CHAPTER 16 #2
“I’m going to wring his neck with my bare hands—and when he asks me to stop, I’m not going to until all the oxygen leaves his lungs,” I said in frustration.
Cesar sighed and put the glass down.
“Nirah, right?” the stranger fought back a smile.
“Yes,” I politely smiled, then glanced over at Cesar but he only gave me a single nod of assurance.
“Lorenzo Conti,” he extended his hand and I only stared back at him in confusion. “I’m a good friend of Antonio’s,” he clarified and I shook his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lorenzo.”
“I know we just met, and I’m in no position to ask for favors,” he began. “But please don’t kill my best friend.”
I broke out in a smile. “I can’t make any promises.”
He mirrored my smile, and eventually we got lost in conversation until our attention was drawn to the ring below us.
The ring announcer walked into the ring, and all eyes were on him. I rushed to the railing, gripping it as I looked down, seeing a huge spotlight on him.
He introduced himself and started talking about tonight’s event. It was the second last round, and I realized that I already missed most of it.
“How come we arrived so late?” I asked Cesar.
“I only followed Mr. Antonio’s instructions,” he explained, rather vaguely. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he shrugged his shoulders at me with an innocent look.
“Mr. Fuentes!” the ring announcer roared, and the crowd erupted into loud cheers.
A tall, muscular man walked out in a silk robe—that’s quite dramatic if you ask me—with both fists in the air. Though, something about him was different. I felt the same energy as when I had met the twins. Something about these men did not seem quite right.
The unfamiliar feelings—a mixture of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty—had stirred inside of me, boiling over.
A man followed alongside him until they both reach the ring. The man stopped as Mr. Fuentes hopped into the ring. The ring announcer spoke to him, and he looked extremely energetic and excited.
“Do you have any idea who you could be up against?” The ring announcer asked, and Mr. Fuentes chuckled.
“No, but I’m ready to win!” he growled, and a few people cheered, clapping their hands.
“They don’t tell you who you’re up against?” I asked Cesar and he only shook his head.
“If you know, there’s a big risk of you backing out,” he said, then slowly turned his head to meet my nervous gaze. “We can’t have that now, can we?”
His question was rhetorical, so I swallowed hard and looked back down at the ring.
Mr. Fuentes dropped his silk coat and tossed it out towards the audience—revealing a very muscular upper body with a huge snake tattooed on his entire back. A woman caught it, and he winked at her.
“Well, Mr. Fuentes,” the ring announcer started. “It’s your lucky day,” he grinned, then covered the mic to whisper.
Mr. Fuentes said something back to the the ring announcer but he completely brushed him off and turned his body to where everyone else was looking.
Antonio walked in with Samantha and the crowd got back on their feet, screaming with applause. I heard my heart thudding in my ears.
His bare chest had me crossing my legs slowly.
So many tattoos. He had tattoos scattered on his chest as well as on his waist. His right arm was covered in tattoos from his hand up to his shoulder.
His left arm had a vine sprawling up from his wrist to his shoulder.
Wow. So that’s what he’s been hiding under that suit of his.
He spoke to Samantha while tightening the tape around his hands. They got to the ring and she tapped his shoulder as they shared silent communication with their eyes. He got into the ring and shook the hand of the other fighter. A firm grip. The men let go and both turned to face the rest of us.
Eventually, the men were sent off to opposite corners and Samantha whispered something to Antonio making him grin.
He said something and she chuckled, throwing her head back.
The railing squeaked under my grip as I twisted my hands around it.
If he doesn’t die in this ring tonight, he will as soon as I get my hands on him.
The two men took their positions in the ring and the ring announcer stepped out. “He can fight right?” I nervously asked Cesar who grinned in response.
“You’ll see.”
Punches flew. Bones cracked. Blood scattered. Bruises formed. Loud gasps, cheers and murmurs. It all ended with a huge thud.
The ring announcer grabbed Antonio’s hand, lifting it into the air and the crowd completely lost it.
My hand flew up to my heart as I stared down at him with wide eyes.
He pulled his mouth guard out and blood seeped down the corner of his mouth.
Small droplets of blood dripped down the side of his face.
His opponent’s blood was scattered all over his chest. His fists were bloody and bruised.
“Oh—My—God,” I breathed and my hands flew up to my mouth. Samantha hopped into the ring and pulled his arm over her shoulder as she helped him out.
