Tap Out (25 page)

I don't know when I stood, but I'm not the only one. Our entire corner is up, not speaking, just shaking our heads. This is one tight fucking matchup.

The ring girl goes round and the fight resumes. Rob keeps his distance while Stetson tosses jabs. Rob moves in a slow arc, like Fragale, but his eyes dance. He's got a plan.

“What's up, Tone? Watching your boyfriend get his ass kicked?” Dave's voice worms in my ear, and I stop breathing. I hesitate to look, but there he is, crouched on the seat next to me, his big-ass friend looming, looking at me like I'm the next event.

“The fuck you want?” I speak but turn back to Rob. He's still steering Stetson toward a corner.

“Just watching my boys, same as you.” He laughs. “But
I've got some business as well.”

The word makes my heart pound harder than it already is.
Business
means too much shit for me. I nudge Phil. “Look who turned up.”

Phil looks at me and then over at Dave. His face clenches. Marcus leans forward, and Phil's eyes cut in on him. “You with him?” He points at Dave.

Marcus nods. “Sure am.”

Phil nods, repeatedly. “All right. So's you know, you here to bring shit, I'm your man. Touch my boy Tony here, or any of these guys, and you're fucked.”

“That so?” Marcus smiles.

“Heard it, right?”

“Mmhmm.”

Dave laughs and I try to ignore him. Rob's still bobbing and weaving, looking more like a boxer than anything else when the bell rings. Coach enters and Rob's the first one to speak, spewing something about his “strategy.” Coach looks pissed, fiery red. If he sees Dave, who knows what will happen? I inch away from the thug.

He's talking to Marcus though, and I feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin. This is Rob's fight. I don't need this shit. The fuck did he come here for? Who the fuck's buying meth in this crowd? Phil huddles in.

“Don't worry, yo. I got you.” We pound fists as the ring girl goes round again.

“Nice, let's watch your boy get fucked up.”

I pretend I don't hear, but can't help thinking that Dave may be right.

Rob dances around like before, staying out of Stetson's reach, but then Stetson rushes, arms flying, and Rob drops to one knee. Just when Stetson's over him, he fires up and
catches Stetson with an uppercut to the chin. Stetson stumbles and Rob pounces. He tackles him to the mat and moves in for Stetson's neck.

Stetson's dazed but slides his knees under him. He pushes against the mat while Rob works closer to his body. Stetson stops pushing to throw a punch into the back of Rob's head, but Rob ain't feeling shit now, it's obvious. His eyes are drawn to slits, and he's got one thought in mind, which we all scream.

“Choke 'im! Make his ass tap!”

Rob perches on Stetson like a fucking monkey, drawing his entire body around the guy's head. I can't see Stetson's face anymore, but everything else is flailing and he's getting nowhere. The ref hovers, and we all stand. Rob grunts and draws tighter. Stetson's arm goes rigid and then he taps.

We burst into screams like we just won the lottery. Rob rolls off, clasps hands with Stetson, and then lets the ref declare him the winner. Coach meets him and drapes an arm across his shoulders, and as they make their way toward us I remember Dave. Fuck! I turn, to tell him to leave, to go fucking deal elsewhere, but he's gone. So is Marcus. I scan quick but don't have time to get a good look because Rob's with us now and we're all slapping his back. He pounds fists with me. “You're next, Tone. Gotta get in that ring.”

I smile. “Soon as I can.”

“Where we going? I got to celebrate.” Amir dances around Phil, who just shrugs.

“Wherever you want.” He turns to Rob and me. “You two coming?”

We're just outside the locker room, where Coach congratulated Amir and Rob and we all consoled Mike. Fights from other gyms are still going, but we're clearing out. Rob's busted a bit around the face, but no worse than he's been before. He shakes his head. “Can't go anywhere. Got shit to do.”

“Like what, muthafucka? It's Friday night. You should be out. We'll get you in the clubs, don't worry. Unless . . .” Phil taps Rob's chest.

“Yo, maybe he's got some tail. Is that it, you stallion?” Amir dances some more, his energy not at all depleted by the fight. He's going to make a scene wherever he ends up.

Rob shrugs. “Something like that.”

Both Phil and Amir yell, “Oh!”

“'Bout you, Tone? Or is this some kind of threesome?”

I don't look at Rob when Phil asks, but I'm sure the insult must sting. “Nah, I can't. My mom's coming home in the morning. Gotta be there for her.”

“Shit, Tone, I forgot.” Phil looks genuinely sad.

“It's all right. You two go nuts.” I look over at Rob. He doesn't appear as if he's just won a fight, more like he's about to enter another. Every part of him is tense, and he's staring at the floor. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

We pound fists with the guys and then step out into the night. It's bone-chilling and we both pop our hoods and tuck into ourselves. We don't speak. The wind would carry our words away even if we did.

We walk on and I'm happy for Rob, but can't help thinking of Dave and how the bikers were back at the park and what the fuck that all means. Rob keeps his bent posture, striding toward his own shit. A car slows behind us, its lights resting on a stop sign.

“You two walkin'?”

Phil's voice startles me.

“Get the fuck in. I'll drive you.”

Rob whips back, looks at me, the car, and then down the road. He nods to himself and crosses the street. I follow him into the back of Phil's car.

It's warm and the bass is pumping. Phil looks at us in the rearview mirror. “Where to?”

It takes Rob a second, but he answers. “Pleasant Meadows.”

Phil can't hide his expression. “All right.”

We drive and bullshit about the matches, wondering if Mike will come back or walk away. Then Phil cuts in. “And while you two were doing your thing, guess who showed?”

