This match would be completely different. It was fueled by too much hatred Walking up to him the Dons shake Gage's hand and congratulate him in a job well done. It was done a lot sooner than Nicos usual time it was truly something to see. Reaching out his hands he started to shake the hands of the two men he hasn't met yet. "Gage I want you to meet Chase Beaumont the French Don and Rafael Ramos the Brazilian Don both fine men in my personal experience boys meet my future son Gage Brooks." Angelo winked to Gage.
After shaking their hands Rafael took Gages hands and unwrapped them as Chase did the same. "You seem pretty confident there Angelo. You think this caça montanha (mountain fighter) can do this?" Rafael asked. "I know he can." Angelo told him flatly. "I think he can too." Chase said as he finished wrapping Angelos hands and moved over to Gage. "You have a quelque chose de spécial à votre sujet. (Something special about you.) Chase told him. "Thanks." Gage said looking to Angelo curiously who nodded. "I think." He mumbled.
After making sure they were both set up. They slowly walked away. Looking at the man he already sees as his second dad a part of him felt turned. Wishing it didn't have to be this way. Maybe this will be a funny story to tell the kids around Christmas or something Gage was silently thinking. "Don't think to much about this. I already see those wheels turning in your head boy. It will all be alright. I won't go easy on you. You better bring all you got. Deep down you know you got this Gage. No matter what happens here tonight you are the only man I deem good enough for my daughter. There are alot of worthy opponents you have against you in that category but none of them come close to you. She wants only you. You already won Gage you just got to leave it all here in the arena to claim it. So for Gods sake boy just reach out and grab it." Angelo told him walking a few steps back as Gage nodded to him.
That was exactly what Gage needed to hear. He was just so good at that like a super power. He really knew how to read people just as well as his woman can. Not even blood related yet she had so much of Angelo in her. The had to be related by soul at least it was just to coincidental and ironic. Looking up to see Angelo he knew this time this fight had to be different Angelo could always see a hit before it happened he had to be at least ten steps ahead and coming from the offensive. Angelo doesn't hit first unless your being punished. After everything I did to Tess maybe I need to be punished. Maybe I have this coming. Maybe I need to take a few of these hits as atonement. Shaking his head he was already getting in his own way. After blinking a few times he knew it was time.
After making two strikes Angelo made a good hit, while Gage barely missed. Gage went to swing his right as Angelo blocked with one arm, swung his other and moved his foot behind Gage tripping him and making contact in his left side eye in the process. Swinging both legs quickly Gage took Angelo down with him and rolled on top quickly. His left arm swinging into his side and his right into his face. Angelo swiftly rolled them as the continued to keep rolling and swinging punches all the way up until they somehow bumped in the air and both got thrown off each other. Breathing alittle heavy they both stared at each other after a few minutes they were both bent over laughing hard holding their side.
Tess and the men in the stands were laughing before they were. That's when most people watching were starting to realize maybe this contender was just as crazy as the family. New worries started to formulate in their mind. Even when Angelo steps down the new future king maybe just be as wild and nuts as the Queen. Some were nervous, most were mainly happy at the thought. A selected few were growing angry. Tobias was one of them. Looking down at the two men who each held her heart in different ways she started to believe this really could work. The first time her eyes saw just how well he really could be in their world.
He wasn't shy here. He was quiet or bored. He wasn't looking through people who he could tell were just trying to use him or his family. He wasn't in the spot light the way he dreaded. He was different in that arena fighting these men. He was…free. For the first time in a few days or even weeks Tessenia was watching Gage be just who he was on the inside the real Gage no hold bars. Surrounding in people accepting him for who he is the same people he thought to be human less monsters. Villains with no souls which never made sense to her.
Every villain has a soul that's how they became a villain in the first place. Every man and woman always say they wanted a hero but they are all liars. Everyone in this building new it too. A hero would sacrifice you their love to save the world. A villain would sacrifice the world to save you and that's the real love we all are searching for. Looking at the man laughing and bleeding lightly at the same time showing his true crazy like her father down there fighting to show his worth. Our worth. Never did I think I would find that love, yet here it is in front o my face. Never did I nor anyone think I could ever bare emotions. Yet here they are. No one can see them still, but a few. That was him. That was the love of my life in that arena. That is the man I will marry and make me a real queen. He was going the distance here tonight because he was going to win.
