Retribution 2021
Monday January 18th
Santa Barbara
The Starmaker
------------------------------
Ever have that feeling where you both look forward to and dread a night at the same time? That was me, roughly a week after Gail – my biological mother who I refuse to call 'Mom' – told me and Sydney that she has another daughter, Coral. My sister. I was pissed, it was something else she had kept from me, like literally everything else about where I came from and her life. I'd gone straight to Nate's house and unloaded on him. Sometimes I feel bad for him, he's always had his head on straight and it seems like ever since the day I met him, he's been there to bail me out, make something make sense, talk me down from foolishness. I wanted to cut Gail off, forget Coral existed, I didn't owe these people anything. But Nate calmed me down, got me to see things from Gail's point of view.... I admit that sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own bullshit, how I grew up, that I can't see things other than from the way it affects me. I had to be that way as a kid and teenager just to survive, to stay sane. It saved me back then but its been fucking hell as an adult to learn how to think differently, see things from other perspectives. Nate is good at doing that for me. So, the following day I called Gail and apologized for walking out. She gave me Coral's phone number. I told her to give her mine – I didn't trust myself to actually make the call.
An hour or so later, Coral called me. She has the same rasp in her voice that I do, I guess that comes from somewhere in Gail's genetics. I kinda hated that I liked her view on this mess... we didn't choose this but we share DNA so we might as well meet. I couldn't say no to that, not after I spent all the time and money I did last year to find my family – Corey and Sydney, and that led me to Carla, now known as Gail. I started all this by getting a hair up my ass to find my biological family. It would be dumb to deny them now because I didn't like the answers I found. It certainly wasn't Coral's fault that our mother lied to us both. So, I agreed to meet her... but I wanted it to be on my turf, so to speak. So I invited her to The Starmaker, telling her it was my man's club. Whether or not she knows who we are from wrestling, I had no idea.
I would find out that night though. I sat at the bar at the Starmaker, Tommy and I had just arrived. Thomas was behind the bar as usual. I wasn't helping out tonight, I was there as a patron... as much of a patron as I could be for someone who never paid for a drink. Tommy came out of the hallway where his office was, he'd been back there since I got here. I gave him a grin, my hand wrapped around the gin and tonic in front of me. It was half gone already and I'd just got it five minutes ago. Tommy gave me a kiss and sat next to me.
“Hey babe. Sorry I wasn't out here when you got here, but all the paperwork is done and I am yours for the rest of the night.”
“Good, I'm gonna need you to settle me down after this is over with.”
“So your sister is coming, then?”
I had told Tommy I agreed to meet her, and he had been proud of me. It wasn't that long ago my reaction would have been to tell her to fuck off. I mean, I had lost my entire shit the day I found out Gail was my mother.... I went MIA and ended up at Ashley's apartment, drunk and angry. We'd fucked again, in my attempt to reclaim some kind of normalcy or control over myself. It was completely batshit. It wasn't even that long ago but I feel like a totally different person since then. I gave Tommy a nod as I sipped my gin.
“Yeah. She texted me about an hour ago. She lives in Hollywood Hills so it's a trek.”
“I'd say. How do you feel? Still okay with seeing her?”
“I'm not gonna run out of here at any moment, if that's what you mean. I'm more than a little nervous, though. It's one more person to let in, you know?”
“Only if you feel comfortable doing so. All you're doing now is meeting her.”
I sighed. “Yeah.” I drained my drink. “Do me a favor?”
Tommy smirked. “Get you another drink?”
“Well, that too... but I was gonna say, distract me.”
“I can do both.” Tommy got up, grabbed my glass, and mixed me another gin and tonic, then slid it to me as he leaned on the bar across from me. “So, that distraction. I made a hire at Ante Up today.”
“Oh yeah? Trainer?”
“Indeed. Pretty good get actually, I can thank Tom for that. I would have never though to consider the guy, but I think it'll work out great, despite some not-so-nice ancient history.”
“That could refer to literally almost anyone. Do I know this guy?”
“I'm sure you know of him, I don't know if you've met him. But you will, he's coming in here tonight. I invited him for a drink or three to sort of catch up.”
“Am I gonna have to guess, or are you gonna tell me who it is?”
Tommy laughed. “Right, it's... well, he just walked in.”
Tommy gestured towards the door. I turned and looked... and really hoped Tommy was joking.
“Gable Winchester?” I spun to Tommy in shock. “You hired him?!”
“Oh, so you do know him.”
“Of course I know him, I used to fuck around with Ryan, remember?” Ryan Watson, former best friend of mine who actually trained me to wrestle. He was married to Autumn Valentine when I met him, but I quickly found out it was sham marriage, meant to keep Ryan in the country due to some visa thing I didn't fully understand. So, while everyone knew Ryan and I were friends and he trained me, almost no one knew about our fucking around. I had told Tommy when he and I first started hooking up.
“Couldn't possibly forget.” Tommy and Ryan never exactly got along, they tried for my sake, until Ryan and Autumn went along with some bullshit with the Tag Titles that Ravyn Taylor and Christy Matthews concocted and Ryan and I weren't the same after that. I can't even remember the last time I spoke to him.
“What the fuck made you think this was a good idea?”
“Wait... is there something between you two that I don't know about? Did you...?”
I shook my head. “No... nothing like that. It's complicated. I never met him but he might not be my biggest fan.”
“Why not? If you never-”
“Shit, he's coming this way...”
Tommy and I both watched as Gable spotted Tommy and grinned, giving a nod before starting to walk in our direction. Tommy walked back around the bar, and greeted him with a handshake.
