Page 3 of There Is No Love

Luka Age 10

“Harder,Luka!Don’tbe a wimp." Arturo shoved me in the chest, knocking me back.

I gritted my teeth, stepping back up to him, my gloved hands coming up in front of my face. I threw a right punch which he dodged, swinging back around, punching me in the side.

"Dammit Luka, cover up!" Arturo yelled.

"I'm trying, okay? I'm not as good as you. You're four years older."

"You think that is going to matter? You're going to have to take on guys that are bigger, tougher, and more experienced than you." He grabbed my hands. Holding them between us. "These have to be your weapons always. There may be times when you have no other weapons but these. There may come a time when they will be the only thing standing between you and death."

"Alright. I get it."

"Good!" He threw my hands down. "Now cover-up."

We went round and round for another hour. I got a few punches in on him this time. He laughed, wrapping his arm tight around my neck, pulling me into him. "Not bad kid! We will make a fighter out of you yet."

I fought against him, trying to pull away. "Man, you stink, let me go."

He ruffled my hair laughing, dropping his arm.

"Are we training or messing around?"

We both straightened our backs, knowing whose voice that was.

"Training sir. We just finished." Arturo replied.

"And how did he do today?"

Dad walked over grabbing my chin. Pushing my face side to side, looking me over.

"He's getting better. Actually got a couple of punches in on me today."

Dad nodded. "Good, keep pushing. Take him with you to the range tomorrow. It’s high time he moves on beyond the pistol now."

"Yes sir." We both replied.

"And clean up before you head back to the house. I don’t want to hear your mother complain at dinner."

"Yes sir."

We stood there waiting as he left the room.

"Let's go clean up before we head back. Although I don’t think there is any hiding that shiner on your eye. Mom is not going to be happy."

We walked over to the locker rooms within the training complex. Showering and cleaning up quickly. I walked over to my locker, threw on jeans and a t-shirt, and then headed over to the mirror, examining my face. My left eye was already turning black, I had a cut under my right eye, my lips were busted, and my left cheek was swollen.

"Here." Arturo handed me an ice pack. “Ice your eye and cheek while we walk back. It might help a little.”

"Mom’s going to be pissed."

"Yeah."

We made the walk back to the house. "I can’t believe dad is having me go with you."

"I'm surprised too. I was fourteen when I started training with Carlo and the other guys. He seems nervous about something. More on edge than normal."

"I heard him and Maximo talking about some issues with the Volante outfit."

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