Chapter 1

• Copyright© 2020 Loretta Kendall
• New York, Madison Square Garden - ten years ago.
• Extreme Wrestling International aka EWI...
• “That was one hell of a return, buddy! You were on fire out there. The crowd ate it up and everyone was on their feet. That’s the biggest pop I’ve ever seen in all wrestling entertainment.” Zane smiled to himself. “This is what it’s all about. The roar of the crowd and smiles on faces. I’m so proud of you, Gunner. When we first met, you were just some lanky kid, straight out of the training center. I’m happy to say you are the top guy to follow and am honored I was here to see it.”
• Holding the phone to his ear, Gunner Cain beamed with pride at his best friend’s words. “Thanks, Zane. It was a rush. Can you believe that crowd?”
• With adrenaline radiating through his veins, Gunner removed his wrestling boots with a relieved sigh and replaced them with street shoes. Tired from a long day of preparation, he stretched his back to relieve the nervous tension he had carried from the first night back in front of a live audience. It felt good to be back in his element. Of course, he hadn’t had a match on his first day but did have a video promo with his long-time on-screen rival, Drake Black, to liven things up. After eight months of surgery and grueling therapy to repair his torn ACL, he was back in the game. This was his time to shine.
• “It was exhilarating, man. I never thought I would be able to come back after that injury. Not many do. I don’t think it ever felt as good as it did out there tonight.” Gunner pulled her leather jacket over his black shirt, worn tight to accentuate his muscular biceps and hard chest. With a gulp, he downed a drink from his water bottle before letting out a breath of cool release. “Zane, when are you coming back? We need to be out there tearing shit up.”
• “As soon as I am cleared by the staff doctors and the rest of the Tribe sign their contracts. Then, baby, it will be time to rock. I’ll be back in a few weeks to burn the house down, so keep the fans warmed up for me.”
• After witnessing Zane’s fall from the top of the cage onto the steel barricade a few months back, during a match with Steve Steel, Gunner had feared his friend had snapped his neck. “That fall was the worst thing I have ever seen. I don’t know why you do those dangerous high-flying moves. You’re going to kill yourself one day.”
• “It’s what I do best. You can’t tell a bird not to fly, buddy boy. But hey, it’s all for a good show, right? And I can’t wait until we get to have all five of the Tribe back together for the first time on stage. It will blow people’s minds. I guess it’ll be our little secret until it’s all planned out though. I just want to get the show on the road and do it already.”
• Gunner chuckled knowing his keyed-up friend was growing impatient. Each day their crew was apart seemed like an eternity for all of them, and Zane was never one to enjoy sitting on the sidelines. “It’ll happen, bro. Be patient.”
• “The boss man is holding us back and always out for the element of surprise. He thinks he needs to make an overly elaborate show of power with his top guys in the company for ratings to soar. It’s all about money for Albert Hargrove. Part of being the biggest wrestling promoter in the world, I guess. Money, fanfare, more money.”
• Thirty-year-old Gunner rolled his eyes. “Eh. I guess. For me, it’s about being in that ring for the fans. Giving them what they want is what gets them in the seats. It’s going to be cool having our old crew back at EWI, though. Just like the old days. Too bad this storyline didn’t happen back when we were in our early twenties.”
• Zane flopped back in his recliner in his Texas mansion, adjusting the phone to his ear. Checking out his sexy wife’s backside as she walked into the room he gave a sly smile. “Could you imagine if the Tribe had been a real faction on TV, and not just a group of friends backstage? It would have been epic. Women eat that shit up.”
• His wife turned, glaring at him for that comment. Quickly, Zane blew her a kiss and leaned over slapping her on the bottom. She just smiled, waving him off and shaking her head at her silly husband’s banter. He was always such a tease and loved tormenting Cassie. Being the biggest flirt in the group was why he had such a reputation with the ladies, but she was who caught his eye, and he never looked back.
• “Like ring rats and groupies don’t throw themselves at you already? What would your wife say, old man?”
• “Hell, brother. I’m only five years older than you. There is not one of those girls who can hold a candle to my Cassie. There’s no better way to set a man on the right path, than a great woman who loves him. She sure does that for me.” He taunted her a lot about groupies, but he loved his wife more than life itself.
• “Bro, it’s going to be unreal having my whole crew here. I miss you guys. You’re like my brothers.”
• “I know,” Zane said. “Hargrove finally sees how important the five of us are to the company. The Tribe is going to mean people in the seats and money all around.”
• “Damn right. The Tribe is going to run this place. It’ll be epic.”