“I said, get out of here.” He catches my bag and holds it in his hands.
I narrow my eyes at him. “How many times do I have to tell you to mind your own business? This gym,” I motion at it with my hand, “belongs to my brother. He’s made it clear that women are allowed here. So, if you have any problems with it, don’t let the door hit you on your way out.”
I may look calm, I may sound calm, but I’m fuming. The only reason I’m not making a scene is that the moron in front of me, Diego, is one of the best fighters and brings money to my brother. It’s the only reason we tolerate him.
He laughs. “You wish. I’m not sure your brother would like that. I bring him lots of money with my winnings.” His smile spreads. “But I know another way you can convince me. One thing I heard you're good at.”
I raise my eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Spreading your legs.”
I don’t let him finish that thought before I launch at him with a strength I didn’t know I possessed. I swing at him, but he dodges the hit, and his smirk prompts me to knee him in the balls. Before I can think about my actions, my fist collides with his face. I use all the strength I have and hit him in his gut, leaving him breathless until he’s on the floor. I straddle him and use my fists to keep hitting his face.
His blood splashes on my fists and I can hear the crack of his nose, followed by his moans. I raise my fist to hit him one more time, but a hand wraps around my fist and then another around my waist, and I’m pulled off him.
“Calm the fuck down!” Nico’s grip on my waist loosens, and I’m placed on the floor. “What the hell is going on?”
I don’t answer. I’m just trying to breathe, so my jaw, which has been locked this whole time, can loosen.
“Shit. Breathe. I need you to calm down. Catalano and Savastano are here.” He looks over my shoulder. “Come.”
He turns me and walks me toward the men. My eyes lock with Gabriel’s, and my anger subsides enough for me to unlock my jaw so I can smile.
“Give me five. Feel free to look around,” my brother says to the men and directs me toward his office.
I can feel heat on the back of my neck. I just know it’s him. I bite my lip and smile. I guess our last encounter affected him after all.
The door closes behind me, and I walk inside into the middle of the office, which has only one desk and a chair. It also has an old sofa, where my brother used to sleep sometimes. I wouldn’t sit on it, let alone sleep there.
“What the hell happened?”
I exhale and turn toward my brother. “He was just being an idiot. Nothing I’m not used to.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Do I want to know?”
I look at him, contemplating my answer. Maybe I should tell him and let him kill the dickhead. But as soon as that thought crosses my mind, it disappears. This is my fight. I want to earn respect, not get it through the fear my brother enforces.
“I can handle my own battles, thank you.”
He narrows his eyes. “Your choice. Now, back to business. We didn’t discuss the length of Catalano’s stay here. If everything goes as planned, I want to bring them to the club to celebrate. I need you to empty the VIP area for us and organize hors d'oeuvres and drinks as usual. Also, I know you may not like what I ask next, but still, it's expected. I need you to organize entertainment. Check with the girls who are already at work and maybe find a couple more.”
I cross my arms, pursing my lips. “Why would I be against girls’ entertainment? They work at the club, after all. What I’m against is non-consensual stuff. It's their choice how they entertain those men.”
He raises his hand. “Hey, I’m sorry if I misinterpreted. Also, I need you to join us tonight. If you're to be by my side, we need to start somewhere, so why not from tonight?”
A smile spreads across my face. “I will be there. You can count on that.”
four
Gabriel
Trouble. That is the only word I can use to describe the unhinged woman Nico is holding in his grip. One with a strong right hook. My eyes quickly assess her; she doesn’t have a scratch on her. I guess the guy took all the punches. I shake my head and ignore Salvatore’s comment about how he gets it now. He doesn’t know shit. He doesn’t know how I felt alive for the first time after all those years that night in the club, when I didn’t know who she was.
I wish that boy had never shown up and told me, but it doesn’t matter. I’m sure there was a reason for the interruption that night; one of them is probably that I’m not dead.
We take a tour around the club with Big Mack by our side. We’re almost done when Nico catches up with us.
“I hope you’ve seen enough. We should get straight to business, don’t you agree?” He opens the double door under the exit sign.
