3

“Hey, champ? Have you heard about this new girl that signed up last week?” Jacob asked while sitting down in the VIP spot at the fancy nightclub they visited that night.

Puffing on an expensive cigar, the well-dressed, grey-haired man pulled a much younger woman onto his lap. Jacob was a charmer, even though he was getting up in years. He was fit and looked like a male model who should be on a cognac liquor advertisement. Women still flocked to him, even though his wrestling heyday was getting a little behind him. Now in his late-fifties, he was still a silver fox that had done it all, blockbuster movies, modeling gigs, a wrestling legend, and a true lady’s man. Women loved him. Primarily for the tons of money, he threw their way.

Married several times, he loved his children, and that was his greatest achievement. He treated Gage like a father figure and took a liking to him when he came in as a rookie. Jacob saw potential in Gage that no one else had and he was right. Gage soon became one of the top wrestlers in the world in no time at all.

Jacob had a reputation for luxury and excess, just like the Justice faction portrayed. A trait he had passed down to his faction members, Gage, Nick, and Drake. The four men were the epitome of wealth and opulence. Behind all the glitz and glam, Jacob Justice was a kindhearted soul that few had the privilege to witness. Most people thought of him as a ruthless womanizer. Gage was one of the elite few who knew who the man truly was. He was good at keeping the illusion for the fans. Deep down he was a smart businessman, letting the stated rumors build his legacy.

Gage looked up to his mentor. It was Jacob that got Gage interested in more than just the fame. He showed him to be an entrepreneur. How to book movies, invest his money, and be charitable by giving back to the community. This was the true Jacob people seldom saw. A dedicated man with a genius mind for business.

Gage drank his high-end bourbon from a rock glass, rubbing the arm of the girl on his lap, while another sat behind him on the chair, playing with his long mane of hair.

“Is that the girl the whole roster is going on about? Are you thinking about adding another notch in your bedpost, Jacob?”

Jacob chuckled, puffing a roll of smoke over his lips while a flighty girl on his lap giggled at the sight.

“She’s hot. I mean... she’s sexy, but she’s a damn good worker in the ring, too. Davis says she trained with Wraith and Cyrus. Their younger cousin or something like that. I saw her in the ring the other day, training with Wraith. She’s been keeping low-key, but she’s on fire with her skills. Tiny little thing but fast and a decent high flyer.”

Jacob waved the girl on his lap away.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you go grab us another drink and something for yourself. Put it on my tab.”

Gage chuckled in amusement. “Did you seriously tell me that Cyrus Evans' cousin is hot? We are talking about the same Cyrus, right? How can that family gene pool produce something hot? Cyrus looks like someone hit him with an ugly stick with that bushy beard of his. He looks like a mountain man, and Wraith looks like he should be the head of a biker gang. They are my friends, but come on, man. This is crazy.”

It was true, Cyrus wasn’t much to look at with the unruly beard and floppy hipster hat he hid behind, but he still had loving eyes and a kind smile. He got the same handsome looks his older brother and sister inherited, but he hid the scars that lined the side of his face. What he lacked in looks, he gained in the heart. Or so people assumed. Truth be known; he was just as handsome as his older brother. Hidden behind a scruffy beard and a gloomy persona.

“No, it’s true, she’s a looker. She must take after the mother’s side. Isis is a real badass in the ring for such a small woman. I can see her influence from Wraith’s talents. He taught her well. I’ve never seen anything like it with a female wrestler. I talked to Cyrus, and she doesn’t think she’s good. In my opinion, she is one of the best workers around. Every company in the country was gunning for her. Davis tells me she is shy, but a powerhouse once she hits the stage. I think you talked to him before about her. Didn’t you?”

“I did, but...”

“Gage. She’s impressive. We should look into this girl. The Justice team having a girl may be cool. Especially if she is as good as she looks.”

“Hell no. We don’t need a damn woman in our crew. Don’t you think being surrounded by these women and the parties all the time would make things weird? For her, anyway. It would cut down on our action if some chick is hanging around busting our chops about it.” Gage guzzled down his drink, waving to the server for another.

“Champ, think about it. We could have all the major belts in the IWX. Including the women’s title. No faction can say that. From what I’ve seen of her stage character, she wouldn’t have any problem with what we have going on here. She’s a real sex kitten in the indie scene. Cyrus said she used to be a troublemaker, hitting the clubs all the time. She slowed down when she moved in with him.” Jacob smiled, leaning toward Gage, handing over his phone. He knew Gage loved pretty women, and this would sway him. “Here. This is a photo of her.”

