Page 50 of Bruised Hearts

“I called you in here because we need to talk. All that huffing and puffing ain’t necessary.”

“You said you wanted to talk. Talk!”

“Ariyah is questioning me on what we’re doing. I told her I was managing you and that’s why we’re discussing Breaker.” Danger laughed before sitting down.

“I guess your daughter slower than I thought.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“If she thinks I will let a low life like you represent me, she slow as fuck.” If I thought it was any way I could win in a fight against him, I would knock his ass out.

“That’s not the point. I only told you just in case she decided to ask you. I wanted us to have the same story.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. She would never question me. If she doing too much, that’s on you. Nobody told yo ass to ask me that shit last night.”

“I asked you because I handed you the smoking gun, and your ass firing blanks. If you were doing enough, he wouldn’t have showed up yesterday.”

“Look, I agreed to your plan because I wanted to humble Breaker, but I don’t need gimmicks to beat him.” This time, I laughed.

“You can keep telling yourself that, but we both know the truth. I convinced her to come here and work at this gym, but you dropped the ball. All you had to do was finesse her and use her to fuck his head up.”

“It ain’t my fault the bitch don’t know a winner when she sees one.”

“Look, they still not together, and your fight has not come up yet. So, it can still work.” He leaned back as if he was thinking it over.

“What are you getting out of this? I know why I’m willing to go along with the dumb ass plan, but why do you care if he wins or loses?”

“Nigga came in trying to take away everything I built. I’ve been dishing money out, using my connections, and paying people to train her. She was fucking with him two minutes, and the nigga was doing my job and trying to push me out. I don’t give a fuck about Breaker. I just need him to stay away from her so that I get the payday I deserve.”

“How did you-…” Danger’s voice trailed off before he could finish his question.

“Glad to know I’m the payday you THINK you deserve.” Ariyah spoke, and my eyes opened wide. I had no idea how long she had been standing there.

“Baby girl, it’s not what you think. I’m sure you heard it wrong.” She did one of those crazy laughs but it really made me nervous because her face was jacked up.

“I was just a bitch not too long ago.” That let me know she heard most, if not all, of the conversation.

“I didn’t call you that, he did.” At this point, I was trying to save myself.

“I came here to tell you I was going to be training at another gym, but I see I need to remove more than that. Yall got it. Continue on talking about your lil scheme.” She walked out, but came right back in. “I just want yall to know I think both of yall are some bitches, and I hope Landon beat the booty hole off your ass.”

“Like Tricky did you?” Danger mocked her.

“She definitely was whooping me, but the difference is, I still won. Will you?” This time when she left, she didn’t come back. Letting out a deep breath, I shook my head.

“Since she knows the plan, we have no further business.” Danger stood up to leave.

“It can still work. She lives with me, and she owes me. I’ll get her back on board.”

“I’m straight.” He walked out without another word. I had royally fucked this up.

31- Landon “Breaker” Mercer

Today was one of those days I was here, but I wasn’t at the same time. I couldn’t break my routine, I needed to train, but I didn’t feel like that shit today. I just wanted to block everything, and everyone out. A day to say fuck it all. Since I was weeks away from my fight, I dragged my ass out of bed and came to the gym. Planting my feet, I threw a combination. It felt off, but I stepped around the bag and did it again.

“You still dropping your right when you swing with your left.” Looking over my shoulder, I saw Pops walking towards me.

“I see you came to gloat.” He looked confused as he stepped in front of me.