16

Valentina

I turn the card over in my hands and run my fingertip over the scrawl written in blood. My mind running a million miles an hour trying to piece together events, dates, and people I have fucked over these past few months. Nothing makes any sense and my irritation carves at my insides. Not knowing who the fuck is sending these cryptic messages is making me want to go on a stabbing spree. I shove the card into my bag, with the other note, and head out the door, leaving my two girls lounging on my bed.

“Be good, I love you,” I say to them as I close the door behind me.

The air is crisp as I hurry to the underground fights. Walking through Verona at night, you can almost imagine yourself in some quaint little town in Italy.

The guy at the door looks me up and down. “Name?”

“Valentina Mancini.” Like he doesn’t fucking know who I am.

He regards me for a moment, stamps my hand, and lets me enter. Fucking lucky, or I would have beaten his ass until one of the Russo cousins came to save him.

The tang of metallic mixed with sweat permeates the area and the sounds of cheering and blunt thuds is like music to my ears. My skin prickles at the tantalizing mix and a cool shiver spreads over my body, letting me know I’m ready.

I make my way past the crowds and spot the three sitting on their thrones above the rest of the crowd. I try to conceal myself in the back as I scoot along and enter the area where the fighters wait.

I strip my jeans and hoodie off, already dressed in my tank and booty shorts, and throw them in the corner. I feel the eyes of the fighters on me, probably wondering what the fuck a female is doing back here. I push past them and zero in on the guy in charge.

“Hey, I’m up next. Got any spare gloves?” I stand with my hands on my hips, waiting for him to argue.

He doesn’t. With a sly smirk, he nods to the floor to my right where a container of discarded gloves sits, already covered in blood. “Take your pick.”

I find a pair that are almost the right size and some blood-stained wraps. You can’t complain when you didn’t bring your own set of gear. I wrap my hands and shove them in the gloves, instant adrenaline spiking through me. I punch the gloves together and jog on the spot, trying to warm up my muscles the best I can. I usually spend a good thirty minutes stretching and warming up before a fight, but there’s no time, the fight in the ring is over. The fighter who just got knocked out is getting dragged out of the cage.

“Up you go.” The guy in charge points to the fighting cage and hands me a helmet.

“No thanks, I like the feel of the glove against my skull.” I wink at him and step into the cage.

The roar of the crowd pumps through my head and I charge for my opponent before he can think twice and realize he’s about to fight a female. I manage to land a glove on his jaw, making him stumble back a few steps.

“You fucking little bitch.” He comes out of his surprised daze as his gloves come up in defense mode.

Attaboy.

I know I need to be quick before Leonardo realizes my crazy ass is in his cage, and he murders this dude for punching me. But right now, I soak in the atmosphere for a few moments before I set upon my opponent again.

“Come at me, Princess,” he shouts as he swings his glove and tries to jab me in the ribs.

I growl and sidestep away from him, my footing on point. “Gladly.”

“Doesn’t fucking look like it, Princess.” He grins at me as his glove comes flying at my head.

I duck in time to dodge a hit to the face and slam my glove into his side, making him wince in pain.

“That’s my girl.” He throws a jab at me and connects with the side of my jaw, sending shooting pain down my neck. I step back again, bouncing on the balls of my feet, and spit the blood pooling in my mouth at the cage floor.

The crowd roars in encouragement but I know he’s holding back because I’m female, which pisses me off and makes my rage burn deeper. The pain feels good, as though it has brought me alive again. This sick part of me misses the throbbing aches and the rush of adrenaline when I’m in the fighting ring. I have all but a few seconds left of this fight before the Russo cousins come charging in, so I know I need to step my game up.

My opponent lunges forward and his right hook comes swinging at my face but I slip under it. “Too slow, old-timer.” Popping back up, I slam my fist into his ribs, making him grunt.

His right glove comes at my face again and I block his jab and throw a punch at him, connecting with the side of his head. I bounce back on the balls of my feet, waiting for his next move.

The booming sound of a loud horn echoes through the speakers, catching me off guard for a moment. A sharp blow to my gut knocks the air out of my lungs.

“Fuck, yes,” I cough as I try to suck in air. About time this Thor wannabe stepped up and fought like a man.

My eyes lock with his as he’s wrestled to the ground, the confusion in both our faces mirroring each other. The crowd boos at this sudden turn of events. I straighten up my stance and take in deep breaths, my gloves resting on top of my head to open up my lungs.

Leonardo and Dante climb in the cage and help the guy up off the floor, dismissing their right-hand man. Dante grins at me as he walks toward me, holding his fist up for me to tap with my glove.

“Fuck, I’d hate to be Leonardo when he pisses you off,” Dante chuckles as he exits the cage.

Standing in the middle of the cage, with the crowd booing and chanting, I watch Leonardo link arms and half-hug my opponent. My muscles burn with the need to fight, a fire in my gut slowly simmering as I come down from my short-lived high.

My opponent, with Leonardo beside him, walks toward me. The anger I thought I’d see from Leonardo is nowhere to be found. He almost looks smug as he nears me.

“Fucking awesome fight while it lasted.” The guy winks at me as he passes and climbs out of the cage.

“Not bad yourself.” I grin, happy he’s not getting punished for fighting me.

Leonardo stands in front of me, his face all shades of annoyance and pride. “A little feisty, don’t you think?”

“I was only getting started.” I cock an eyebrow.

