Page 350 of Marcello

“You know,” I said, “your father begged for his life, right before I slit his throat. In the end, he was a coward… just like you.”

Cesare screamed in fury and came at me swinging.

He was fast, I’d give him that –

But Lars had trained me to be faster.

I darted out of the way and landed a punch in his side.

He screamed again and threw a flurry of punches.

One connected painfully with my ribs, and I backed outside his reach.

“I’ve trained every day for 15 years for this, you stupid fuck,” he snarled. “You’re a dead man.”

I allowed him to get in close.

He landed a punch on my arm –

At which point I elbowed him in the face.

He staggered backwards, stunned.

I came at him relentlessly, landing blow after blow. All he could do was put up his arms and absorb the punches.

“You… fucking… idiot,” I snarled, one word for every blow I landed. “You’re a boy – a snivelling brat who only picks on those weaker than you. You attack women because you won’t fight a real man.”

“I’m a fucking boxer!” he raged, spittle flying from his lips.

“And I was trained by a Special Forces soldier. I was tested in the halls of San Vittore, where murderers came after me every day… but I killed them all. Just like I did your father.”

Cesare bellowed in anger.

He jumped back, reached for his boot –

And pulled out a knife.

The blade gleamed wickedly in the dim light.

I heard Giorgio move on the stairs –

“No,” I said, holding up a hand. “Let him cheat. I’ll finish him all the same.”

“Whatever, bitch,” Cesare sneered –

And raced towards me, slashing the knife in a sweeping arc.

I jumped back –

But not quite fast enough.

A line of fire spread across my abdomen as the tip sliced my skin.

But Cesare had overcommitted –

And I seized his forearm and slammed my fist into the back of his elbow.

There was a satisfying pop! as his arm bent in a way Nature never intended.