Warrior

Chapter 32: Fight of a Lifetime

Tommy sat with his back to me, I didn't know what was going through his mind and he hadn't said a word to me. There were two military police outside to door, to make sure Tommy didn't disappear, he was going away after this, but that wasn't the concern. I crouched In front of Tommy, and his stormy eyes met mine, pop wasn't here, he was too drunk and it was just me and Tommy, but I knew he felt alone. I grabbed his hands, and to my surprise he didn't pull away.

"Tommy, you do whatever it takes to win, but please... Please don't kill him" Tommys eyes hardened, he didn't give a shit about Brendan and I knew that, he didn't care what I said, he wanted to hurt him, win this fight, and get the money for Pilar. "Tommy please say something" he said nothing, and stood making his way out of the door and I followed behind him. There was a grim vibe through the stadium as we walked. Tommy didn't have entrance music, but he didn't need it, the marines were singing for him.

"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine."

Everyone was cheering, girls screaming and a bunch of marines showering him with 'hoo-ahs' and chanting 'Tommy, Tommy, tommy' but he ignored it, nothing mattered to him but Brendan. He stood in front of the cage took off his sweater and handed it to me. I saw Jade from the other side, glaring at me, she was still angry, but so am I. I could see Brendan in his corner, grim look on his face, he did not want to fight Tommy.

"Tommy, please-" but before I could finish my sentence he walked into the cage. Looking at me with hard eyes, begging for some support from me. I gave him a firm nod, and watched as the brothers met in the middle of the ring. This was happening. Jade stood with Tess, the both of them looking terrified and Distraught, and Frank stood pacing on his side of the ring.  The brothers stared each other down, Tommy was a furious fire, but he remained calm, and Brendan was intense, looking into the eyes of his brother searching desperately for some sort of recognition.

"Gentlemen" Josh Rosenthal, the ref, started. "This is the final, five rounds. I expect a clean fight. Obey my commands at all times, defend yourselves at all times. Touch gloves, go back, let's do this" Brendan held out his glove and Tommy tapped it quickly. Brendan looked out to Tommy's corner and looked at me, but still searched around.

"Wheres pop?" He asked, Tommy said nothing as he returned to his corner, he was nothing but business. Brendan returned to his corner and peered over at the terrified Tess and Jade.

"Gentlemen are you ready?" He said pointing at Brendan, who nodded reluctantly, looking at Tommy with so much sadness, he didn't want to do this. "Are you ready?" Tommy nodded without any hesitation. "LETS GO TO WAR"

Tommy came ferociously at his older brother, throwing punches with a ferocity we haven't seen from him before, a wrecking machine, Brendan is defending himself while Frank is screaming at him to stay calm, but how could he? Tommy is all over him, punching every opening, every weak spot with savage intensity, no remorse. Brendan's fights before this one were bad, but not as bad as this. Tommy was taking out years of pain and anger on his brother. Tess could barely watch and I could see Jade holding her, eyes never leaving the ring. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, this was the fight of a lifetime.

Tommy continued to hammer Brendan, hammer fists, upper cuts, crosses, jabs, fighting with the intensity of a marine, the crowd was cheering but both brothers blocked it out, it was just him and Brendan. Tommy picked up Brendan, who's legs were wrapped around his waist and slammed him into the ground again and again and again. Brendan was winded, blocking his face in attempt to defend himself from Tommy who mounted him, throwing ferocious punches left and right, Tommy was nothing but a blur to Brendan. The bell went off and the round was over, but Tommy ignored it, taking a cheap shot right to Brendans jaw, stunning him.