4

In the ring stood Davis and Sam with The IXW Alliance bodyguards waiting ringside. They had got Retribution to meet with them and the men spread around the ring, casually listening to the rants of their boss.

“You deviants have made quite a joke of this company. You’ve humiliated my family, harassed The Alliance, and tormented everyone backstage. Colt, your new Retribution team has pushed me to the limits. So, I came up with a way to keep you idiots in line.”

Dustin laughed. “Good luck with that, Davey. Better men have tried.”

The guys mirrored Dustin’s laugh as Davis glared at them.

“Laugh it up, you idiots. As I told you earlier, I have a little surprise for you. I can’t seem to keep you in line, so I have found someone who can.” Davis got in Colts’ face. “Someone who can knock you down a few notches.”

Colt smirked and got nose-to-nose with the older man. “You’ve tried to use everyone on the roster to get one over on us. What makes you think this will be any different?”

“Oh. It’s quite different. I am assigning you a chaperone. This person will be your manager. You will follow their every rule or pay the consequences. Not my rules, mind you, but theirs. You will not eat, sleep, or take a shit without their permission,” Davis taunted, feeling good about his plan.

Frustrated, Colt stomped around the ring having a tantrum. “A chaperone? Hell no! We don’t need a damn manager.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter what you want. I’m the boss here, Colt. Not you! So, like it or not, it’s happening. I can’t get through to you, so I hired someone who can. A sort of… muscle, if you will, to put you in line. Why don’t we invite them down to the ring,” Davis said, pointing to the stage to cue the music.

Wraith’s dark mood music sounded as smoke rolled across the stage. Colt was furious, expecting the person would be Wraith. The guys were throwing a fit in the ring as the music sounded. Colt turned to watch the stage, a little concerned at who was about to come out being that curtain. The music switched with the sound of breaking glass and mashed up with a mix of the Marilyn Manson song, The Beautiful People.

The faction got confused looks on their faces as the black custom motorcycle rolled out with a metal rocker style woman wearing thigh-high leather stiletto boots, slick black pants, and a matching spike studded jacket with a large gothic hood covering her head.

Holly got off the bike, removing her hood as the dark eerie lighting filled the stadium. She crossed her long, lean legs at the ankles and bowed. Quickly she raised with arms spread. She took her spark lighter, blowing fire from her mouth. Around the ring, pyrotechnic flames erupted from the ring post.

Retribution seemed shocked as everyone in the stadium. Everyone jumped with a little nervous tension and the loud explosions from the pyro. No one had seen anything like it. At least, not since her terrifying brothers made their debut ten years ago.

Who was this woman?

The stage lights came up, and she made her way to the ring in a dominatrix style runway walk. The crowd was going crazy. Her eyes fixated on Colt as she stepped to the ring. The leader of the pack, whom she was determined to break, glared back at her.

Once to the ring, Sam helped her in. She could feel his hand shaking and Holly got a little sick joy out of Sam's fear.

“Gentleman, I would like to introduce you to the beautiful, Holly Bordeaux. Sister of none other than Cyrus and the Wraith Evans, The Doom Brothers.” Davis lifted her hand, kissing it.

Colt started laughing and the Retribution crew soon followed in. “A chick? Are you freaking kidding me? Sweetheart, all that leather and circus tricks don’t make you all that intimidating.” He checked her over and moved to get a closer look. “But I would love to see more of what’s under all this.”

Colt acted like he was going to peek at her breast under her jacket. Starting to unzip her jacket, Holly quickly grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back, then kicking his legs to make him fall to his knees. Trent Trixx went to grab her, and she side kicked him to the face with Colt still in her grip, trying to wiggle free.

Davis and Sam backed against the ring ropes in fear. They had already heard the stories. They didn’t want to be on her nasty side if she really cut loose.

“BACK OFF!” She pointed at Chris and Dustin as they came forward.

Colt stood to lift her on his back, then flipped her over his shoulder backward.

She landed on her feet in front of him. Flipping her long hair out of her face. Holly took Davis’s mic and stood chest to chest with Colt. Although he was still at least half a foot taller than her, she seemed unfazed.

Colt waved the guys back as they went to grab her. Trent was rubbing his now swelling chin, cursing under his breath.

“Are you finished, or do you want some more? NO ONE… and I mean NO ONE touches me unless I say so. Got it!”

Colt backed off a little, putting his hands up in retreat.

Davis stepped forward chuckling to himself at the sight of seeing Colt back down. “Okay. Let’s just calm things down. That’s enough for now. Why don’t you all head backstage and get to know each other? You’ll spend a lot of time from here on out.”

