Trevor hadn’t remembered them up until this moment, but his memories were coming back to him in a rush leaving him awed but disoriented. There was no time to figure what was happening though. Jesse’s goons had taken a few steps back, but they still looked intent on causing trouble.

After his friend’s hug, there were a few long seconds where everything stood at a standstill. No one moved. No one said a word. He wasn’t sure anyone was even breathing. Then his giant friend took two steps forward, past Trevor, daring Jesse’s goons to come forward. At least ten had convened by now and stood between them and the door.

Having been openly challenged by the newcomer, who stood just inches short of 7 feet and looked like he possibly weighed a quarter ton, the reactions of the men standing against them were mixed. Some looked even more stone faced, if that was possible. Some looked unsure and a few even looked at a predictably unsurprised Jesse. Hoping for what, Trevor didn’t know, because Jesse may as well have been a statue himself. Trevor and his long lost friends were still vastly outnumbered, but the site of the three of them was enough to hold them in place. Not to mention the X-factor. What else were they capable of if they could just materialize out of thin air?

That realization, for the first time since his conversation with Jesse on the phone, finally locked Trevor’s confidence into place. Despite the numbers, he and his friends could handle this. He knew it instinctively, even if he couldn’t sort through the memories to know exactly why just yet. These men were not their equal. Though he was still a bit shaken from all that had happened Trevor did his best to show the confidence he felt.

As the stalemate continued, a few of the braver souls among Jesse’s goons took a few hesitant steps forward. Then a couple more followed their lead. Before they got too far, Trevor’s female friend stepped forward and brandished a pair of what looked to be brass knuckles with two wicked transparent blades that looked of glass curving out on either side of them. Where she pulled them from, Trevor did not know. The pants she wore had no pockets, and he saw nothing visible that would hold them. She took a stance that said she knew how to use them. And if that wasn’t intimidating enough, she squeezed the knuckles and out popped three more blades, straight out from tracks between the finger rings and the palm rest.

At that point, Trevor’s bigger friend crossed his arms reaching out past his shoulders and looked to grab at the air to either side of his body. But when he closed his fingers and pulled, hilts appeared in his hands, and slowly the steel blades of two long knives were exposed as though they were being hidden by sheaths made of air. He didn’t pull them out all the way, but held them in place, half the blade showing, and half not.

That halted all advances, and Jesse cleared his throat loud enough to get everyone’s attention. Ever the consummate entertainer, he began a slow clap and bellowed a laugh. But Trevor could tell it was a nervous laugh. Subtle, but definite, and it made him feel good. Eyes in the crowd looked at Jesse eagerly with anticipation. Did they think this was all a show for them?

“What a turn of events we’ve had here today, wouldn’t you say ladies and gentlemen?” Jesse asked rhetorically. “As much as I’d like to see how this would turn out, I fear doing so would put you all in danger of being mayormente mutilado. And that wouldn’t do. Please give us a minute to get things situated, and we’ll be back to action in no time!”

Why wasn’t Jesse in politics? Probably the money wasn’t as good. It turned Trevor’s stomach.

The goons were waved away, and they melted back into the crowd, trying to look disappointed at missing the fight, and doing a disappearing act almost as good as the appearing act of his friends. Jesse got down off his perch and walked over to the three of them with a big, fake smile on his face.

“No hard feelings Trevor! I wasn’t going to let them rough you up. Too much anyway. You’ve done well by me, up until recently at least!”

Jesse tried to get close to Trevor, but his giant friend moved unassumingly into his path. This caused Jesse to make a wide move around him, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. This was an awesome thing for Trevor, as he had never seen Jesse off his game. He couldn’t help but smile broadly, and when Jesse brought his eyes back to him, his face became dark indeed. But only for a second.

“I’ve decided I’m done with this Jesse,” Trevor told him, using the opportunity to fully escape the trap he felt he was in. “I’m sure this breaks the contract you made me sign, but I don’t think you’re gonna be able to take me to court over it.”

“Ahhh, you know I’m my own judge, jury and executioner my boy,” he said, trying to belittle Trevor and take some control back. “Be that as it may, had you actually read the contract, you’d know that it just ended today. One full year, good on you and all that. I wanted you to cash in on a revenge match against Crusher. But, I guess we will be stopped short of that,” said Jesse with a tsk.

Jesse then subsequently gave a flourishing bow to his smaller friend. But it was almost a familiar thing, as if they knew each other. If Trevor wasn’t confused enough at the whole situation, he was now completely baffled.

He looked at his friend, taken aback and slightly offended. Though when she spoke, he instantly remembered the comfort it had always given him. He also remembered now just how unique it was. How unique she was, for that matter. Her voice was soft, almost like she was purring, but yet a bit smoky and strong, like each word was a loud forced sigh that was plenty strong enough to hear above the now steady din of the crowd. And the air around her seemed to vibrate as she spoke, almost as though she were pushing the words directly to his ears.