“You made it, good to see you.”
“Nice place you got here. I've heard about it but never been.”
“Thanks man, we put a lot into it.” Tommy gave me a glance. “And by we, I mean myself and this beautiful woman here.”
Gable gave me a smile. “Kandis, right?”
“That's right.”
He offered me his hand too, I took it, but I was nervous. “Good to meet you, heard a lot about you too.”
“You have?” Oh boy, here we fucking go.
“Pretty sure we have a few old friends in common.”
“Suppose we do.”
“So, Tommy tells me you help out with a few classes at Ante Up?”
It certainly seemed like the man didn't know anything about what I'd done, so I relaxed a little and smiled. “I do, just some beginner and intermediate striking. I was into competitive kickboxing for a long time before wrestling.”
“I'll try not to piss you off, then.” Gable laughed. Yeah, me too, dude... me too. I think Tommy could sense I was still slightly uncomfortable so he came to the rescue.
“I did however forget to tell you about the name of this club.” I grinned.
“Starmaker, yeah? You get up and coming bands in or something?”
“Maybe eventually, but that's not the purpose. It's Kandis' finisher.”
“Oh right, I thought it sounded familiar. Impressive move, by the way.”
“Thanks. Very illegal in kickboxing, but very effective in wrestling.” If I can hit it, which I haven't had the chance much lately... but this guy didn't want to hear that shit. I was still waiting for the penny to drop.
“And got this place going with a reputation straight away. I think it's a big reason for the success.”
“Oh come on.” I gave Tommy a sideways look.
“I do! People obviously expected to see you at the place named for you.” He smirked.
“Install a pole over there in the corner and I'll really bring in some business.”
Gable laughed, and Tommy chuckled a little... I had made that comment before and he was not a fan of the idea. Joking or otherwise. I was half-serious though. Might as well profit off my reputation, right? “You don't need a pole for that.”
Gable looked back and forth between us, it seemed like he was a little put off by our banter. I still can't tell if he knows what I did.
“And on that note... I'm gonna take this beer here and have a look around the place.” Gable held the bottle up as he announced this.
“Go right ahead.”
Gable walked off, looking this way and that, sipping his beer. I turned to Tommy.
“Holy fuck. I can't tell if he knows.”
“What?” Tommy sat on the stool next to me again, as before.
“As if tonight wasn't nervewracking enough, now I get to deal with this? Either he doesn't know and all of this is fine, or he does know and he's just fucking with me to see if I bring it up. And you hired him! Fuck!” More gin. Tommy grabbed my wrist and pushed my arm down, the glass away from my mouth.
“For the last time Kandis, knows what?”
I took a deep breath and inhaled half my fresh gin and tonic. “I guess I have to tell you. But you should know the story involves fucking.”
“Of course it does. Just spill it.”
“Okay. You already know me ad Ryan used to have a thing.” Tommy nodded, a slight roll in his eyes. Neither one of them understood what I saw in the other, never realizing how similar they actually are. “So, I knew from the start that Ryan and Autumn were married but it was a front.”
“Yeah, you told me and swore me to secrecy, as if I gave a fuck.”
I ignored that and continued. “So, one afternoon at my apartment, we were going at it. I was riding pretty hard and he was talking dirty, usual shit... except he called me her name.”
“Autumn?”
“Yeah.” Tommy made a face. “I know, right? So I hopped right the fuck off and that was the end of that. I mean, obviously he had her on the brain something hard, to forget this was on top of him, right?”
“I could do without the graphic details, you know.”
“I told you sex was involved.” Tommy shrugged. “Anyway. So he was trying to blow it off, like it was just an accident or something, but I'm not fucking stupid. So after about a week of him acting like nothing happened and avoiding the issue, I sat him down in front of a camera and basically made him admit to himself and to her that he still loved her.”
“That's incredibly sweet and incredibly nauseating at the same time.”
“I admit some of the shit he talked about when I asked questions did make me a little queasy, that was back when me and emotions didn't get along.”
“I remember that too, thankfully I fixed that for you.”
I grinned. “Yeah, you did. Anyway... so there was this recording and on it was everything he thought and felt about her, so I gave it to him and told him he knew what to do with it. He gave it to her... and wham, they were a real couple. Except for the fact that Autumn had been seeing Gable secretly, kinda like Ryan had been fucking me on the downlow.”
“Oh shit.”
“Right?! I had no idea of this, obviously, until Ryan told me that Gable didn't take the news well.”
“I can't imagine that he did. I mean... here he was dating this girl that the world thought was married to someone else... and then it turns out they're actually together? Damn, that's gotta hurt.”
“Oh you think? And I was the fucking catalyst! I made Ryan admit it and tell her!”
“So that's what you're worried Gable knows? That you played a role with Ryan and Autumn?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but closed it very quickly when I realized Gable had walked up behind Tommy. He put a hand on Tommy's shoulder as he stepped forward so we could both see him. Tommy looked up, looking just about as nervous as I felt since the man walked into the club.
“Played what role with those two?”
Fuck! “I... um...”
“Look, I already know you were Ryan's side piece back then, like I was Autumn's secret, she told me. Is that what you were talking about?”
“So you don't know...” I then cringed at myself knowing that making that statement was going to make Gable ask.
“Know what?”
Fuck! “You know what, fine. If you're going to be working at the Academy, this might as well come up now rather than later, just get it out of the way.”
Gable glanced at Tommy, who shrugged. “Don't look at me, brosef, I just heard it myself just now.”
