Page 43 of Dangerous Games of Trust

Ricky chuckles darkly beside me.

Goosebumps wash over my skin. I knew there was more to this fight. “I can’t watch.” I cover my eyes. This is too much. I’m not sure if I’m going to puke or pass out from fear.

“You have nothing to worry about, he’s no match for Geovani’s speed and agility. Watch the fight, temptress, he won’t lose,” Maddox grumbles. I glance down the line of seats at him, wondering why he cares if I see this or not.

I don’t want to watch him kill some man with his bare hands. Knowing what he is capable of and seeing it are two completely different things, no matter what this man did to him. I keep my hands over my face, just peeping through my fingers as they size each other up.

Ricky’s other hand comes to my thigh, and he gives a reassuring squeeze. His breath brushes the exposed skin on my neck as he places a small kiss just below my ear. “I can distract you if you want, baby doll?” he offers, his tone way too flirty for the current situation we find ourselves in.

I glance up to him, a small smile painting my lips.

“Ricky, let her watch, this is important.” Alessandro’s voice cuts through the tension like a knife. Bossy asshole.

I roll my eyes so only Ricky can see. “Typical, fun police is here to ruin whatever enjoyment I was actually going to get out of tonight,” I mutter in a low voice.

He kisses my lips quickly, and I know he agrees.

As the lights dim, the audience fades into the background, leaving only the illuminated stage and the two opponents in view. A quiet comes over the room as everyone waits to see who will make the first move.

“What are you waiting for Beast,” Geovani’s taunting words echo through the air, provoking Dante to charge at him. In a split second, Geovani sidesteps, narrowly avoiding the collision. He acts like a matador provoking a bull, trying to get him all riled up before he makes his first move. He’s a performer, drawing energy from the supportive cheers of the crowd with every new move he makes. I almost feel sorry for the other guy; it’s like this group of onlookers are here to support Geovani only.

Dante swiftly readjusts himself, releasing a frustrated grunt while throwing a punch that connects solidly with Geovani’s jaw. But it’s like Geovani let him, as if he knew what was coming and he stood there and waited for it. The old theatre fills withthe sound of his mocking laughter, proving my thoughts correct. What the hell is he doing? Geovani thinks this is some big joke.

Blood drips from Geovani’s mouth as he spits in Dante’s direction, splatters flying across the man’s bare chest and onto the stage. The people in the front row would have also gotten a good spattering. Dante roars with anger and goes at him again, but this time Geovani blocks his move. Without missing a beat, he follows it up with a punch, connecting hard with Dante’s nose. Blood pisses out of it, making my stomach roll, and I cover my eyes again.

Ricky’s lips come to my neck once more, placing a tender kiss. “Watch it, baby doll, this is how Geovani gets his revenge.”

Goosebumps scatter up my arms. The fight intensifies as they exchange brutal blows, neither willing to back down. Geovani enjoys every second of it, the cruel smile never vanishing from his lips. He’s not the man I know, but I see now why he’s so feared. He’s psychotic like this, and it’s not as if I didn’t know it before tonight. But it’s confronting, and I’m not sure how much more watching I can take. I want to think of him as the man who’s trying to keep me safe, the one I was with the other night who brought me undone in the best way possible. But this is like every damaging blow he makes brings my protective walls up higher. If he can be so brutal with him, what happens if I tip him over the edge?

I watch on in horror as Geovani seizes his moment, executing a powerful grappling move that brings Dante crashing to the ground below.

After training with Geovani for so long, I can almost predict his every move. He’s harsh and ruthless, but Dante fights back just as fiercely. He’s not giving up, but I already know it’s too late for him. This is the moment Geovani waits for—he’s at his best when the fight moves to the ground. He has all the power overthis giant of a man. He swiftly exploits his advantage, pulling Dante into a chokehold.

Geovani’s forearm snakes around Dante’s throat, compressing his airway with relentless force. Leaning in, he whispers something into Dante’s ear, and I see the panic flash in Dante’s eyes as they bulge in fear.

“What did he say?” I ask out loud, not really expecting anyone to know the answer, but I have to know.

“He’s explaining why he’s about to die,” Dani tells me as if it’s all no big deal.

My eyes go wide. “What?” When she said he was fighting for his life earlier, I kind of thought it was an expression, like he’s going to mess him up for revenge but still leave him breathing at the end of it.

“You don’t fuck Geovani over and get away with it. And this dude fucked with his girl,” she says, matter-of-factly. Like this is a normal Tuesday. They all know the rules to this game, one Geovani obviously made up.

For a split second I glance at Dani, my heart racing in fear. Who the hell is this guy and what did he do to me? I don’t recognize him.

The crowd roars with excitement, and I flick my attention back to the stage. The man’s face is turning red as he struggles against Geovani’s strong hold, trying desperately to tap out, but he knows as well as the rest of the room, that’s not an option tonight.

I scream as Geovani continues to apply pressure around his neck. I can’t believe he’s going to kill a man in front of all these people. My eyes fill with tears. I can’t watch any more. Standing abruptly, I pull out of Ricky’s hold on me. I push past him and Maddox, making a run for the curtain behind us. I need to get out of here.

But Alessandro beats me to it and gets in my way. “Where do you think you’re going, princess?”

Chapter 21

My heart races inmy chest, fear and adrenaline surging through me. “Move, Alessandro,” I demand, tears now streaming down my face. I swipe them away, wishing the earth would swallow me up so I can be anywhere but here.

His hands come to my shoulders, running down my arms over my jacket until he takes my hands in his. “You know I can’t do that, princess.” His dark eyes lock with mine, trying to intimidate me, but I’m not scared of him.

The way I’m feeling right now, he should be scared of me, because even I have no idea what I’m about to do. All I know is I’m feeling out of control. Overwhelmed with being so trapped in this nightmare, I shake my head in disappointment. My heart pounds so fast I feel like it’s going to burst right out of my chest. I can’t stay here with these people. This madness isn’t normal. Or okay. This world is fucked up, and I can’t stay another day. Everything inside my body screams at me to make a run for it. I have no fight left in me, and I don’t want to end up like the dude on the stage. Or like my poor ma.

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