Marcus remained still.
Caleb continued.
“But then he wanted me to say you threatened kids.”
Emily stood.
“That son of a…”
Marcus raised his hand.
“Emily.”
She stopped.
Marcus turned back to Caleb.
“Did you say it?”
“No.”
“Did you sign anything?”
Caleb shook his head.
“Good.”
He leaned forward.
“Listen to me. You’re not in trouble with me.”
Caleb looked up.
“But I took his money.”
“You made a mistake.”
Caleb began crying harder.
Marcus waited.
Then said:
“What matters now is what you do next.”
Caleb wiped his face.
“I want to give it back.”
Marcus nodded.
“We’ll figure that out.”
But Marcus knew the situation had changed.
Ryan was no longer simply trying to provoke him into a fight.
He was targeting children.
And Marcus could not ignore that.
Chapter 10: The Meeting
The next morning, Marcus called Victor Harlan.
“I want to meet.”
Victor sounded relieved.
“Of course.”
“At the gym.”
“Okay.”
“Ryan needs to be there.”
A pause.
“Marcus, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I’m not coming to fight.”
“What do you want?”
“To end this.”
Victor hesitated.
Then agreed.
Saturday afternoon, Marcus arrived at Ironclad.
The same gym.
The same cage.
The same dark mats.
But the atmosphere was different.
There were no cheering spectators.
No open sparring demonstration.
Only Victor, Ryan, Emily, David Collins, and two other gym staff members.
Marcus entered quietly.
Ryan stood near the cage.
He smiled.
“Well, look who finally showed up.”
Marcus ignored him.
Victor stepped forward.
“Let’s keep this professional.”
Ryan laughed.
“Professional? He came here to fight.”
Marcus looked at him.
“No.”
Ryan spread his arms.
“Then why are you here?”
Marcus placed an envelope on the table.
Ryan glanced at it.
“What’s that?”
“A statement from Caleb Williams.”
Ryan’s smile faded.
Marcus continued.
“And a record of the money you gave him.”
Victor looked at Ryan.
“What money?”
Ryan shrugged.
“Kid asked for help.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You offered him money to lie about me.”
“Prove it.”
Marcus opened the envelope.
Inside was a printed transcript of messages.
Ryan stared.
Marcus continued.
“Caleb saved everything.”
Victor picked up the pages.
His expression changed as he read.
Ryan looked toward the door.
Marcus said:
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to embarrass you.”
Ryan laughed nervously.
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“I’m here because you need to stop.”
Ryan’s face hardened.
“Or what?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Or you’ll keep hurting people until someone gets seriously injured.”
Ryan stepped closer.
“You threatening me again?”
“No.”
Marcus’s voice remained calm.
“I’m telling you what happens when someone believes consequences are for other people.”
Ryan stared.
Then smiled.
“You know what your problem is?”
Marcus waited.
“You think you’re better than me.”
