Save Me, Mafia

Two

I yawned as I flopped onto my bed and curled myself up to stay warm. It was getting colder as autumn was approaching. Chasity has gone home for a family matter and won't be returning near the end of the month, and of course my parents found out and quickly gave me a few contracts to complete before she returned. Just before I could fall asleep, my coach at the gym contacted me to go in and practice. Not wanting to argue with the old man, I dragged myself back out the apartment tired and achy.

Upon coming up to the building, two black cars were parked in front of it and when the taxi I was in stopped behind them, they screeched off. I watched confused as they turned the corner with their tires squealing. I paid my fare and headed in. I could hear the grunts of the others and the smacking of leather against leather and my loud mentor's voice booming above everybody else's. I took off my hood and shuffled my hair before tying it up into a messy ponytail.

I peeked around the wall to find it slightly packed. Some wearing gym attire while the others wore black suits. I fully entered with my hands shoved back into the pocket of my jacket. In the ring was two men. One with tattoos covering up most of his upper body up to his jaw line and down to mostly part of his right leg and his lean sparring partner who was just slightly smaller than him. I silently stood in the back and watched them spar with everyone else. Tattoos got the upper hand as his speed, and of course his strength, knocked his partner right out. My mentor celebrated loudly, clapping along with some of the other men. Looking past them, the two black cars show up again at the front of the building.

Duncan comes up beside me and hugged me from the side. "Hey sweetheart," he greets, keeping his arm around my shoulders. 

"Hi boo. What's with all these people?" I tear my eyes away from the cars after they left again and looked up to Duncan.

Duncan shrugs. "Supposedly some important people who helps keep the gym open."

"Mm," I hummed.

"What are you doing here?"

Before I could explain, the old man calls me over. I move away from Duncan's side and approach him. "Coach," I greeted. Tattoos turns away from us. 

"This will be your new training partner."

I looked from tattoos who tensed up and swiveled around to give the old man a glare and then moving that glare to me like I wasn't worth his time, which I'm sure I really wasn't. "Uh..." I looked away from him to the old man. "Why? What happened to slim?"

"Exactly," Coach says with a nod. "Slim is not a good match for you. He can barely keep up with your endurance."

I squinted at him. "Okay? Well, what about Duncan? He's at least more than willing."

"What about him?" Coach tries to argue.

I rolled my eyes this time. "Why not Duncan?" I asked again.

"No. He likes you so he'll be too soft. I need someone who'll push you to your limit and that guy over there will do you justice."

"Do me justice?" I asked slightly outraged and then pointed to Tattoos. "Do you, not, see his build?"

Coach had to think about it and nodded. "I have." I stared at him dumbfounded as he had Tattoos lace-up and ordered me to go change. When I wouldn't budge, he nudged his head over his shoulder. "Go," he said in a more demanding tone.

So here I was, entering the ring, as Tattoos was my training partner and had the pads in his hands already. I turned to Duncan to assist with putting on the gloves. "Watch him and focus. Watch her, and gradually speed up. Have fun! Oh! And no gloves." I looked at him confused. "Because I want you to hurt him. Now come on!"