Chapter 20
Present Day
Zack
The rain was beginning to fall lightly onto our shoulders as I stood with my brothers outside of the arena. Kyle and Jude were chatting excitedly, reminiscing over the incredible victory Cade had just achieved.
Crash stood next to me, his eyes hovering over me. I knew he had something to say, and he wasn't the sort of person to ever bite his tongue.
“Why were you and Gemma late? Is there something going on between you two?”
Crash had always been perceptive and was an inherently distrustful person. Family meant everything to him, especially now that he was at the head of it, and he was always keen to keep everything nice and clean between us.
“No, of course not. We ran into each other outside, that's all.”
He eyed me up suspiciously before dropping it and joining the conversation with the others.
“Where is he, anyway, it's time to get f*cked up!” Jude was shouting. He was the youngest, and the most energetic. I think the excitement of going out and drinking legally was pretty appealing to him – he'd only recently turned 21.
“Gemma's gone to see him,” I said flatly, “we should probably go, they might be a while.”
“Hell yeah!” shouted Jude, “she's probably congratulating him, if you know what I mean!”
I turned the thought from my mind as Jude and Kyle high-fived each other, laughing.
“Zack's right,” said Crash, his voice quietening everyone down immediately. “Let's leave them to it. They can catch up with us when they're ready.”
He turned, knowing we'd follow, and began walking off through the large open courtyard outside the stadium. As we reached the road I noticed a car waiting for us. These days Crash often took private cars when he traveled around the city. He'd been doing so ever since he'd started work on his new hotel and casino.
I remember when he first told us about it, how he wanted us all to be part of it together. When dad was alive, we all ran one of his businesses – bars, clubs, strip clubs, casinos. Crash told us, however, that he wanted us all running the hotel and casino complex together. He said it would render all of the other family business moot with the money it would bring in, and that he'd prefer to see us all working together under the same roof, rather than split up and running the family's smaller businesses.
I personally welcomed the news. I'd grown sick of running the club, and the idea of moving away from it was greatly appealing to me.
After a short 10 minute journey we were stepping out onto the doorstep of Jared's, one of the city's most popular and exclusive clubs, intended only for the rich and famous.
“Go back and collect Cade and bring him here when he's ready,” Crash told the driver as we got out.
I heard shouts down the street and saw two girls running towards us, smiles spread across their faces. Alice and Elle, Kyle's and Crash's girlfriends, who lived together at college. I always found that odd.
We all walked as a group right to the front of the VIP queue and straight past the bouncers. Crash didn't even have to give his name anymore, he just walked in. I couldn't tell whether it as because of him or our association with Cade. Both were famous – or in Crash's case, notorious – in this city.
The drinks began flowing as soon as we arrived, but I couldn't relax. I still hadn't seen Cade since I'd run out on him and I had a lot I wanted to apologize for, not least turning up late tonight.
Hopefully, though, tonight would be a good night to clean the slate. He'd be buoyant and in high spirits. I'm sure he'd forgive me.
….
Cade
I stood in the middle of my changing room, my fists clenched tightly together. Had she just broken up with me? SHE was going to break up with ME?! Was she f*cking high!
I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my body, partly from the fight with Agulla, partly from the fight with Gemma. I didn't know which was easier. I'd been fighting men in the ring my whole life. I wasn't used to fighting women. I couldn't use my fists with them.
I stamped heavily over to a table at the side of the room and grabbed a half drunk bottle of champagne, pouring the contents down my neck. “Hell f*cking yeah,” I shouted loudly, “I'm f*cking unstoppable!”
“F*ck Gemma. If she want's to quit on us, f*ck her. I don't need her. I'M CADE F*ckING LOGAN!”
I poured the drink down my neck again and started pacing around the room. I was totally spent from the fight and there with a shitstorm still raging inside my head. I drank again, the alcohol fusing straight into my blood.
I heard a light tapping on the the door. Gemma?
I paced quickly towards it and opened it quickly.
“Sorry Cade, but I just saw your girlfriend leave and heard you shouting. Are you OK?”
Her face was pretty, perfect even. She had these soft features, her nose small and cute, her lips plump and rosy. She looked up at me through sparkling blue eyes, a look of desire inside them. It was the girl who'd warm me down, massage my aching body, after my fights. She was new, I'd only used her twice. Sarah I think her name was.
“I'm fine,” I said, “and she's not my girlfriend. Not anymore.”
I turned around and walked back into the room, leaving her lingering in the doorway.
“So you coming in or what?” I asked.
She crept forward and slowly shut the door. “Did you just break up?” Her voice was unsure, soft, like the rest of her.
I nodded.
“Come here,” I said. “It's Sarah, isn't it?”
A small smile crossed her face as she walked forward.
I looked her up and down. She had small breasts hidden beneath her sweater, a beautiful curve to her ass. Her legs were tanned, shining against her small white shorts.
