Sparta ~Tommy Conlon

Chapter 27: Beach Talk

Tommy's POV:

I was dressed 'nicely' for the press conference we had today. This morning we had the photoshoot which I reluctantly attended. The photo I picked wasn't anything special but I liked it. (Above photo). I walked to the conference and was sitting down inside while Pop talked to the 'tap out crew'. I was drinking from my water bottle and was trying to search the crowds for Malia. I couldn't find her but my eyes locked on someone else, my anger rose and I sat up in my seat. It was like seeing a ghost, it had been 8 years since I last saw him. Brendan. My brother was here, in this tournament. He turned around and locked eyes with me. He froze and stared, I looked away and whipped my nose, I then looked back he was walking towards me slowly with curiosity in his gaze. I just sat there and stared back, curiosity killed the cat. His trainer walked up to him and began speaking to him. Brendan turned to face him and looked back at me but I was out of my seat and was walking towards the door.

I didn't want to be near that prick. I wanted nothing to do with my brother, fuck the press conference, I didn't give a shit anymore. Brendan could expose my identity but also could put Malia in danger since she is his sister-in-law. Not that he knew that but still if Jerry recognized the name it could be bad news for her. My father called after me but I was already out the door. "Tommy! Hey, Tommy! Where you going?" I walked swiftly back to the hotel, there were people all around me and I hated it. I needed some space, there were flashes everywhere from the press and I kept my head down and pushed on. They were asking me questions but I brushed them off. I was walking through the lobby and heard someone call my name but I ignored it and kept walking. When I got back to the room, I took a shower and laid down. I just thought about Malia and looked at her ring. I was sad that she hadn't been wearing it these past few months but I also realized that it was for her own safety, I respected that. It was smart, in Iraq Manny had to take off his wedding band too. If he would've gotten captured they could've threatened Pilar.

I was interrupted by a knock on my door and my dad yelling. "Tommy!" He knocked and opened my door. "Tommy, come here. Come on. You got to see this."

I pushed myself up and walked into the doorway. Pop was watching the tv and I looked where he was staring. "And the water pressure was too much. We couldn't get that back hatch open. We were all drowning, man." Pop turned and faced me, I kept my eyes on the tv. "It was a death trap. I couldn't have had more than another minute. Then suddenly, the back ramp gets ripped off. There he was." I was annoyed, I didn't want people to connect Tommy Riordan with Tommy Conlon. At least not till I got Malia back. I turned away and went into my room. I grabbed a sweatshirt to put over my tank top. "And before I could get out and thank him, he was gone. He just vanished like a ghost."

I walked out of my room with the sweatshirt in hand. Pop looked at me, "Tommy? Tommy, did you... Where you going?"

"Taking a walk." I opened the door and shut it quickly.

"Tommy! Tommy!"

I was walking down the hallway and threw my sweatshirt on. I walked down the stairs and out to the beach. I needed to clear my head and Malia was always telling me how much the beach calmed her. I walked down the shoreline and tried to relax, it wasn't working. I just needed to find her, and soon...

Malia's POV:

I was in the cafe, getting something to eat for Baby Conlon. My brother let me go by myself, he knew I wouldn't be able to get far with all the people around. I was leaving and was about to enter the lobby when someone walked past me. I stopped in my tracks as the familiar scent hit me. "Tommy?"

The guy kept walking and I shook my head, I must have been delusional. I went back to my room and was reading a book on the history of Atlantic City in my room.