Jackie took her shot and looked right at Tanika. She knew that bit about magical love stories was for her. Tanika simply raised a shot glass in her direction and winked.
The lights in the arena began to dim, and the familiar refrain of Mo’s intro music, “Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mills, began to play. The arena went wild as Mo came out, dressed in his signature golden trunks and shoes.
Jackie’s stomach flipped. This was it. The moment months of negotiating—and sometimes desperation—had led to. She rubbed her hand down her legs, trying to wipe her sweaty palms. As she did so, she felt a warm hand on top of hers, stopping her movement in its tracks.
“You did it, Lucky,” Antonio whispered in her ear as the noise of the crowd became deafening. He squeezed her hand, reassuringly. “Your job is done, baby. You got him here. It’s up to Mo to do his thing, alright?”
Jackie nodded. “You’re right. I did do it. Me. Jackie Miles. And I don’t need AMW-Elite behind my name anymore.”
Antonio looked at Jackie. “What are you saying?”
She took a deep breath. “I’m leaving AMW-Elite, Antonio. Tonight proves I can do this on my own.” She was probably riding a high, being reckless and impulsive thanks to adrenaline and alcohol, but this felt right.
“I know you can, ma. You’re Jackie fucking Miles.”
Jackie gave Antonio a wink. “Damn right.”
As soon as the ring announcer, with his famous baritone voice, began his introductions, Jackie relaxed. As she did so, her body naturally eased closer to Antonio.
He draped an arm around her shoulder, and all the tension in the world seemed to melt away.
CHAPTER 47
Acacophony of popped champagne bottles and jubilant yells filled the air in Mo’s dressing room. Although he was battered and bruised, Mo’s smile was wide as the Grand Canyon. He held up a bottle of Moët, champagne running down his arm as he took a large sip before speaking.
“They counted me out! But the champ has spoken! It wasn’t easy, but we did it,” Mo beamed.
After ten bloody and brutal rounds, Mo came out the victor. Jackie had never seen so much blood in a boxing match. At one point, she thought the ref would call it, but Mo was determined to finish. His cut man bandaged him up, controlling the gash above his eye as best he could. When he was on the ropes in the ninth, she’d thought that would be it. But Mo had pulled from somewhere deep. She’d watched as he sat in his corner, eyes closed, deeply breathing, going into the zone. And by the middle of the tenth round, Mo had rocked Ramón three times. On the last uppercut, Ramón fell against the ropes, and the ref finally stopped the fight. Mo had done it. He’d won. Across the ring, Jackie caught Manny’s gaze, who gave her a smirk and a head shake. He wasn’t too happy. But they’d underestimated Mo. They’d underestimatedher. Lesson learned.
“My team really had my back,” Mo continued. “Especially Terrell, my cut man who got me right so I could finish the fight. But this win isn’t just for me; it’s for y’all.” He wiped his face, clearly masking the tears in his eyes. “Special love definitely goes to the one person I would have never thought woulda been in my corner. They should have been in my corner a while ago.”
Mo got down from the chair he was standing on and grabbed the gloves he’d just worn. Beaten and cracked, they’d gone through hell during the bout. He walked over to Jackie. “These are for you, Lil’ Bit. You earned it. You was fighting for me the whole time. Riding for me. I couldn’t have done this without you, shorty.”
Jackie never thought she’d be getting misty at a boxing match, but she was. “Thanks, Mo. I’ll ride for you always. Manny’s already talking rematch.”
Mo grinned, then placed a swollen hand over his eyes. “Let me heal up first, Lil’ Bit. Then we’ll talk rematch.”
Jackie let out a breath. It was either now or never. “I do want to tell you, Mo, I’m leaving AMW-Elite. I’m going solo. So, listen, if you don’t want to—”
Mo shook his head. “Stop talking crazy, Lil’ Bit. I’m rocking with you. No matter where you go or what you do.”
