Lillie has been my lifeline time and time again.

I felt like an asshole for always accepting Lillie's help when I couldn't really offer anything in return. But however long it would take me, I vowed I'll pay her back somehow. $30 000 is a lot of money that Lillie withdrawn from the bank yesterday afternoon, that I can't just take from her. I reminded myself it's just a loan.

But this woman, that has always been there for me, deserved the best. My love for her deepened each day, with every passing hour. I wanted to be with her forever, so it can take my lifetime to repay her. I didn't mind.

I decided this was the day to cut all ties with Big Ben and take a break from fighting for a while. I pulled up my phone and called him. He picked up at the second ring.

"What?" he said firmly.

"We need to talk," I said. "About my debt."

"What about it, boy?"

"I want to settle it... Now." I replied.

Silence took hold of the phone for a few seconds.

Big Ben laughed mockingly. "And how do you expect to do that huh... you ain't got the money?" he chuckled.

"I got your cash... can we meet?" I said, feeling agitated.

"Hmmm, we'll see, boy. I'm here at the Velvet Room, my office." He said and hung up.

This was it.

Nerves slowly built up in my stomach. Half of me couldn't believe this was actually going to end. The other half believed this was too good to be true, and still be cautious of Big Ben.

I texted Lillie, not wanting to hide anything from her, since she was out doing some shopping.

She replied within seconds.

I placed my phone in my back pocket and grabbed my gym bag, brimming with stacks of dollar bills. I was itching for this transaction to be done with, for it to be all over with Big Ben. Start everything afresh and cut my old life completely out, and everyone in it like a cancerous tumor that kept on dragging me down.

Something nagged me as I walked towards the front door. I couldn't shake. I didn't fully trust this bastard as far as I could throw him. Time and time again, the man deceived me. I dropped the gym bag and walked to my bedroom drawer. I grabbed the cold metal of the Glock pistol and tucked it inside my jeans against my back. Just in case I needed it.

I grabbed the heavy gym bag and walked out of the apartment.

***

I entered the Velvet Room, hoping this was the fucking last time I ever had to step foot inside this damn place again. It was empty inside, not a person in sight. I walked up the steel steps, gripping the gym bag tight in my right hand, and stood in front of the heavy oak doors.

I opened and walked inside. My eyes immediately darted between the two men that were standing on either side of Big Ben's desk, their hands behind their back as if awaiting me. I was on alert, my defenses kicked in, prepared for anything.

Big Ben was sitting behind his desk, engrossed in a document he was reading, his face hidden behind it. I waited patiently for him to fucking acknowledge me. My patience was running thin. My jaw tightened and twitched at the corners.

I couldn't fucking wait any longer.

I threw the cash bag on the wooden floor. It fell to the ground with a heavy thud. This caught Big Ben's attention as he peered over the damn document. He placed the document down on the desk and leered at me, his lips tight. He gave a nod to one man on his left side. A bulky man with a beanie on his head came forward and grabbed the bag from the floor. He bent low and unzipped it, rummaging through the cash stacks. He turned to Big Ben and nodded approvingly.

Big Ben raised his eyebrow, and a scowl on his face formed.

"So, you want to settle your debt, huh?" he said, rising from his chair slowly. He edged around his desk and stood some distance from me, both hands behind his back.

I nodded. "All $30 000 in cash is there." I said evenly.

Big Ben nodded and glanced at the bag. "Where did you get the money?" he asked curiously.

"That's none of your damn business." I said, trying to keep my cool. "You have your money now, Big Ben. My contract with you is over. And that means no more fights. You and I are officially done. I did my part." I said firmly.

Big Ben turned around and revealed what was in his hands. Silver glinted from it; it was a handgun that he placed casually on the table. My blood ran cold at the sight of it. He looked at me and gave a dark smirk.

Anger rose within me, fueled by frustration.

Big Ben shook his head and sat at the edge of his table, the gun sitting lethally next to him.

"Do you think this was about the money, boy?" he said dangerously.