“Heard what? Kandis...?”
“Ryan and Autumn. I... sorta, convinced him to tell her how he felt and-”
“Oh, so that mess was your fault?” I couldn't tell if he was glaring or just incredulous. It was a little dark in the club.
“If you want to put it that way? I mean, it was going to happen anyway, I just... pushed.” He didn't need to know the whole “Ryan called me Autumn's name while fucking me” part. There was a tense silence for a few moments, as I braces myself for anger, yelling, anything. But then.... Gable just smirked. What?
“Wow... alright. I had no idea anyone else played a part in that other than those two, but I appreciate your honesty.”
“Really? That's it?”
“What do you want me to do? Yell at you?”
“I'm sorry, okay? I had no idea that she was with anyone.”
“No one did. That was kinda the point, remember?” I thought to myself that Ryan had to have known, and never told me.
“Right.”
Gable looked down, shaking his head. I was still waiting for the explosion. Tommy broke the tension. “I didn't know any of this, is there gonna be a problem here?”
Gable looked back up, that smirk was still there. “No man, no problem at all.”
“We can work the schedule so my classes aren't at the same time as yours, and-”
“I said there was no problem. I can't exactly be mad at you over something you didn't know, can I?”
I glanced at Tommy. He knew Gable better than I did, I was looking for a clue that he was being for real. Tommy just gave me an almost imperceptible nod.
“When you put it that way, I guess it does sound a little silly. I just-”
“Hey. Don't worry about it. It was a long time ago.”
“Okay.”
“So, everything is good here?”
“Sure. Perfectly fine. This is gonna a whole lot of fun.... great club by the way. But I should head out, got to be at work bright and early, right? Thanks for the drinks.”
“Anytime. See you tomorrow.”
Gable gave us both a nod before walking off. I would have sworn I saw him shaking his head as he walked away.
I turned back to Tommy, no less stressed than I was before. “I don't know if I believe him.”
“You know... I don't know either. Maybe I should have run things by you before agreeing to the hire?”
“That's ridiculous, its your academy. You had no way of knowing I had anything to do with him, or them, or... you know what I mean. I just....” I shook my head, having no words. I just drank more gin.
“It'll work out. He's a professional.”
“We'll see.” Just then, my phone buzzed in my cleavage. I pulled it out. “Fuck!”
“Now what?”
“My sister is here.” One stressful thing straight into another. I looked up towards the door, and there was no mistaking who Coral was. There is a strong family resemblance, and it unnerved me to the bone. I got up, finished my drink, and thunked the glass on the bar. “Wish me luck.”
“Luck.” Tommy gave my ass a light swat. I grinned at him before walking away.
I watched as Coral found a table, then turned to look around the club. That was when I decided to make my approach. She spotted me as I was about halfway across the club, I could tell because her eyes went wide, then she smiled. She stood up from her chair as I walked up.
“Well, there's no mistaking you for anyone other than Kandis. Holy shit.”
“Coral.” She nodded. “Like looking in a mirror, huh?”
“Some kind of fun house mirror that adds tattoos anyway.” We both smirked. I have a full sleeve, but as far as I can tell, Coral has no ink at all. We have the same curves, her ass is almost as wide as mine. I'm slightly taller. Her hair is shoulder length, straightened, and dyed jet black, but I can see lighter brunette roots under the tiny light that's over the table. Her face is a little longer than mine, less full lips, and her eyes are brown rather than my green. All minor differences.
“And tits, but I paid for these.” Coral laughed.
“I thought about it, does that count?”
“Sure.”
“So um... do we... like, shake hands, or, what?”
In reply, stuck my hand out. I didn't want to hug this woman who looked just like me until I decided if I liked her. She accepted. I gestured to the table, and we sat across from each other.
“Do you want a drink? On the house.”
“As tempting as that is, it's a long drive back home. Just a Coke would be good.”
I nodded, turned towards the bar, and waved to get Tommy's attention. He looked, I gave him a hand signal for two Coke's. It's basically two fingers followed by an ASL 'C'. Bartenders aren't very original. We had signs for common drink orders. He nodded. I turned back to Coral.
“Coming up.”
“Great. So... sorry, but I don't know how or where to start here.”
“That makes both of us. Dive right in, I guess?”
“Might as well. So, how pissed were you when you found out all of Mom's lies?”
I had to laugh, it sounded dry and rough though. “Um, well... I went on a bender and fucked one of my students. You?”
“Wait... students...?” Coral looked horrified.
“Oh. Shit. Not like that. Wrestling students. He's like... twenty-five.”
“Oh... fuck, you scared me for a hot minute.”
“Yeah, sorry. I forgot you don't actually know a whole lot about me. Tommy also owns and runs a wrestling school. And I help out training. The student in question is sort of his personal project. I guess mine too, in a way. But you didn't ask all of that. Short answer... pretty fucking pissed.”
Tommy then walked up with two glasses of Coke on ice.
“Thanks. This is Coral... Gail's other daughter.” I wasn't about to call her my sister in front of her.
“Hey, nice to meet you.”
“You too. Great club.”
“Thanks. By the way, in case Kandis hasn't told you, anything you want tonight is on the house.”
“She did, thanks.”
Tommy gave me a look, I took it to mean he noticed how much Coral looked like me. I nodded.
“Well, I'll leave you to it. Wave if you want a refill, or something else.”
“Thanks babe.”
Tommy left. Coral leaned over on the table. “I hope you don't mind me saying, but that dude is a damn meal.”
“Why do you think I gave up the buffet?”
