I heard Angel and Trevor following behind me, but I didn’t stop. I pushed on a rope and slid into the ring, trying to find someone to spar with. But everyone was either avoiding looking at me or watching the newcomers.
“Keep your mouth shut asshole, we don’t call her that around here.” I heard Trevor hiss at Angel.
I started to put on my gloves and shake out my body. Cypher came up to the ring, while Angel and Trevor argued. “Be…” He cleared his throat, “Ugh…Molly?… Can we talk?”
I kept moving. What the hell did these two think they could tell methat would make anything better, make any difference? It had been six months. I am sure he had moved on, was exploring hisoptions…Why bother finding me now?
Angel was now standing, beside Cypher, Trevor watching both of them.
I cracked my neck, saying, “You want to talk Cypher? Get in the ring!”
Cypher threw his hands up, backing up a step, when Angel spoke, “Common, he’s not going to spar with you. That wouldn’t be a fair fight.”
This asshole…
I stormed right over to them, glaring up at him, “Ohhh so it’s only ok when there are more of you? You can only watch a woman get hit when it's not for sport, when it’s not on her terms and she’s outnumbered?”
Angel, to his credit, looked horrified. Cypher rubbed both hands down his face, his eyes didn’t hold the light twinkle they used to. And Trevor growled. “Is this who hit you? Is he why you ran?”
Cypher stepped away from both of them, edging along the side of the ring.Smart Man…
Angel turned to Trevor, hands up in defence, “I did not touch B… Molly… And…”
I huffed a laugh, “No you just watched, just facilitated it and stopped my husband from intervening.”
Trevor shoved Angel, “This is their leader?”
Angel shoved back, “It’s not a cult asshole!”
Cypher tried to step into the ring, I pointed at him again, “You step through those ropes and you are fair game and I have a lot of anger to work through.”
Cypher froze, “We just want to talk to you… apologize. Things have changed and…”
Cypher was interrupted when Angel bumped into him, Trevor glaring at him. “We don’t want to fight…” Angel turned to me, “Please we just want to talk.”
So I repeated, but this time to Angel, “You want to talk? Get. In. The. Ring.”
“Fuck…” he hissed.
I swear I heard Cypher murmur,“He is going to kill you.”
Angel put his hands on the rope, “I don’t want to hurt you!”
I shrugged, “Too bad! You already have!”
Angel closed his eyes for a minute, taking a deep breath before he opened them, pinched the ropes and then slipped into the ring. That had me smiling.
Trevor tried to hand him the training mitts, but Angel pushed them aside. He stepped towards me hands up, “Please, we can’t say everything we came to say out in the open like this. Can we speak somewhere private?”
I shot forward, jabbing at his hand, the smack echoing out across the gym which had now gone silent.
“You actually think I would go anywhere with you? That I trust you…”
He stepped closer and I sidestepped, throwing another jab at his upheld hands. The slap was loud and I heard a hiss escape him.
Angel stepped back, “This isn’t why I am here.Fuck…I am screwing this up. Please, however you need to feel comfortable to talk to me… I need to say some things. I am here forhim.”
That stopped me, of course he is. Of course he is here for Clutch. In what world would anyone care enough to come for me?