Guarded Heart (Dubicki's) (6 page)

Chapter 9

Carissa was tired. It had been a long day at work. One of
the Alzheimer’s patients had escaped, and all hell had broken loose. It took
two hours and the police to recover the patient. Before he’d left the premises,
he’d also hit another patient. Belligerence was a symptom of Alzheimer’s
disease. Unfortunately, when one of her Alzheimer’s patients hit someone like
this man had, that meant he’d be shipped out to a “high-security” nursing home.
It was sad but necessary. Alzheimer’s patients had ankle bracelets and were in
a lockdown unit in case they escaped. It was for their safety that the place
was in lockdown.

Today, after recovering of the patient, there had been tons
of paperwork to fill out, both with the police and with the home to report the
act of violence. Then there was more paperwork to get the transfer for the
patient to the high-security home. Carissa had to do the paperwork since she
was on that unit that day and was the newest and, thus, often delegated
paperwork. She’d also had to call the patient’s family, and the news about what
had happened and the transfer to the high-security home was not well received.

She walked into her apartment door, reached down to pet her
cat Cal, and put her purse over the back of the chair at her kitchen table. She
got herself some iced tea and made her way into the living room. She’d have to
get in the shower soon but needed some down time. She liked to read and took
out her e-reader and turned it to her novel of the moment. Reading was a good
release and helped her escape reality.

She nestled herself into her big, comfy reading chair.
Carissa loved her big reading chair. When she purchased it, even though she’d
been looking at thrift stores for furniture, she knew she wanted a big,
inviting chair that she could curl up and read a book in. Someday she wanted a
library or office in her home with lots of books and book shelves, a picture
window, and a big, comfy chair to read in. She could even see Cal sitting near
her, perched in the window just like a cat would be when she imagined it. Books
and reading were just nourishment for her soul. They helped her escape life in
some of her hardest moments; now that the moments were better, she loved
reading all the more.

As she was just settling into a steamy sex scene, her phone
rang.
Damn
. She sighed and put her book down since it was Dana’s vanity
ring that came on only when her bestie was calling.

“Girrrllll, have I got a surprise for you,” Dana purred as
Carissa picked up the phone. When Dana talked like that, she usually wanted
something.

“Uh oh. What do you want, Wheeler?” Carissa teased as she
prepared for the bomb to drop.

“Well, my new boyfriend Kyle loves UFC fighting. You know
what that is, right?”

Dana had been dating Kyle since the night of Carissa’s incident
at Dubicki’s. Carissa shuttered just thinking about anything associated with
that evening.

“Duh, yes. I don’t really get it, but, yes, I know what it
is. It’s cage fighting, right?” Carissa yawned with disinterest.

“Sort of. Anyway, Kyle has tickets to go see a local MMA
fight tomorrow, and we were going to take his buddy with us, but his friend
can’t make it,” Dana said expectantly as if asking her to go.

“Dana, I have to tell you something, and I don’t want you to
get upset. That night at Dubicki’s when you met Kyle?”

“Yeah?”

“I fell apart after you left. I thought I was drunk, but I
only had two drinks. I’m pretty sure I was roofied by one of those guys that
Carrie and Melissa had with them.”

“What? What the FUCK, Carissa? How could you not tell me? I
thought you were alright, or I never would have left you like that! I’m going
to ask Carrie and Melissa if they know which one it was; when I find his name,
you better hope I don’t hunt him down. You should have him arrested.”

“There’s more to the story. When I basically passed out in
my own vomit, one of the bouncers, Jesse Dubicki, found me. He took me upstairs
to his apartment because he didn’t know I’d been roofied or where I lived. When
I woke up, I was mad. I’m not sure who I was more upset with, him or the guy
that roofied me, but the whole experience was traumatizing.”

Carissa felt nauseous just discussing it, but knew she had
to tell her best friend. She’d put it off for long enough.

“Carissa, you’re lucky that Jesse saved you. That guy who roofied
you could have raped you.”

“DON’T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT, DANA! God!”

Carissa paced, wanting to hit something. Cal got scared
seeing her upset and fled the room.

“Carissa, I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how bad this must be
with all that happened to you when you were young.”

