Page 21 of Fighting for You
Applying the bandages to Max’s face reminds me of the last time I had to fix someone up after a fight.Brooks.Did he get his injuries in a fight like this too? What is happening here? Who is Max to my brother? Hundreds of questions swirl through my brain as I work.
I check him over for a concussion and recommend he sees a doctor, avoids screens, and rests. I clean up all of the dirty gauze and used supplies then dispose of everything, including my gloves, in the trash in the corner of the trailer.
After giving Max instructions on how to keep everything clean and what to look for if the wounds get infected, I give him a couple ibuprofen, and Hayes helps him out of the trailer and intothe back of the truck. He makes sure he’s comfortable and closes the door, allowing Max to rest.
I stand at the trailer and look out over the crowd, still partying—not a care in the world, like a kid wasn’t just beaten.
As soon as Hayes steps up to me, I round on him. “What in the world is happening here, Hayes? Who are all of these people? What happened to Max?” My voice rises with each word, my calm nurse demeanor forgotten.
“Calm down, Booger,” he says, in his usual gruff way. “Max is a good kid. He just lost tonight.” He winces as though he didn’t mean to say that.
“Tonight? How long has this been going on? How often does he fight?” I ask.
“It’s fine, Margot. He’s fine, you made sure of that,” he replies.
“I made sur—Are you kidding me? You can’t justify a young kid fighting and getting hurt like that just because I’m here. What would have happened if you couldn’t reach me? And what is this anyway?” I say, looking around,reallytaking in my surroundings. “Is this some sort of fight club?”
“No,” he says, but his voice gives him away. After a moment, he sighs and resignedly adds, “They do it for the cash. I help them train, and they get a part of the winnings. A lot of these kids don’t have anything else. Shitty families and all that. Max and his brother are living with a junkie uncle, and this is how he earns enough to feed the two of them.”
I’m appalled and heartbroken for Max. “I… How, Hayes? How could you have gotten mixed up with this?”
“Would you rather he be fighting in the streets, with no oversight, no one to help him? Or worse yet, dealing?” His expression is hard with conviction, but his eyes plead for me to understand. And I do—partly. My brother has always hada big heart. He’s a caretaker and a problem solver. This feels misguided though.
Loud music fills the air of the clearing while I’m quiet for a long moment, trying to process everything I’ve learned. I feel like I don’t know my brother at all right now. “I… have no words, Hayes,” I finally say. “I need to get out of here and try to wrap my head around you running an illegal fighting ring out of Dad’s backyard.”
“You’re making a bigger deal out of this than it deserves,” he says quietly. “Sorry for snapping at you before. And thank you. For what you did for him. He really is a good kid. ” My heart softens at his tone, genuine and maybe even a little contrite.
I wrap my arm around his back in a side hug. “He’s important, huh?”
“I just want to help,” Hayes says.
“I know. I’ll call you tomorrow to check on him. Please bring him to the hospital if his head doesn’t seem right.”
“I will, I promise,” he says and pulls me in for a real hug. “I love you.”
“I love you too, big brother,” I murmur into his massive shoulder.
Chapter Nine
Brooks
Ispent a whole two hours in lockup yesterday before Colton decided going up against me wasn’t worth it. If he’d pressed charges, I would have gotten Hayes to dig up some shit on him, but thankfully, he came to his senses. Would “he pissed me off” have held up in court? Probably not, but Colton isn’t squeaky clean. I would have been fine, I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with it.
Would have been nice to not have to deal with Rip’s smug face when he picked me up, but it was better than calling Thea or Cary. I didn’t tell him everything, just that Colton said some shit and I retaliated.
Once I got my phone back, I saw the multiple texts I’d missed.
12/8 4:47 p.m.
Thea: Hey… I just wanted to check in. I haven’t heard from you in days now…
12/8 5:01 p.m.
Freckles: Hey! Happy to report the sink is still working. Thank you again!
12/8 5:36 p.m.
Freckles: Hayes was right, you are the best handyman in town haha.
