Authors Note: Read Peyton’s rp first.
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https://peytonrice.wordpress.com/2018/09...ion-texas/ <<
And this counts for both the battle royal and this match.
...
J-Dilly hangs up. He grabs his keys and walks over to the door where Alistair Taylor stands. He smirks and has his hands out. Jason can’t believe the nerve of Allistaire showing up. “What are you doing here?”
Alistaire smirks “I’m here to get paid mate and then discuss what’s the next move. Seems like you have the bird in your arms already, looks like the plan worked so now? I’m want my fucking money and like to discuss our next move, I have ideas.”
J-Dilly stands there, eyes narrowing staring right at Allistaire. “Go away!” Jason emphatically tells Allistaire.
Standing his ground, Allistaire Taylor says rather coldly. “Not until we discuss what I have in mind.”
Jason folds his arms. “About that--”
Allistaire smirks. “Okay. Now...”
Wasting no time getting to the point, Jason makes it one thousand percent clear where he stands. “I can’t go through with this anymore, Ali.”
Alistair's eyes narrow not believing what he just heard. “Why the hell not?”
“None of this feels right anymore.” Jason sighs. “Peyton trust me one thousand percent. Didn’t always used to be that way. She called me a pompous ass once. We didn’t get off on the right foot. I saw her offer some of the students at Ante Up a place to stay. Who does that? Peyton does. That is the day I fell in love with her. For Peyton to be there for me knowing I am the reason why there is a wedge between her and Ricky? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t care about him, at all. He was always in the way. Peyton has had my back for two years. We are living a dream. She’s an angel. For months I have been lying to her about the way things are what they are now. I bet Ricky tried to convince her I was behind all the times he wasn’t there. And he’s right. I can’t look Peyton in the eye anymore knowing there is a cloud of deception. Ali, I appreciate your services.”
Jason has dwelled over for weeks how Alistaire would respond to him breaking their agreement. Knowing the underhanded man Ali is, the way he chooses to respond to being told no could mean he didn’t get to see Peyton today as planned. Out of all the responses Jason expected, Alistaire yawning wasn’t one of them. “That’s all well and good, mate. Afraid it doesn’t work that way.”
Annoying Alistaire is taking up more of his time, Jason scowls, “Alistair...”
Allistaire rolls his eyes. “I don’t much care about your battle of conscience. I got to make a living. Your my meal ticket.”
“Afraid your services in Craigslist for all I care.” Jason sighs. Then he gets so close to Allistaire, there noses practically tough. “We. Are. Done.”
Not budging an inch, Allistaire smirks. This prompts Jason to back up just a little. Jason doesn’t break eye contact. “Plus, it is more than just Peyton. How can I rightfully call myself the Man of the Century when I am paying you to pave the road for me? I sold out, Ali. Not that I’d expect you to understand that... Sebastian Knight.”
Allistaire was caught off guard. It has been awhile since anyone referred to Allistaire by the name he masqueraded in IWC under. He quickly regains his composure. “Don’t get all judgey on me, mate. You knew the type of customer I was from the start. And you’re right about one thing, muscles--”
Not liking Allistaire calling him what Zero calls him, Jason fires back. “Don’t call me that.”
Ignoring Jason, Allistaire continues, “A straight arrow doesn’t slide money under the table to mercenaries. You’re not a straight arrow. You are one of those entitled douchebags who is willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. Ricky stood in your way. You paid me to remove him. I don’t see the problem.”
“I do, Alistair.” Jason points to himself. “That’s what matters.”
“Your dame might not agree with that sentiment.” Allistaire shrugs. “I don’t appreciate having my source of income yanked from under me. Tell you what, mate. I’m gonna give you a chance to reconsider. I’ll have your back. You slip me a few bucks under the table. Or I will expose you.”
Jason’ flinch at the threat Allistaire levied on him. He knows Allistaire will cut him off at the knees. In the face of adversity, Jason is steadfast in his resolve. “Don’t care.”
Allistaire chuckles, “Your bluffing.”
Jason ponders for a moment what it is going to mean if Peyton does find out about what he paid Alistair to do. Ali is a man of his word. He would go out of his way to expose him to Peyton and the entire world. A secret of this magnitude getting out there would turn a lot of people against him, that is a fact. J-Dilly takes a deep breath. As much conviction as he can manage. “Could I lose, Peyton? Yes. That is a risk I need to take, Ali. I won’t hold it against her if she shuns me forever. I wouldn’t hold it against her. I thought I could handle going down this dark road. All I saw was me and Peyton being together, forever. Not this way. I can’t lie to her anymore. Don’t threaten to expose me, Ali. I’ll do it. I can sleep at night.”
“Alone.” Allistaire coldly says to him.
“That’s a risk I’m gonna have to take.” Jason pats Allistaire on the shoulder.”Take care of yourself.”
Jason walks around Allistaire hoping to the heavens that Allistaire doesn’t cause more of a scene. He doesn’t get far. Allistaire grabs him by the arm. Jason knew he could yank his fist away in an instant. Allistaire had to know that too. He doesn’t want to physically beat Allistaire up, yet. He doesn’t want to be late to see the love of his life. Allistaire leans in, he whispers one last thing into Jason’s ear. “Yeah, you too. Idiot.”