Coral laughed. I know she had no idea of how I used to get around, but I guess it was a funny line either way.
“Don't blame you. Anyway. You asked me how pissed I was.”
“I did.”
“Not go-on-a-bender pissed, but I did tell Mom to fuck off. I even called her that other name for a few days.”
“Carla.”
“Yeah, that one. She hated it. But I knew that, and that's why I did it. Like... my whole fucking life has been a lie, you know? My name isn't my name.”
“That's exactly how I felt. Everything I knew was a lie, too.”
“It's almost like we had the same life, huh?”
I couldn't stop myself from laughing, harsh. “Kinda, but not really. We were both lied to, thanks to the woman that gave birth to both of us, but there's one pretty big difference between us, doll. You got to grow up with her.”
For the first time, Coral seemed to really grasp everything about me and my existence. She sat back a bit, nodding. “That is a pretty big difference, I'll give you that.”
“All my life I was told my mother died when I was a baby, I was found in her arms as she was dead on the street.”
“Shit.”
“So to be told that this woman I thought was my mother's friend and the person who saved me, was actually my mother and person who abandoned me? Yeah... that was a system shock.”
“Fuck. You know, I hadn't even looked at it that way. All I could think about was the fact that my mother's name isn't Gail McCarthy, it's Carla Destrehan, and my name is a lie.”
“So is mine. The state named me, I was found in a park, so they made it Park.” I rolled my eyes. I couldn't believe I just told her that, I hate my name more than just about anything else that exsits. But I had nothing else to change it to.
“Wow... so they didn't think that would fuck you up at some point?”
“Please, they barely cared to vet the foster homes they placed me in, you think they gave a fuck about a name?”
“Bad people?”
“Not all of them. Some actually cared. But other places, I was either mistreated, ignored, or raped.”
“What?! No way.... I mean, not that you're lying... shit, I put my foot into it...”
“No, it's fine. You wouldn't think people who were certified by the state to take care of children would be so fucked up, but the entire system was garbage back then. It's better now, that guy is in jail.”
“Thank fuck.”
“But it doesn't change what he did, or any of the other bullshit I went through before I was placed with the foster family that ended up being my family.”
“I can't begin to imagine how fucked up that was for you, but I want you to know something. Just because I grew up with Mom doesn't mean I had a perfect life. She wasn't the greatest mother, I'm not sure you really missed anything.”
“You know, as much as I've tried to give her a chance and accept her as part of my life... I'm really not all that surprised to hear that.”
Coral downed half the Coke at once, then gave me a somber look. “Imagine all your foster homes rolled into one, led by Mom. Well, without the rape, thankfully.”
“That bad, huh?”
“She had a lot of boyfriends, most of them short term, most of them garbage, and some abusive. One was an alcoholic on top of that. There were a lot of nights I couldn't sleep because of her yelling and arguing with whoever the Dick of the Month was. I'd forget their names. I can't remember any faces, they're all a blur in my memories. As much as I hate my father for leaving me behind when he walked away from her, I can't really blame him, either.”
I just looked at her for a few moments. Maybe we weren't so different after all, despite her having grown up with the mother I never had.
“I'm sorry it was so shitty for you. I had this idea in my head that you had this... like, perfect life, with an actual mother, while I was left behind to pretty much fend for myself. I thought I would resent you for being the one she kept.”
“I'm sorry I ruined your idea of what having Mom around must have been like. I used to wish she would have let my father take me with him when he left.”
“I used to sit under the tree in the park where I was found and wish I died with her. Joke was on me, she's not dead.”
We sat in silence about a minute, processing everything we'd told each other. I agreed to meet Coral but I wanted to hate her. She had a mother and I didn't. But it turns out Gail wasn't much of a mother at all. I wondered how much Coral had left out. I know I glossed over a lot of the really shitty details of my foster homes, she had to have left out some fucked up things. Coral broke our silence with a laugh.
“Fuck. Imagine coming here and expecting to hate each other for whatever reason, then bonding over the fact our lives were shit thanks to our lying mother.”
“Right? What a shock.” I laughed. Then gave her a head tilt. “Wait. You expected to hate me?”
“I don't know. Maybe not hate. But like... dislike? Like maybe she treated me like shit because she wished I was you, the kid she had to give up. It doesn't make sense put into words.”
“No, it does. I totally get it. I thought I would hate you, because she had you to replace me. Fuck, we sound like children.”
“I mean, aren't we? Didn't all this shit like stunt our mental development or some shit? That's what my shrink says, anyway.”
I smirked. “The day I found out about my mother, I actually told someone I was a fucked up teenager walking around in an adult's body.”
“I know that feeling.”
I really wanted something other than this Coke, like another gin and tonic, but I got the feeling there was a reason Coral didn't drink, other than the fact she had a long drive back home, so I didn't call for one.
“So, I have an idea. What do you say we forget the fact that we share DNA thanks to that woman, and try to make the best of it that we can?”
Coral grinned. “Are you saying you want to be friends?”
“It's better than being enemies for no reason, right?”
“That's a hell of an argument. Deal.”
Coral then extended me her pinky. I looked at it then at her. “Um... really?”
She shrugged, but left her finger out. “I don't know... I figure maybe we'd have done stupid shit like this if we'd had the chance to grow up together.” She wiggled her pinky at me. I had a quick flash of imagination, being eight or nine years old, with a little girl tagging along after me, how I'd have probably done anything and everything to protect her, because that's what I do for people I care about. Fuck it. I smiled, then gripped her pinky with mine.
