Page 100 of Falcon

“When did you decide to report him?”

“When I was standing in line at the pharmacy to get the morning after pill. I knew it was a stretch, but as I stood there, literally paying money to prevent something coming from the worst night of my life, I decided I couldn’t let him do this to someone else, but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I went to the police station, they took my statement. I went to hospital and was essentially treated like shit because I showered. They told me all evidence was gone, and since I was drunk and likely drugged, my statement was loose, at best, and since it was a crowded party on a college campus, the odds of actually finding him was slim. After that, I decided I was just going to move on. I filed the report, went to the admissions office to drop out of school, and went to Savannah with two thousand dollars in my pocket to start a new life.”

“And your parents? Do they know?” I rest my chin on the top of her head.

“My mom does. I had to explain to her why I was leaving. She was hurt and angry and heartbroken that it happened to me. She wanted to fight. She wanted to rip the city apart until I found some kind of justice, but I knew it was a moot point. I just wanted to move on. I decided I wasn’t going to let it rule my life. I deserved to live the life I wanted. I wasn’t going to be a victim anymore. I took my body back. I took my sexuality back. I took my mind back. That’s what the tattoo is for.” She slides her hand over the ink on her thigh. “A reminder of my strength and my beauty.”

I’m so fucked when it comes to this girl. She is so goddamn strong and beautiful. My chest aches in a way I’m not used to. I know, in this moment, with her in my arms in the middle of a gym, I would do anything for her. Fight any battle. Wage any war. Slay any demon. I would and will keep her safe for as long as she will allow me to.

Faith

When I woke up this morning, the last thing I expected to happen today was I’d have a full-blown meltdown in front of him. Honestly, I try not to have that kind of reaction in front of anyone at all, but when that song came on, an icy cold chill ran through my blood. All I saw on the punching bag was that man’s face.

As you go through life, and as time passes, memories grow more faint. It’s harder to remember faces, smells, tastes, or sounds, but I’ll never forget his face, with his sickening smile and shockingly blue eyes. He was handsome, traditionally speaking, but there was evil in eyes I didn’t see then, but that finds its way into my dreams sometimes.

I’ll never forget the smell of his cologne. It was citrusy and it smelled cheap, and way too strong, like he had bathed in it before he came to the party. It filled my nose and covered my skin for days on end, even after I scrubbed my body clean.

I’ll never forget the taste of blood in my mouth from his teeth biting into my lips and breaking the skin.

And I’ll never forget that song. At base level, I know that song holds no power unless I give it power, but in that moment tonight, staring down that bag, I finally felt like I could fight back, even though it was just that...a bag.

I was angry at myself because I didn’t fight back that day, that I didn’t know how, and I wasn’t strong enough.

These thoughts plague my mind even now, as we step back into the hotel room after leaving the gym.

“I can hear your mind whirling, even from here,” he says, as he empties his pockets onto the small dresser. How do men keep so much in there? Wallet, room key, cell phone. It’s actually kind of ridiculous.

“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to shake it all off,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around my chest.

He crosses the room to stand in front of me again and wraps my entire body up in a bear hug.

I’m surrounded by him, by his energy, by his scent, that warm cinnamon and rich cedar, by his warmth, and by his strength. This is what I crave from him and why I’ve been so unable to let go of him. He makes me feel safe and he makes me feel strong.

“When I was first starting out in the professional circuit, I was at an event in Las Vegas. Nora was with me that time. It was one of the last events she went to.”

I tilt my head back and look into his eyes, letting him know I’m listening. He guides us over to the small chair in the corner of the room and sinks to sit, pulling me with him to sit sideways across his lap.

“We were at a dinner and press conference at a hotel on the strip, meeting managers, agents, press, other fighters, bigwigs with the WFC. It was a big deal, you know? Anyway, we were down on the casino floor, playing blackjack, drinking a bit, just mingling, doing what the event was intended for, and this guy, Braxton fucking White, came strolling in.”

“Braxton White? He’s on your schedule, isn’t he?”

“He is. Our last stop actually.” He rests his chin on my shoulder. “Anyway, he came up to our table and asked to join. He instantly began zeroing in on Nora. Talking to her, trying to flirt, but it was so inappropriate and disgusting. Then he put his hands on her. He grabbed her ass and when she pushed his hand away and told him to fuck off, he grabbed her again, and told her he likes it when they are feisty.”

“Jesus Christ,” I say, shaking my head, my stomach churning at the thought.

“I saw red. I think I may have blacked out, because I barely remember what happened. Apparently, I exploded, jumped over the table, and tackled him to the ground. I smashed his face in so badly that my knuckles were busted open and bloody. A couple of them were out of place, even. We were broken up within seconds and I was promptly arrested.”

The assault charges.

“I was held overnight and released the next morning. Braxton didn’t drop the charges and the casino tacked on some of their own because we damaged some of their property. I pled guilty, paid my fines, and that was it. It’s something I’ll have to live with forever, but I wouldn’t change it. I would do it all over again if it meant protecting my sister.”

“That’s because you’re a good man. You love fiercely and you would do anything to protect the ones you care about. I mean, look what you’ve done for Nora all her life. You stepped up and kept her on a path to succeed in her life. That’s the most admirable and impressive thing I’ve ever seen or heard.”

“I try to be a man my father would be proud of. Have I made mistakes? Sure, but who hasn’t?”

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