For the Good of the Family

Low Risk

I strolled in the auto parts factory confused on why Tommy wanted to meet on the factory floor. He usually doesn't let Ada or I in the factory during working hours. Says he wants to protect us from the filth of the workers. As if having four brothers kept our eyes and ears clean.

Display parts that usually took up space had been moved and a rope sectioned off a large square of the floor.  Men gathered around Arthur who walked along the rope taking bets and yelling odds. One of the big workers, a former boxer named Billy Mills stood in one corner of the square. Opposite from him was Aberama Gold and the young man he had with him the day before. Henry walked ahead of me to clear a path to my brothers before excusing himself to join the small crowd.

Seeing me coming, Tommy left his conversation with the factory manager Mr. Devlin. "Olive, good that you came." He placed his hand on my upper back guiding me to a spot near one of the corners. Leaning down to speak into my ear without being overheard. "That there Olive, is Bonnie Gold. If we offer your hand he'll be your husband."

Arthur joined us with a grin, waving his fistful of cash towards me. "Give ya good odds, Livy, wanna put some down on the gypsy boy?"

Shaking my head, I followed his line of sight to said gypsy boy in the makeshift boxing ring. Bonnie didn't look much like his father from afar. He had dark hair and his skin was pale. I don't think ever seen anyone as pale as him before. He was skinny and lean. Broader than myself but not by much. He looked as tall as Arthur so I would be about at eye level with his nose.

Mr. Devlin rang a bell to signal the start of the match. Aberama broke off from Bonnie's corner to join us just as the two in the ring began to circle each other. The four of us stood still watching the gyspy take hits and dodge Billy. Bonnie was fast, ducking under punches and sidestepping the bigger man before his fists could get close. He allowed a few hits land, not staggering or slowing down from the punches.

"Your boy knows he can hit back right?" Arthur leaned over me so Aberama could hear him over the crowd of men.

"I told him in the professional game people want their moneys worth, don't win too fast."  My eyes never left Bonnie as he guided Billy along the rope, dodging his hits and landing a few to Billy's cheek. "But if you've seen enough. Finish him Bonnie!" Aberama yelled out over the crowd.

Bonnie's stance changed and he stepped towards the bigger man. It took four hits to break Billy's defense and only one hit to the jaw to drop him. It was over in under a minute.

"Fuck me that was a punch. What's he got horse shoes in those gloves or what?" Arthur asked Aberama.

"Nope just his dad's strength and his mother's temper." Aberama moved under the rope to his son. He helped untie and pull off the beat up boxing gloves before turning back to us.

Tommy stepped closer to the rope for his interrogation. "Does he have fits?"
"No."
"Asthma?"
"No."

"How's he cut?" Arthur chimed in.

"Well no one's cut him yet, but his skins thick." Bonnie stood proud next to his father. Seemingly at ease with the questions my brothers threw his way.

"Does he drink?" Tommy stared at Bonnie, taking in and cataloguing his every expression just as he does for every potential investment.
"Porter, sometimes." Ew.
"How many fights?"
"Twenty-five bare knuckle, all knock outs. Five with gloves in pastures, all knockouts." It looked like Bonnie finally caught his breath, his dark brown eyes trailing back and forth between brothers and I.

Arthur rocked back in feet, "Against Romany fighters?"

"That's why they don't let us in the fairs no more he keeps winning." Aberama crowed proudly.