“Yeah, I guess we would have.” We both tugged a little harder, before letting go.
“I really hate to do this, but I have to go. It's a long drive back to the Hills and I have to work tomorrow.”
“Of course. I'm glad you hauled ass all the way up here to do this on my terms.”
“So am I. I had a bet with myself over if it would be a waste of my time. I lost.”
I laughed. “Nah, I think maybe you won.”
“Maybe.” She smiled as she stood up. I stood too, and she came around the table. “Too soon for a hug?”
“I think I'll risk it.”
And we hugged. It wasn't even weird.
We made plans to meet again sometime soon when we both had more time. I went back to the bar, where Tommy had another gin and tonic ready for me. I had a big gulp of it, as everything I didn't get to ask Coral went through my head. What kind of work did she do? Did she have a boyfriend? Or a girlfriend? Kids? As I told Tommy how it went, how I had been mistaken thinking she had a better life than me just because she had a mother, I told myself that I had plenty of time to learn all of those things about her. Coral and I had both been fucked over by our mother, what a strange thing to bond over, right? But it was something.
Thursday, February 4th
Kansas City
Before Breakdown
----------------------------
After a very interesting and... entertaining, night right before, Tommy and I headed to Denver for Last Grasp of Reality. He was facing Asher Hayes, the two of them had been at each others throats for weeks, attacking each other, costing each other matches. It was time to settle up. And me? I was set to face Peyton Rice. Again. Only this time I knew, I just knew I had her number, would have her dead to rights, and I would get the victory over her I had been looking for since we were both in Emerge. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance, because the bitch didn't even show up! Nah, she decided to pull out and stay home, claiming she had to take care of her injured mentor Kelcey Wallace. Nevermind the fact Kelcey was hurt because of her own stupidity. But I didn't care what Peyton's excuse was, I knew the truth. The bitch was afraid of me. I'd had enough of her shit and provoked her into this match, yet she backed out at the last minute. I was fed some SCW noob, Crystal something or other, and I kicked her ass, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't satisfying. It wasn't the ass I wanted to kick. Tommy's match with Asher wasn't satisfying either, they went hard and hurt each other but the match was a no contest. We went home and kept a low profile. Did our thing at Ante Up (which amazingly wasn't awkward at all so far), while recovering and plotting until the next Breakdown came along.
In Kansas City, I was set to face Aaron Blackbourne, one of Peyton's little Perfect Pack buddies. But before that, I had a friend to talk to.
Tommy had gone to a meeting with someone from the office, for all I knew it was Mr. D himself, I didn't ask. It just made it convenient for me to meet Minerva at our hotel room, as she had asked to speak to me. After she arrived, we shared a beer before getting to business.
“I'm impressed you're even here, honestly. Didn't feel like getting another fine?”
“Doesn't matter really. Not like I paid this one.” She smirked.
“Let me guess... the old man?”
“You got it. He does anything I ask him. It would be sweet if... you know.”
“Yeah...” I made a face of disgust. “Let's change the subject already.”
“Okay. Tell me, how angry are you that Pretty Peyton bailed on fighting you?”
“I don't think I have the fancy words to describe it.” I glared. Minerva laughed.
“That's what I thought. Little bitch thinks she's so much better than everyone else, but she's really just a little girl trying to play adult games.”
“She isn't even doing that, the bitch is a straight up hypocrite. Been ranting her whole damn career about fighting for what's right, respecting the business... then she just disrespects me by not showing up to fight!”
“Right? She has some fucking nerve.”
“And now her little friend Aaron is out here tonight trying to fight her fight for her.”
“It's disgusting how she manages to con people into taking her side and fighting her fights for her, so she doesn't have to do anything but stand there, thinking she looks pretty.”
“She thinks.” We laugh. “Wonder how long it will be before she shows her face here again. I'd really love to kick it in.”
“Believe me, I understand. I have my own issues with the bitch, her face is pretty punchable.”
I glanced at her oddly over my beer bottle. “Oh yeah? I didn't know you really knew her. What's the deal?”
“Oh... you must not be aware of my family. Do you remember when a man named John Goddard was in SCW, and declared himself Peyton's protector?” I nodded. “He is my father.”
“Oh shit.” I was legit surprised. That man hadn't been around for long, but I did remember him being all up in Peyton's business. I wondered if he was like her uncle or something. I never really understood why he gave a fuck about her.
“Yes, he took the time to come here and babysit her, try to mentor her, be some kind of guardian... all the while putting his own daughter second. Peyton Rice has a father, she didn't need mine! She owes me for that.”
“I'd say so. I thought she did me dirty, but damn girl.”
“She did us both dirty. And this is what I wanted to speak to you about. I have an idea that will give us both our pound of flesh.”
“I'm all ears.”
“I haven't quite worked out the details yet, but it does involve knocking that cunt down a few rungs when I can catch her unaware. As soon as I have it figured out I will let you know.”
“Well, she isn't coming to any Breakdowns for a while, is what I've heard.”
“She doesn't need to. I know where she stays. I can go to her. I just need to work around my schedule, Drake.... and the old man.”
I made a face, shaking my head. “I really don't know how you do it, doll. Make yourself fuck around with that guy.”
Minerva grins. “Willpower, the knowledge that once everything plays out I will have the last laugh. Also, lots of alcohol, and the knowledge that a virile man waits for me afterwards.”
I smirked. Virile, indeed. “I'm sure that helps you get through the worst part of it.” It would sure help me. Wait... I'm not supposed to think about Drake like that anymore. Old habits die hard I guess.