I grabbed her as she got closer, pulling her in towards me and pressing my hard body up against her soft chest. She began breathing more heavily, a lustful look in her eye. It was the only green light I needed.
My hands drifted to her ass and I picked her up and twisted around, placing her down on the massage table. Gemma wouldn't let me f*ck her on a massage table. Maybe this girl would.
I wasn't gentle as I tore at her sweater, pulling it over her head. Underneath she wore a white bra. I unclipped it without hesitation and ripped it from her body. Her hands started growing busy, stroking up and down my chest and dragging my t-shirt off me.
She was used to seeing my body, touching my body, but she'd never seen the whole thing. I stepped back and smiled at her, pulling down my sweatpants to reveal my hardened dick. She gasped and smiled as she saw it. It was so f*cking sexy.
I stepped back in and pulled her off the massage table, twisting her around and kneeling down behind her. I ripped her shorts down off her body, dragging her white panties with them. Holy shit she had a gorgeous ass.
I set my tongue lose on her as she began groaning in pleasure. I could feel her body vibrating as I stood and bent her deep over the table. F*ck she was hot, this was hot. There were thousands of girls in this city who'd want to do this with me, who'd let me do anything I wanted to them.
So why would I limit myself to just one girl. F*ck Gemma, f*ck Gemma, f*ck Gemma - I chanted it in my head as I f*cked this girl, Sarah, over the massage table. Gemma wouldn't let me do it. F*ck her.
….
Zack
I knew Cade was about to arrive when I heard a growing commotion outside of the club. I could hear it, even over the music, this chorus of shrieks as he made his way inside.
He walked in like a rockstar, wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses to cover up his bruised eye. I scanned for Gemma, expecting to see her walking in next to him, but she wasn't there. He walked alone, smiling and waving his hand as people began clapping and cheering.
Every time I watched him fight, he was always so reserved. It was like he didn't care about the limelight at all, that all he wanted was to win and climb to the top of the boxing ladder. But as he walked in tonight, that cool exterior had given way and he was clearly loving the attention.
I knew immediately, from the look on his face and the way he was moving, that he'd been drinking. Heavily.
As he got closer he pointed right in the direction of our table in the VIP section at the back, walking forward with a swagger. All the rest started cheering loudly and got up out of their seats. I followed.
He hugged them all one by one, moving along the line as everyone congratulated him and gave him the praise he deserved. And he did deserve it, he'd worked his f*cking ass off to get to where he was.
When he got to me he just walked straight past, not even acknowledging that I was there. He moved towards the table and grabbed a bottle of champagne, tipping it upside down and pouring it straight down his throat. People were gathering around now cheering as half the liquid spilled down his top, but he didn't stop until the bottle was empty.
What the hell was that all about? Was he still mad at me for running off when we were sparring. Maybe he was pissed at me for turning up late? I guess that would be fair.
We all sat round the low circular table on short comfortable stools and resumed the drinking. Cade had moved round the table to the other side away from me and was now talking with Crash. He kept his shades on, nodding vacantly as Crash spoke in his ear. He was probably giving him one of his 'we're going to conquer the world' pep talks, telling him he was making the family proud, making dad and mom proud as they looked down on him from heaven.
That was Crash – he was born in the wrong century. He'd have fitted in well as the leader of an old Roman army or something, inspiring his troops and telling them their deeds would make them all live forever.
I couldn't tell whether Cade was glaring at me or not through his shades, but he seemed to be looking in my direction a lot. And there was me thinking he'd be in a forgiving mood. I guess I'd have to wait until morning to have a sensible chat with him. Well, maybe leave it until the afternoon!
It was Jude who coaxed Cade into making a speech. He started chanting “speech, speech,” to which the rest joined in. Cade was shaking his head, but that only spurred Jude on. Eventually he relented and stood up slowly in front of us.
“I guess,” he started, his voice tired and slightly croaky, “I'd like to thank all of you...every last one of you...for helping me get to this point. Crash mate, you're dad reincarnated, you really are. That's the best compliment I can give you. I love you man.”
Everyone looked at Crash, who stood and gave Cade a hug.
“And Kyle, bro, you're f*cking awesome man. You've been great over the last week, helping me train and all that. Your support, it's meant a lot to me.”
I felt a tinge of nerves spreading through me. What was he going to say about me?
Kyle raised his glass from across the table.
“And Jude, you're always behind me. You're my younger brother so it's nice that you're propping up the pile of us Logan boys.”
There was a smattering of laughter from around the table. “But seriously, Jude, I think you'll go a long way, it's written in your blood.”
“Cheers bro,” shouted Jude, the drink clearly getting to him, “you're the man Cade. Future champion of the world motherf*cker!”
“And girls,” he said, turning to Alice and Elle, “I haven't spent much time with you and I don't really know you that well, but if my brothers like you, you must be all right. Oh, and you're both f*cking gorgeous!”
