Page 84 of Massimo

I kick off my shoes, undo my jeans, and let them drop, leaving me in the loose shorts I wore underneath. I reach behind my head and pull my T-shirt off, making the crowd go wild.

Tony is calling Beast and me to the ring. The crowd has already parted.

But the rage within me is like acid eating away at my control. The gruesome monster that lives within me is snapping its maw and sharpening its claws on the steel cage I keep it within, begging to be let out.

Mancini and his cunning smile.

Nova's innocent and beautiful face. The memories of her haunted, tormented look…

I let my monster free.

Beast sees the feral, rabid look of fury on my face. He smiles, and we don't even make it off the platform as we come together like two titans battling over the world.

Chapter 34

Massimo

Myknucklesarebustedand bloody. Tony loves chaos. Well, I fucking gave him chaos.

I attacked Beast and beat his ass to a bloody pulp right there on the platform.

Tony's men had tried to pull me off Beast, but I tossed them off like a dirty shirt into the crowd. I would've killed Beast, if Renzo, Tino, and Marcelo hadn't gotten through my black haze of hate.

Afterward, Renzo spoke into my ear over the deafening roar of the crowd, "Meet me by the pool house."

Then, he descended the steps of the platform, with Chiara materializing like a wraith beside him, and they disappeared into the crowd.

I get dressed and head toward Tony's table. The next fight is already on in the cage. Beast has been carted off, and a crew is cleaning his blood off the platform. The crowd gives me a wide berth but still cheers and congratulates me.

As I approach Tony's table, he's fucking pissed because I nearly killed Beast, but he's also filled with glee at the money I just made him. I tell him to give my winnings to Teresa's Home, a not-for-profit that helps youth stay off the streets, like I always do.

"Maybe some of the winnings could go to the surgeries Beast will need to repair his shattered jaw, broken arm, and destroyed knees," Tony suggests.

I step into his space. "If a dime of my winnings goes toward Beast, I'll slit his throat." Tony's eyes nearly bug out of his head. "And I'll fucking know if all my winnings don't go to Teresa's organization, Tony."

"What the fuck's gotten into you?"

"Beast and every one of us knows the risks when we enter the ring."

"Except you two never made it into the ring," he retorts.

"Semantics." I shrug. "I made you thousands tonight, Tony." I give his cheek a light slap. "You're welcome."

Pivoting on my heel, I push through the crowd with Marcelo and Tino and storm up the stairs like a thundercloud. I want to fight again. My fury and rage aren't abated, but I really will kill someone if I do.

Like my father, I make decisions about who lives and dies with a level head. The death of anyone, even the most heinous of humans, can have rippling effects, and those need to be considered in the decision.

Alejandro smiles as I crest the stairs. "Heard you put on a fucking show. Sorry I missed it."

I smirk. "Enjoy your winnings."

We exit into the night and make our way to the SUV. The smaller guard climbs into the very back, and I get in the middle row with the other guard. Tino drives, and Marcelo rides shotgun.

I'm silent, itching to pull out my phone and check in on Nova over the security feed, but I resist. Tino and Marcelo give the other guards a play-by-play of my fight while remaining vigilant as we drive through the city.

I'm more on edge than I usually am traveling outside my territory. Vincenzo is my peer and ally, but I can't ignore Beast. He's French mafia. Vincenzo has to know Beast is here in his territory; Tony is tight with Vincenzo, and hiding that from him would be stupid. Friends or not, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Instead of checking Nova on the video feeds, I check on my messages. Since it's still day time back home, and there are a few from Gabe.

---