“Very much so. So, are you okay with this plan? What I'm thinking of is a one-woman operation. Sort of a... surgical strike.”
“Okay. You can get your hands dirty with this one, I'm on board. Just keep me in the loop. And do me a favor.”
“What's that?”
“Make sure she knows I'm in on this and that when she does show her face again? She has to step up to me.”
“Consider it done.”
We both smiled at the plan, such as it was. Little did I know at the time how serious Minerva was about the 'pound of flesh' euphemism she dropped. We clinked our beer bottles and drank. I then heard a buzzing, but it wasn't my phone. Minerva pulled hers out of her pocket.
“Ugh... one minute.” I nodded as she tapped the screen to answer.
“Hey sexy.... yes I'm at the hotel.... just chatting with a friend.... of course I can meet you sweetie... oh you have something for me? I can't wait to see what it is... see you soon sexy.” She then made a kissy sound into the phone. She ended the call and set her phone on the table.
“I really hope whatever you're after fucking with that guy will be worth it.”
Minerva smirked. “Almost as worth it as it will be when Peyton is out of the picture for good.”
I smirked back. I was just starting to realize what kind of person my new friend was, and I liked it. Her take no prisoners attitude is exactly what I have been trying to be myself, and I got the feeling that we were going to cause some damage together, in a good way. Minerva stood up and finished her beer, then grabbed her phone. “I have to go meet the old man. I have a gift to collect, which I think is a coat I told him last week I wanted. The least I can do is be punctual. Especially after paying my fine.”
I laughed. Minerva really had that geezer wrapped around her finger. Or clit, more like. Okay, gross, I just made myself sick. Minerva gave me a wave as she left my room. I sat back with the rest of my beer, satisfied with the idea that Peyton Rice was going to get what she had coming, one way or another. It might not be at my hands, but whatever Minerva would eventually do her? I would enjoy the fuck out of watching.
Friday, February 19
Santa Barbara
Home
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Breakdown the night before had been unpredictable. It was the World Championship Gauntlet match that Ace Marshall used his Trios contract for. Fifteen people fought over the title. It seemed everyone but the champion Bree Lancaster herself was predicting a new champion. Unfortunately for her, everyone else was right. After the show was over, I heard people talking backstage about how Lancaster had been hurt in her one match where Glory Braddock beat her, and I wondered if that was he real reason she lost. It didn't seem like her to go down that easily after everyone else she'd beaten in the last year, including Tommy. I was pretty sure when she surfaced and made a statement, things would be cleared up. All anyone knew for sure though was that the next few weeks would be interesting. Braddock didn't keep the title, Chris Cannon took it from her and outlasted everyone else, ending the night as World Champion. And another Trios was now in play, the one that motherfucker David Helms has been sitting on. He made a scaffold match for Retribution, giving the winner a shot at the World Championship, and handpicked all eight entrants. Obviously that meant neither me or Tommy would be involved, and that was fine with us both. Neither one of us wanted a handout from that particular hand.
I didn't really care all that much about the World Championship, even if Tommy was paying attention. I was more interested in the plans Minerva and I made. I spoke to her on the phone while walking backstage at Breakdown, she was about to put things in motion. I hadn't heard from her afterwards, but I also heard nothing about anything happening to Peyton. I knew nothing until Minerva had texted me early the morning after Breakdown - “Not the right time, will try again.” I asked her what happened, but got no further details. I guess it would wait until I saw her in person.
Tommy and I got home Friday morning. He hauled our luggage upstairs while I made coffee. I was sitting at the table with my cup and some toast when he came back down. I watched him fix his cup and some toast for himself before he sat across from me.
“Hear from your friend yet about your plans for Peyton?”
“Nothing new, no. I'm guessing she can't really talk about it right now. She'll tell me when she can.”
“Are you sure this isn't maybe a blessing in disguise?”
I stared at him over my coffee cup. “What do you mean?”
“She hasn't done anything yet, it's a chance to call it off.”
“Even if I wanted to do that, I don't think I could stop her. She has her own heat with Peyton.”
“So essentially she's taking from you the chance to take down Peyton yourself. Are you sure this alliance is a good idea?”
“It's not just an alliance, babe. She's my friend. We think alike, we understand each other.”
“And you're both associated with Hemingway.” Tommy sipped his coffee as if he hadn't just said something accusatory.
“Yes, he's my friend and her man. What's your point?”
“I don't want to start any old arguments up or anything-”
“Then don't.”
“But... I am going to ask point blank, because dancing around it won't do us any favors. Did you strike up a friendship with Minerva just to have another reason to associate or be closer to him?”
I actually laughed. “Come on Tommy, that's ridiculous! You think I don't know how you feel about him? How fucking stupid would I be to do something like that?”
Tommy held his hands up in concession. “Alright, you know I had to ask.”
“No, you really didn't. Minerva asked me for workout tips to build up her ass, that has nothing to do with Drake! I thought you were going to let this go.” I had zero desire to revisit the nastiness that had risen up after I spent the night with Drake about a year ago, and Tommy lost his shit when I told him. I never really knew exactly what it was about him that Tommy didn't like, but I wasn't in the position back then to ask questions like that. Things were.... different? Tense? Between us for a while following that. I had rules, I had to do anything I was told. It was pretty fucked up looking back, I just let it happen because I didn't know any better. I had fucked up and I didn't want to again, so I told him... just tell me what to do. It got out of hand and we both called that particular directive off. Things were a lot better now, Tommy had even stopped giving me shit over talking to Drake. He knew we stayed in touch.
