can hold my own. You never needed to run.”

“You’re probably right… but.” I brace myself, not knowing how he’s going to take this. “I’ve found family here, too. Another family of badasses, and I feel confident for the first time in months with them. I’m happy here… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Damian sighs. “Do you know what your dad made me promise before he died?”

I flinch. “What?”

“The night of your first fight when you were sixteen, and I was still a fighter, we sat in a bar until it was over. He couldn’t bring himself to watch. We had a few drinks and he did nothing but talk about how damn scared he was of you following in his footsteps. And how simultaneously proud he was of you.”

My eyes burn and my throat shrinks.

“That night he made me promise that if anything happened to him, I would take care of you.”

“Fuck,” I say. “I shouldn’t have—”

“I’m not finished.”

I close my mouth, grateful he cut me off before the tears could fall. They’re hanging in my eyes by a thread.

“He didn’t mean protect you. He knew you could take care of yourself. But you’re so fucking stubborn. He was certain you’d run wild, making careless mistakes, taking hits you shouldn’t, just like he had. It’s the reason I took you on as a fighter when I became a coach. You needed someone to guide you, but you know what?”

“What?”

“You don’t anymore. If your dad could see you today, he’d be so fucking proud. He’d be happy for you. He would’ve wanted you to find your own place in this world. And so do I.”

A tear drips onto my cheek, and I close my eyes.

“You’re free, Black Bird. Fly high… But you better come visit.”

I laugh, opening my eyes and wiping my cheeks. I suck a deep breath in through my nose and blink away the useless tears.

“Thanks, Damian… I will.”

“Take care, Kiddo.”

There’s a click and I pull my phone away from my ear to see Damian hung up. I give myself a minute to gain my composure and then find Leah’s number in my contacts.

The phone rings three times before she picks up.

“Hello?” she says, sounding confused. Probably because she doesn’t recognize the number.

“Hey, Leah. It’s Riley.”

Silence.

“Listen, I uh. I owe you an apology. I didn’t say goodbye to you before I left, and—”

“Why didn’t you?” Her tone is flat, angry.

Saw that coming.

“To be honest, I was scared. I didn’t say goodbye to anyone. This… this freak has been stalking me. He threatened everyone I was close to, and I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. That’s why I—”

“Is he the one who sent you the flowers?”

The image of bloody roses pops into my head.

“Yes, among other things.”

“Shit… I’m so sorry, Riley. You must have been terrified.”

“Still am, to tell you the truth.” I laugh but there’s a clear nervous edge to it. “He followed me up here.”

“Oh wow… I guess that’s kind of a relief though, huh? Now your friends are safe.”

“Exactly. I’m glad you’re safe, Leah. He could’ve just as easily come after you. As selfish as it was, I’m glad I left.”

I mean it when I say he could’ve gone after her. I don’t have a clue why he didn’t, unless he was just hung up on my success. Leah is a knockout. Blonde, fit but curvy. It’s too bad none of that helps her boxing, but she’s a much better candidate for stalking.

Or maybe that’s the self-esteem issue talking. Joker likes to remind me of it.

“Did you really not say goodbye to anyone? Not even Damian or Kai?”

“No. Kai was unconscious in a hospital after…” I breathe and dismiss what I was about to say. “I didn’t say goodbye to either in person. Kai, I left a letter by his hospital bed and Damian, I didn’t think would understand.”

“At least Kai got the letter.”

There’s that flat, angry tone again. I don’t respond and I hear a deep breath on the other end of the line like Leah is trying to compose herself.

“Where are you, anyway?”

“Oregon. I travelled until I found a place that felt like home.”

Well, not exactly.

“So I guess that means you’re staying.”

“Yeah, I am. I’m really happy here, Leah.”

“That’s great,” she says unconvincingly. “Are you still going to box?”

“Actually, I’m in a new gym right now. Just signed the contract.” I stare at the bathroom door and chuckle. “It’s got kind of a funny name, ‘Fitness on Fire’, and it sure as hell isn’t Energie America, but it’s all right. The coach seems nice.”

“That’s awesome for you.” Finally, there’s some compassion in her tone. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”

I furrow my brow but then realize she’s probably talking about when I visit, which I will do. “I hope so.”

“Thank you for calling, Riley. You have no idea how much it means to me.”

I frown with guilt but try not to let it get to me. There are a lot more people to call, so I’ll need to spread the guilt out a little.

“Take care, Leah.”

I click off then check myself out in the mirror. My eyes are a little red, but there’s no other indication I’ve been crying. I splash water on my face then dry off before heading out of the bathroom, and then the gym. I’ll make my other calls later. Right now I’ve got some bikers waiting for me outside.

I throw open the door to the gym and am met with a devilish smile, waiting for me on a Harley.

“So?” Joker asks when I step up to the bike. We’re surrounded on both sides by members of the Soulless Kings. Most glare, but when I glance at Joker’s best friend, Greaser, he winks.

“So,” I say, turning back to Joker and smiling. “It’s official. I’m now a boxer of Fitness on Fire and will be training under Fabian Marquez in a few weeks.”

“Hell yeah, Black Bird,” Greaser says. I turn his way to see his encouraging smile, and it’s a little confusing. I assumed he hated me. I scan the rest of the prying eyes and see mostly glares, but gleams of respect shine in a few.

“Proud of you, babe,” Joker says, pulling my attention back to him. He leans in and kisses me, and I wrap my hands around his neck and kiss him back, hard. Trying to tell him what I can’t get out with words. I love you.

When our kiss breaks, I and feel eyes burning into me. I glance at Greaser again, and he’s giving me a shit-eating grin.

“Nice,” he says.

My cheeks heat and Joker flips Greaser off before taking my face in his hands.

“You ready to ride?”

I feel eyes burning into me, but this time it feels like it’s from farther away. I train my gaze across the street, scanning the vehicles parked on the side. I don’t see anyone inside them, but my senses pick up what my eyes can’t.

Or maybe I’m just paranoid.

“Listen, I have some things to tell you when we get back,” I say to Joker, meeting his eyes. “The stalker definitely knows me.”

Joker’s head tilts. “How do you—”

“I’ll explain when we get back to the clubhouse.” I kiss Joker on the lips then throw my leg over his bike and wrap my arms around his torso.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.”