After a second they both nodded and came up to each other going straight back at it. Blow to blow neither one of them missing contact their hits were so fast so strong. The were hitting every piece they could ribs, face, nose, eye, leg, stomach. They were moving so quick it was hard to see the damages they were making it was like watching a Kungfu movie in fast forward. Gage finally feel himself get out of his own head and started to attack without thinking about it. He started psyching Angelo out when he would go to swing one arm he would kick him. If he went to kick him he would jump and his fist would hit his face. Gage was moving at a much faster pace. Angelo knew he couldn't keep up with him.
Angelo knew something in Gage finally snapped he had so much more to prove, to fight for than he did. His drive was more intense than Angelo had anticipated. It was becoming to much to keep up with but he wasn't going to give up so easy. Angelo speared Gage to the floor and hit him in the head. Gage stayed down for a moment as the air had been knocked out of him. It didn't take him too long to stand back up and pick Angelo up and throw him the same way he did Nico. After a few rolls Angelo knew he got in his ribs good. This was too much on them. Especially since they were kicking in their ribs a few moments ago. Wobbling to stand up Gage stormed up to Angelo and they clashed going blow to blow except this time Angelo was missing some of those hits and couldn't hold up his arm to block them as his rib was too bruised.
Gage was blocking and attacking at the same time. The combos Angelo taught him replaying in his mind. His voice in his head as if they were sparing in the ring at the gyms. Everything Angelo ever taught him echoing through his head until the voices stopped on the last hit to the side temple knocking Angelo to the ground in a full spin before he hit the ground. The whole arena was quiet. The great Don Angelo had truly fallen. The speed of both men's attacks, the full fierce force of each impact was nerve settling. How could anyone be expected to keep up with either one of them. Angelo at his age was still one of the best fighter known across the world no one but his daughter beaten him. Gage so much younger was already stronger than him and he still had his best years ahead of him.
Chase and Rafael came to check Angelo as Gage was not allowed to touch him until a decision was made. Didn't stop him from worrying if he went too far though. Angelo was spitting some blood up talking to the Don's who were looking his body over. At least he was still conscious. Rafael stood up. "It has been determined. The Don Alderman cannot continue the fight. Gage is the victor. Congratulations Brooks it was well earned. Both Dons shook his hand. Gage came and helped Angelo up his arm going around him. As Eddie and some others had to take him from there to the doctor. Angelo pushing him away.
"I'm fine kid. You aint going no where. You go tone more piss ant to squash before this is over. Oh shit." "Don Angelo how are you." "Drew didn't think you would be down here." "Yeah I figured. It was just something I couldn't seem to pass up though. Mr. Brooks you need to get back out there or you're out." The man named Drew said. "I'm fine Gage you can come see for yourself once you're done." Angelo said holding his side. "Wow he really did beat your ass Angelo. Just had to see for myself." "I understand kid I really do." Angelo said as he walked away. Both men started to walk away as the other Don was already out there wrapping up Dimitri.
"I know we never met, but I have to ask if we already have a problem?" Gage asked as he was unwrapping his hands on the way back to the center of the arena. "It's nothing personal. It's not a problem like you think its more of an emotional blow of the mind for me. You see I am Don Andrew Johnson of New Zealand people call me Drew." He said hand out to shake. "I was and still am Ian Kings best friend." Gage shook his head in surprise. "You mean Tess's Ian." Drew shook his head. "I'm sorry man." "Its alright. Thanks though. I've been looking out and over her for a few years now. Was starting to worry about her further down the road here. You know just how well she is with emotions and all." Drew said in that tone that made them both laughed
"I miss Ian but neither one of us would ever want her to be alone. I know his attachment to her was more deeper than hers. That didn't mean she didn't' love him in her own way. Than you pop in mate. Than it's like watching someone using those paddles to jumpstart your heart back to life when you're around. She was like such a different person. She was more fierce, more cunning. Hell I think her IQ jumped even higher than what it was. You literally brought out the best in her she's even twice as fearless and scary now. You have no idea how much more people fear her." "This is supposed to be making feel flattered?" Gage teased. "That my woman is fighting more creatively." "She is changed you know why she's this way she's stronger mate. She's stronger because of you."