“Do NOT say his name, Dana. Do NOT say the name Ray. I never
want to hear it again.”

Carissa fought the bile she felt creep up her esophagus at
just mentioning his name herself.

“Shhh, Carissa. I’m so sorry, sweetie. Do you want me to
come over?”

“No, D, I’ll be fine. It’s just that bringing it all up
makes me remember things I would rather not. That was a close call. I never
want to see either of those guys again.”

“Well, in saying that, I hope that you mean that you don’t
want to see the rapist and potential roofie rapist. Because that fight tomorrow
that I was inviting you to features Jesse Dubicki as the headliner.”

“What? I thought he was a bouncer! What are you talking
about?”

“How can you NOT know who Jesse Dubicki is? He’s one of the
best MMA fighters in the Midwest. In this city, he’s pretty much a local hero.
People love him!”

Carissa felt a headache coming on trying to process all this
new information.

“So do you want to go, or not?” Dana pressed.

“No. I don’t want to see anyone associated with that night
again.”

“Carissa, come on. I can’t imagine how much fear that
brought up in you, but it sounds to me like Jesse was trying to protect you.
Not only am I thankful he did that, I think that it’s kind of hot. Don’t you?”

Dana could never resist the impulse to try to match-make for
her. It was annoying most of the time, and this was no exception. She loved her
best friend who was ever the romantic, but she stopped believing in true love
long ago.

“Carissa, I can almost hear the wheels of your mind turning.
Will you please go? Just try, and if it makes you really uncomfortable, you can
leave. I want you with me if I have to go to an MMA fight, pleeeaaasseee?”

“I don’t know, Dana,” Carissa said as she fought the smile
that was threatening the corner of her mouth at the moment. She couldn’t resist
Dana sometimes, even if it was for her own good.

“Carissa, it’s not like he’s even going to see you. Stop
worrying.”

Carissa pursed her lips.

“Alright. I’ll go. Happy?”

She gave into Dana every time. She wasn’t even sure why she
bothered to protest.

Dana laughed, “I knew it. Even when you bitched about him
seeing you puke the other night, I could hear something in your voice that
sounded like you might have judged him incorrectly. I’ll meet you after work,
and we can go shopping for a new outfit. You need a good push-up bra for this
one.”

Carissa laughed. Normally, she thought Dana was a little
over the top, but sometimes that’s just what she needed to get her out of her
shell.

Chapter 10

It was finally the day of the big fight.

“See you later tonight at the arena, Dubicki,” Pablo said as
they toweled off in the locker room of the gym.

They’d had a morning brush-up practice that went well; just
to give them more confidence as they went into that night’s match. You never
knew what tricks a fighter like Damon Velasquez would pull out, but they wanted
to cover all the bases.

Two years ago, Jesse had experienced one of the worst losses
and sustained the worst injuries of his fighting career to Damon Velasquez. Not
only was it physically challenging, it had been hard to emotionally digest
every day since. So many times, Jesse had imagined this day of vengeance in his
mind with the outcome of him being the winner. He wanted it to play out that
way perfectly or, at the very least, to come out more ahead than he had last
time. Velasquez deserved a beating, and he wanted to be the one to give it to
him.

He went home, showered, and got his bag ready for the fight
that was just a few hours away. He’d practiced that moment in his mind so many
times that it seemed surreal that it was finally there. He was full of energy
and decided to go to the arena a bit early. He’d beat Pablo there: they’d
agreed to meet a bit later. It would give Jesse time to think out the
possibilities of the fight, not that he hadn’t many times before.

Jesse got into his white pickup truck and hit the track he
wanted to hear right then. “She’s Country” by Jason Aldean started playing. He
played it loud, put his shades on, and started the drive to the arena. He liked
the intensity in the drive of that song: it matched his mood right then.

Twenty minutes later, Jesse parked his truck and entered the
arena. He loved the smell of the place right before a fight. And after. It was
what he lived for. Having a good opponent and knowing that he could have the
upper hand if he kept his head about him while he was in the ring.

He made his way back to the locker room to check his
belongings and to start to prepare for the fight.

“Hi, Jesse.”

