Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Savio rolled his eyes and leaned back with crossed arms, but he shut up.
Nestore looked at Remo and gave a small nod, then his gaze hit me. “I’ll go change now. You’re safe here.”
Looking from Remo to Savio to Fabiano, then to Nino, I wished I had Nestore’s confidence in these men. But they freaked me out, which said a lot, considering I had just watched Nestore kill a man for trying to grope my ass.
I watched Nestore’s retreat with a sinking heart. He wasn’t worried, but with him, I was never sure if that was because he was sure of winning or if he didn’t care if he died.
Leaving Amelia in a bar full of leering men wasn’t easy, but I knew Remo wouldn’t let anyone near her. Because he knew what she meant to me, and because it would have undermined his own authority.
My pulse sloshed lazily in my veins after the brief spike when I’d killed the man who’d dared to insult my wife. I didn’t even remember his face, only the hand reaching for something that was only mine.
His death had been too quick for the crime, and my two opponents tonight would have to quench my lust for blood and savagery.
The other fighters of the night gave me a wide berth when I picked a bench to change into my black fighting shorts.
I sank on the hardwood. Except for the shorts, I wouldn’t need anything else. Unlike most other fighters, I didn’t tape my hands. I preferred to feel blood and breaking bones on my bare skin. Everything that dulled my senses was ballast. Not to mention that I despised the tight sensation of the tape against my scars.
One fighter after the other left the changing room until it was time for my first fight.
The friend of the man I’d killed was led into the changing room from the outside. He’d obviously caused too much of a ruckus. They’d forced him to wear fighting shorts like the rest of us, and it didn’t do him any favors. His broad shoulders told me he had probably played football in high school, but the way he rounded them and his beer belly revealed he hadn’t done any sports since then. I doubted he’d fought since kindergarten.
He was a waste of my time and wouldn’t sate my need for brutality. I’d have to be careful not to kill him within seconds. Though it would spare me an uninspired fight.
His terrified blue eyes darted to me, lingering on the many scars decorating my upper body. I’d survived things he couldn’t even fathom.
The loudspeakers crackled, then the referee’s distorted voice announced our fight, and a roar went through the audience. They always cheered, and then they threw up. The bouncers dragged him out despite his struggling. I stayed seated for a moment longer. I was still calm, the rage only a simmering deep inside me.
I pushed to my feet and walked out. The crowd parted to let me pass. Nobody tried to pat my back or shoulders as they did with the other fighters. I’d broken a few arms and hands in my first appearances before people knew I didn’t appreciate being touched.
“Kill him!”
“Slaughter him, Madman!”
I gave the old man a hard look. I didn’t do this for them. For these weaklings, watching fights was a way to escape the boredom of their lives. Most of them would never know pain or suffering.
My gaze moved past the cheering crowd toward the booth where I’d left my whole life. Amelia sat ramrod-straight, her fearful face directed at me. She needn’t worry about me.
I drew my focus back toward the cage where my opponent was clinging to the bars, pleading with the crowd and Remo to release him. If he thought he could appeal to my Capo’s humanity, he knew nothing about how he’d ripped the power from his enemies.
Even the worthless crowd laughed in the face of his terror.
I climbed the steps to the cage under the rising roar of the audience. The judge opened the door for me, then stepped back so I could enter. He avoided my eyes and made sure he didn’t touch me. My opponent pressed his back against the bars, watching me with wide, horrified eyes.
“I won’t fight you! This will be the end of this bar!”
The cage door fell shut behind me with a bang.
“Let the fight begin!” the judge screamed, followed by raging applause.
I tilted my head at the cowering creature before me. Maybe someone without my disposition would have felt pity. I felt mildly annoyed that I was supposed to make this fight worthwhile.
I stepped toward him when he stayed pressed up against the bars. He fell to his knees and folded his hands in a prayer. “Please, I beg you. Show mercy.”
Releasing a quiet sigh, I bridged the distance between us, determined to end this right away. This groveling creature wasn’t worth my time, or anyone’s.