Abel (5th Street 4)

Abel would be in last-minute training most of the day then doing the public weigh-in. He’d warned her that it would be a spectacle that at times could get ugly, so he didn’t want her there but promised they’d watch it together on TV when he got back to the room. Nellie wasn’t even sure that she wanted to watch. The reality of what he was about to do was really setting in. In less than twenty-four hours, he’d be in the ring with the heavyweight champ of the world, fighting the fight of his life. She’d never tell him, but she was nervous for him.

Finally done for the day at the 5th Street booth, she headed back toward the private elevator. Things had quieted down when the weighing was about to begin, and everyone left to watch it somewhere live. She had no idea how she was going to make it through the fight tomorrow. Just hearing the hype about Abel and McKinley facing off now had her stomach in knots. Unlike everyone else, she wasn’t headed to a television. She was headed straight to her room where she’d take a long calming shower instead.

Just as she pulled her phone out of her purse when she got in the elevator, she accidently hit her text log and it opened to Logan’s last text.

Okay I get it. You’re still pissed at me for blowing off the job like I did. I know you don’t want to talk to me, but I really wish you’d give me just a few minutes. It’s about Sam. Call me, please.

Nellie frowned. Whatever he had to tell her about Sam didn’t matter anymore. She was as done with Sam as she was with Logan. She was certain now, especially given how often Abel made it a point to remind her that she was his, that he wouldn’t be thrilled if he ever found out she was calling Logan to talk about Sam. Closing out the text log, she checked her emails instead. She had quite a few, all work-related.

She sighed as she walked out of the elevator. Her hands would be full once she was back in Los Angeles. That long calming shower sounded even better now.

Chapter 17

There was no way that big time celebrities didn’t have sight problems. The cameras flashing away even before Abel stepped into the room where they’d be doing the prefight conference already had him seeing stars. The weigh-in had been earlier, and even that had been a circus. Now it was time for the last-minute prefight hype. He’d thought Andy and Felix were being ridiculous with the size of the entourage they’d surrounded him with as they left the gym where he’d showered and changed into a suit. But as soon as they were in a public area, if it hadn’t been for that enormous entourage, he would’ve been mobbed.

He thought he’d had his taste of paparazzi when he’d done his Hollywood and New York appearances. This was insanity. It wasn’t even the fight yet, and the crowd leading up to the conference was huge and loud.

Trying to drown it out, he mentally went over everything Felix and Andy had warned him about. The weigh-ins had been mandatory, but this press conference was just a few questions to rile the fighters up, usually all show and hype. With McKinley, Abel was warned to expect more than just the usual hype.

“Expect him to get in your face and trash talk, trying to get a public reaction out of you,” Felix had stressed. “Give him one by talking back if you wanna do your part of putting on a show, but do not fall for anything he says. He may even talk about your momma.”

That had gotten enough reaction out of Abel to make Felix nervous.

“Dude,” he’d assured him, “it’s all part of the act, and they want nothing more than to get in your head. They’ve tried all this time and got nothing. Don’t let a little ‘yo momma’ comment break you. What do they know about your mom? It’s all about getting in here.” Felix pointed at Abel’s forehead. “Don’t let it happen, man.”

“Yeah,” Hector had agreed with a laugh. “If he says anything about Mom, hold it in until you’re in the ring tomorrow, and then let him have it.”

Abel had seen plenty of these pre-fight conferences go south when things got too personal. He’d even seen McKinley get swung at a few times because he talked so much shit. He wasn’t the least bit worried about losing it today. He’d seen plenty of this idiot on television. It was obvious that this guy ate up the attention he got for being obnoxious. He just wanted this over with so he could get back to his room and Nellie.

After today, he had strict orders to just relax and take in as much of the weight-gaining protein drinks as he possibly could. He had every intention of doing just that. From tonight until tomorrow, it’d be all about room service and Nellie. He couldn’t think of a better way to spend his time before the fight.

Making their way slowly through the crowd until they were in the room where the conference would take place, Abel was certain that he’d be blind before it was all over. The cameras in the room were worse. He looked down as they kept walking, not wanting anymore flashes in his face.

They’d barely walked in the room, and he could already hear someone running his mouth. “That’s the younger of his two brothers,” Hector whispered, leaning into Abel. Abel glanced up to see the same grease-ball-looking guy he’d seen on TV trash talking him. Only this time, instead of a Pistons jersey, he was suited up like everyone else. “He’s the worst of the two.” He saw Hector stretch his neck around. “I don’t see the other one.”

They got the formalities out of the way, and even the press conference with reporters trying to get a rise out of them went well. Abel kept his cool and answered all their questions without much of a reaction. Then came the photo ops for the press. This was what everyone was waiting for, to see Abel and McKinley nose to nose. Abel’s plan was simple. He’d stare him down hard and let him talk all the trash he wanted. As long as the guy didn’t touch him, he wouldn’t lose his cool, no matter what he said.