He leads me down a hall and into a pitch-black room. When he flicks on the lights, I see it’s a gym.
It’s huge.
Rows of equipment fill up the side closer to us, and farther up is an elevated boxing ring. Alessio walks around it and takes some hand wraps and gloves out of a plastic bin. “Here.”
“This is my next task? Boxing with you?”
Alessio shrugs. “I need a partner. My brothers are busy, and I don’t have many friends.”
That’s the least surprising thing I’ve heard all day. Did Gino spare me so that his not-all-there son would have a buddy? No fucking way.
I glance down at my ruined dress shirt and pants. “You have something I can change into?”
He nods and rummages through another box before pulling out a pair of shorts. “Here.”
Five minutes later, we’ve both changed, our hands are wrapped, and we’re ready to fight.
I flex my toes against the padding on the floor. It’s been months since I’ve done this, but it’s no different than slipping on an old pair of shoes. Even if I’m not in the kind of shape I was before I left New York, I’m bigger than Alessio, and in boxing, your arm span is one of the biggest adva—
Pain explodes inside my brow. I stagger back, blinking against the blood dripping into my fucking eye.
“Fuck!”
Alessio cocks a brow. “Did you want me to announce when I’m about to hit you?”
Of course this crazy bastard would skip a warmup.
All right. If he wants to go hard, we’ll go hard.
I don’t make the same mistake twice. I advance on him, throwing him jab after jab, but he’s a quick motherfucker. Whatever advantage I have in size, he’s got the same if not greater when it comes to speed.
The first time I land a good one against his mouth, he grins. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen him smile, and it’s plain disturbing, especially with the blood coating his teeth.
Doesn’t he have a dinner to go to after this? It’s New Year’s Eve.
And what do you have waiting for you?
Home.
Blake.
This morning, right before I left, I stole a glance inside her room while she was sleeping.
Her bruised face is still a stark reminder of the pain I’ve caused her. Of the amends I have to make.
My mood darkens. I want to go home, but a part of me feels like I don’t deserve to be there. With Rafe helping me arrange all the gifts, she’s got everything she needs in the penthouse with her already.
Did seeing all the books I got her make her happy? Will that happiness disappear the moment I show up? Maybe I should let her just enjoy it for a little while.
I beckon Alessio closer. “C’mon.”
He dances around me, feigning left and right, and I can see the sweat on his brow glistening under the lights.
I lunge forward with a hook, but he dodges with a flicker of speed and lands a solid punch to my jaw. My head snaps back, and I stumble and grab the ropes to keep myself upright.
Everything falls away except for the pain and the man in front of me.
This is what I need. A way to do penance. A way to pay for my sins.