“Well, you just landed us a new recruit without having to get his face pummelled in by a girl.” Leonardo crosses his arms over his chest, ignoring the constant booing of the crowd.

“I hardly fight like a girl.” I step into him and the crowd roars, the noise circling the area like a swarm of wasps.

“Is that so, baby girl?” Leonardo’s mouth twitches with a smirk.

“Mm-hmm,’ I hum as I swing my leg out to curl around his and try to drop him on his ass. He’s too quick and manages to wrap his arm around my neck in a headlock. The roar from the cheering crowd is deafening, their excitement is fervent as they start to clap in time with my heartbeat.

“Tap out, babycakes.” He squeezes my neck with his huge bicep.

“Never,” I laugh in response and jab him in the ribs.

He swings my legs out from under me and gently lowers me to the floor, giving me a quick peck on the lips before he bounds back up and away from me, his mischievous grin making me laugh harder.

I hold my glove up in defeat and Leonardo grabs my arm and hauls me to my feet. We both bow and the crowd goes wild, their feet and hands pounding on anything they can connect with. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he leads me out of the cage into the backroom where the other fighters are.

Taking my gloves off and unwrapping my hands, I eye the fighters that are left to go into the cage, their faces wear looks of determination.

“I didn’t realize your family is so popular to get into.” I jab Leonardo in the ribs to get his attention.

“We’re the best.” He grips my hips and yanks me into him, pressing a kiss to my lips. “Mmm, tangy blood flavor.” He bites my lip hard enough to draw more blood.

A surge of need and want rushes through me and he senses it too. As though reading my thoughts, he grabs my hand and drags me after him outside into the cool night air. He slams my back against the wall, his grip urgent and wanting.

“I’m not going to make it back to the car, I fucking need to be inside you right now,” he growls into my mouth while his hands grip my upper thighs, lifting me so I’m straddling his hips.

I don’t object. I don’t have to say a word, he knows I need this as bad as he does. Fighting and killing elicit dark desires in me that I can’t ignore. I feel him unzip his jeans and he yanks my booty shorts aside and in one rough thrust, he’s filled me.

“Holy fuck.” I grit my teeth as he starts to move in and out, the grinding against my clit making me clench around him. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold his gaze to mine as he works his cock inside me

“You keep looking at me like this and I’ll blow my load in five seconds flat.” He slows his pace to even and deep thrusts, angling his hips to just the right position to hit my clit.

His movements are unrelenting, their ruthless rhythm bringing me closer to the edge. I whimper as he pushes into me and my head falls back against the cold wall.

“I’m about to come,” I groan into the cold night air and I hear him chuckle.

“Milk my cock, baby girl,” he kisses the side of my neck and I feel him bite the apex, the sharp sting drawing blood.

“Fuck,” I growl as my orgasm builds through me, low and deep at first, making my arms and legs tingle, until it rips through my center and I shudder against him. Grinding and squeezing him closer with my legs, trying to get as much release as I can.

I feel him licking the blood as his pace picks up and he tenses, spilling into me, suckling the bite on my neck. “You taste so fucking good.” He slows his movements and rests his forehead against mine. His breaths fanning across my face as he catches his breath.

“That better not scar.” I untangle myself from around him, standing against the wall for support. Adjusting my shorts, I can feel his come leaking into them and know I’m going to have to find a toilet inside.

“I hope it does.” His eyes burn with desire as he fixes himself back in his jeans.

I can see the double meaning in his features and as much as I attempt to ignore it, with all these feelings circulating between us, I know one of us is going to break soon and admit how we really feel.

“You’re so fucking stubborn.” I push at his chest, annoyed that neither of us can tell the other how strongly we feel.

“Come on babycakes, back inside so you can clean up my mess.” He kisses the side of my face and drags me inside.

I grab all my things and head for the ladies to clean up. As I sit on the toilet, my phone vibrates and I lean down and take it out of my hoodie pocket.

Rico: All systems go. Little sitting duck is ready when you are.

Me: Roger.

I finish peeing and throw my clothes back on. My heart thuds deep in my chest, the excitement of what is about to transpire making me edgy. I scan the area where the last few fighters are still standing and find Leonardo.

“I’ve got to go. Duty calls.” I grab the back of his neck and kiss him on the cheek. I let go of him and step away, ready to get my ass to New Jersey.

“Not so fast.” Leonardo catches my hand before I manage to escape. “The fuck are you up to?” He eyes me with suspicion.

“Number four,” I reveal. No point in hiding it from him.

“I’m coming.” He turns and leads me outside.

“No, you can’t, this is my shit to deal with,” I argue with him. He’s angling at something I don’t have time for at the moment.

“You don’t get a fucking say. I’m not letting you walk into the viper’s den without backup.” He runs his hand through his hair in frustration and glares at me.

“Fuck, you can’t help me with this. You’re not supposed to know about it.”

“Just like the fucking notes.,” he interrupts me. “When are we dealing with that little puzzle?”

“That’s an entirely different issue.” I roll my eyes at him, getting frustrated because I’m losing precious time.

“One you wouldn’t have told me about if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes,” he fumes.

“You’re making this difficult,” I snap, exasperated.

“How the fuck do you expect to get to this mystery destination when you don’t have a car here.” He holds his two arms out and smirks at me, as though he’s just won the fucking lottery.

“I didn’t think that far ahead.” I shrug, my agitation getting to me. “Can I borrow yours?” I bat my eyelashes at him.

“Yep, but I’m coming too. Now move.” He smacks my ass as he strides past me into the parking lot.