Ch. 4: We Meet Again

Davis' P.O.V.

"Oh, Lisa is coming too, so let Carter know to let her in," Liv said through the phone. 

"Oh really? Good, she could stand to see a woman kick a man's ass." I smiled at the thought of Liv, little miss Twinkle Toes, beating Sid the Giant tonight. 

"Thanks. I'll see you tonight. Oh and Davis?" 

"Yes, Twinkle Toes?" 

"I love you. Thanks for being the father I never got." She hung up before I could respond. Her words hit my heart hard. 

I have a daughter, Isabella, or as I call her Izzy. She is a spunky 19-year-old with a rebellious spirit, but a kind heart. I am proud of her and the woman she's become, even if she barely sees me anymore. Liv, on the other hand, is this broken girl I took in 4 years ago now. She showed up at one of my fights and swore she could beat anyone I put in a ring with her. 

I didn't just take her at her word. She showed me what she was made of, and I allowed her into the fold. As I got to know her, she opened up more about her past. The reason she knows how to fight is that her father used her to spar. A grown, retired MMA fighter used his small teenage daughter to keep from getting rusty. 

What a sick son of a bitch. 

I felt so much joy when I got to beat his ass after he showed up in town a year and a half ago. I'll beat the shit of anyone that hurts my girls, because yes, Liv is one of mine now. She's a second daughter to me, one I look after always. Lucas is lucky he's a good guy, or I would have beat his ass for getting her pregnant so early. Still, Abi is absolute perfection. 

My little adoptive granddaughter.

"Carter, we have a few special guests tonight. Twinkle Toes is coming and she's bringing Lucas and his sister, Lisa. Make sure you let them in," I called out to him from the place I'm deeming my office tonight. 

Nathaniel found a warehouse for the night that would allow us to do our thing for only 10% of the profit. The place was spacious enough for three rings, which the crew was currently setting up. 

"Lisa's the one with the boyfriend we watched Liv beat up, right?" Carter asked, peeking his shiny, bald, ebony head through the door. 

"Yeah, that's the one." I nodded, recalling how proud I was of Liv for standing up for the people she cares about. 

I found Lisa a few weeks ago with another mark on her flawless skin. She'd looked so scared and panicked when she finally lifted her eyes towards me. I'll never forget that look. 

I beat that Branden guy up to the brink of death and swore I'd do more if he ever went near her again. I've been tailing him ever since, making sure he learned his lesson. It seemed he had, as he has ventured nowhere near her since. No woman deserves to be hit, ever. 

Those blue eyes of hers have stuck with me since that day. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and hold her close until she felt better, but I was so angry. Plus, I was worried I'd frighten her. She doesn't know me the way Liv does. To her I'm probably some big muscled guy with anger problems. 

Tonight is my chance to make a better impression on her. Perhaps she'll grow comfortable with me. I'm hoping seeing her tonight will push the memory of how she looked that day out of my mind. I haven't been able to let it go, and it's been eating away at me. 

I showed up at her door a few days later, wanting to see her, but not having the balls to knock. I was afraid of scaring her. There's always that point where friendliness can be perceived as stalker-ish and I felt I was dangerously close there. She hadn't told me where she lived, but I knew from Liv and Lucas that she had taken Lucas' old apartment in town. I'm sure it scared her I knew where she lived. 

"She's pretty hot. Do you think I have a chance?" Carter asked, grinning widely. 

He's always such a flirt. Carter isn't one for relationships, always just flings or hooks up. He says relationships take too much work and effort, and he just wants to have fun. Which is why I beat the crap out of him when he hit on Izzy the only time she saw me at one of these fights. 

"Not in the least." I shook my head at him. 

I felt almost mad that he would try. I sighed, realizing that the reason her scared eyes wouldn't leave my mind isn't because I was concerned about her, but because I wanted her. She's something I desire. I haven't felt this way about a woman in quite a while. I haven't had a pair of eyes stay with me like that since my late wife Katy. 

"Harsh, boss, very harsh," Carter complained, leaving the office. 

I slumped in the chair with a creak, kicking my feet up on the desk, causing dust to fly up. The scent of old books, dust, and perhaps mold enveloped the room. Maybe it's best if I don't sit in here too long. I stepped out, deciding to help the crew set up. I need to keep my mind entertained until tonight. 

—------ 

"I thought you said Lisa was coming?" I asked Liv as she approached me from the door. 

"Geez, nice to see you too," she teased me with a smirk. "She's coming. She had to drive herself here since she had other plans before this." 

"Understood. Thankfully, Carter knows what she looks like so she should be good to enter. You ready to fight Twinkle Toes? I got you fighting the giant today." 

"You know I'm ready." She smiled excitedly at me, jumping from foot to foot already. 

"Go get 'em, ring 2. Lucas there's a spot by the ring door saved just for you. Watch her closer than you normally do." 

"What about Lisa?" He asked me, torn between watching his wife more closely, and waiting for his sister. 

"I'll show her where you are. Go have fun. Cheer your wife on." I shooed him away with the wave an arm, seeing him gave chase to Liv. 

I was happy she found someone that supported her love for fighting. Few can stomach seeing their loved one fight for no other reason than they like to. Lucky for him, Liv isn't one to take many punches during the fight. The way she dances around the ring to dodge her opponents hits are unique to just her, and help keep her safe. Liv was about to start and I worried that Lisa would miss her fight if she didn't arrive soon. 

"She's here, coming down now," Carter's voice came through the walkie talkie. 

I rushed to the door, waiting for her to come down the stairs. She came into view at the top step, looking so different in her casual wear. She wore some leggings with an oversized band T-shirt, seeming cozy, yet still breathtaking. 

Damn, I've got it worse than I thought.