The slamming of the training door opening to my right makes me pull away from her.
A shadow. Broad shoulders. Brown hair, and a stare to kill hits me.
Nico walks in like he’s checking if I’m alive or just something that needs burying. He nods once. No hello. No smile.
“You ready?”
I groan. “No.”
“Good,” he says, and drops his duffel bag on the floor. “I only train the ones who’ve lost something.” This man is so hard to read, nothing, his face is stone cold, his body is holding up tall, not letting anyone come close to him.
Aoife stands, brushing the hair from her face, takes a step closer to me when she gets a good look at Nico, and I press my lips together not wanting her to see I'm smiling at her fear of him.
“He…he’s training you?” Her voice is shaky, and it makes Nico chuckle to himself.
“He’s fighting for something bigger than a title,” Nico says, not looking at her. “He needs to learn how to break someone, not just beat them.”
I almost laugh, but it hurts too much. “You’re a ray of fucking sunshine.”
“Get up,” he snaps.
Aoife steps back as Nico tosses me hand wraps.
“I’m still healing, take it easy on me.”
“Don’t care,” Nico says.
So, I stand. Slowly. Shirtless, scarred, jaw tight, and get ready for a few hours of being in even more pain than I thought I was in.
We train in silence. Nico doesn’t hold back. Not for a second. Every punch lands like a threat. Every block stings like judgment.
“You want to fight for her?” he growls, slamming me into the wall. “Then fight like she’s already dead, and this is yourone shot to show them they fucked with the wrong man,” Nico shouts, and the roar from him shakes something around me.
My ribs scream. My muscles lock. But I punch back. Swing hard, and when I finally drop to my knees, blood on my teeth, Nico crouches beside me.
“You don’t have to be the strongest man in the room,” he whispers. “You just have to be the last one standing.” He takes a step back, removing his hand wraps.
Aoife runs to me when Nico moves away from me, and presses ice to my jaw, wiping the sweat from my brow.
“I don’t like him,” she mutters.
“He’s the only one who understands what this fight is about.”
“For the ring?”
“No.” I look at her. “For you.”
“I will be back tonight, be ready. Get in a fucking ice bath, and you better make me bleed when we fight again.” He stops and turns to face me. “The energy you use is for the fight, don’t waste it fucking,” Nice shouts at me as he leaves, and I shake my head with a smile.
“Why the hell are you smiling?” Aoife asks, not happy about it.
“Because at the end of this, he’s going to make me untouchable.” I lean in to give her a kiss. “Plus, he said no sex, I still have to eat.” She slaps my shoulder and I start laughing, pulling her in closer to me. Even though it hurts, I don’t care, this is my moment with her, and no one is taking it from me.
Chapter 43
Matteo
The wind howls like a creature starved and feral, clawing at the stone bones of Blackstone as I stand at the edge of the rooftop, staring out over the water, which is hitting the rocks with anger, everything feels more like a graveyard tonight. Storm clouds hang heavy above, low and swollen, pregnant with rain or judgment. Maybe both.
