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The fallen man is helped from the ring. Massimo stands in the middle. “Who’s next?” He asks. His cockiness draws me to the ropes. I love when the big men fall. I would have been happy fighting anyone. But his preening is making the rush I feel double.
My turn to play.
Without a word, I jump into the ring before anyone else can. Bouncing on my toes, as is my ritual to get my blood pumping. I ready myself. Any punch he lands is going to hurt. With me being a girl, he might pull his punches at first.
I bet I can get him to stop after I land a few of my own hits. I won’t hold back.
“You best get out of this ring little girl before you get hurt.” He says with a hint of laughter in his voice.
Not letting it effect me. I’m used to men underestimating me. I take two steps forward, tap his gloves with my knuckles as I reply “not a little girl.” Then I land my left hook to his right cheek.
He stumbles back a step, clearly not expecting me to hit him, let alone as hard as I did. I’m not the champion of the underground for no reason. He recovers from his shock quickly. I’ve poked the beast. Good. “Oh, you want to play?” He says as he finally gets into fighting position.
“No. I want to fight." I retort as I lunge at him, knowing he will take the bait. I’m quicker though. In a flash, I change course and end up behind him. I drop to the floor and sweep out his legs. He crashes down. Hard.
“Yes!” I hear Livianna yell. Then the familiar rumblings of men placing bets.
“Liv!” Barks Massimo as he shoots a look of betrayal at her. There was venom in his eyes when he was looking at me, but they soften when they lock eyes. I had that once. Or thought I did.
Killian gives me looks, not of love, but rather lust and kinship. I know he cares for me. As I do him. We are bonded by tragedy and pain. No one understands me like him.
Massimo gets up. We circle each other for a few minutes both throwing punches and kicks. Not really doing any damage. I’m sure he’s still holding back. I can get him to stop.
I let him think he’s backing me into the corner. Then I dive underneath him, roll onto my back and kick at the back of his knees. That sends him to the mat again. He’s quick to recover. I’m already back on my feet waiting for him. He throws several combinations before he lands a solid punch to my jaw. I feel my lip split. A smile breaches my face. The pain wakes me up. It’s what I've been missing the last few weeks.
The gym is dead silent. Massimo looks stunned that he hit me. Can’t have that.
While he’s still frozen, I roundhouse kick him. He staggers back. Before he can recover, I've got him on his back on the mat. My arms locking him in a chock-hold. This is where his flexibility hinders him the most. He can’t get his arms to get a good enough grip on me, and with the way his legs are positioned, he’s struggling to get his footing under him.
Before he can pass out. He manages to roll us. It’s the only move he had to make, and I was anticipating it.
He gets on all four, with me on his back, just as the doors slam open. “What the fuck is going on here!” Fucking Luca. He’s ruining my fun.
Daring to glance over to him, without releasing my hold, I connect eyes with Val, he’s standing beside Luca. His eyes burning with anger. Why the hell is he mad?
I return my focus to Massimo. With my arms around his neck, I manage to pull back a knee and jam it forward into his kidney. He roars in pain.
That managed to piss him off. I feel his muscles clench before I realize what his plan is. I don’t have time to prepare. With all of his might, he throws himself backwards. Crushing me to the mat with his entire weight on top of me.
Any air I had in my lungs goes rushing out.
Fuck. That hurt.
I still have hold of his neck, but my grip is weak. Massimo disengages my arms with a gentleness I didn't know he possessed. After getting back on his feet, he gives me a smile and offers me a hand. Knowing our fight is over for now, and that I have finally been defeated, I take it and let him help me up.
“Not bad little girl.” I smile at him and tap his gloves again. Before turning to the murderous gaze of Luca, Ricco, and Bosco. I hadn’t realized the last two had entered the room as well.
Val is behind them. He doesn't look angry. He looks stunned. Before I can further evaluate the meaning of his look, Liv jumps into the ring and throws her arms around me. “That was amazing! I've never seen Mass take so many hits from anyone. Let alone a woman.”
“Uh...thanks.” I’m not sure what the proper response should be for praising me for hitting her man. Shouldn’t she be mad?
“Can you teach me?” She asks.
Before I can answer, Massimo jumps in. “Absolutely not.”
“Why? She’s really good. Do you have any idea how much I could learn?” Livianna rebuts.
“Yes I do. But you’re pregnant. You are not getting in the ring until after the baby is born. Maybe not even then.”
