And suddenly, I know how to get Jake back. I will be in his corner. Every day. Every way. I will be in his corner.

In my excitement, I drop my phone. When I step into the hallway to pick it up, Bob turns in my direction. His eyes widen and he shouts for Clive. Ray grabs my hand and yanks me up the stairs.

“Discretion. Name of the game.”

Bob and Clive chase us with a speed and agility belied by their supposedly broken arms. Ray and I race for the door and hit the pavement running. We throw ourselves into the vehicle and Ray peels away from the curb, burning rubber like he’s been doing it all his life.

“My God.” My heart pounds in my chest. “Look what I’ve missed out on all those years at Farnsworth and Tillman. This sure beats an afternoon of drafting documents.”

“Fuck, yeah.” Ray squeezes my shoulder, the extent of his excitement.

The next day, Ray prepares a report setting out the details of the castless fight. Penny and I put together a photo slideshow and edit my video clip. We spend more time laughing than working. I send a copy of Ray’s report to Simmons & Clarkson, the attorneys hired by Bob and Clive. Frank Simmons calls ten minutes later to set up a settlement meeting.

High fives all around.

***

A few days later, I pack all my documents into my bag and drive out to the settlement meeting at Simmons & Clarkson. I have arranged through Shayla for the Redemption fighters to meet me there. Jake’s attorney has given me authority to represent him and Jake at the meeting.

Anxiety ratchets through me as I drive. I haven’t seen anyone from Redemption since Jake saw me with Evil Reid at my office. I imagine he told them what happened, and I imagine their derisory faces when we meet. By the time I get to the office, I am so nauseous I can’t get out of the car. With my forehead resting on the steering wheel, I struggle to calm myself with slow, deep breaths. What will I say to everyone? How should I act?

A knock on the window startles me and my head jerks up. Rampage. He’s smiling a goofy Rampage smile. “’Manda!’” he shouts. Then he waves a giant arm in the air. “Guys, ’manda’s here!” He opens the car door and pulls me out and into a huge bear hug. I hug him back. Suddenly I am swarmed by fighters. My hair is ruffled. I am squeezed. My back is thumped. Someone cops a feel of my ass. Tears leak from my eyes. They don’t hate me. I’m still part of the family. Everything’s going to be okay.

After Bob and Clive arrive, we all squeeze into Frank Simmons’s boardroom. I set up the projection equipment, and he pulls down the screen. Rampage asks for popcorn. I tell him he isn’t allowed any carbs until after the big fight event coming up, but if he’s good, he can have an extra scoop of waxy vol in his protein shake. He thinks I’m being serious and thanks me.

The movie starts. Everyone claps and cheers when Bob and Clive make an appearance in the ring. Someone whistles when Bob’s girlfriend gives him a kiss, and Bob growls.

“Wait for it,” I whisper. “Wait for it…”

Then my favorite movie scene ever. Bob and Clive strip off the fake casts in preparation for the fight. The room erupts into chaos. I have to pause the video so everyone can high-five everyone else. When I turn the video back on, the now cheerful audience jeers and catcalls at the poor fight techniques and the shoddy state of the ring. The video ends with a montage of photos of Bob and Clive, castless and free, which Penny and I have set to “So Long and Good-bye” by Deception. Blade Saw wipes a tear from his eye and tells me it was a beautiful film. Obsidian is disappointed I didn’t ask him to narrate.

Bob and Clive make a hasty exit with their attorney. A few minutes later, the attorney returns with an offer to withdraw the lawsuit and pay our costs. There is a unanimous acceptance of the offer, a frenzy of feet pounding down the stairs, and then a riot in the street as the fighters go crazy. I am hoisted in the air and tossed around like a grapple dummy. Rampage squeezes me so hard, my ribs crack.

“’Manda, ’manda, ’manda.” He gets everyone to chant. Fuzzy suggests we keep it down or someone might call the police. Obsidian yells “Fuzzy,” and Homicide Hank collapses in hysterics.

We retire to the Protein Palace for a celebration. I order a big plate of grass with a side of steamed veg. I drink shot after shot of slime and waxy vol. It doesn’t taste so bad.

The only thing missing from this perfect moment is Jake.

***

The next night, I return to Redemption.

“’Manda.” Rampage ruffles my hair. “We missed you. Good to see you back. I told Fuzzy you were coming. He was really pleased. He rubbed his hands together and smiled like this.” He gives me the most evil, terrifying smile I have ever seen.

With a gasp of horror, I step back toward the door. But I am too late to run.

“WESTWOOD,” Fuzzy bellows from the gym. “I can see you. Don’t you even think of running away. You get your sorry ass in here now. That’s an order.”

“Sir. Yes, sir.”

“Don’t worry, ’manda.” Rampage pats me on the back. “We’re family here. We won’t let him hurt you.” He pauses and grins. “Much.”

After I change, I sneak into the back of Get Fit or Die and pray Fuzzy doesn’t notice me until well after class.

“Westwood. Front and center.”

Stomach clenched, I jog up to the front of the class. Fuzzy throws a deceptively friendly arm around my shoulders. “Westwood here missed almost a month of classes. What do we think of that?”