Nonna, Martino answered, grinning, was more than happy to have her precious grandson with her all day long, since he started to attend classes again and was busy catching up on everything the subjects the professors taught during the first few months after he gave birth. Learning to be a newborn’s father and studying at the same time proved to be mission impossible, so he decided to put the semester on hold.
Luca, Martino continued, left the evening before to go to Palermo, to take care of some pressing business matters on behalf of his half-brothers, who were not interested in running the Rinaldi family companies. He would have to spend a week there, maybe more; he wanted to leave everything in order, so he wouldn't have to go back for a few good months.
Not even twenty-four hours passed since Luca left, and he already missed him, Martino whined, making Stephanie smile. She encouraged the young redhead, by saying, with how busy he was with studying, he wouldn't even notice how fast the time would fly by. Besides, with all Donna Lucrezia’s help, he also had Gianluca to take care of and spend time with.
At that point, Brian, who hadn’t said anything, just nodding his approval to his sister’s words from time to time, intervened, inviting Martino to move into his place until hishusband’s return from the business trip. Bart, the librarian said, would be happy to have him as guest, not to mention the couple’s twin daughters, who would be thrilled to be permanently in the company of their greatest fan.
Martino blushed a delicate shade of pink at Brian’s invitation to move into his place, and the blush became more intense when the man said how happy his husband would be. My cousin is a terribly shy guy for a married fellow, Lazzaro smiled internally, as the redhead lowered his gaze, hiding whatever emotions were filling them from the others’ sight.
Martino went next to Brian and put his head, adorned with fiery red curls, on the man’s shoulder, closing his eyes. A sigh of contentment escaped from his slightly parted lips as the librarian wrapped an arm around his willowy waist and pulled him into a tight, warm embrace, that made him feel safe.
Whoa, my cousin really misses his husband, Lazzaro thought, emotions storming inside him as he witnessed that scene. Suddenly, he recalled Brian’s sister saying the name of the man Martino was married to: Luca. If he was the same guy who fought so damn good at the gym, no wonder his life partner missed him so much.
The man was, without any doubt, extremely protective with both his soulmate and young son. From what Lazzaro could tell, the fellow was the type who would fight to the bitter end to keep his loved ones out of harm’s way, and wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice his own life, as long as those he held dearest and nearest would remain unharmed.
Repressing a sigh, Lazzaro looked between Brian, who was still cradling Martino to his chest, and Stephanie, who was making funny faces at baby Gianluca. It was clear to anyone that the three adults and the little boy formed a family; the affection they had for each other and the connection they shared were almost tangible.
Being a cage fighter wasn’t something Lazzaro saw himself doing for the rest of his life; on the contrary, he planned to graduate high school, go to college, get a nice, well-paid job and settle down, get married and raise a family. Anyway, in order to do that, he needed the money winning the big cage fight tournament would bring.
Lazzaro was determined to do anything to convince Luca and the guy who saved his ass from the henchmen, Liam, to train him. He wouldn't make the same mistakes again. He would be humble and would listen to everything his trainers would tell him, even if, deep down inside, he didn’t agree with them.
After all, the only thing that mattered was the final result, and, after witnessing that blind fellow, Callum, fighting like a demon, he didn’t doubt the effectiveness of their methods. I will grit my teeth, learn, train hard, and I’ll win against that bull you are so proud of, motherfucker. I’ll win against your fucking champion in the fucking final.
**************
“Hey, are these two roughing you up?” Callum laughed, listening intently to the sounds around him. “Who is tougher on you, Luca or Liam?”
“They should try harder, I'm not dead yet.” Lazzaro answered between pants, throwing another punch in Luca’s direction. Like the last one, that missed its target, too. “The two of them ganging up on me isn’t exactly fair, though.”
“You are letting your anger rule you.” Brian offered help from the sidelines. “Control it and use it to your advantage. It’s a sure way to kick your trainers’ asses all the way to Palermo.”
“Will you stop giving me crappy advice?” Lazzaro huffed in irritation and angrily launched himself at Luca, who put him to the ground.
Brian chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t worry, you will learn…eventually.” He flashed a grin in the young man’s direction.
“Hey, librarian, look, here's someone more stubborn than you.” It was Luca’s turn to grin. “I didn't think I'd live to see the day I'd get to say that.”
“That may be true.” Brian nodded, a weak smile playing on his lips. “I'm still incredibly stubborn but have learned to use it as a tool. It no longer controls me.”
“I'll fight you and beat you so bad, you won’t be able to tell night from day.” Lazzaro angrily replied. “In a cage fight, if your fist is not driven by rage, you might as well start digging your fucking grave.”
Brian didn’t reply; he just smiled and turned to Luca. “Do you think I can take him?”
“There’s only one way to find out.” The Sicilian mafioso gestured invitingly. “Go for it.”
“But…but how?” Lazzaro stuttered ten minutes later, scrambling to his feet after the librarian sent him to the floor for the third time in a row.“You’re ancient!”
“And you don't think, you just hit, which makes you predictable.” Brian answered in a calm voice. “I spent a lot of time in Baldassare and Don Calogero's company, and learned to read people.”
“My papa is right, you know.” Liam nodded. “I’m telling you for the last time: when you fight, you have to leave your anger at the door. And all the other negative emotions, for that matter.”
“It's easy for you to talk, dude.” Lazzaro grabbed a towel and started to wipe sweat off his naked torso and back. “You are calm like a fucking lake.”
“I wasn't always like that.” Liam smiled fondly at the memory.“I was lucky enough to learn from the best.”
And that was, of course, Luca. A fucking army commander, general, or whatever, but one who totally deserved to be in that position. The Sicilian started to build Lazzaro, as a cage fighter, from scratch, showing him moves from different combat styles and keeping him in good physical shape at the same time.
Having muscles on his bones was as important as mastering a combination of fighting techniques or delivering a fast punch, Luca patiently explained to Lazzaro at the verystart of their first training session together. A ripped body, with muscles flexing under the skin, also brought extra points from the audience. The way a combatant looked often was the determining factor that made people place their bets on him…or not.