“Damn, she’s hot.” Gage leaned up, looking over her profile pic from Facebook. “I might even think about letting her in my bed.”

Gage went to look over her photos, stopping on the sexier images from modeling while licking his lips. “Mmm. I like this one. She’s got a body for days.”

“There you go, champ. At least she would be some nice eye candy. We need to break up the sausage fest we have going on here,” he pointed out while taking back his phone. “In my prime, I would have been going for her myself.”

“Like you wouldn’t try, anyway? Had you not already known who her cousins are, you would be on her like white-on-rice. Wraith and Cyrus would rip you apart, old man.”

The younger wrestler, Nick Storm, walked over to join them. “What ya looking at?” Taking Jacob’s phone. “Damn! Who is that?”

Gage laughed. “You would never believe it if we told you.”

Jacob smirked. “That, my friend, is our new member of Justice if the big man agrees to it. He has the say since he runs the team.”

Gage rolled his eyes. “She’s Cyrus’s cousin.”

“What? No way. She is too freaking hot to be related to him. She does sort of look like Wraith, though. She would fit in with us perfectly.” Nick forwarded her photo to his phone like a horny teenager. The short sandy blond-haired youngest member with a panty-dropping smile. A little immature but had a big heart. “Saving this for later.”

“Dude. You’re sick. Besides, I haven’t agreed to shit. So, don’t get too excited,” Gage said, annoyed.

Drake Durham, the fourth member of Justice, was standing behind Nick. A tall, handsome Jamaican man with light grey eyes and beautiful dark skin made the women fall at his feet for just a second alone with him. Drake was the more serious of the group, who seldom talked.

“Wait, let me see that,” Drake said as he took the phone. “Oh, man! I know her. Wraith trained her and is very protective of this chic. She was at an autograph signing with us in New Jersey last summer. Some creepy dude was harassing her, and Wraith flipped out and beat his ass. The guy was trying to grab her ass, and she wasn’t having it. She’s a sweet girl, but super shy. She’s the Doom brother’s cousin, right?”

Jacob seemed pleased someone was on his side about it. “I’m discussing with Gage about her joining the faction with us.”

“That would be great. I saw her in the ring that weekend at that wrestling convention. She and her cousin Holly beat every girl there and three big ass dudes. Holly is a little scary and like Wraith’s mini-me. Isis is a sweetheart and calmer, like Cyrus.”

Jacob rubbed his chin. “I assumed Holly would be the one to join IWX, but she is a firebreather or something. She gets in a lot of trouble. Wraith can’t even control her. At least this girl won’t be causing us a lot of problems.”

“Right. She won a tournament to show who had the best ring skills on the weekend I met her. She even beat Holly. She won the big cash prize they were giving out, and it pissed off the guys at the event because she’s so tiny. They got their ass served to them by some chick half their size. I went with her and Wraith to lunch and she’s very smart and articulate. I like her.”

“Drake, you too? I thought you would have my back on this. Really, guys? You’re all for this?” Gage asked.

A collective, “Yes.”

Gage grumbled, “So, I guess I’m outnumbered here on thinking a girl in Justice is trouble.” Gage ran his fingers through his long, dark blonde hair and his stubbled beard, trying to figure a way out of this.

“Oh yeah! Got my vote. If we get to look at that fine ass for a while, well worth it. Oh damn. Look at this pic! She’s a bikini model or something. I need to find this Maxim magazine issue,” Nick gushed like a prepubescent teenager.

“Nick, that’s just what you need, more magazines for the spank bank. What are you, twelve?” The older and wiser of the tag team duo smacked Nick in the back of the head. Drake rolled his eyes at his friend’s immaturity.

“Hey, she’s hot! What can I say? I’m a single guy. Sometimes I need some inspiration for my alone time.” Nick just laughed and continued saving photos of her on his phone.

Gage just shook his head in disgust at the younger man. “Okay, let me think about it. Since Jacob mentioned he talked with Davis about her, I probably won’t have a choice in the matter, anyway. He’ll claim it’s what is best for the company.”

Jacob rubbed his head and looked away. “Well… actually —”

“Jacob! Shit! Davis is already planning on her being with us, isn’t he? So much for having a choice in the matter. If this girl gets in my way, she’s gone. She’s already annoying me, and I haven’t even met her yet.”