Page 184 of Inferno

As I turn to face him, he raises the mitts to shield his face.

“I wasn’t going straight for the face!” I laugh.

“With you, I never know where you’ll aim.” He drops one mitt to cover his crotch.

I throw a soft right jab into his shoulder. “See? Gentle.”

Jogging in place to warm up, I wait as he sets the position.

“Hit as hard as you want. Let it all out,” he says, his voice calm and low.

“1–2–1 to start,” I tell him, settling into stance. He nods.

The first few punches are light. Testing. Controlled.

“Come on. You can do better than this,” he taunts.

So I land a harder shot.

“Good girl. Better. Keep going.”

So I do.

Punch after punch, I hit harder. Faster. Sweat begins to bead on my forehead, dripping down the side of my face. My arms burn, lungs heaving.

“More!” he yells.

I give him more.

He shifts the mitts, changing placement, making me think, making my body work.

“Imagine it’s him. Hurt him. Show me how much you hate him. Show me how fucking fierce you are.”

And then I see them. Vlad’s black eyes. That cold smirk. The monster in my nightmares.

A scream rips out of me as my fists take over.

I don’t think. I don’t hesitate. I just fight.

All I want is revenge. My baby safe. And my husband buried in the fucking ground.

Chapter 72

DECLAN

Song, the crown, take luck

https://takeluck.komi.io

The switch that went off in her eyes tells me I pushed her over the edge.

I duck as her flying fist aims directly for my jaw.

She’s powerful, and her punches fucking hurt.

But she craves this and I need to know the truth.

She’s not lying to me.

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