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Trying to hide my relief, I nodded.
Fabiano parted the ropes for Leona, who climbed in with a nervous look toward the Falcone brothers. “Are you all going to watch?”
“No,” Nino said. “I’m going to attack you.”
Leona’s eyes widened. “What? I thought Fabiano would train with me?”
Fabiano shook his head. “Not this time. Being faced with an opponent that makes you nervous is closer to reality.”
Nino swung himself over the rope and faced Leona, his arms hanging down at his side in a relaxed way. “Watch closely, Kiara,” he said.
I nodded.
Nino lunged at Leona, and I noticed Fabiano’s body rocking forward slightly. Leona let out a surprised cry when Nino’s hand clamped down her wrist. He jerked her toward him, and then she was already on her back. He knelt between her legs.
“Leona,” Fabiano hissed. “Remember what I taught you.”
Leona began struggling, but Nino pressed her wrists into the ground above her head, lowering himself, parting her legs further with his muscular thighs.
Remo made a buzzer noise. “There’s no way for you to escape now. You acted too late. Now he’s got you exactly where he wants you.”
I shivered.
“He would have to open his pants. That might give her an opening to attack him with her free hand,” I said.
Everyone looked at me, and I swallowed but stood my ground.
Nino grabbed both of Leona’s wrists in one of his despite her wriggling and showed me his free hand. “Free to open my pants.”
Nino straightened and pulled Leona to her feet.
“Why did you act so late?” Fabiano asked with a frown.
“I was startled, and to be honest … Nino scares me,” she said indignantly.
“Then let’s hope your assailant announces his attack ahead of time and doesn’t scare you,” Remo muttered.
Obviously losing interest, Savio and Adamo moved into the cage and began sparing with each other, but Savio definitely had the upper hand and didn’t take it easy on his younger brother, judging by the force of his kicks and punches. No wonder Adamo was always beat-up.
“Again,” Fabiano said.
Nino grabbed Leona’s arm, but this time she acted instantaneously. She brought her hand up to claw at his face, but he blocked it with his elbow, at the same time dodging her kick aimed at his groin with his hip. Then he threw her down. They ended in the same position as before, and Leona huffed.
“Better,” Nino said with a nod, pushing off her and pulling her to her feet.
“I still ended up on the ground.”
“Your attacker won’t be Nino,” Fabiano said. “He probably won’t be half as fast or strong or skilled.”
They did two more drills until Leona’s face was bright red and covered in sweat. Nino looked like he’d just finished a nice, slow morning walk.
I stifled a smile and when he met my eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched. My body filled with warmth as it so often did in Nino’s presence.
“Your turn,” he said and parted the ropes for me.
Gulping, I climbed inside the ring, and Leona quickly scrambled out, whispering, “Good luck.”
Fabiano immediately wrapped his arm around her waist possessively. Remo shook his head and jumped up on the edge of the ring then swung himself inside.
I stared at Nino, my pulse hammering in my veins. “You will train with me, right?” My voice trembled.
Nino regarded my face then shook his head. “I want you to face your fears. They might immobilize you during a real fight.”
I started shaking as I looked at Remo, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me with dark amusement.
I shook my head. “No. I can’t.” I backed into the rope. “Please, Nino.”
Nino exchanged a look with his brother, who rolled his eyes.
“I can take over,” Fabiano suggested.
My head swiveled toward him. He terrified me too, but not nearly as much as Remo.
“Then do it,” Remo growled, but he walked toward me, his dark eyes hard. “As long as you don’t face your fears, you will be weak. He will keep power over you as long as you let him. If you ever stop being a coward, come to me and I will show you how to fight an opponent set on hurting you.”
He jumped over the rope and walked toward Adamo and Savio to join them in the cage.
Nino touched my waist, his eyebrows pulled together. “Don’t mind him.”
“Do you agree with him?” I asked quietly.
Nino nodded. “Remo would be the best option if you wanted to simulate an attack.”
“I can be as scary as Remo if you want me to be,” Fabiano said with a shrug.
“No,” I said quickly. “Thanks.”
Fabiano was scary enough with his assessing blue eyes.
“You saw what Leona did,” Nino began. “Of course her past doesn’t harbor the same demons, so you will have to fight two enemies: Fabiano and your memories. I can tell you how to do the first, but the latter is your fight.” He motioned for me to get closer to Fabiano. “You are smaller and weaker, so you will have to make every hit count. Aim where it hurts the most. His balls.” Nino pointed at Fabiano’s groin area, who cocked an eyebrow. “Solar plexus.” He pointed at the area below the ribs. “Under his chin. Eyes. Nose.” He gestured toward Fabiano’s face.