He smiled over at her and she nodded approvingly. “Take me to him,” I demanded. I didn’t even care to see if his opponent was alive as he laid extremely still.
I followed Cesar and he led me deeper into the building. We finally got to the ground floor and he opened one of the doors. My jaw dropped as I saw Antonio sitting down on a chair while talking to Samantha and another man.
“I never really doubted you,” she nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and he smiled.
“You didn’t even root for your lover?” he asked, undoing the tape on his hands and she playfully rolled her eyes. “Ouch,” he teased and I could kick him right now.
“Oh, look at that,” she dramatically said as she looked up at me. “Suddenly Vincent and I need a drink.”
She grabbed Vincent’s arm and dragged him out with her.
Antonio turned his head and looked over at me clutching onto Cesar’s poor arm.
I marched over to him with anger. “What the fuck?” I snapped.
“You don’t just leave me and show up in a fucking boxing ring,” I scoffed in disbelief.
“Are you trying to kill me?” He stood up but I pushed him back down.
“I’m not finished,” I seethed and he grinned, turning his head away from me.
“Cesar,” I stated, snapping my head toward him.
“Please, let me strangle him in private.”
“Please don’t, Miss Nirah,” he sighed.
“Too late,” I said, slowly moving my hands to Antonio’s throat but he grabbed my wrists, pulling me down onto his lap so that I straddled him. “I promised Cesar I’d strangle you until you begged me to stop so let me.”
I tugged my wrists from him but I had no luck whatsoever. The door closed—after Cesar left—and he firmly held my wrists still. “Are you done now?” he asked and I took a deep breath in before exhaling.
“Yes,” I calmly said and he slowly let go of my wrists.
Smack . “That’s for leaving me for two days,” I said and he looked at me in disbelief.
I cupped his face with both hands, crashing my lips against his and his hands rode up my thighs, gripping them.
I slowly pulled away, catching my breath.
“That’s for winning,” I explained. Smack “That’s for getting hurt,” I sternly said, giving him a quick peck and he frowned. “And that’s for slapping you twice.”
With a sharp exhale I tried to get off his lap but he held me in place. “Did you just hit me?” he asked and I smiled.
“Oh no,” I sighed, pressing the back of my four fingers against his forehead. “You’re losing your memory, aren’t you? Too many hits to the head?” I asked cupping his face in both of my hands and examined his face. He took my hands in his, lowering them from his face.
“I’m fine,” he reassured and my heart ached in my chest. “But don’t even try it again,” he warned, and I didn’t miss the dangerous shift in his eyes. “Understand?” His eyes had darkened and fear struck my core.
I nodded, tugging my wrists from him but he wouldn’t let go. “I won’t,” I irritably snapped back with reassurance.
The muscle in his jaw ticked until he finally let my wrists go.
I offered to help him clean up and finally looked down at his bare chest— shifting on his lap with hesitation.
“Are you scared to touch me?” he mused and my eyes shot up.
I scoffed. “No. Of course not.”
I slowly ran the wet cloth down his chest, and his abs… stopping at the top of his shorts. Oh my God, oh my God.
I took my time admiring his beautiful body as I clean up the blood splatter and sweat. I had to push past the uneasiness of the blood. I wanted to. For him .
I couldn’t resist trailing my fingertips down the dent of each of his abs. The pulsing between my legs was back and I felt the hairs on my skin rise.
His hands slowly rubbed the sides of my bare thighs without him tearing his eyes off of me. When I finished with his chest, he took my hand and placed my palm on his abs again.
My heart rate picked up and I shifted on his lap, this time using my nails to trail over his abs. I watched his muscles flex and instantly knew he liked it.
“Stop it,” I demanded before tilting his chin upwards with my hand and he grinned. I carefully ran my thumb over a cut on his bottom lip. “Does it hurt?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the cut.
“It hurts the most,” he softly said and my lips slightly parted as he spoke.
“Uh-huh,” I slowly nodded. “I’m sure it does,” I whispered against his lips and he squeezed the sides of my thighs.
I slowly leaned in, kissing his bottom lip only.
I gently pulled it between my teeth before turning his head to the side.
“Tell me what else hurts,” I said before kissing the crease of his neck.
I left gentle kisses up to his ear. “Tell me,” I whispered and he pulled me up against his chest, leaving no space between us.
I rolled my hips against him as I trailed kisses down his jawline and his throat.