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Lil laughed. “I didn’t tell you that to make you uncomfortable. But it’s something to think about.” She winked. “Don’t close a door before you’ve fully walked through it and checked out what could be on the other side.”
Is that what I want?
CHAPTER TWELVE
LUC
My body ached everywhere, but I took immense satisfaction in knowing that all the bosses felt the same, if not worse. We’d spent hours in the ring, fighting, each one of them taking a turn to spar during the afternoon or evening. After that, Max educated me on the Brambilla family. Then the rest of the guys would discuss how the Five Families worked and what a commission was before going over the Brambilla holdings and explaining who was who in the Mafia world. It was a lot, but not too difficult.
Summer and I had combed through the financials for our recent acquisition. With the merger, a name change was underway to include it under our company’s umbrella. John and Becca were overseeing that. I was pleased with Summer’s skills and slowly gave her more responsibilities.
Air whooshed out of me as Stefano sucker punched me in the gut. I snapped back to the present and executed an uppercut then a roundhouse kick, which he dodged. Out of all the guys, Stefano was the most skilled. It was rare that he reacted to a strike that found its mark. It was something I admired.
“Keep your head in the game,” Stefano snapped then delivered a three-punch combination.
I blocked then countered with a vicious jab followed by a head kick. Blood spurted from a cut near his eye. Stefano laughed then retaliated with a round kick to the middle before throwing himself behind a jab to my jaw. My lip split open, but I couldn’t help but grin. I’d missed this with all the corporate bullshit that had been my life for a few years.
As we danced around the ring, exchanging jabs and kicks, I felt myself come alive.If this is what they do on the regular, sign me up. It brought back my fighting days, which weren’tthatlong before.
“Your instincts are good,” Stefano said before his fist whipped out.
“I thought you guys did your homework.” I parried his next move with a series of jabs that had him working hard to deflect. “Illegal fights. And I mostly won.”
“Child’s play when it comes to the Mafia.”
I laughed. We both knew there wasn’t a lot they could teach me, not when it came to fighting. All the same, I was having fun, and it helped to get to know the other bosses better and see what I was getting myself into.
Stefano’s timing was impeccable, as was the power behind his strikes. I enjoyed disrupting his rhythm with a midrange kick or jab he didn’t expect.
A loud slam of the door to the gym sounded, and Stefano stepped back. I followed his gaze to find Emiliana and El dressed in spandex pants and sports bras, their hands taped.
“My replacements are here.” Stefano knocked me on the shoulder before stepping off the mat. “Good luck.”
The evil grin he wore gave me pause. I hadn’t expected to fight any of the women. As I waited for them to step onto the mat, Marco, Max, and Enzo entered the gym.Great. No matter what way this goes, it’ll end badly for me.
Stefano leaned against the wall where the guys congregated. Emiliana held rubber daggers. While not lethal, they’d hurt like hell. El’s weaponless hands hung loose at her sides.
Both women stepped onto the black mat and circled me. I stayed still, waiting for the first strike. “The purpose of this is?” I tracked Emiliana. She lunged, and I blocked. El struck from behind. It went on like that for half an hour.
By the end, sweat dripped off my face, and Emiliana laughed. El slapped the back of my shoulder as she moved off the mat and to where Marco stood with his arms crossed over his chest. I’d pulled my punches as much as possible, which seemed to only piss them off more.
A few times, I managed to surprise Emiliana then had to fight El back to gain opportunities to overtake them. It didn’t happen as often as I would have liked.
El leapt from the side when I was battling Emiliana’s bruising knife strikes. When El wrapped a leg around my neck, I knew she had the takedown even before I hit the ground.
I waited. The first time, I’d stepped off the mat, assuming we were done, which had earned me another hour and an extra boss using me as a punching bag. That time, I wasn’t allowed to hit back. Lesson learned.
“Not bad.” Enzo moved toward me. “Even though my sister’s strikes would have caused you to be immobile in your arms and legs, and you would have bled out.”
I grunted, following Enzo to where I’d tossed my water earlier. “She’s good. But how often do you come up against a knife instead of a gun?” It happened. I knew that from my time on the streets. But I didn’t grow up in this life, and the more information, the better.
“You would be surprised. It’s good to anticipate the unexpected and be able to adapt instantly.”
“When you take over, I’ll be there to smooth the transition.” Max tossed a towel at my head. “Then we’ll have the swearing-in ceremony.”
“Pulling your punches is nice and won’t get your ass kicked by the guys, but it won’t help you if an enemy attacks and she’s a woman,” El said as she and Marco paused before heading out of the gym. “Keep that in mind. Also, we’ve grown up in this world. Sparring is a normal part of our lives.”
“Will do.” I liked El. She was precise in her movements and fast. There was a toughness about her that spoke to that no-bullshit part of me. I’d come to realize that I fit in with them.
