Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Calm Before the Storm
The victory in the championship fight should have felt like the culmination of everything Cole had worked for. But as he stood in the locker room after the fight, surrounded by his friends, the tension in his chest hadn't eased. He had won, but the threats from the underground still loomed over him like a dark cloud.
Ty was practically bouncing with excitement, his grin wide as he recounted every punch, every move, with an energy that Cole wished he could match.
"Man, you were unstoppable!" Ty said, his voice filled with admiration. "That uppercut? Perfect!"
Zack nodded, a rare smile on his face. "You earned this, Cole. You've been working for this moment for years."
Lina smiled softly, her eyes filled with pride. "We're so proud of you."
Cole forced a smile, though the weight of everything that had happened—and everything that was still happening—pressed down on him. He wanted to enjoy the moment, to celebrate the victory with his friends, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.
As they left the arena and headed to a small, quiet bar to celebrate, Cole's mind was still racing. The men in suits hadn't shown up at the fight, but that didn't mean they weren't watching. He knew they were out there, waiting for the right moment to make their move.
But for now, Cole tried to push those thoughts aside. He had just won the biggest fight of his life, and his friends were here to celebrate with him. He owed it to them—and to himself—to enjoy this moment, even if it was just for a little while.
The bar was small and dimly lit, the perfect place to unwind after the chaos of the fight. They found a booth in the corner, ordered drinks, and settled in for what should have been a night of celebration.
Ty was the first to raise his glass, grinning from ear to ear. "To Cole! The regional champion!"
They all raised their glasses, clinking them together as they toasted to his victory. For a moment, the tension in Cole's chest eased, and he allowed himself to smile.
"Thanks, guys," Cole said, his voice soft but sincere. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Lina smiled, her eyes warm as she leaned in closer. "You did this, Cole. You fought for this."
Ty nodded, his grin widening. "And now you're on your way to the Crucible. This is just the beginning, man!"
Cole's smile faltered slightly at the mention of the Crucible. That was the dream, of course—the ultimate goal. But the closer he got, the more he realized how dangerous the path ahead was going to be. The underground wasn't going to let him rise to the top without a fight, and he knew that the stakes were only going to get higher.
But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside. He had won, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay.
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