Page 116 of The Devil's Fire

God, he’s delicious.

“Good Lord…” Cara muttered next to me as she shamelessly eyed Lorenzo. She was undressing him with her eyes while he lifted weights.

“Seriously? Eyes on me, bitches!” Arianna frowned at us with her hands on her hips.

“Yeah, yeah, chill.” Cara and I snickered and took a place on the bench, facing Arianna as she stood in the middle of the wrestling mat.

“We will take it slow. Since you don’t have any training, I will show you some basic, yet effective, defense moves.” She started.

“I would say I’m doing pretty well for someone who doesn’t know shit.” I pointed out.

“True, but the goal is to teach you so you don’t end up looking like that.” She pointed to my stitched brow.

“As long as I get out alive, I can take a few punches.” I joked, making Cara snicker. Thankfully, I was getting the stitches removed tomorrow before I left for home. My brow healed well and wouldn’t be noticeable for my mother to ask questions.

My sprained foot was a different story, but I came up with a brilliant idea and said Cara accidentally pushed me down the stairs. Let’s just say that if Cara lacked any sympathy for me, she would have attempted to permanently silence me for placing all the blame on her.

“Look who we have here. Whatcha doing?” Raffaele approached us with a big smile on his face. His constant smile or laughter was a refreshing contrast to the emotionless expressions worn by the other men.

“Arianna’s teaching us self-defense.” I told him and got comfortable on the bench.

“Oh, this is going to be fun! I’m up first.” He eagerly declared and positioned himself directly in front of Arianna. She gave him a malicious glint in her eyes and smirked.

“Ready to get your ass kicked?”

“Tsk, as if you can take me dow -”

Before Raffaele could even finish speaking, Arianna sent a forceful kick in the center of his stomach, making him stagger backwards. She quickly grabbed his arm, pulling him to her as she wrapped her hand around his throat with such force that he made a gagging sound. She skillfully maneuvered her leg behind his and forcefully brought him down with a loud thud.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Arianna had a smug look on her face while Raffaele looked startled at her sudden moves.

“That doesn’t count. I wasn’t ready.” He smacked her hands away and jumped to his feet.

“I would have said the same thing if I embarrassed myself like that.” I teased with a laugh.

“Want to have a go at me?” Raffaele challenged me and smacked himself on the chest, trying to look intimidating.

“Can’t.” I pointed at my foot.

“Excuses, excuses. But then again, I don’t have any hope for you. Cara might stand a chance, but you? You’re so small and weak I can flick you away like a fly.” He said with a smirk.

I got up, careful not to put too much pressure on my foot as I stood before him.

“Want to bet?” I challenged. Raffaele bent down and placed his hands on his knees, mocking my height.

“And what are you going to do, little girl?”

“Oh my God, what is that?” I gasped and pointed behind his shoulder. Raffaele turned to look, and that was when I quickly grabbed his shoulders to hold him in place.

And kneed him right in the balls.

I didn’t go full force, but still enough to make his breath hitch in his throat. He cupped his balls and fell to the floor, groaning in pain.

“Fucking shit!” He yelled at me. I leaned forward as I grinned at him, now mocking him.

“That’s what you get for underestimating me.” I said and walked away.

A hand wrapped around my ankle, yanking me off balance, and having me fall to the floor. Now it was me groaning.

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