Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)(17)

I glance down at my watch and notice it’s nearly time for Thursday Tension to come on, and I wonder what the writers have planned for tonight’s show.

I glance over at Nettie, who is stacking clean glasses behind the counter. “Would you mind turning on Tension?”

“Sure thing,” Nettie answers as she grabs the remote from under the counter and flips the channel.

A few minutes later, the unmistakable promo music for Tension begins to play, and the familiar clips of me and some of the other guys who work for the company appear on the screen. It’s a wonder that they haven’t yanked me from being one of the faces on their trailers, seeing as how I’ve been giving them problems for quite a while now.

My back straightens a bit when Mr. Silverman’s music blasts through the speakers. The camera zooms in on him as he steps through the black curtain and onto the metal grating ramp leading down to the ring. His thin lips rest in an emotionless line, and his gray eyes appear hard and focused beneath his neatly trimmed silver eyebrows and hair.

Fuck.

This can’t be good.

“Does he make appearances often?” Anna asks.

I can’t force my eyes off the screen. “No, hardly ever. He rarely shows his face, even backstage. Typically, the only time he comes out is to fire or promote someone.”

“Oh,” she says, the surprise in her voice apparent.

I know that quick-witted brain of hers has a list of questions.

“Are you saying that we’ve been seeing him more than most of the other athletes?” she asks.

I nod. “I’ve seen him more the past couple of weeks than I have my entire career. I’ve been making a lot of waves, so I’m sure he felt compelled to check out the situations for himself.”

The crowd screaming and booing as Mr. Silverman pulls the microphone to his lips draws my attention back to the screen.

“I’m sure many of you are wondering why I’m here tonight,” he says.

I sure as hell am.

“I’m here to dispel some of the rumors I saw floating around social media after Tuesday’s show. I felt they needed to be addressed in order to end all the secondhand gossip. What you saw occur in this very ring earlier this week was in fact real. Phenomenal X did lose his head and beat Assassin mercilessly in front of a live television audience of millions of people. X was carted out of here in handcuffs, but Assassin refused to press charges.”

The crowd murmurs with confusion as he allows them to digest what he just said.

It doesn’t surprise me one bit that they are taking the truth of the situation and spinning it in a way that works with a storyline. It’s how things are done in Tension. They often use things that happen in our real lives to create stories for our characters in the ring, which is why it’s in each athlete’s best interests to keep their personal life on lockdown. Allowing a devious writer like Vicky to know any of your secrets is definitely a bad move.

Take my relationship with Anna, for instance. Vicky and Rex used it against me, and from what I’ve gathered, they are far from finished.

“Now, I know a lot of you are asking yourselves, What does that mean for Phenomenal X?” his voice cuts back through the diner. “I’ve suspended him for three months.”

The boos for my suspension are loud and clear.

“That means, until his suspension is lifted, X will not be eligible to compete in any fashion for the world heavyweight title. For the next three months, he’s not even allowed to be in the same city as Tension. I gave him strict orders to stay away while Assassin heals.” He looks around the arena and then faces the camera head-on. “To make up for the tragic accident that nearly ended Assassin’s career, when he’s ready, Assassin will be guaranteed a shot at the title.”

My nostrils flare, and I know that this wouldn’t even be up for discussion right now if I didn’t hand Rex this opportunity on a silver platter.

“When X returns, as long as he remains in good standing with the company and learns to control himself, he will be granted a title rematch shot with whoever currently holds the title—whether that be with Brian Razor Rollins or Assassin.”

The crowd erupts with cheers, and it’s clear to anyone watching that they’re still backing me. I was fully prepared for the fans to turn on me after what I had done. It would’ve served me right, but that isn’t what’s happening.

“Assassin is expected to be back in the ring soon. He’s suffered a broken nose and a few cracked ribs, but it could’ve been much, much worse had it not been for the quick reaction of Tension’s security team, other wrestlers, and, of course, the esteemed Atlanta Police force who were on hand.” He pauses for a moment. “Now, without further ado, I give you Thursday night Tension!”

Hard rock music plays, and I know that’s all the information I’m going to get.

With both Rex and me out of the picture, it puzzles me why Vicky wanted Anna to be there tonight. The only storyline with her character would involve either Rex or me, and seeing as how he’ll be out for a while, there was no need for Anna to show up.

They just wanted her there to f*ck with me. I know it.

“Damn that Rex,” I mumble as the show begins to play.

I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to handle her on the road without me. She hasn’t even left yet, and I’m already driving myself crazy about it.