“I thought I was, too. I backed off you keeping in touch with him, I believed what you said about that night being exactly that, one night, settling something between you. I admit I don't understand it, but I believe you meant it when you said it was only going to be just the once. But-”
“But what? You never did tell me what about him you didn't like. All you ever said was that you don't trust him, you never told me why. I didn't ask at the time, I didn't think I was really in a position to ask, but I'm asking now. Why is this even a thing, I haven't seen him in months! Where is this coming from all over again, huh?”
Tommy sighed and set his coffee cup down slowly, I could tell he was trying to stay calm. I had a feeling this was always going to be a volatile subject, and I wanted to know why, dammit!
“Honestly? I have just always had a gut feeling that the man is eventually going to make some kind of move on you, that he's just biding his time, despite the fact the world knows you're mine.”
“That's not going to happen. If he wanted to, he would have tried by now. But he won't, trust me.”
“How do you know that?”
“I know you don't like me talking about that one night, but I need you to hear this. That night, he asked me about you. He didn't want to cause trouble. I had no idea it was going to be a problem. He respects you, and us. Besides, he is with Minerva now.”
“Right. Then what's with the Twitter comments?”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you kidding me right now? You're using fucking Twitter to make a point?” Tommy just stared at me, waiting for me to answer his question. I remember that look from last year. “Fine. He's my friend and wants to see me succeed. Is supporting me a bad thing?”
“I was talking about the picture comments.”
“Oh, that's what's under your skin? Dozens of men comment on my pictures and he's the one that pisses you off? You're barely even on there lately and you saw that shit? Come on!”
“Yeah, I saw it. And look, I really don't want to be that kind of guy.... not again... but it all does make me question his intentions.”
I thought back to some of Drake's comments on my Twitter pictures. I had to admit to myself that I liked the fact he noticed, and okay, maybe Tommy had a point, looking at it from his point of view. Here was a guy he was never happy about the fact I was involved with, complimenting my ass.
“Okay, fine. I get that. I can see how it looks from your side. But how does that lead to questioning my intentions for being friends with Minerva? Do you think I'm really gonna make friends with a woman just to try to.... what, steal her man? I have a man! I don't want another one.”
Tommy sighed again. “It's not that, Kandis... I just don't trust him, okay? And if she's with him, I have to wonder if I can trust her. Can you?”
“I guess we'll find out if she comes through taking care of Peyton.” I grinned. The look on his face told me the grin was not appreciated, so I forced it away.
“You do remember that I trained Peyton, right?”
“Yeah. So? Got a soft spot for the bitch?” If he was gonna give me shit about Drake, it was a fair question, right?
“Not exactly. Not like that...”
“Then like what? She's been disrespecting me for years, and when I finally had the chance to shut her up and show her up, she walked away? I'm supposed to ignore that? Did you teach her to act like that?”
“Of course not! I get it, I really do. I guess I just thought maybe you'd want to take care of it yourself, and not leave it in the hands of someone you just met and barely know, even if you do seem like, what was it you called her? Kindred spirits.”
“I did want to handle her myself. I was going to at Last Grasp, but the bitch ran! But, Minerva has a score to settle with her too, so I didn't see the harm in letting her do the dirty work, while we sit back and enjoy it.”
“And you're really okay with that?”
“Yes.”
“What if she never returns from whatever you two cooked up and you never get your own receipt?”
“Not gonna happen. That woman is too hard headed and too full of pride to not come after both of us. She'll try... and I will get mine then. I can be very, very patient when it comes to getting what I want.” Don't believe me? Just ask Drake. I wasn't going to say that, though. Tommy looked at me thoughtfully. He sipped his coffee, then finally nodded.
“Alright. As long as you're okay with it going down this way.”
“I am. Minerva can have her fun, I can be patient. I'll enjoy seeing whatever damage she does. Now, I need you.... to be okay with my friendship with her, and for the dozenth time, please trust me about Drake.”
“It has been about a year and he hasn't tried anything shady...”
“See?” I grinned. I might have finally into Tommy's head that Drake is not a threat. Fuck... that's probably what all of this is about.
“We'll see how this plays out and go from there. Fair?”
“Yeah. That's fair.”
I started to pick at my toast, and Tommy got up to get more coffee. He even refilled mine for me, and the rest of the morning went by as if nothing tense had been discussed. Maybe it was just a momentary lapse in trust or something? I hoped so.
ON CAMERA
So let me get this straight.... Pretty Peyton Rice takes a powder and ducks me. Everyone seems to be perfectly fine with that... they buy her excuse that she needs to be there for Kelcey Wallace, as if that woman doesn't have people crawling over each other trying to 'take care' of her. No one thinks there's anything wrong with this bitch backing out of a fight that she asked for! We're all just supposed to smile and nod and accept that she's being a hero or loyal or some shit to stay at her mentor's side...
Give me a fucking break!
So then I'm put up against Aaron Blackbourne in her stead. Yeah, the motherfucker got me, what do you want me to say? He had something to prove and me? Well, he wasn't who I wanted to fight.
I. WANTED. PEYTON.
So I don't give a fuck about the fact Aaron got one over on me. It's not like he flattened me, I didn't make it easy for him. I've never been the one to make excuses for getting beat, the fact is he just had a little more in the tank, something more to prove, than I did that night. And that's fine.
But I'm moving on now.
