“You sound like Tiny. He and I argued about that a lot, but sometimes life deals you a shit hand, and you gotta play it out. He knew that, and he respected my decision. He still mentored me to become a Dark Knight, stood behind me when I was a prospect, and voted me in six months before my mom died.”

“You did so much, all while you were losing your mom. Did you get hurt fighting?”

“Sometimes, but never more than the guys I fought.”

“Did you kill anyone?”

“No, but I put a few guys in the hospital. That’s the job, babe. They knew when they stepped into the ring what the risks were, just like I did. I could have killed them, but I chose not to. I wanted the money, not to end someone else’s life.”

“Did Debbie watch you fight? I couldn’t have watched.”

“She did, but she was nothing like you. She got off on that stuff.”

“How long were you with her?”

“A couple of years.”

“I’m glad you had her to lean on while your mom was sick.” Tracey wished she could have been there to help him through his loss.

“Sort of. At first she’d come home with me after the fights and help me take care of my mother, but after a while she stopped. She said she wanted to stick around and bet on other fights, not take care of a dying woman or listen to my bullshit.”

“You mean your grief over it?”

He nodded.

“That’s ridiculous. How can anyone choose betting on a fight over supporting their boyfriend?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t think much of it. Her family didn’t have a lot of money, either, and I knew I was dragging her down with all the crap I was going through. Besides, I didn’t mind. It gave me time alone with my mom.”

“Who was with your mom while you were fighting?”