My eye twitched. "Are you refusing the cash?" I snapped back.

Big Ben narrowed his eyes. My focus was on him, but the two guys next to him didn't escape my mind.

Big Ben scoffed. "What do you think... Once you're in a contract with me, it's done until I see fit that's its over!" he shouted.

He stood up from his spot. "You'll fight for me until I say so!" he said vehemently, as he spitted out the words.

My eyes drilled into him, as I breathed in and out hard, flaring my nostrils. The heavy truth fell on me. This fucking bastard was never planning on letting me go. I stared at him in stunned silence.

He grinned. "Did you really think UFC was a possibility for you, Dimitri? Silly boy, let's just say I had a helping hand in that, too."

My throat became dry, and I balled my fists at my sides. This fucker, I seethed with anger and I didn't know if I could contain it any longer.

"HERE'S YOUR FUCKING MONEY. I'M DONE!!! GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!" I shouted; my body went rigid with rage.

A shadow crossed Big Ben's face. His features became shallow and tort as he glared at me. He looked at the other two men, and both came lunging towards me.

I dodged a punch from the bulky guy, but the other struck me from behind with his fist. I jerked forward but regained my composure. I wanted to reach for my gun, but it got lost in the scuffle. It landed near Big ben's feet, and he simply shoved it towards the door with his one foot, scoffing at it.

I grabbed the bulky guy again, who'd punched me in the back, and held him in a headlock. A searing pain hit me on the left side of my torso. I released the man, who fell dazed to the ground. My hands held tight on my exposed side. Redden liquid dripped from my fingers as I fell to my knees.

Fuck!

The other bastard held a knife stained with blood in his right hand, a cruel look on his face. I applied pressure on the stab wound as I hissed in agony. Luckily, it wasn't fatal, but it hurt like hell!

"Take Max outta here will ya." Big Ben instructed the knife man. The man followed orders and dragged the unconscious man out the door.

Big Ben and I were alone in his office. He circled me with his silver gun in his hand, my blood seeping on the wooden floor. He chuckled darkly and crouched to my eye-level. I hadn't realized he lit a cigar as he blew filthy smoke into my scrunched-up pained face.

"There's no way I'm letting you go, Dimitri. You're my prized fighter." He sneered. "Don't make me angrier than I already am, boy! Or your precious Lillie will suffer the consequences."

My eyes snapped to Big Ben. Injuring me was one thing, but I wouldn't tolerate anybody fucking threatening my woman! In a fit of rage, I shoved the bastard. Pure adrenaline numbed the pain of the stab

I punched Big Ben in the face as hard as I could, knocking him backwards, but the big fellow was hard to get down. This seemed to have angered him more. He turned the gun's handle and jabbed me on the side, piercing my raw stab wound.

"Ooomph!" I huffed out.

I fell to the ground once again as fresh pain seared through my body. I held on my side again, trying to stop the bleeding.

"I should've killed you when I had a chance!" I said through gritted teeth.

Big Ben looked at me with a lethal stare.

"You see what happens when you cross me, boy!" he grimaced, as he mockingly swung the gun in my direction.

A loud, sharp crack shattered the air! As a bullet was fired.

A deafening shot ran through my ears.

I shut my eyes tight, ready to feel the impact, not expecting for Big Ben to actually shoot me.

But I felt nothing.

I looked up and saw Big Ben's bulging eyes filled with shock. His hand instantly grab his chest. His yellow shirt was coloured with a red stain that slowly spread across his torso, like ink dropped in water.

He scrunched his face in confusion, dropped the gun by his side, and fell to his knees. He's massive body slumped forward limply to the floor. His eyes were open and left vacant. I checked his empty pulse.

Big Ben was dead.

I got up and turned around, clutching my bleeding torso. My eyes grew open.

I saw Lillie holding my smoking Glock 19 pistol, held tight between both her trembling hands, still aimed at where Big Ben once stood. Her body visibly shaking, her mouth agape and her terrified eyes stricken with shock.