Allistaire releases his grip. Without looking back, Jason walks out of the door to his apartment.
He calms himself before heading to Peyton’s apartment.
On the way there he couldn’t believe he stood up to Allistaire. For months he stood in awe, just as equally, in fear of the man. Any person who comes to the United States assuming a name they weren’t born with to escape a past he originally wanted absolution from, is not a man to be taken lightly. He knew Allistaire had the power to burn his world to the ground. In the face of clear and present danger, he did the right thing. He hopes he did. Sooner of later Peyton would learn the trust even if it comes at the risk of her no longer looking at him the same way again.
He reached her apartment in Venice Beach. He knocks on the door. He doesn’t need to wait long, the woman he has dedicated the last two years of his life too, opens the door. She immediately greets him with a huge hug. He hugs her back. They embrace for a few seconds.
With a smile he can’t remove from his face he says. “Seeing you always brightens my day.”
Hearing Jason say that made her blush. “You’re almost to sweet, you know that?”
“I can try harder.”
“No. That’s ok.” She giggles. “Just knowing that I can depend on you is enough to brighten my spirits. Hasn’t been easy for me lately. You’ve been my rock. Can’t thank you enough.”
“We’ve come a long way. From pompous ass to your number one fan.” Jason smirks.
Peyton chuckles remembering their initial interactions. They weren’t always the best of friends. She was like many at the school, she initially saw Jason as the arrogant jackass who thought he was God’s gift to the world. Overtime she warmed up to him. She continues, “I always knew there was more to you beneath the muscles. Don’t care what anyone says. You’re a good guy. No one can tell me different.”
He half smirks. Her statement about him wasn’t one hundred percent accurate, if she only knew. Right now he pushes those thoughts to the side. He holds her hand. “I am a better person, because of you. I don’t show it all the time. Can be a little hot headed. You changed me. I want to be a man you can admire. Got a lot of work to do if I want to live up to my own marketing.”
“Just need J-Dilly tonight. The Man of the Century talk, you leave outside. Deal.”
“For you--” Jason kisses her on the forehead. “Anything.”
And with that, Jason and Peyton stepped inside. He closes the door behind them. Time to leave the stresses of the world on the outside. Nothing can ruin their night, he will make sure of it, if this was the last positive night he would share with Peyton before she learns about his deception, he would make it memorable.
..
“
I rode with Peyton Rice to the hospital that night...
For her I remained strong. Call it a guy thing all you want. But I felt I needed to be strong at that moment. Peyton was the one going through hell. Peyton had to deal with the reality of what was going to happen next? Would she be able to wrestle again? Would she be able to gain a measure of revenge on the c*** who made her feel helpless. Would she meet the same fate as her father. I couldn’t let Peyton see the fear in my eyes. She didn’t need to know how scared I was. How angry I felt. How helpless being locked in the locker room made me feel. No. Peyton didn’t need to see me wallow in my own feelings. What was important was making sure she was ok.
I wasn’t alright. To this day, I haven’t been.
What I didn’t let Peyton see that night was how broken I felt. Zero, do you have any idea how it feels to watch helplessly as the person you care about more than anything get assaulted for no good reason? I watched from a monitor as Mika Kozlov feasted her eyes on Peyton. I tried my best to break out that locker room, so hard I tried. I was helpless. I felt my life slowly slipping away. When Mika piledrove Peyton... I died inside. All I could think about was, is Peyton going to be ok. I would have made a deal with the devil that night to ensure Peyton would be alright. Peyton means more then to me, then me. I realized, on that night, how important Peyton is to my world.
What you, the alleged hero of EMERGE, fails to understand, because of you, there was a very real chance Peyton Rice may not have been able to compete again. Because you thought preventing me from helping out my friend represented justice, a woman who puts smiles on the faces of millions of people, including mine, could be watching Invasion Texas from home, not representing this company as the champion Emerge needs.
Did you think about her father?
Did you bother thinking about Kelcey, her mentor, a woman who retired from pro wrestling due to medical complications, how guilty she would have felt?
Hell, even Ricky. He may not like me, I am confident he cares about Peyton as much I do.
For her dad. For Kelcey. For Peyton. And myself. I am your personal judge and jury at Invasion: Texas.
You are a fraud, Zero. Where have you been as Serotonin has run amok through the roster? Where were you when Danny Darko needed help? Hell, when I needed help as those bitches dragged me to the back at Rise to Greatness? We don’t see you anywhere, do we? Apparently me caring about MY FRIEND is enough to force you to jump into action? Please. It doesn’t even make sense why you are even here. Thanks to me, no one has to worry about a dipship masqurading as a hero, I am going to end this bullshit once and for all.
You understand?!
I’m angry. Stating the obvious, I know. There is a reason why I didn’t say I am going to be your executioner. I’m doing it for Peyton, too. You deserve to pay. Everyone can agree with that. You need to pay the right way. I made a promise I won’t lose myself in my quest for true justice. Vengeance is about making yourself feel better. Justice is about doing what is right. I will not embody the spirit of vengeance. I represent justice. Win or lose, I walk out with my soul intact, hopefully, Peyton can be proud that she inspired me to do better. I strive to become a better man, Zero. And my path begins by showing you what real justice looks like.”