Page 31 of Spar
Chris walked around to the driver’s side and lifted himself into the seat. When they were all settled in the truck, Chris responded so that Travis could hear the plan, too.
“I’ll drop you off, and then I need to swing by a work site. Travis and I will pick you up when we’re done.”
Travis was quiet from the back seat, but Chris caught his sulking grimace in the rearview mirror. He was prepared to wait him out and“just be there,”but that was going to have to include bringing Travis along to job sites. The apartment complex fixes were underway and other sites needed to be checked on as well.
Travis finally spoke up as they pulled into the apartments. “This ol’ dump is still standing?” he asked peering out the window.
“Barely. There was an electrical fire in one of the units last week.”
They exited the truck, Travis hopping down to the ground with only a small groan. He motioned toward the crowd of men bustling around the lot. “You have all these guys working on one unit?”
Chris headed for the office with Travis on his heels. “We uncovered a lot more damage throughout the apartments when the inspector did a walk-through.”
“Seems like it would be easier to just tear this dump down and start from scratch.” Travis eyed the place over.
Chris scoffed at the remark. He wasn’t wrong, but Travis seemed to forget how things were done in Sweetbriar. Change didn’t come easily to the majority of its residents. This place had been around as long as most of them could remember. It was in need of some repairs, but to tear it down would be putting fifty people out of a home — some of them families with small children. His brother had been gone for over ten years, but it seemed ironic that a man without a place to call his own was dismissing this place so easily.
“Easier for whom?” Chris asked as he opened the door to the trailer.
“There he is!” Dax said, meeting them at the door and giving Chris a warning look.
Chris spotted Benny rising from a chair across the trailer. He furrowed his brow as he wondered what Benny was doing in Sweetbriar. And, furthermore, how had he tracked him down to the worksite?
“Benny, what a surprise,” Chris said, crossing the room to the old man.
Benny raised both arms at his side. “In the flesh.”
Chris extended his hand and then motioned for Benny to take his seat again.
“Please sit. To what do I owe this honor?” Chris asked.
He noticed Travis still hung in the doorway and realized Benny hadn’t met his middle brother.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think you’ve met my brother Travis,” he said and gestured toward the doorway. “Travis, this is Benny.”
“Ah, another White brother. Does this one box too?” Benny asked, circling Travis and looking him over. “A bit small, but you look tough. I’d guess you’ve been in a street scrap or two. You let me know if you ever want to try your luck in a real fight.”
Travis glanced from Benny to Chris with a surprised look on his face.
“As for you…” Benny said, approaching Chris. “…you’ve been avoiding my calls.”
“I’m sorry. I meant to call you back. Work has been busy. Besides, I think I might be done with all that,” Chris said. His emotions were split. He loved fighting. It would always be a part of him. Fighting and the hours he spent training for it made up such a huge piece of his past. It wasn’t easy to imagine a life without it.
“Nonsense. You just need a good challenge,” Benny argued.
Travis stepped forward. “Wait, you’re still fighting?”
Chris kept quiet, unsure how to explain the fights he’d been a part of. He had kept it secret from everyone in his life, but he felt an odd comfort that if anyone would understand, it would be Travis.
“Some unsanctioned events in Carroll,” he said as he met Travis’ confused stare.
“I have the event you’ve been waiting for,” Benny said, handing Chris a flyer from his pocket.
Chris unfolded the paper and read it, speaking the name of the title fighter out loud in shock. “Louis Kay!” He looked up to see Benny grinning back at him. “You got Louis?”
“That’s right. This Saturday. It’s your fight if you want it, but I need an answer today.”
Chris stared back down at the paper. He’d been waiting years for a chance to fight Louis again.
