25

A week later…

In the Retribution locker room, Cyrus and Wraith burst in the door grabbing their sister hugging her. Isis and Gage had just got back from their honeymoon to witness Holly’s match against Sam. Everyone on the roster had heard the truth about what happened with Holly and Sam, and they were rooting for her to beat him.

“You ready to get that title shot soon, baby sis? We’re so proud of you.” Cyrus smiled.

“Well, not yet. I have to teach Sam a lesson tonight first.”

Wraith looked angry. “What has been going on there, Holly? Did Sam do something to you? Everyone backstage seems to know but has been hiding something from Cyrus and me. I don’t like it. Why a grave match with deathmatch rules? That’s a tad dark. Even for you.”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Holly,” he scowled.

“Wraith. It’s okay. He will never try to touch me again. He just thinks his family’s money can buy him anything. Including me. Tonight, I’m going to show him I can’t be bought. I’ll be fine. Promise.”

Wraith looked over at Cyrus, both clearly mad. They warned Sam and Davis that she was off-limits to them. Apparently, Sam didn’t heed this warning.

Wraith motioned for Cyrus to leave with him. “Cy, let’s go. Holly. Beat his ass. If you don’t, I will.”

“Will do, brother.” She looked back at Colt, who just shrugged and smiled at her.

She pulled on her ring boots and prepared to go to war. Sam deserved the beating coming his way and she wouldn't hold back.

“Colt, I’m worried. I promised I would stop fighting out of anger. I don’t want to disappoint you tonight.”

“Sometimes, fighting is the only thing left to do. Make Sam pay for putting his hands on my beautiful lady.” Colt sat beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and kissed her shoulder.

“I will. He needs to learn a lesson not to touch women without permission.”

“Right, and you’re the one to teach him that lesson.”

***

Later that night, Sam was already in the ring trying to look tough, but it was clear it terrified him. His uncle just shook his head and rolled his eyes. The boy had no business in the ring, and Davis hoped this showed him that once and for all. Colt joined Holly ringside while Davis was in Sam’s corner trying to give him some pointers. At one time Davis was one of the top wrestlers in the business and he had a lot of experience to share.

Just as Holly entered the ring, Wraith’s dark music came on. She turned to look at the stage, knowing what was coming.

Sam looked over at Davis with obvious fear written across his face. Sam knew the brothers had discovered he had been hitting on Holly and was trying to put his hands on her. He liked her and thought being the tough girl she was, maybe she liked it rough. After all, it was her reputation. He believed she liked him, but he was very wrong. It wasn’t until he saw Colt kiss her the first time on stage that Sam realized he had no chance to win Holly over.

Wraith and Cyrus came out from behind the curtain and stood at either side of the stage with arms crossed, just watching, ready to intervene if needed. Wraith nodded to approve her to fight. He lifted both his hands into fists above his head and Holly reciprocated the gesture back to him. Turning to face Sam, she smirked with an evil look in her eyes. Holly loved to fight, and Sam was in for some pain.

“Time to play, Sam.” She let out a maniacal chuckle, making everyone close to the ring shutter, even Colt.

He jumped up on the mat to her ring corner. “Holly!”

She went over to listen to Colt’s advice.

“Davis will try to help Sam by cheating however he can. I’ll take care of him if he does. You focus on Sam. Try not to kill him, okay? Leave some for another day.” He smirked while kissing her. “I love you, Holly.”

She reached out to kiss him back. “I love you too. I got this. Don’t worry.”

The bell rang, and Sam went for her. He knew he had to act fast to get the upper hand. Holly was tough, and this was an actual fight. She jumped out of the way, hitting him in the gut as he ran past. Holly grabbed Sam, throwing him into the ropes and clotheslining him to the mat.

Davis, seeing Sam struggle, pulled him from the ring while Sam held his ribs, looking back at her in fear.

“Get in there, boy!”

“Uncle D. I can’t. She’s too strong.”

“Get in there and fight, boy! You want to be a wrestler. Well, here’s your chance.” Davis threw him back in.

Turing to see the various items of destruction around the ring, he got an idea. He saw a tube light propped against the ring near him. Still kneeling, he reached to grab it just as she stepped to him.

Just as he was about to swing, Holly grabbed Sam, lifting him by the face. “I told you to never touch me.”

She elbowed him in the face, and Sam stumbled back, dropping the long light bulb. The momentum changed as Sam hit Holly with a powerbomb, slamming her head hard on the mat. He quickly jumped up on the ring belt, hitting her with his one decent move, a frog splash. Using the momentum, he rolled to grab the bulb, crashing it down over her back. Shattered pieces of glass flew across Holly’s body and into the ring.