And I'm sure allll of you want to know, what exactly did I have to do with the brutal, vicious attack on Peyton Rice that my new best friend Minerva took it upon herself to do? Here's a scoop dolls... I had everything to do with it. You heard Minnie, she did it as a favor for me. Sure, she has her own issues with bitch, but disrespecting me? Ducking me? That was the final straw. The things that Minerva has heat with Peyton over... passive. Things that Peyton just accepted, allowed to happen, with Minerva's father trying to be all Daddy Dearest with her instead of looking after his own family. I admit I don't really understand all this family drama... the way I grew up isn't what you would call normal. But it hurt Minerva, and that's all that mattered. She and I struck up a friendship, we bonded over squats and talks of manipulating things to our advantage... so what bothers one of us, bothers the other. She made me an offer I couldn't disagree with. Let her take matters into her own hands.... and we both get what we want.
Peyton Rice out of the picture. For the foreseeable future at the least, and maybe even for good.
I'll tell you a secret though, I hope Peyton makes a full recovery. I hope she gets her knee put back together and her face fixed.... it won't be as 'pretty' as it was before – didn't I tell you Pey-Pey that it wouldn't be when I was done with you? But regardless what she looks like, how many scars she has thanks to Minerva's brilliant plan and my green light.... I want Peyton to find the ovaries to get in my face. Try to give me shit, get revenge for my role in what happened to her. I will smile, and sweetly say....
You had your chance, bitch! This is what you get when you disrespect me!
I want everyone on this roster to take notice. Watch that video Minerva paid production to air. Watch it a dozen times. And understand that just because Minerva is the one who got her hands dirty this time? Doesn't mean I can't, or I won't take the time and effort to do it myself if necessary.
I especially hope that Owen Cruze paid attention.
Owen.... doll. Peyton is a good friend of yours, isn't she? You're the last one of this Perfect Pack bullshit that I've been set to cross paths with, and you seem to be the one with the worst attitude. Yeah, I know, you said you were done with the Perfect Pack. But then you had your little heart to heart with Aaron, then you were so broken up about Poor Peyton... it seems like you say one thing and act another. But, let's say I give you the benefit of the doubt and just accept that you were upset and angry about Peyton being taken out just because you're friends. I know you were friends before the Perfect Pack was a thing. I heard rumors that maybe.... you were more than that. I don't care if you were or weren't, that's not really my business. The point I'm trying to make here, is that for a guy who says he was done with this little group you all had, a guy who wants to go his own way and fight his own fights.... you sure do seem to be looking to fuck me up just for being complicit in what Minerva did to Miss Pretty Perfect. I know you didn't go barging into Sasha's office demanding to fight me... at least, not to my knowledge. But you know what else I didn't see?
You didn't refuse the fight. You didn't stick to your words of being done with all of it, leaving the Perfect Pack to fend for themselves, going your own way. You're coming to fight me, Owen. I'll credit you with that, you're not making the same mistake Peyton did, so that's a plus. The problem though is that it also makes you a hypocrite.
You've talked ever since Last Grasp about wanting to go your own way, make your own path. Yet here you are, still sticking up for that 'fight the good fight' bullshit that Peyton has been preaching for years. You whined about 'cowards running around' and how nothing stops the bullshit that you've been fighting against. I think you have some wires crossed doll, because the only coward in this entire conversation...
…. is Peyton!
She is the one who demanded to fight me because she didn't like the fact Tommy and I threw a match that we didn't care about, then bailed! She is the one who left you and Aaron here to deal with the aftermath and didn't give a fuck that Aries was still fucking with you, didn't care that Blake Mason was trying to kill him, despite the fact that everyone by now has heard the story about how he was the one who pulled the plug on your little group, not you!
So here you are, wanting to strike out on your own, yet salty as fuck that you kinda actually weren't given much of a choice. You practically told Aaron to fuck off. And now, Peyton won't be back any time soon, if ever. And you? You looked like youngest version of Eyeore I've ever seen. Moping around, looking for all the world like your best friend abandoned you. I mean, it's what you wanted, wasn't it? To be left alone?
To be on your own?
Then why the fuck do you care what happened to Peyton? Because I have news for you, doll.... Minerva and I aren't the reason Peyton isn't here anymore. Nah... she did abandon you! When she chose to stay home and fight the hoarde lining up to pamper Kelcey Wallace instead of sticking around here and doing what she's spent years trying to convince everyone that they should do... fight, no matter what, against the odds, because it was the right thing to do.... that's when she abandoned you.
She abandoned everyone she ever inspired, she abandoned her own image, the brand she built.
And yet here you are Owen... pathetically still trying to live up to the farce she sold you and every single one of the people who believed in her on.
It's actually really sad. And no wonder you didn't want to talk last week. Because I think you know it, Owen. I think you know damn fucking well what Peyton really did. She worked all of you up into a righteous frenzy then left you to finish the fight.
That's not very becoming of someone who calls herself Pretty Perfect, is it?
So, you have a choice to make, Owen. You can show up, walk up to me face to face, look me in the eyes.... and fight Peyton's war.
Or. You can walk up to me face to face, look me in the eyes... and be your own man. Do you really want to take me out for her? Do you want to go through me to maybe get a crack an Minerva? Or... do you even really want to fight me at all?
I hope you do want a fight, Owen. I agreed with Minerva's idea to take Peyton out herself for my own reasons, but that doesn't mean I don't still want to make her suffer. If I can't take it out on her personally.... I'll just have to settle for the next best thing. One of her best friends... the man who stands up for her despite the fact she abandoned him carry on her futile war practically alone....
I'll just be perfectly happy to take it out on you.
So what's it gonna be, Owen? You gonna fuck around and find out?