Sparta ~Tommy Conlon

Chapter 24: Demons From The Past

Tommy's POV:

I was walking down the street with a slight hangover, I looked up at the sign that read 'COLTS Gym'. I knew this place. It's the gym that Malia and I used to come to, it was called 'FITZY'S'. I figured it couldn't hurt if I was to try and get into this tournament. I walked inside and looked at the receptionist as a video played in the background. "Well, there you have it, it shall be done. Hedge fund king J.J. Riley, going from the lions' den of Wall Street to the cage, and promoting the biggest winner-take-all tournament in MMA history. Sparta..."

I stopped listening and spoke up. "Fitzy still own this?"

"I don't know no Fitzy. Colt Boyd owns this gym. Can I help you with something?"

"Umm," I nodded, "How does it work?"

"$35 a month with locker. We're open at 7:00, lights out at 11:00. So you want to join?"

"Sure."

He handed me a small piece of paper and a pen. "Put your name and contact info on the card."

"Thank you," I mumbled and walked over to sit down and write. Tommy Riordan. I wrote. I didn't want anyone from the tournament to know about who I really was in case it endangered Malia. I then wrote my fathers address down and glanced at the Sparta poster on the wall. I handed the man back the paper and he handed me another form.

"This is a wavier, just fill in that you agree to listen to the rules and if you get hurt it's not our fault." I nodded and checked the boxes. I handed him the paperback. "You're all set,"

"Thanks." I walked into the gym and looked at the two men sparing. There were a few rings and a ton of bags. Lots of gloves and I rolled my shoulders back. I walked into the locker room and changed into a white tank top that was covered by a dark grey t-shirt and light grey sweatpants. I put my other items in my locker, I kept the two pairs of dog tags on though along with my ring. It would be covered by the glove so it didn't matter anyway. I walk back out with a yellow mouth guard in hand. I put my mouth guard in and put some gloves on. I went to town on one of the punching bags and started having some PTSD, I saw the plane, I saw Manny unconscious, I saw Jerry, I saw my father, I saw Brendan, I couldn't deal with the added up anger I felt.

I tuned out my surroundings for about 20 minutes until I heard a voice say, "Whoops! Where do you find these girls?" He started laughing and giving some guys high-fives.

A smaller darker-skinned guy pulled him over. "We've got a tournament coming up, you're gonna play every guy in the 'Burgh?" I used my teeth to undo the gloves and watched them with curiosity. I needed to find a way into this tournament and soon. "Fenroy, get me some ice." I walked over to the ring where a guy was laying unconscious. "And call that Puerto Rican kid, the one that fights out of the bottoms. If he's here in 20 minutes, he gets $200 bucks."

I took my mouth guard out and spoke. "Yo, I'll fight him."

He turned to me, "Do me a favor, guy, go back to your bag. We don't need anybody else getting hurt. Take a walk."

I shrugged and noticed the guy that knocked the other guy out was staring at me. I went to walk away but he spoke, "Yo, Rocky what did you do, did you leave Mick and Pauline at home today?" They started laughing so I turned around slowly and walked back. I knew that damn voice and he knew damn well who I was.

Fenroy walked up to 'Colt Boyd' and said, "His phone's disconnected."

"Then go through the list. Find me, somebody. Get me Joe Bones."

I put my arms on the ropes that kept the ring together. "All I'm saying is that if you need somebody to help you, I'm happy to keep your boy warm for you."

He walked over to me, "You ever fought before?"

I nodded, "Yeah,"

He turned back to Fenroy. "Hey, this guy sign a wavier?"

"All good."

I nodded, I liked that guy. "What's your name?"

"Tommy."

"You get tuned up in here, it's on you, Tom."

"Sure, no problem. No problem."

"Come on in." I followed the guy and walked into the ring. I took my t-shirt off and was left in a tank top. I was getting taped up, my feet and hands then I put on MMA gloves. A bell started dinging and I turned around and walked towards my opponent. "Alright, let's go."

I kicked him square in the chest and he fell into the ropes. I tuned out Colt Boyd and was seeing red for everything he did to Malia, "Are you gonna be a hero? All right." He threw a punch and I dodged it. He threw some playful punches and I hit for his stomach. I kicked him and he blocked it but he missed the next one and I tripped him up. I spun and faced him I had my hands up and was ready to attack him again. He hit for my head and I blocked it. He got a few good hits in on me but then it was my turn. I hit for his head and upper body. Punch after punch until he tried to kick me, I grabbed his leg and punched him in the nose. He fell backward and I walked to him, he got to his hands and knees, I wrapped one arm around him and started hitting at his head and upper back. He managed to get up and wrapped his arm around me. That was his mistake, I ducked under his arm and grabbed him from behind and lifted him over my shoulder and threw him on the ground. I pushed him into the ropes and went after him at full force while he stood in the corner. I kneed him a few times in the face, he was stunned and looked at me. I threw one last punch and it knocked him out. He was stuck on the ropes and I let out a heavy breath.

My vision was clearing up and I dropped my hands, the room was silent I walked over to Colt Boyd, I was still breathing a little heavy but spoke, "You owe me $200 bucks." I nodded and walked out of the ring with my mouth guard in hand. Everyone was staring at me and I smiled internally knowing I just caused a huge scene and since Grimes was in the Sparta tournament already, I had a good shot at getting in. I needed to, for Malia.

Malia's POV:

I was sitting in my empty room and was staring at the photo of my baby. I started crying and began to fear the worst. What if I don't get out of here? What if this baby grows up without knowing Tommy? What if the baby grows up not knowing me either? What if I get killed in this 'trade'?

I held my hand on my stomach and laid down on my bed. I put the picture back in my pocket. I was curled up in a ball, "No matter what happens, just know that I love you, little one. I always have and I always will. And I know your dad will love you too." I whispered. I let the crying lead me into a dark and restless sleep...