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IWX Televised Promo Backstage - Retribution locker room.

Colt, Dustin, Trent, and the new member Chris were backstage talking over last week’s show segment. Their female member Tomi had gone on her own, leaving the men of Retribution to their own devices.

The crew had recently trapped Davis’s daughter in the back of an IWX semi-truck to distract the Alliance faction from a match that they had featured Colt in that night. He was up against Jenna Preston’s new boyfriend, and Justice member, Nick. Resulting in Colt keeping his IWX Intercontinental Championship Title by count-out. Normally he would’ve been attacked by the Alliance during his match. So, his plan to distract them worked.

The Alliance was a group of Davis’ wrestlers that were his henchmen on stage. Davis sauntered into the Retribution locker room, hearing them laughing about how they tricked the older man and his crew.

“Ha-ha. You guys are hilarious. Yep, you got me good. To ensure you don’t use my daughter in your future schemes, I will not allow Jenna near the show for a while. I won’t allow her to be used by you, jackasses. I have a little surprise for you later tonight and may get the last laugh yet. You’re going to love the gift I have for you.”

Colt leaned back in his chair, throwing his title over his shoulder. “A gift? My birthday isn’t for a while off, Big D. Getting your shopping done early?” He smugly taunted his boss. Knowing he was getting under his skin. He lived to get on Davis’s nerves.

“Laugh it up, Colt. This gift is more for me than you. Why don’t you boys head down to the ring later this evening, and I’ll tell you all about what I have in store.” Davis smiled, knowing what he had coming for them. His ace in the hole.

Trent smacked Colt on the back. “The old man thinks he can get the jump on us. If we go down there and he’ll one of his little minions to come to attack us.”

“No. I won’t do that. That doesn’t seem to work with you idiots. Don’t worry, you’ll find this very interesting.” Davis walked back out.

The guys just looked around at each other in confusion.

Colt jumped up from his seat, pacing the floor. “What the hell? All right. He wants to play games. Let’s humor him. We need a game plan in case he has someone ready to attack. Since the crazy old man has cut out scripts from the shows, it’s every man for themselves out there. We need to watch our backs.

Everyone is trying to get on top and I’m not letting our team back down from a fight.”

***

Backstage, Holly watched as the stagehands took her motorcycle off the truck that just arrived. Her cousin Isis and her friend Sahara were watching. Isis was cuddling her kitten Cello that now traveled with her, expecting any minute for Holly to beat some poor truck driver and the stage crew senseless.

“Watch it! You scratch my baby, I’ll break your face,” Holly yelled at a stagehand.

Sahara laughed at Holly’s bossy attitude. “I love this chick. If I weren’t engaged, I’d marry you, Holly.”

Holly laughed at her new friend. “Drake is going to get jealous, Sahara. I wouldn’t want to take his girl.”

A large hand went on her shoulder. “Sis. We need to talk.”

She turned, finding Cyrus behind her, and rushed to hug him with a big grin. “Mmm. I love your hugs. So, bugaboo. What’s up?”

“Holly, I’m worried about you. I know Wraith wants you to do this, but I don’t like it. I don’t want those Retribution guys around my baby sister.”

Isis giggled, taunting, “Sounds familiar.”

Cyrus glared at her, and Isis threw her hand up in retreat. “Okay. I get the hint. I’m out. Good luck, Holly. Come on, Sahara. Let’s go find Tomi and hit the buffet in catering.”

Holly ignored them and kept watching the bike. Her most prized possession.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Cyrus, really? I can handle myself. What? Are ya afraid I’ll lose my sweet innocence?” She giggled, knowing he didn’t think any man was good enough for his little sister.

Cyrus just scowled at her.

“Chill, bro. I lost that some time ago.”

“Holly May Evans! Watch your mouth,” Cyrus snapped.

“Geez. I’m just messing with you. Calm down.”

“I don’t want to hear that shit. Anyway, if you have any problems, come straight to me. Got it?”

“Fine, Cyrus. I got it. Don’t worry. I got this in the bag.” She lifted his floppy hipster hat, looking at the burn scars across the side of his face. “I hate that you wear that hat all the time. Your scars aren’t that bad. It makes you special.”

She hugged her brother, and Cyrus seemed to relax.

Cyrus and Holly were remarkably close. Her brothers were older and very protective. She was more like Wraith, though. Behind Wraith’s dark persona, was a biker badass with a big heart. She looked up to Wraith and was a mirror image of him in every way. Except that she was sassier and never shut up. Wraith was more controlled and less of a talker. Cyrus was the grounded one with a calm temper. Both brothers were born leaders behind the scenes.

Cyrus was always trying to keep her out of trouble. While their cousin, Isis, was sweet and thoughtful; Holly was a menace.

“Is Cyrus trying to talk you out of this, Sis?” Wraith walked up looking at her bike.

“Yep. Old’ Cy is afraid baby sister will get her wittle feelings hurt. I’m such a wittle flower, you know.” She said in a baby voice.

Wraith ticked, “Pfft. Flower, my ass. Weed maybe.”

Cyrus just shook his head. “When this shit goes bad, don’t forget that I told you so.”

“Relax, brother. We trained her in the ring and out. Since our parents are gone, we’ve raised her and Isis to be powerful women. Holly can hold her own.” Wraith patted him on the shoulder. “Well, Holly girl, time to go make your IWX debut. Get in there and raise some hell.”

“Like you know we do,” Holly said as she fist-bumped him.

Wraith helped her on her bike and kissed the top of her head. As she rolled her bike into the stage area, they watched their next protege finally join the family business.

Cyrus crossed his arms. “Wraith. If she gets hurt, this is on you.”

Wraith chuckled at the thought. “Bro, she beat up five dudes in a bar. I think she can handle these assholes. She can take them.”

“I don’t doubt that. I’m talking about her heart.” Cyrus walked away.

Wraith just watched him walk away. Cyrus was right to be genuinely concerned. Holly pretended to be tough on the outside. With matters of the heart, she had a history of bad breakups and heartache. Which was part of the reason she had become so hardened.

Holly was in love with her high school sweetheart and he dumped her right after graduation for no reason. Afterward, a man she was in love with in the sideshow circuit dumped her out of the blue, followed by one nasty breakup after the other. Holly often fell hard and fast, which ended up with her being hurt. She acted tough, but when it came to her heart, she wore it on her sleeve.

Wraith knew what Cyrus meant. He would have to keep a close eye to make sure none of the men on the roster got too close to her. He didn’t want to see her hurt again either. None of the Retribution was the type of guys they wanted for his sister.

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Authors Note: What do you think of Holly? She's probably one of my favorite characters in the series, along with her brothers.