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Again he felt that strong affinity for this woman. Her striking features would definitely be considered beautiful, if one could accept her distinctive eyes as part of her uniqueness and beauty. Her prominent cheek bones and dark eyebrows accentuated those wild eyes, and were framed by hair so deep red it took the right light to see it wasn’t black. Even though it was kept in a pony-tail now, with the thin black headband she wore, she looked every bit the descendant of the lesser known Nakota Sioux. He remembered now how she would usually weave that band through a braid to keep it tight up against her head when she fought, so that her hair couldn’t be used against her. That told him she didn’t necessarily show up knowing she would end up in the middle of a brawl. And yet she didn’t miss a beat, coming to his aid.

That strong affinity he felt towards her though was not romantic in any way. The bond he felt when he heard her speak was even closer than that. And anything less than that bond seemed trivial. He couldn’t place exactly what it all meant right now, but Trevor knew any kind of romantic feelings were actually inferior to what he had with this person. And though he didn’t have time to explore it at the current moment, he would bet it was the same with his over-sized friend too. Now he couldn’t wait to remember it all.

Trevor’s initial shock and anger quickly evaporated when he heard her voice. It was definitely a curious thing as to why they would be familiar with Jesse, but he immediately trusted them with his life. Trusted them to always do the right thing for him, and expecting no less in return. He marveled at how these deep feelings were returning to him even before he could remember their names.

“Lucky for you,” she purred to Jesse, “we have a number of pressing matters to attend to. If we were to relay what we’ve seen here…”

“Ah my dear, there will be no need for that,” replied Jesse to the hung comment. “Like I said before, Trevor was in no real danger. This is the way I do business. I get what is promised, no matter who my deals are with. The boy here just needed a gentle reminder of his place.”

“Well this particular side deal is now done and over with. And his place is no longer here with you,” she responded to Jesse in turn, trying to make her words sound final. The way she said it hinted to Jesse that she would not tolerate him speaking of Trevor as a servant of his. And if he tried to continue in such a manner, she would not be pleased. Her point was brought home when Benny, yes that was his name! Benny! When Benny clamped a giant hand down onto Jesse’s shoulder. Judging by the look on Jesse’s face, he was also giving it a good squeeze.

“Yes, well, like I said, the contract is ended. He’s free to do as he pleases. Good day to the three of you then,” Jesse said, waving off a few of his security who didn’t like what they were seeing.

“You seem to have forgotten something,” Trevor’s friend told him.

Jesse audibly sighed, and his head dropped a touch. Obviously not happy with what they were requesting.

“Fine. Fine. I’ll be right back then,” he said, trying to walk away.

“If it’s all the same, we’ll go with you,” said Benny, his voice forcibly rumbling and his hand still holding tight.

Jesse looked up at him, and then shrugged. Well, tried to. It only worked on one side and it made Jesse look feeble and he knew it. He gave a pleading look Benny’s way, and Benny finally let him go.

They followed Jesse through the crowd, all eyes on the four of them again now that something was happening. Not for long though, as Jesse led them outside, two of his guards picking up the rear as they exited the building.

Jesse led them to his car, a sleek black Jaguar. He popped the trunk, pushed everything in it to the side, and opened up a hidden compartment below the trunk flooring. From it he pulled two briefcases, heavy and apparently filled to the max. He handed them to Trevor.

“What’s this?” Trevor asked.

“It’s your earnings,” Jesse said, as he closed up the compartment and then his trunk.

Trevor looked at him confused, not understanding. Jesse had paid Trevor, and paid him well. Trevor had averaged about $2,500 cash per night for what usually amounted to 3 fights a night. With a fight night about once every couple weeks, usually a few days less than that, Trevor did pretty well for something that came so easily to him. Or at least he thought he had.

“This was part of the contract. I was to set aside what I earned from your fights, and be happy with the crowd you drew and the bets made on all the other fights,” he told Trevor.

Trevor set the briefcases down in front of him and took a step back.

“I don’t trust this. Why would you do such a thing?”

“I told you, it’s my end of the deal with your boss, or your sensei or whatever you call him. Metallah has been fair enough to me. There’s almost two and a half million in those cases, if you’d prefer not to take it, just walk away.”

Trevor coughed.

“A deal is a deal,” said Trevor’s female friend, proving to be the quick thinker of the trio, as she picked up the suitcases without a hitch. Her name was right on the tip of his tongue. He almost had it. He wished someone would just use it already.

“You made two and a half million dollars off of me in the Pit?” Trevor asked, still incredulous. “Almost makes up for all the bullshit you put me through.”

“Hey, I wanted to ease you back into your rematch with Charger. But you needed time off, remember? And part of the deal is you, or any of you,” Jesse said, waving his pointed finger at all three of them, “refrain from telling the others in the Pit just how much I can make. Can we be done please? The longer this goes on, the more pissed off I get.” He slammed his trunk.

His girl friend looked at Benny, and he nodded his head. Benny stepped aside, allowing Jesse to walk between them instead of around.

“Been a pleasure,” Jesse said, walking back to the building like he couldn’t get away fast enough.

They all watched Jesse go, and when he was out of sight, they both turned to Trevor, huge smiles on their faces.

And then they attacked him. Cassara first, with another hug so fierce she practically knocked him to the ground. And then Benny, taking them both into his huge arms, and squeezing just hard enough to take their breath away but not break anything important.

Yes, Trevor thought to himself, Cassara is her name. Cass and Benny. His soulmates were back in his life. And in this moment, for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was home.