Page 18 of Hidden Truths

After getting dressed in my suit, I make sure I don’t have a hair out of place. I always keep my hair short, but it’s just long enough right now that it could stick up where I don’t want it to. So, I make sure everything is how I want it. With our fathers, it’s all about putting on a show and making them believe we don’t have anything to lose. That we’re confident as fuck and know we’ll get what the fuck we want no matter the cost to anyone else. It’s how we’ve been raised for the most part. No, my parents didn’t buy into all that shit and have shown Dash and I nothing but love from the second we entered the world. The same with the rest of our siblings. They don’t want us to be fucking robots like the others want. So, it’s all a fucking act and I’m honestly tired of it. I want to be free to do what I want and forget about our fathers and the demands they want to place on our lives.

The second I’m ready to go, I leave my room after grabbing the business plan that’s been resting on my desk. Taking a deep breath, I head out to the living room where the rest of the guys are waiting for me. We all make our way to the door and head out to Fallon’s Land Rover. It’s one of the many vehicles his father has given him since he got his license. All in an attempt to buy him off so he complies with the demands placed on him. None of us talk about anything as we head to tonight’s meeting. It’s buried deep through the tunnels under the mansions we all grew up in. Tonight, we’ll all choose to go in through the tunnels in my home. None of us want to enter the other mansions for any reason.

After Fallon parks in my driveway, we all get out and head for the front door. I open it and a sense of home hits me immediately. It always happens when I come home. Dash feels the same way as he pushes past me with a large smile on his face. We make our way inside to find our parents waiting for us. My mom rushes up to hug Dash and me before stepping back and greeting the rest of the guys.

“Are you boys hungry? I’ve got a ton of food from dinner. I can make you all a plate when you get done with the meeting,” she asks, her voice warm and loving as she looks at the rest of the guys.

“Can we let you know once we’re done with the meetin’, Ma?” I ask her, looking at my dad because I want to get this shit over with.

“Of course. You go take care of business and I’ll be here when you get done,” she says, never losing her smile.

We follow my dad to the door blocking off the tunnel and head down the stone steps. My dad has already turned on the lights so we’re not walking through the dark. It’s creepy as fuck down here despite the lights and I have a feeling that’s how our fathers wanted it to be. Especially Fallon’s and Kash’s fathers. They’re horrible fucking men and I can’t wait to take them the fuck down.

It doesn’t take us long to get through the maze of hallways and come to the open room beneath all of the mansions. We’re in the center from what I understand so there’s no advantage to anyone sitting at the table. That’s the one rule Arabella’s grandparents put in place a long time ago. As my dad takes his seat with the rest of the fathers, we stand against the wall directly in front of the table where our fathers can stare at us. It’s a kind of intimidation tactic that won’t work on me. It never has and I’m not about to let it start now on the most important night of my life. Fuck them all!

“I now call the meeting of The Faction to order,” Mr. Granger states as if he’s truly the head of the table now. “First up we have Dante who wants to bring a business plan to the table. Dante, step forward.”

Stepping forward, I take a deep breath before staring at every member of The Faction before me.

“Gentlemen, tonight I come before you to propose the startin’ of an underground fightin’ ring. There will be a gym, the cage for fights, and even a local company to provide drinks to those not fightin’. We’ll have strict rules in place for everyone who wants to fight about enterin’ the cage after they’ve consumed any alcohol. While I want to give guys, and girls, a place to fight, I don’t want them to lose their lives if it can be helped. I’ve put together a business plan outlinin’ all the numbers and the money we’ll make with this venture if you approve it tonight. I’ve got several guys standin’ ready to get this started,” I tell our fathers as I continue to stare at the men we’ve all grown up with.

I hand over the copies of the business plan that Kash made me and let them look over everything as I remain standing in front of the table. I don’t fidget or anything as all of our fathers take their time going through the business plan. My head is held high and I wait for the outcome of this. It feels as if forever passes before the men put the papers down in front of them and look at me once again.

“I for one appreciate all the time and effort you’ve put into this plan, Dante,” Mr. Hicks says, his voice echoing off the walls of the room we’re in. “This seems to be something you’re very passionate about and I can see where the need would come in. So, I vote to approve Dante’s plan to start this underground fightin’ ring with the gym and everythin’ else outlined in his plan.”

“I agree. Dante has only ever shown this kind of passion about hockey. He’s thrived in that area of his life and will have no problem getting drafted to play on a professional level if that’s the route he chooses to go with his life. I also vote to approve this plan,” my dad says, keeping all emotion out of his voice as he turns to face Fallon’s and Kash’s fathers where they sit at the table.

“While I can see the need for something like this, I’m not sure if this is something we need to approve right now,” Mr. Granger states, his beady eyes focused on me and only me. “We have other plans to put in motion and I don’t believe this will add that much to what we’re trying to accomplish here.”