Holly struggled to get back up, a little dazed from the hit to her head.

Colt pulled her almost lifeless body from the mat to the floor. “You okay?”

“Fine. I’m just playing with my prey. I’m going to wreck this asshole.”

Colt yelled to caution her that Sam was trying to grab Holly from behind. He went to pull her back in the ring and Holly grabbed Sam’s head. She pulled down hard, bouncing his neck off the top rope. His body was like a slingshot, landing him flat on his back.

Holly slid from the ring and pulled out a folding chair from underneath. She jumped in the ring where Davis was standing over his nephew trying to stop her. Grabbing Davis, Holly shoved him out of the ring onto the floor and Colt went after him. Holly quickly hit Sam across the back with the chair, making him arched his back writhing in pain.

Once he tried to get back up, she was already there to hit him again. She threw a chair to the side and continued to hit him with everything she had until Sam could take no more. When she thought it was enough, she went to add more pain by grabbing a barbed wire covered ball bat that was resting on the canvas.

Grabbing his face, she shoved the wire into Sam’s forehead, making pools of blood break free. “Like that Sam? Huh? Want some more? Are ya sure ya want to be a wrestler? This is what it feels like. Night after night, putting your body on the line.”

“Ouch! Stop!” Sam pleaded.

“Begging only makes it worse. Time for the pain, Sam,” Holly backed up, hitting him with the bat across the back and he screamed in pain.

Colt kept Davis out of the ring and slammed him into the announce table. Once Davis was subdued, Colt ran over to the casket and the makeshift grave at the end of the ring and opened it. Holly looked up and smirked, feeling like she had surely punished Sam enough and it was time to end this.

Turning her gaze to her brothers, they nodded. She picked up Sam and finished with her signature powdriver finishing move. Dragging him to the side of the ring with the casket, throwing him in, she seemed pleased with herself. Colt shut the top of the casket as Davis made his way over.

Watching in shock of the power and strength of his top female wrestler, Davis was in amazement. He was thoroughly impressed. She was just like Wraith in every way, and Davis was loving it. Truthfully, he was glad she gave the beating to his spoiled nephew. Davis was far past trying to defend Sam’s actions and teach him to be a better man. This was real retribution.

Holly jumped out of the ring and sat on top of the casket knocking on the top listening inside. “Sammy poo? Will you be touching any more women without their permission?”

A sound came from inside. She cracked the lid, seeing him looking defeated and crying like a baby. “What was that Sam?”

“No.” Sam pouted, sucking air from weeping so hard.

Knowing he just got his ass handed to him, he looked away to avoid the humiliation.

Davis went over and tried to help him out.

“BACK OFF, OLD MAN!” She pointed at him and Davis threw up his hands, afraid he was next if he didn’t. “No what, Sam?”

“No. I won’t touch you or any other woman without permission again. Okay? I’m sorry.”

“Damn right you are.” Holly laughed as she poked his forehead with her finger. “I bet that hurt.”

Colt came over, putting his arm around her while they looked at Sam inside the casket. Holly sat at the top of the casket, smiling from ear-to-ear.

Davis just laughed inside, watching her. Retribution beat him at his own game… again. Deep down, he was loving every second.

“Game over, old man. Game set match.” Colt chuckled and grabbed Holly to celebrate in the ring while Davis took Sam from the casket.

Once Holly and Colt made their way to the stage, Wraith and Cyrus were waiting at the top of the ramp. They stepped in front of the couple and Cyrus reached out to shake his hand.

Colt looked over at Holly in surprise. She smiled and hugged Wraith and nodded to her boyfriend. Colt shook his hand as the rest of Retribution and Slade joined them on stage to celebrate. They all turned to face the crowd raising their hands in victory and the crowd went wild witnessing the new leadership of IWX had taken its place in wrestling history.

Cyrus leaned over to Colt, waving at the crowd as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He was so calm in his mannerisms it gave Colt chills up his spine. “I’m still going to get you. When you least expect it.”

Colt gulped a hard lump down in his throat. He looked at Cyrus from the corner of his eye, seeing Cyrus smiling at him with the creepiest grin he had ever seen. With that, Colt turned and bolted off the stage.

Holly looked around and saw the tail end of Colt as he ran like a scared cat. She looked over at Cyrus who just shrugged while Wraith was standing to the side trying to hold back a laugh.

She shook her head at her brother. “You’re an ass.”