“OK, easy now,” said Kyle, as the girls looked at each other and laughed.
A short silence fell on the group, everyone glancing over at me and then up at Cade. He was staring right at me through his glasses. My heart was pounding. What was his deal. This was so awkward.
“And finally, Zack, my faithful twin brother.” The tone of his voice was weirdly sarcastic and unsettling.
“Zack, you've always been there for me, giving me advice, helping me when I needed you, supporting me. And you know what...you've even been so nice as to take care of my girlfriend for me as well.”
Huh! What the f*ck was he talking about?
We stared at each other across the table as everyone else looked back and forward, a silence dropping between us.
“What's going on guys?” asked Crash. “If there's something you two need to talk about then you should do it in private.”
Cade was shaking his head now. “No, no Crash, it's all right. I think this is something that everyone might be interested to hear about.”
He kept staring at me through his sunglasses, this blank expression covering the rest of his face.
I found my voice: “what exactly are you talking about Cade? Please do enlighten us, because you're talking in f*cking riddles here.”
I still didn't get where he was going. So even if he knew that I'd been for a drink with Gemma before the fight, so f*cking what, it was just a couple of drinks. How f*cking jealous could a guy be?!
“You're a f*cking snake Zack, that's what I'm talking about. F*cking slithering in and kissing my girlfriend.”
Everyone turned suddenly towards me, their faces covered in deep frowns. None, though, were deeper than my own.
“Are you f*cking high? I haven't kissed Gemma. What are you talking about?”
“You know what I'm f*cking talking about. You've both been lying to me this whole time. You've been laughing at me behind my back.”
His words were coming out strong, fueled by all the champagne and God knows what else in his body. Clearly, now, he knew that I'd known Gemma for years. She must have just told him after the fight. She must have told him we kissed when we first met
“All right, big f*cking deal mate, it was ages ago.”
All eyes shot back to me.
“You kissed Gemma?” Crash growled. F*ck it, I didn't need him getting involved.
“Yeah, but it was years ago. I know I should have probably mentioned it, but we knew each other in high school. We kissed once and then were just friends. It was so long ago now, so it doesn't matter.”
Cade finally dragged the sunglasses from his face, revealing his bruised eye. He looked straight at me with a mixture of intensity and confusion. “I'm not talking about back then you f*cking traitor. I'm talking about tonight, in the bar before my fight. You were there drinking and kissing behind my back while I'm stepping into the ring. I can't believe you'd do that to me Zack.”
“No, I didn't...nothing happened...we just had a couple of drinks.”
I caught the look on Crash's face, glaring at me. “You told me you'd met her outside,” he said coldly. “You'd do that to your own twin brother on the eve of the biggest fight of his life?”
“No...I'm not lying. Nothing happened. We just met for a chat and got caught up. I swear, I wouldn't lie about this.”
“But you lied about knowing her,” Crash continued calmly. “Why should Cade, why should we, believe you.”
“Because it's the truth. Cade, I swear, we were just talking.”
He kept looking at me, his face still like thunder. I'd never seen him look so angry.
“So what's this?” he said, pulling his phone from his pocket. He slid it across the table towards me and I picked it up.
My heart went wild as I looked at the image. It was me. It was Gemma. We were so close, leaning into each other across a table. Our lips looked like they were about to touch, had just touched. But they hadn't. We hadn't kissed. No, this was all wrong. Where did it come from? Who took the picture?
“No, this isn't what it looks like,” I said. “Where did you get this?” My words had lost their calm now. They were frantic, nervous, confused.
Crash leaned across the table and ripped the phone from my hands. His face contorted in anger as he looked at the image, before passing it back to Cade.
“I think you should go Zack,” Crash said.
“But I didn't...we didn't. We were only talking, nothing happened.” I turned up to Cade. “Cade, please, I swear I'm not lying. Who sent this to you? Whoever it is is the one who's lying to you. Ask them, they know the truth. We didn't kiss, I swear.” My words were tumbling out of my mouth now like a ragging torrent.
Cade sat down slowly, still staring at me. “You're pathetic, you know that. You've always been jealous of me, and this is your way of getting back at me?”
“No, it's not true...”
“You know she broke up with me tonight. She was the first girl I really cared about, Zack, and you had to screw it up for me. You couldn't bare to see me finally have a real relationship, could you?”
“No...” I continued to plead, but I knew it was useless.
“Just go Zack. Get the f*ck out of my sight.”
I looked around the table at angry and disappointed eyes. My whole family were against me. I was alone with the truth, and none of them would believe me.
I stood slowly, and turned. No one called me back. No one wanted to hear me out. No one would let me explain.
I moved out of the VIP section and back through the bar, the world becoming hazy around me. Who'd done this? Who had taken that picture? Whoever it was, I'd kill them. I'd f*cking kill them no matter what.