Jesse was taken aback by the sound of her voice. Inwardly,
he groaned. “Janelle. Hi.”

Janelle Velasquez was Damon’s little sister, if he used the
term “little” lightly. Janelle was also an MMA fighter in the women’s league,
and the girl could kick some serious ass. He’d never admit it to her, but he
liked his women a little less rough around the edges.

She’d been after him since they’d been kids. Damon had come
to learn the MMA craft in Minnesota. The state was known for its excellent
fighting schools and facilities and had given birth to some of the best
fighters in the league. Damon and Janelle lived in California, but for the
short time they were in Minnesota, Janelle would never leave him alone. He
didn’t encourage her then, but one night when he’d had too much to drink, he’d
made a colossal mistake and hooked up with her. Waking up the morning after was
like being in a bad dream, and he’d told her it was a mistake. She didn’t
respond to that kindly.

Janelle walked up behind him as he faced his locker in a
careful effort not to look her way. She put her hand on his shoulder and
caressed it. He flinched.

“Janelle, it’s been a long time. I’m sorry, but I don’t have
time to talk.”

“Is that any way to greet someone you haven’t seen in a few
years? What is wrong with you, Jesse?” Janelle said in surprise, clearly taken
aback by him keeping a distance from her.

“What’s the wrong with me, Janelle? Let’s see, perhaps I’ve
got a rather big fight tonight. I’ve got to go,” he said as he walked past her
to the door exiting the locker room. He had to get away from her.

“Wow, Jesse. You always were an asshole, you know that? I
hope Damon kicks your ass again, Jesse. You deserve it.”

Jesse was glad to be rid of her. If she caused this much
drama after not seeing her for a while, he could only imagine what she was like
on a normal day. Clearly, the crazy gene ran in their family.

“Jesse!” Pablo exclaimed as he entered the hallway that led
back to the locker room.

“How you feeling, Jesse? Ready for the day you’ve been
waiting for?” he said as he affectionately smacked Jesse on the back.

“You have no idea,” Jesse said as he and Pablo smiled at
each other, the anticipation nearly palpable.

“Alright, let’s go back to the locker room, and I’ll get you
taped up. Then we can have the sports therapist work to loosen you up a bit,”
Pablo said as they entered the locker room and both dropped their bags on the
benches. The locker room was big enough to house the fighter and his staff and
still leave room for all of them to sit and be comfortable.

***

The moment was he’d been waiting for the last two years was
finally there. The practice routine he’d endured for the three months since
he’d found out he was going to finally have this fight had been grueling, and this
was what it had all been for. It had already been worth every moment of blood,
sweat, and tears. A win would just seal the deal.

After spending time preparing with his team, he put his robe
on, followed Pablo to the tunnel that led to the fighting ring, and silently
said a little prayer for strength. As he did, he looked up to the sky, knowing
his mother, father, and buddy Cameron were watching over him.

He’d taken his name Jesse “The Patriot” Dubicki in honor of
his friend Cameron who joined the US Marine Corps after high school and died
overseas defending their country. Cameron lost his life saving the lives of
other soldiers in his unit against an enemy raid. It was such an amazing thing
for Cameron to do, and Jesse wasn’t surprised that he’d given his life for his
country in that way. Still, the loss had hit him hard. Losing his mother way
too soon made him particularly vulnerable to the loss of his friend Cameron.
Cameron had been one of his best friends growing up. He was a soldier and a
patriot, and Jesse decided to fight in his memory. He had a tattoo on his back
in Cameron’s memory. An American flag with words scrolled beneath it:

Cameron Mayer

1989-2012

A True Patriot

Semper Fi

His parents and Cameron may have been gone, but he still
believed they were around him sometimes, especially when he had an important
life event, which that fight definitely was. Not only would a win advance him
higher in the overall stats, it would bring him closer to the next level of
fighting. There was nothing that made a better fighter than the right training,
a clear head, and the heart to marry the two skills to produce the desired
outcome. Deep down was the human fear that this time he really could be killed.
He’d risk that for the vengeance he wanted from Damon Velasquez. A win. He felt
more hope with each passing moment.
Let the games begin.