“I’m torn,” Mr. Richardson says, steepling his fingers in front of him as he looks at the other men sitting with him before turning to focus on me. “Dante, this is something you truly want to do and believe you can make a good amount of money with?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve been thinkin’ of this for a few years now. At the end of the day, I know this will make money and be a valued part of The Faction. It’s not just the money we’ll make from the bets on fight nights. It’s about the money we’ll make from the gym, the alcohol sales, and by charging a cover to get in the door every fight night. Believe it or not, there are a ton of people who watch underground fights. It’s a form of entertainment for them here locally where they don’t have to go to a sports bar or anywhere else outside of town to watch any kind of fights played on TV. They get to see the fighters up close and personal in the underground fighting arena,” I answer him honestly, my voice clear and strong as I look between the four men in front of me.

Mr. Richardson takes in my words and processes them for a few minutes before he starts speaking again. I already know Mr. Granger isn’t going to vote for this to be approved. He doesn’t approve anything we ever bring to the table. That’s just how he’s always been. So, now I’m down to needing an answer from Mr. Richardson. He literally holds everything I want in the palm of his hands.

“I agree with you, Dante. I believe this will be a successful venture with you at the head of it. You have proven yourself over the years as being nothing but loyal to The Faction and I vote to approve your business plan,” he finally states, his voice also echoing off the walls of the meeting room.

I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. Excitement fills me as Mr. Granger snorts in the loss he just suffered. If it had been a tie, there’s no one here to break it. So, we would’ve had to come back to the table with this plan at a later date. That’s not what I want to happen about anything brought before the table with our fathers because it means spending more time in their presence. We all try to avoid that shit at all costs. My parents are the only exception to this because they truly love and care about all of us. That’s never been up for debate.

“Thank you. I will keep you all updated on the status of everythin’ as I move forward and start puttin’ everythin’ into place. I’ve already got the money prepared to buy the buildin’ where the gym and underground fights will be held. That’s the first step I’ll take tomorrow as soon as my classes are over for the day. I’ve got a break in trainin’ for a few hours and that’s how I’ll spend my time,” I inform them, giving them what they want because I know this is the game we have to play.

“I’m going to tell you right now,” Mr. Granger begins, his voice filled with hatred as normal when it comes to anything we bring to the table or have to say to him at all. “The first second this little business venture of yours doesn’t make money or live up to the hype you believe it will, I’m shutting it down without hesitation. This isn’t the place for you to live out your fantasies and play games. We’re here to make money and keep High Point functioning the way we see fit.”

“I understand,” I grit out, purposely leaving the ‘sir’ off my words because I have no respect for Fallon’s father at all.

While I hate Kash’s father with all the rage I’ve ever felt in my life, I still show him respect because he’s not a fucking cocksucker like Mr. Granger is. He actually gives us a chance to fucking speak and present our ideas to them without making us feel as if we don’t matter and are worthless. I will never have an ounce of respect for Mr. Granger in my life. He’s a fucking bastard and I can’t wait for the day that he gets what’s coming to him.

With one final look at the table, I give them a nod of respect and leave the meeting room. We’re still not allowed to be at the full meetings right now. Not unless we’re invited by our fathers. Tonight isn’t one of those nights. The guys follow out behind me as we make our ways back through the tunnels and to my house. When we enter the house, my mom is waiting for us with the table set and plates piled high with food. She is going to feed us whether we want to eat or not. It’s how she shows her love for us and makes sure we’re all taken care of.

Dash rushes to the table and kisses our mom on the top of her head in appreciation of a homecooked meal. The rest of us take our seats around the table as I dig into the pot roast, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and rolls she made for dinner tonight. My mom doesn’t know how to cook for anything but a small army. The food is fucking amazing and I can’t stop eating no matter what conversation takes place around me. I ignore it all in order to eat this plate of deliciousness.

Tonight is one of the good ones. I get to have my business and help others get rid of the rage and anger they constantly let build up inside themselves because they don’t want to unleash it on anyone innocent. At the end of the day, I’m hoping the assholes who choose to unleash their anger on others will no longer do that outside the ring. Because if they choose to commit domestic violence, then I will kick their asses and ban them from the fights permanently. No one is ever going to hurt someone innocent and pure again if I can stop it. This is just one way I can think of to help cut down on the violence against women and kids.

Confusion

Arabella

TO SAY I’M extremely confused right now would be an understatement. I’ve not had any contact with the guys since my birthday so long ago. Now, it feels as if every time I turn around, one of them is there waiting to get me alone for some conversation they feel we need to have. Yeah, I’ve been putting on a brave front when I told them we have nothing to say and things, but that’s only because I had Brock and Sal there to help if I needed it. I know for a fact, Sal would have kicked Fallon and the others out of Slice of Heaven without hesitation if I had given him one look to let him know that I didn’t want them in there. Instead, I said what I had to say and didn’t let them talk to me again unless they were ordering. It’s different on campus because I have to hide from so many people. I’ve simply added them to the list of people not to go around for any reason. I’ve found a ton of hiding spots that even Brock doesn’t know where they are around campus, so those have become my sanctuary when I have to go somewhere between classes.

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