Against the Odds (Fighting to Survive #2)(51)

“No comment.” This is a new question. I can see the twitch in Kennedy’s jaw.

“Abel,” she continues out of order. You get one question then you sit down and they pick someone else to ask. She didn’t sit down and she isn’t going to give someone else a chance to ask a question. “Isn’t it true that you beat your girlfriend so badly that she was in I.C.U. for three days?”

Kennedy slams his fist down on the table. “Did you put her up to asking that?!” I have no idea what to say. “This is a new low for you, don’t you think, Grether?”

She speaks more loudly and says, “Isn’t it also true that she lost your unborn baby as a result of that abuse?”

Kennedy pushes the table over and stands with his fists in the air, “You want to fight now? You want me to beat the shit out of you, right here?”

I quickly stand and take my stance. I don’t want to fight him, but I will. I have no idea how she got her information, but it wasn’t from me. I stand in front of Gus, Dad, and Tim to protect them. Kennedy throws a punch and I dodge it. If I fight him here, I could be disqualified. The spotlights are turned off and the reporters are all being led out of the room.

“Come on Grether, let’s end this right here and right now,” he demands as he throws another punch. His team is trying to get him back but it is no use.

People come up and separate us then lead us to separate corners of the room. Kennedy’s mad and he is fighting them. I’m calm and trying to figure out what just happened. How could that reporter have gotten her facts unless… she was her sister, or a friend?

I remember the fight like it was yesterday. I went to a boxing match with some buddies from college and Kennedy lost the fight that night. He was boxing a guy named Lucca Gainey. They were both amateur boxers back then. There was an after party and someone said something to Kennedy about losing and it pissed him off. He wanted to leave but his girlfriend wanted to stay. They eventually ended up leaving a short time later.

My buddies and I walked outside to get some air and that’s when I saw Kennedy beating the shit out of his girlfriend. My friends and I broke it up and then called 911. The girl was beaten so badly she was unconscious. Kennedy was very drunk and managed to get away while we attended to the girl.

“Bobby, what the hell was that about?” Gus asks.

“I have no idea,” I lie. This is my memory and I don’t want to share it. I have seen Kennedy many times since then and he is always alone. Never with a date and he never married.

“Bobby, what in the hell was that?” Gus demands in a tone I don’t appreciate.

I said, “I don’t know!”

“The press conference is now closed. Thank you, everyone, for coming. Grether and Kennedy, you two stay, everyone else leave,” Mr. Pelayo announces.


Abel Kennedy

I tell Tony and Mack to leave. They are demanding answers and damn if they’ll get them. Who in the hell was that girl, that damn reporter. I have no doubts that Bobby put her up to it. He wants the damn championship so badly, he’ll stoop to great depths to get it.

“This conversation isn’t over with yet,” Mack says sternly. “Come straight to the suite when you’re done.”

I don’t say anything and this conversation is closed. If the boxing commission finds out about this, I’ll be disqualified to fight. I made a terrible mistake, and I have been paying for it every day since then. I was drunk, young, and stupid and none of those are excuses. There is no excuse to hitting a woman. I was never charged with the assault so there is no record that I was involved. Surprisingly no one from the party said anything. I paid the girl off and she accepted as long as I stayed away from her and we never spoke of this again. I had no idea she was pregnant. She never said anything about a child. So why is this resurfacing now?

When the room clears and Bobby, Mr. Pelayo, and I are the only ones in the room, Mr. Pelayo demands answers. “Who is going to tell me what that shit was all about?”

I get ready to tell him when Bobby speaks up and says, “I have no idea what she’s talking about.” Leah would not be happy about me lying about this.

“And you?” he says looking at me.

I look at Bobby and just a few minutes ago, I thought he paid her off to say something. Now, I have no idea. “I’m in the dark,” I lie.

“Abel, you know if the boxing commission finds any truth to this, this will destroy your career in boxing.”

“Yes, Sir,” I say. “There isn’t any truth to anything she said.”

“Well, let’s hope not.” He looks from me and then to Bobby. “I’ll be in touch. I imagine they are already questioning the reporter and searching for the truth. Stay out of trouble, no fighting and be present for the Blackjack Tournament tonight. I expect you both to be on your best behavior.”

“Yes, sir,” we say in unison.

Robert

I follow Kennedy out of the room and the hallways are empty. No hint that a press conference just took place less than a half hour ago. Kennedy stops at the elevators and says, “Bobby, I don’t know what to say.”

“I didn’t do that for you. I did that for me.” I get on the elevator and leave Kennedy standing there. It took everything I had to not tell everyone the truth. I have spoken to his ex-girlfriend several times after the abuse and she told me she and Kennedy worked out a deal. I didn’t pry. Whatever they worked out was none of my business. I visited her often while she was in the hospital. I tried to talk her into pressing charges or going to a home for battered women, but she wouldn’t listen to me. Once I knew she was going to be all right I never contacted her again. I don’t want him to be disqualified. I want to fight him and win the championship belt fair and square. I want to beat him like he beat her.