Chapter 9 - The Man Who Once Told Mason to Kneel Returned With a Championship Belt, but the Real Victory Was Watching His Oldest Enemy Ask for HelpFive years later, Jace was a respected champion.
Mason was forty-eight.
Sophie was twenty-three.
The foundation had helped thousands.
The restaurant had become a local institution.
Jace still visited.
The kids from his boxing program called him Coach.
He loved it.
Then Victor Rourke returned.
Not as an enemy.
As a broken man.
His old organization was gone.
He had nothing.
Mason met him at the restaurant after closing.
“What do you want?”
Victor sat down.
“Help.”
“With what?”
“My grandson.”
Mason listened.
“Someone is threatening him.”
“Who?”
“People from the past.”
Mason looked at him.
“You destroyed yours.”
Victor nodded.
“I know.”
“Why should I help you?”
“You don't have to.”
Mason stared.
Victor continued:
“But I don't want the boy paying for my mistakes.”
Mason thought about Sophie.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
They helped.
Jace handled security.
Sophie handled legal issues.
Mason handled the people.
The threat disappeared.
Victor thanked him.
“I don't understand you.”
Mason smiled.
“I don't either.”
Victor laughed.
“You really did change.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Mason looked toward the restaurant.
“I learned what I wanted.”
“And?”
“A life.”
Victor nodded.
He left.
Mason watched him go.
Jace walked up.
“You let him off easy.”
“No.”
“What then?”
“I let him carry his own consequences.”
Jace smiled.
“That's very grown-up.”
“Don't mock me.”
“I would never.”
Sophie appeared.
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
“There's a delivery.”
“What is it?”
She held out a box.
Inside was Jace's championship belt.
He had donated it.
For the foundation.
He smiled.
“Kids should see it.”
Mason shook his head.
“You're impossible.”
“I learned from the best.”
They put the belt in a glass case.
Next to it was a small plaque.
TRUE STRENGTH IS KNOWING WHEN NOT TO KNEEL—AND WHEN TO LOWER YOUR PRIDE.
Mason read it.
“That's actually good.”
May you like
Jace smiled.
“I know.”
