20 #2
I extinguish all the candles when I hear a knock on the door.
Before opening it and receiving Denis, I clean up the blood I spilled on the bowl.
My whole body hurts and feels heavy with tiredness.
I almost fuck everything up in the last moment.
It’s becoming really hard to keep my temper with her blood so close and not being able to use it.
Soon we are entering a building old enough to start rotting on the outside. On the inside it is clean enough to use. We go down some metal stairs until we reach a room with a cage in the middle big enough for two people to fit in.
I enter the cage wearing only my pants and meet the defiant gaze of my opponent.
I start playing with my tongue piercing, eager to feel the warmth of blood on my fingers again.
I’m not interested in fighting anyone. The only reason I have is to lessen my longing to have someone’s life hanging in my hands again.
I find it fascinating when people begin to fight for their lives, giving me their last breath in a useless last plea.
I believe that feeling has been running deep in my family for decades, even though I think with me it is somehow… different.
I manage to knock him down and position myself on top of him with a single blow.
Every time my fist hits his face I hear a crunch that is like music to my ears.
It goes perfectly with the blood splattered on my hair and face.
I take increasing delight in each passing second, to the point where I ignore the referee’s calls for me to stop.
That doesn’t stop me, instead, I increase the force of each blow.
Even when some of my men pull me away from the body, I don’t stop hitting him, kicking him in the ribs.
I would have lunged at the almost lifeless body again if it hadn’t been for a look I recognize instantly in the crowd.
I feel relieved when I focus my vision and see that it’s her brother looking at me with a pale face. But that doesn’t calm my concerns. I want to know if she is here too, so I break free from the grip I’m in and leave the cage.
First I head for the exit. When I can’t find her, I go to the restrooms. A squeaking sound behind me makes me turn my head there.
“This is the women’s restroom,” Bianca remarks, coming out of one of the stalls. I ignore her, washing my hands and removing the bloodstains from my body. “I didn’t know you had a thing with the Easton’s daughter. That’s interesting.”
“Stop sticking your ugly nose where it doesn’t belong,” I say calmly without denying it. Under different circumstances, I would have made it clear that neither of us would ever be free for anyone else in this life or the next ones.
“That’s a shame. I wanted her for myself.” I look up until our eyes meet in the mirror. She is fucking serious.
“Dare to look at her for a second and I swear I’ll screw any deal I have with Francesco, starting with gouging out your eyes.” My words are clear, but not enough to wipe the smile off her red-painted lips.
I forget about scrubbing my face and the rest of the blood and throw the dirty paper towels in the trash, walking angrily toward the exit. Now I’m even more eager to get rid of my unwanted dear guest. If necessary, I would kick her back to Italy myself.
“Here’s your money,” says the man in charge of the bets, handing me an envelope that I refuse. “Whatever you say.” He smiles, putting the envelope in his pocket. “And be more careful next time. At this rate, you’re going to leave me without any participants.”
“Tell them to train harder,” I retort, putting a cigarette to my lips as I wait for Denis to get out.
By the time I flick the cigarette butt on the ground, he appears at the door with a cocky smile.
“Do you mind if I stay a while? Things have gotten interesting around here.” He points to the red makeup stains on the hem of his T-shirt.
“I want to see you up at the usual time tomorrow. We have three whole trucks.”
“You can count on it.” He gives me a thumbs up as he speaks. It takes less than the blink of an eye for him to disappear, and I shake my head, suppressing a smile as I get on the motorcycle and start the engine.
I don’t know when I changed the address from my house to hers. The route is tattooed on my skin, and it isn’t difficult to get into the house. They only have a stupid fucking alarm as a security measure, and probably now everyone is deep asleep. Including the bodyguards.
I try to be as quiet as possible as I climb the walls and open the door of her balcony to her room.
I close the door and approach the bed. I’m so immersed in her face that I don’t notice the wrapper from an energy bar on the floor as I step over it.
The sound causes her to stir in bed, her eyes still closed.