"I don't need her to be stronger because of me as you can tell I can fight my own battles." "That's not what I'm getting at mate. You are the reason she's stronger because you give her that strength to be. You are the whole reason." "Her whole reason to fight?" Gage was confused. "No you gave her something to fight for. Gave her a reason to have her own purpose. Let her know she can have her own life that she doesn't just have to be a Don everyone expecting great things from. So many people depend on her for what she needs to be. She needed to find the one thing that pushed her to be better because she now would know just how much more than all that she is. Thank you Gage for bringing her to life. I know wherever Ian is, he would be thankful as well. Now go burry this asshole in the ground I always hated him I did." "I find more and more people agree with us there." Yeah we could start a club." "Yeah soon as I'm done lets work on the jackets." Gage said as they finally met in the middle.
"That was a hell of a fight you are already a legend now regardless what happens tonight. I am already a huge fan of you now. I am Carson Campbell Don of Jamaica happy to shake your hand brotha." Carson told him smiling he looked to be maybe a year or three older than Gage who happily shook his hand. As he waited for Carson to rewrap his hands. "Drew you look good it's been a minute." "Not really I was at Tess birthday just spent my time wisely. You look old. A little chunky you know it's not a good idea to be letting yourself go now D." Andrew told him.
"Still a smart ass." "Still just an ass." Both men were actually good with each other over time having the same friends and growing up. Dimitri would always rub Andrew the wrong ways. Knowing how much he wanted his best friends girlfriend pist him off. Ian was like his brother and it gutted him to know what happened. He was soulless to everyone but Tessa. In fact they did therapy together for a year afterwards. It didn't help but their friendship helped get them over it. Andrew was happily engaged to a wonderful woman. Her mother was his family's cook. He ran into her one day as she was collecting her mother from work and he couldn't keep his mind off her. Tessenia loves her. Emmeline was back at home since she was expecting and didn't want to fly. They were having a boy who they would be calling Isiah Ian Johnson. Tess was to be Godmother.
"How is Emmy. She should be about the end of her six months now right?" "She's fine. Yes she's a ways, got a ways further she sends her contentment." Making Dimitri smile. "Did you get the gifts." "We did we love the swings and the blankets it was nice." "I still think it would only make sense to make the Godfather along side Tessenia." "Really I don't see the common sense reasoning in that at all. If anything I think it should be the new legendary king here. Think about it man." Andrew winked to Gage. Dimitri had Ian and Andrews pictures on receiving blankets and throws so Andrew son could still have a piece of him. Nodding his head to Andrew they stepped back. Looking at each other was just adding fuel to their fire.
Everything leading up to this moment was just pushing them further and further into the edge. They wanted to rip into each other for everything they have done to each other. For everything Dimitri saw Gage taking away from him. Tessenia the want and need to see her in his future with his own children swollen in her belly. The life he had dreamed of with her. Only to have this mountain of nerd man a regular boy to come in and just crack all her defenses to break all her walls to take her so easily and when her truth came out to discard her to the side with evil names knowing he couldn't emotionally or mentally handle it in this world. For people who would need to depend on him never thinking her could actually fall through. Helping the world burn. This man could not do the job that needed to be done. He is not man enough to be the type of man she needs to rule this evil world.
Gage thinking the same lines man at the man who is trying to take everything he feels he is entitled too. This joke in front of aint entitled to shit. Tessenia choose me the second she laid her eyes on me that's simple because she was always meant to be mine. She was made for me. I was the only man to break through to her. She was the only woman to see me for me. He wants to think I cant handle this. He aint got no clue how I would burn this world down for her she doesn't even have to ask. This is my family. I may have fucked up a lot along the way but I've learned and become a better man. The man she will need she needs someone not from this world if she is ever going to make it through it. Someone to keep her grounded to the real reality to let her see she's so much more than just a Queen doing her job she's more than just a woman she's my woman and I will never leave her alone again. This woman is both mine and this tool whole world and I'll be dammed if I'm going to let some asshat try to take it from me. He will bow to my kids in her belly. Kiss my ring on her finger. After today he will truly know his place that is of course if I can keep him above six feet from the ground.
. The both looked to Tessenia who wasn't showing no visible emotion to them just staring at them blankly. Neither of them not knowing how much she wishes to hit both of them in that moment. For all the pain and headaches they have pushed her through. Carson and Andrew stepped back and they were on their own. Looking at each other both starting to shake and visibly seething. Within seconds they were coming at each other full speed. This would be it. This would be his final victory, beyond his foot in the door. By the end of this fight he would be the new Don of America. The first one since Angelo took over the worlds government. Tonight would be the night he finally got Dimitri in his rightful place, while hopefully showing Tessenia hers.