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“Antonio?” Nina’s voice makes me pause.
I just said goodbye to her only a few hours ago, yet it feels like it’s been years since I’ve heard her voice. My heart yearns for her.
How could she break my heart like she did?
I turn to her, and what I see makes me go cold. It’s Nina, but she looks ravaged by pain. She’s hunched over. Her under-eyes are baggy. She looks like she might vomit. It’s only been a few hours, but she looks like she’s aged years in that time. What happened?
Behind her is her sister, clutching Nina’s arm. I’ve never really had the chance to talk to Anna, despite Nina and I being married for a month. She looks so young. I remember Nina told me she was only thirteen.
Then I remember Nina’s words.He threatened my sister …That was the lengths Petrov was willing to go to make Nina do his dirty work.
I can’t look at either of them any longer. It hurts too much. If I waiver now, I’ll never achieve my dream of killing Franco and rescuing my family. Nina hurt me. She betrayed me. I cannot feel sorry for her for any reason.
Staring down at Petrov, it’s obvious he won’t do what I want. He won’t call Franco and get him here. I’ll have to find a way to kill Franco some other way.
With a snarl, I let go of Petrov. His head smacks to the ground. “I’m not killing you in front of your daughters. You got lucky. But I’m coming back for you one day.” I nod at Killian to follow me out of the house.
I don’t look at Nina as I go, even though it’s all I want to do.
* * *
Killianand I end back up at the fight club. I need to hit someone again, and it’s not going to be Killian.
I find Johnny at the bar and tell him to put me in the next fight.
“But, Tony, that’s with Master Jim.” Master Jim is one of the best fighters in the entire club.
“I don’t care,” I growl. “Just put me in.”
With a sigh, Johnny does as I demand, but he doesn’t look happy about it.
“Are you sure?” Killian asks. “Shouldn’t we be out searching for Franco before he comes for you. Because surely, he’ll be sending someone after you now.”
“Oh, I know he’ll be. But I’m not going to find him tonight, and I can’t go on feeling like this.”
That’s how I end up in the ring with Master Jim less than an hour later. Master Jim is one of the bigger guys. Insanely tall and with biceps that could break any man’s neck between them.
But I’m not afraid.
The crowd cheers me on as I land a punch to Jim’s side. He growls and swipes at my face, smacking me in the nose. I stumble back, but I don’t feel any pain. Only the innate desire for more blood.
With a snarl, I lunge at Jim, and the force of my attack sends him back against the rope around the ring. He pushes me back, and I fall, giving Jim the chance to land punch after punch to my stomach. I kick up and hit him in the balls. He grunts, falling over. I get on top of him.
Within moments, I’ve turned Jim’s face from that of a man’s to that of an abstract painting. He doesn’t even look like himself as I punch him again and again. My knuckles are red raw from all the hitting. The crowd has gone silent as they watch me pummel Jim.
Jim is no longer putting up a fight.
The ref pulls me off him and announces that I’m the winner. After a hesitant beat, the crowd cheers for me.
I wonder what I look like up here. Defeated? Covered in blood? I’m the winner, and all I feel like is the fucking loser.
I storm out of the ring and get cleaned up in the locker rooms. I can hear management discussing whether they should call an ambulance for Jim because he’s so badly beaten. I don’t feel anything at that. I’m only numb.
Killian comes to check in on me, but I tell him to leave me alone. I deserve to be alone after what I did to Master Jim.
“Are you sure?” Killian asks.
I shoot him a glare. “I’m sure.”
