Page 102

“That you’d purposefully lose to piss me off? Yes.”

He scoffed, trying to step past me but I grabbed his bicep.

“Antonio.” I stopped him. “You don’t have to fight— why are you even fighting?”

He looked down at my fingers clutching him, then lifted his eyes to me. “Because those men out there already have everything money can buy. So what’s left?”

I crossed my arms over my chest with a slight shrug.

“Women.”

“Oh, you’re disgusting.” I shot back. “So that’s what you see women as? Objects? Trophies in your ‘whose dick is the biggest’ competitions?”

His shoulders dropped. “Don’t insult me. When I joined it was for the love of fighting. I had no interest in anything else they were doing.” He tightened the tape around his hand, not meeting my eyes. “But after you came along everything changed.”

I scoffed. “Then just don’t fight.”

“Don’t fight.” He repeated after me as though he could almost laugh, eyes glued to his wrapped hands. “If I don’t get in that ring its seen as forfeiting. And my opponent will stop at nothing to get you.”

I swallowed hard.

“Including raging a war.” He eliminated the space between us. “And I just don’t think you’re worth all that.” He gave his head a slight shake.

“So you’re just going to risk my life for some ego boost?” I asked. “We both know that even with this fucked up arrangement you all have going on, no one out there is going to risk their lives by truly going against you. Not after you successfully took on the yakuza and most definitely not even over your woman.”

Heavy tension wrapped around us, and I could see the slow rise and fall of his chest, but I didn’t care.

“So cut the crap. It’s an ego boost, just admit it.”

He… grinned?

Then, his face lowered to mine. “Not only is it an ego boost… but seeing the panic on your face before every fight gets my dick so fucking hard.”

Fury soared through my veins and my palm collided with his cheek. His large hands gripped both my wrists with a painful force as he forced my back to the wall.

With a racing heart my chest heaved. “You’re. Disgusting.” I forced out and his eyes maliciously lowered to my lips.

Before I could protest he pressed his lips to mine and I groaned in disapproval, trying to pull my wrists free but his grip tightened as his body pressed to mine.

He forced his tongue into my mouth and I squeezed my eyes shut, fisting my hands.

His thigh slipped between my legs and when it brushed my clit I accidentally moaned at the friction. No, Nirah. Dammit.

His teeth sank into my bottom lip, ripping my skin before he pulled back. A strong metallic taste filled my mouth as I breathlessly stared back at him.

His gaze was focused on my bleeding lip and when he leaned in I turned my head but he gripped my face, holding my wrists with one hand.

His tongue swiped the blood off my lip and then he gently sucked before letting my lip snap back in place.

He nodded toward the door. “Get your ass back to the seating area, and don’t leave until the fights are over.”

Everything in me wanted to protest but I opted not to. Don’t piss him off even more, Nirah. You don’t want him purposefully losing.

Stepping back he released my wrists and I straightened out my dress before heading to the door. I took a deep breath in before stepping out and slipping my arm with Kiryl’s. I should have killed him when I had the chance.

Kiryl led me to my seat and I was offered a glass of champagne that I gladly accepted. I finished three glasses before the fight finally started, and as usual, Antonio had my heart rate skyrocketing.

I knew he’d never purposely lose a fight, not only because he never loses, but also because he’d never risk his reputation. But, something told me he would lose just to spite me. Scare me a little.