Rob and Amir look at each other.

“With some big-ass bodyguard.”

Both go wide-eyed.

Phil smiles. “Muthafucking Dave.”

“That bitch!” Amir burns red. “The fuck he doing there?”

“Don't know. What he say to you, Tone?”

I hesitate. If I tell these guys what Dave's into they may get even more pissed. Then again, it can't hurt to have them know. If shit gets real ugly at least someone else with be clued in. “He was there to make a deal.”

“That pushing fucking bitch. What's his bag?”

Rob looks over at me, and it's a mix of shame and anger. “Meth.”

“No fucking shit?” Phil slows the car and turns around in his seat. “Really? You ain't blowing smoke?”

I shake my head. They both say, “Fuck,” and Phil turns back around and pulls into the park. He stops just inside. “So you weren't kidding when you said he knew people who
could do what they did at Coach's?”

“No, I wasn't.” I look out the window. “They live here.”

Rob grabs the door handle. “Thanks for the ride.” He steps out just as Phil starts yelling.

“I'll drive you to your house. Which one is it?”

I open my door and answer before getting out. “Like it matters.”

Phil's got his window down. “Take it easy, son.” We pound fists.

“Same to you.”

He smiles and Amir yells, “Peace!” before doing a U and pulling away. Rob stands with his hands tucked into his pockets, looking toward Amy's.

“You goin' to see her?”

“Yeah. Said she wanted to see my face after the fight. Whatever that means.”

I nod, even though he isn't looking at me.

“We've got an appointment tomorrow. At the doctor's.”

“Yeah, for the baby?” I try to sound supportive, because he sounds so fucking hopeless.

“Kinda. She's scheduled for a, well . . . I guess she changed her mind.”

I don't ask why she did because he doesn't need to tell me. Maybe they talked this afternoon? Maybe he crunched those numbers that had him so tweaked and she understood? Whatever it was, it's between them. “Oh. All right.”

He turns away.

“You need help with the cash?” I don't know why I'm asking, it's not like I can help, but I just feel the need to do something. He should be happy. He won. But there's nothing happy about this moment.

Rob shakes his head. “I'll figure it out.”

“All right. Good luck, then.” I won't ask how because I'm sure I already know.

“Yeah. Good luck with your mom tomorrow.” He shuffles his feet.

“Thanks.” I laugh. “I just can't wait to see her.”

He laughs and it's good to see.

“Hey, for real, nice job tonight. You are one hardcore fuck.”

Rob's smile broadens. “Thanks.” He steps toward Amy's but then steps back. “I meant what I said, Tone. You gotta get in there. This is gonna sound stupid, but whatever. It's like the only time in the past year I've felt fully alive.” His eyes shine when he says this, and his voice is soft like it gets. He's being totally honest, and I appreciate that more than I can possibly express.

“I will.”

We're about to head our separate ways when the hogs appear in the distance. They rumble in and park and the guys' shouts to one another carry over the trailers. Dave's Mustang pulls in behind them, and he pulls up to us. He cuts the engine and he and Marcus step out. I look at Rob and he sets his jaw because he knows. I match him, because it's the only way we're making it through this round.

“L
ike I said, this will be a quick one boys. Just dropping off.” Dave smiles at Rob and me in his rearview mirror. I look out the window, knowing just where we're headed. Rob seems to be doing the same. He didn't say shit when Dave told us to get in. He didn't speak when Dave laid out the plan. And he didn't ask a question when Dave said we'd split the $500 for this deal.

We pull into the warehouse parking lot, and Dave parks like he did before. “Pull down the seat and grab the two boxes.”

Rob and I turn at the same moment and reach for the tab. Rob shakes his head and lets me do it, and in a moment we're each holding a box.

“All right, Tony, you know the drill.”

We step out of the car and when we're far enough away Rob speaks. “This what you did last time?”

“Yeah.” We walk a few more steps, and then I ask the question, even though I know the answer. “We're fucked, aren't we?”

Rob looks over his shoulder, and his eyes are wide with fear. He nods once, real quick, and then turns back around. My stomach falls into my hips and we stand in front of the door.

The same shuffling comes after Rob knocks on the door and the same voice asks, “Who are you with?”

I answer, “The Agnostic Front.”

The Hungarian smiles and lets us in and it's all too familiar and yet completely different because Rob's with me. We shouldn't be here. Or at least
he
shouldn't be. He just won his first fight. He's got a future. But he just keeps his back straight as the guys go through the motions of testing the drugs and then giving us a shot of vodka.

The alcohol is still boiling inside as we step out and head back to Dave's car. Rob's carrying the money, and I feel like such a bitch compared to him. He doesn't seem bothered by any of this. So why am I?

We peel out and don't speak until we're back at the park. “You two work real well together. I'll be sure to let Chaz know.” Dave parks and we step out. He moves into the back, counts the money, and then emerges with two stacks. “Like I said, the busy season is here. I hope you boys are ready to work.”

Dave hands over the money and as much as I don't want to take it, I like its weight. Rob's shoulders drop, and he seems to relax.

“Rob, congrats on the win, too. Even though I woulda taken your ass out. It takes the two of you to take me on.” He laughs and climbs into his car and then drives over to Charity's.

Neither of us speak until Dave and Marcus are inside the trailer. “You're right, Tone, we're fucked.” Rob kicks the ground.

I'm not sure what he means, because when I asked earlier I was talking about the deal, but we came out just fine. “How so?”

He shoots me a look that he keeps for the really stupid around here and I turn away. “Really, you don't get it?”