Page 68 of Arturo's Temptation

“Fuck!” I roared, slamming my hands against the steering wheel until the rage subsided. How had I let this happen again? What happened to having no masters? I had fought so hard to break out of the invisible chains the Hamiltons had wrapped around my neck, and yet here I was again, being dragged back into a world I hated, a world that would eventually suck my soul dry.

I was so fucked.

“Arturo, you good, kid?” I heard Red ask as I stepped out of the SUV. I’d been so lost in my own thoughts I hadn’t even heard him enter the garage.

“Terrific,”

“Bells good?”No, she wasn’t, and neither was I.

“She’s fine,” I didn’t smile. “I never knew she volunteered.”

“Ah, you took her to Oakwoods,” he beamed. “Yeah, she’s been helping out there since she was eighteen, the residents love her which isn’t surprising.”

“Right. I better get going, I have shit to do.”That was a lie.

“You’re right, you do. Meet us in the gym in ten minutes,” Red demanded, a mischievous smile toying on his lips.

“Us?”

“You’ll see,” he winked, leaving me standing alone in the cool garage.

After changinginto clothes I could move freely in, I jogged down to the Ricci gym. The mood I was in right now didn’t bode well for whoever was waiting for me. It was about time I let off some steam.

“Ready to show us what you got, kid?” Red joked from across the room. Beside him, Emmet, Gino, and last but not least Lorenzo himself all chuckled.

“Enough with the fuckin’ kid,” I snapped, throwing my water bottle down onto the floor. Fucks sake. I was already losing my cool. But everywhere I looked I saw her. I even smelt her sweet, spicy perfume and it was fucking with my damn head.

“Kid seems angry, don’t you think, Boss?” Emmet laughed.

“Alright, wise arse, who wants to fight me first?” I took my place on the mat that sat in the middle of the room, delighted when Red stepped up.

“I do, I do,” he chuckled but the smile soon faded the moment my foot collided with his chin. “Fuck, you little shit!”

“Shouldn’t have let your guard down, should ya, you old bastard?” I laughed as I dodged his attack, he was quick, but I was quicker and he knew it. “Seems like you don’t have what it takes anymore, huh?”

“You’re lucky I like you, shithead.” Red spat. Lorenzo and the other two erupted into whoops laughter. “You three can fuck off as well, it was a lucky shot.”

But that lucky shot turned into another three, and by the time I was finished with him, his eye was quickly bruising as he tapped out. I cracked my neck as he sank down beside Emmet and Gino, who couldn’t contain their laughter.

“What d’ya say, Lorenzo? You ready to take me on?” I winked, slapping my palms together.

“Ready to make you cry like the pussy you are? Indeed I am.”

“Ooo, that’s fightin’ talk old man. Get your arse over here so I can knock that smug smile off your face.” My pulse kicked up as the excitement brewed.I was going to knock the Ricci king on his arse and I couldn’t wait.

“You can try,” he took his stance, as I mirrored his action.

We sparred as you’d expect, dodging one another’s jabs, and heavier punches. It was clear to see Lorenzo had begun to grow irritated especially when I quickly rounded him and goaded him. He loathed the fact that he couldn’t land a single punch.

“Findin’ it hard, old man?” I teased as I danced around him with ease.

“You just wait until I knock you on your ass,” he jabbed, and I dodged.

“Oh, yeah? How’s that goin’ for ya?” I joked as I landed a jab just beneath his eye. “Do you need a time out?” Lorenzo growled and picked up his pace.

For the next five minutes he tried his best to block my movements, but he was fighting a losing battle. My fist met his lip, splitting it clean open. It was time to finish him off, and show him the exact reason why he had hired me in the first place. Breathing out long and steady, I dropped to the floor and, in one swift kick, I swept his legs out from beneath him.

Lorenzo collided with the mat with a thud. His chest heaving violently. It was obvious he hated losing. I also wasn’t a fan.

---