Chapter 81: Ready To Talk Yet?
Chapter 81: Ready To Talk Yet?
Adriano
Silently, I moved down the hall, downstairs and into our home boxing gym. I actually have very little interest in boxing itself but it is a great way to channel my energy into something that doesn't involve starting brawls with strangers. Though the option is never completely off the table.
Stepping through the door, I instantly begin to wrap my hands in preparation and it takes every little time to do and before I know it, I am walking towards my most commonly used punching bags. The problem is when I look at it, all I see is the man I regretted to have as our father and one I am going to kill him. And this time I am exaggerating. This isn't me having a tantrum or uttering mindless threats, it is a promise. I will definitely kill him one day.
I can't stop seeing him, hearing him and it is only causing my anger to build higher and higher up inside me. I was so stupid to think I could be happy on becoming who I wanted…anyways, I can't think about that right now. I can't do anything but focus on my fists driving forward and smashing into that punching bag.
Over and over again, landed skilled punches, all ones that would leave a person knocked out if it were to ever come in contact with them. That is the one boring part I find about punching bags though, it doesn't fight back. I have the adrenaline, I feel the impact of each toss of my arms, a small amount of pain being transferred and absorbed into my hand.
I felt droplets of sweat falling down my bare chest, dripping off my face until I am covered in it but I can't stop. All I can envision in front of me is the man who is going to ruin my life. The man who already has. So I continued, I fell into a pattern of landing a series of punches and jobs and all of my force put into each one. My hand hurts, my arms are aching from the exertion but I didn't stop, I can't.
Even when I heard the door to this room open, even when I felt Domenico's stare on my back, not judging me but pitying that this is what everything has resorted to. Don't feel, just act. This is all I can do otherwise, I would have to face everything. I would have to acknowledge what is happening but I won't do that.
That is why I kept moving, kept light on my feet and my rage focused on this stupid punching bag that I can practically hear laughing at how pathetic I am right now. Mocking me and proving every single thing that I fear, knowing nothing I can do can change what I have learned.
"Are you ready to talk yet?" Domenico's voice came from the door and when I turned my head around to look at him, he showed no fear, in fact, no emotions at all.
"No," I bit out and he merely shrugged as if he expected that exact response from me.
Instead of saying another word or pushing me further, he steps out of the doorway and over to where I left the tape, beginning to wrap his own hands. I gulped in an attempt to swallow my anger, swallow my words but I just barely kept myself contained. I have to be careful now about my every movement because I know he will take every chance to read my mind. I don't want him to get the slightest chance that I promised to kill our father.
Stepping up to the ring, my brother follows right behind me and discards his shirt to the ground beside it.
"No rules, everything is fair game." He said, knowing it is the best way for me to get out of my anger.
Giving a quick nod to show that I agree, he didn't waste any time closing in, a strong left hook aiming straight to my head. It was so quickly that I barely had time to react. His fist just breezed past my face and I didn't give him a chance to go in for a second, ducking down low and nearly landing a mean body shot. He just as easily pivoted back and twisted to the side, not only dodging that blow but the one that followed right after. While I am the brute force, my brother is the skill and the technique.
Anger flowed through me knowing I had yet to land a hit as the two of us circled each other, remaining light on our feet.
"Nothing you have to say?" He taunts, cocking his head at me knowing that just being here is working me up. I need to stay calm and focus.
Once again, he took the initiative and moved in to attack with two jabs, one aimed at my stomach and other at my nose. My head snapped to the side to avoid his upper hit but I was too slow and merely accepted when a fist came at a slight restrained force against my core. I embraced the feeling of pain, allowing it to fuel me as I threw a hook to his own stomach, eliciting a small grunt from him.
We both knew each one of our strikes were nowhere near at our full strength but I already felt my mind become a little quieter as I focused on the moving target in front of me.
"Self-loathing doesn't suit you, brother." He grinned, knowing it hit a nerve.
In turn, I take an especially hard swing at his head, losing my balance for a split second as he shoots out of the way, watching as I upright myself just as quickly. We can both see that I am being sloppy right now and he takes advantage of it, landing a quick series of punches to my torso, trying to get me angry enough that I will just explode and everything will come out. This most certainly isn't the first time Domenico and I have fought to get out some energy but the issue with my brother is that he is trying to get in my head.
Quickly managing to get out of my hold, he takes a few steps away from me, assessing me in the way he does when is trying to understand something. Looking me up and down, he takes in my rough state and no doubt sees the dark circles under my eyes and considering it is the middle of the night, all he has to do is get to know me to realize I had nightmares.
"You have been tense for days now, so what did Raphael say?" He hits the nail right on the head causing me to round him in the head.
"It is rude to poke your nose in other people's business, you know?"
"I don't know keeping secrets is our thing now."
I don't want to keep secrets from my brothers but until I figure out a way out of this, I won't involve them. It won't make them feel the panic that I am feeling right now. I can't bear to see them in such a situation.
"You can't hide this forever, Adriano." He landed a strike.
"One day, it is going to come out and you have to face everything."
"Shut up!" I growled, grabbing his head firmly with two hands and using it as momentum as I drove my knee up into his stomach.
He cursed, his own body covered in sweat now. I released him, shoving him away from me in anger and hatred for myself. For a moment, both of us just stand there, tired from our assault on each other and panting from the jabs and quick movement.
"Since you don't want to talk, I will." He said, pulling at the tape on his hands and began to unwrap them. I just remain defensive and in place, not saying a word.
"Is this about our birthday coming up?" He asked, his eyes and focus on me.
Seeing as he didn't get whatever reaction he was looking for, he continues.
"This is about Raphael calling right?" He asked again and I don't know what I did but somehow I confirmed his question.
"That is a start." He said as he tossed the material to the ground.
"He gave you new information? And asked you to do something, right?"
I didn't respond but my body grew tense as he continued to put small pieces of this much larger puzzle together. Knowing he wouldn't let me walk away if I tried, I gave him a small response.
"Lucas," that's all I said, enough for him to blink at me.
Lucas, the man who murdered our mother in cold blood, left us a message.
"Why wasn't I informed of whatever discovery was made?" He asked, knowing as the son of the mafia leader would have been the first to know.
He didn't because I personally made sure he wasn't told, both him and Gregorio. Knowing I have to tell him something or he will never drop this, I stretch the truth. I refused to lie to my brothers about anything especially when it concerned our mother's murder. But this is too great of a discovery that will only worry him and Gregorio. I can't risk that.
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