The hum of a woodpecker distracted Wren from his tale and he twisted on the metal bench to search the forest behind them. As more bird songs floated around them, his tense shoulders relaxed. As hard as it was to relive the past, it was still the past. No place in the present.

"This opportunity - What was it?" Leah was more than engrossed in the story and Wren had the thought that even if he wished to end the conversation, she wouldn't let him now. An amused smile tipped his lips as he looked back at her childish expression, and a part of him hoped she would never lose her vulnerable innocence.

He sobered as he his mind whirled to the next segment of his journey. A heavyweight drove his shoulders into a slump.

"Unbeknownst to me," he began, "There was another fighting ring. Only, this one was far from child's play. It was owned by one of the largest gangs in Chicago, and I guess I was on their radar. They called themselves, Snake's Coil. By the time their boss approached me, he knew everything there was to know. He knew about my boxing career, where I used to live, my fights in the ring, as well as my mother's cancer."

"How on earth could he know those things?"Leah appeared almost alarmed.

"To this day, I don't know. He had more connections and strongholds in places than I could keep up with. It was only after I started working for him, I came to understand how powerful and - evil, he was."

"You worked for him?"

"Yeah. I did. Like I said before, I was fighting nights in the ring if I wasn't injured too much, and worked a full-time job during the day. But, even that wasn't cutting it with the extra surgeries and treatments my mother needed. The leader - they called him 'The Boss'- asked me to fight in his ring in exchange for my mother's bills being paid. I wouldn't have to work any other jobs and he promised to teach me advanced fighting skills as well as weaponry. It really seemed like an offer I couldn't refuse, but I won't lie; I felt a strong amount of alarm and unease about the man."

"But, you were worried more for your mom," Leah stated.

"Yes, that is pretty much what it amounted to. I took the deal, and to protect my mom and Aunt from knowing what I was doing, I moved out to live with Maggie. She did warn me about the gang, but my mind was made up. She let me stay with her, despite her concern. I figure she decided I needed a safe place to retreat to.

"The boss sent me through brutal training sessions for several months. And, true to his word, my mom's bills were paid and she went forward with her surgeries and treatment."

"Did you ever see her?" Leah brows furrowed. "Surely you didn't walk away from her?"

"Oh yes! I visited her often and even stayed at home some nights on the couch. There was no way I would have abandoned her. Actually, I think if I would have done that, it would have killed her before cancer did. We were very close. I convinced her I was needing to be on my own and play the man, kind of thing."

"That's good."

The butler nodded in agreement. "It was good as it was my one source of joy during that time. She actually started to recover for a while too, so even though everything I was doing was hard, I felt it was worth it. Anyway, basically after about six months, I fought my first match and won easily. Since I was new, the other gang gave me a weaker fighter expecting I could be defeated pretty easily. When that didn't work, I shot up the ranks fast and my opponents became more difficult. The Boss was pretty supportive. As long as I won and rolled in the cash...He was happy. And as long as my mom was getting her bills paid and recovering... I was happy."

"So, no offense. But, I can think of worse things than fighting in an illegal ring to support your mom" Leah squeezed his hand, blue eyes soft. " I mean, it's not like you were beating up kids. These were grown men, capable of making their own decisions."

"I wish that were all, Leah. Really, I do, but things took a turn for the worse with my mom. She needed a stem cell transplant. Even more cancer had been found and it was her last chance at surviving. Supposedly, she needed to be sent to a special hospital for the treatment where she would remain for three weeks, but for some reason, they couldn't use her stem cells. That put her on a waiting list. I was pretty lost at what to do and Mom kept telling me it was time to give up. But, I - couldn't. The Boss called me in two days after we got the news and offered a way out. But, the cost was very steep."

***************************************************

"Now, just remember. Don't challenge him. Whatever he wants, just listen and get out! Got it?"

Nineteen-year-old Wren Adams cocked an eyebrow at the stout man, taking note of his anxious expression. "Watch it, Callihan, or someone will think you are concerned about me," He grinned before slapping a hand on the man's stiff shoulder. "This isn't the first time I've faced The Boss. It will be fine. He likes me!" Wren shrugged cockily as he spoke the last sentence.

"The Boss doesn't like anybody, Adams," Callihan warned as he eyed the muscled but lean young man. He had trained the youth in hand to hand combat over the past year and couldn't deny the fondness he had developed for him. Never had he seen someone take so fast to the sport, nor hone the skills so flawlessly. It had been with great pride that he had watched his trainee rise to the top of all of his fighters minus a small handful.

"I know," Wren sobered considerably as his green eyes died of mirth, " I was just kidding. I'll be careful. I promise."

Sighing, but relieved to see the seriousness in the young fighter, Callihan nodded before stepping to the side to allow Wren to enter the two doors he had been previously blocking. "Good luck."

The signature wink Wren sent him lightened the mood just a touch. "Lucky and I are best friends. No worries." Then, taking one deep breath as if to gather courage, the young man disappeared into the darkened room beyond.

It took a moment for Wren's eyes to adjust to the dimness, but as he inhaled his first breath of second-hand smoke, he found The Boss' tall frame peering from the corner of heavy drapes that covered his large window, looking down into the street below. Not sure what he was staring at so intently, Wren took several tentative steps closer struggling against the shudder threatening to overtake his body. He couldn't understand why the gang leader preferred his office so dark, but it matched the evil emitting from the entire space.

"I was sorry to hear of your mother's health." The Boss didn't turn as he spoke, and Wren jumped as his deep voice rumbled in the silence.

"Uh, Thank you. I guess I shouldn't be surprised you were already aware of it."

The Boss chuckled and turned to face his young fighter. "I admire you can speak to me without a tremor, Adams. I know you fear me, but you hide it well."

Shrugging his shoulders, Wren didn't even bother to answer. The statement was intended as bait and he wasn't going to bite. "I was told you wanted to see me? I am assuming it wasn't to offer condolences about my mother?"

The Boss lit a cigarette, the light on its tip glowing in the gloom. "On the contrary, Adams. It is precisely your mother I called you here. I have another offer I think you will want to consider."

Puzzled, Wren frowned but said nothing; He just waited patiently. What more could he possibly do for the man?

"The fighter who defeated you last month in the annual tournament.."

Wren stiffened noticeably and The Boss laughed as he moved around his large desk. "He isn't your favorite person, is he?"

"Not really," In all honesty, Wren still felt riled he had lost against Randy Pollard. Though two years younger, he knew he could have won if Pollard hadn't fought dirty.

"Nor mine. He sent two of our fighters to the hospital last night. Were you aware?"

"I was not."

"Hmm, yes. He did. I fear if he is not stopped, he will become - a threat to my fighting ring..."

Not liking where this conversation was headed, Wren narrowed his gaze sharply. "Just tell me the offer."

The Boss stiffened from his rude tone. Wren wondered if perhaps he had gone too far, but after another calming inhalation from his cigarette, the long-haired man noticeably relaxed. "Your mother's name being moved up to the top of the waiting list and all treatments paid for."

His eyes widening in shock and his breath hitching, Wren startled. "You can do that?"

"That I can."

Resisting the urge to ask how, he voiced the last remaining question. " At what price?"

Rolling the tip of his cigarette in the ashtray on his desk, The Boss took on a darker appearance Wren had never beheld. His already dark eyes turned black and a wicked sneer turned up his thin lips, destroying his handsome features. "Kill Randy Pollard."