Davis laughed maniacally as he threw down his microphone, leaving the ring.

Holly and Colt just stood glaring at each other. Colt motioned for her to leave the ring first in a gentlemanly but aggressive manner.

She turned, smirking, watching Retribution as she exited the wrestling ring. She knew better than to turn her back on the enemy.

They waited for her to exit backstage before they left the ring and Colt realized at that moment this girl would be trouble.

***

Retribution Locker Room was tense, to say the least.

Colt shoved the door open in a fit of rage. “Who the fuck does that bitch think she is?”

Holly stepped in behind them with a sassy swagger. “The Bitch, thank you. The H.B.I.C. Head Bitch in Charge. Now. Why don’t we properly introduce ourselves? I’m Holly.” She held out her hand to shake his.

Colt crossed his arms over his chest, snarling at her.

Walking past him, she threw herself on the large black couch and put her feet up on the coffee table in the luxury locker room. Grabbing some grapes from the snack tray left by the arena hostess, she popped one in her mouth grinning.

“I get it, playboy. You don’t want some chick ruining your fun. The way I see it, you have no choice. We can do this two ways. Option one: We work together, and you stay in line. Option two: We do this the hard way and I make your life a living hell. Trust me. The last thing I want to do is play babysitter to a bunch of frat boys who pretend to be badasses.”

“Frat boys?” Colt leaned over her, resting his hand on the back of the couch. “You may have caught me off guard out there, sweetheart, but don’t get too cozy and think you’re staying.”

She ran her finger down his bare chest, looming in front of her. His leather jacket draped over his shoulders was open, revealing his firm, hard chest. Holly couldn’t deny Colt had the body of a Greece god. His short, perfectly sculpted dark hair and a strong chiseled jawline with a bit of scruff was a sight to behold.

“Oh. Colt. That’s adorable. Ya think ya have a choice. I’m staying and your pretty little self will just have to get used to it. Or I could just kick your ass right now and save me a shit ton of time. I can see you probably won’t submit very willingly, anyway. It may be fun to play with my new prey for a while,” she said with a thick exaggerated Tennessee draw while biting her lip playfully, batting her eyelashes.

Her accent became more drawn out when she was in the mood to play with her prey.

“So. What do ya girls do for fun ‘round here? Don’t you think it would be especially nice to welcome your new manager properly?”

Colt huffed, not backing down while staring angrily into her eyes. She just looked up at him, smirking while eating her grapes.

Suddenly, a knock came on the door. It flew open with Wraith and Cyrus standing there looking ready to beat someone to a pulp.

Isis was sitting behind them with her pregnant bestie, Candy, eating popcorn while watching the drama unfold. Both girls were smiling like it was the best movie they had ever watched. They were glad for once it wasn’t them in the middle of the madness.

Wraith looked back at them. “You two. Out! Now!”

The girls cringed as they walked back out the door. Isis grumbled, “Buzzkill.”

“Shit. Just great,” Colt said under his breath.

Seeing that Wraith looked furious, Colt knew it wouldn’t be a fun conversation. He stood up straight, rubbing the back of his neck, ready for whatever came his way.

“Holly, you okay?” Cyrus went to check her over.

She just looked up at him grinning, still chomping on grapes, casually seated on the couch.

“Peachy keen, jellybean.” She popped another grape in her mouth and let out a little giggle.

“We don’t need her, Wraith.” Colt tried to reason with him. “Tell Davis to call this off.”

“Boss’s call. He just asked me to find someone,” Wraith said with a chuckle. “You sure have a hand full with this one, Colt. She won’t take your shit. We’re friends, but she’s my sister. You jackasses do anything to her, Cyrus and I will be on your asses faster than you can blink.”

Holly stood from the couch with a perky spring to her step. “I can handle myself. The guys were just inviting me for a drink after the show.” She went over to Dustin, putting her arm through his. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Case?”

Dustin looked over at her annoyed but didn’t want to end up fighting with Wraith. In the ring was one thing, but behind the scenes, few people could take the Doom Brothers in a fight.

“Right.”

Wraith looked skeptical as he narrowed his brows at them. He wasn’t buying it.

“Good, I guess. Holly, you need us, just call.” He smiled, suddenly remembering getting her out of jail frequently. She had been in fights with many men over the years. “Maybe I should tell you guys the same. “Come on, brother. Told ya she’d be fine.”

Cyrus just frowned and crossed his arms, watching the men. He went over to Colt. “Touch my little sister and I’ll rip you apart.”

Holly tried not to laugh but let out a squeaky giggle. Colt and Cyrus both turned to look at her, frowning.

“What?” She giggled.