Page 18 of Welcome to the Sins of Blackstone
Word spreadsfast when there is something good to talk about. By the time I got to the academy this morning, everyone knew.
I can feel the eyes on me as I walk through the halls, Maria at my side. Jo stays close to her, throwing sharp glances at anyone who dares to whisper too loudly. If Maria was going to have a good friend next to her, Jo is the best one to have. She knows how to fight, she knows how to shoot a gun, so if anyone would harm Maria and I can’t be there, Jo will be.
As we walk the corridor, Liam steps in our path. He’s pissed, or should I say furious. Can’t blame him, I took his girl.
His jaw is clenched, his hands fisted at his sides, and for a brief moment, I wonder if he was actually dumb enough to try to throw a punch. He knows the rules as well as I do. I want him to try to hit me, just to give me a reason to put his ass to the ground.
Maria tenses beside me, and my grip on her hand tightens, letting her know I’m right here with her.
“Massimo,” Liam says tightly.
I raise a brow. “Liam.”
He exhales sharply, and his glare shifts to Maria for just a second before snapping back to me. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Messina.”
I tilt my head slightly. “You’ll have to be more specific.” I’m not here to play his game, and he also knows I could kill him if I wanted to.
His nostrils flare. “Don’t play dumb with me. She’s mine.”
Maria stiffens, but I just laugh. “Not anymore.”
Liam takes a step closer, lowering his voice. “You don’t know what you’re doing, Messina. You think my family is just going to let this happen?” Oh, the fucker is going to use my family name, and not mine. Now I laugh again.
“I think your family can’t do shit about it.”
His jaw tenses again. “You’re making a mistake.”
I grin, which only pisses him off more. “No, Liam. The mistake wasn’t losing her, it was thinking she was yours to begin with.” Marias hand brushes against mine, just for a second. A small movement, but I feel it.
Liam’s eyes darken, his body vibrating with anger. But he doesn't do anything. Not yet. Instead, he takes a small step back. “This isn’t over,” he says, his voice low, dangerous.
“No. It’s just beginning.”
Liam’s chest rises and falls sharply, his jaw clenching so hard I think his teeth might crack. He wants to throw a punch. Right here. Right now. I can see it in his eyes.
But we aren’t just two guys in the street. We are the next in line for something big and even though every muscle in my body aches to take this to the next level, I know there are lines we can’t cross.
At least, not in the open.
Liam takes a slow breath, forcing himself to relax, then he smiles. Not a real one. A sharp, thin stretch of his lips that means only one thing.
Trouble.
“You’re right,” he says smoothly. His gaze flicks to the stairs. “Not here, down there, where rules don’t reach. We can’t fight here.”
I raise a brow, waiting.
“Tonight,” Liam states flatly. “Under Blackstone.”
A slow smirk curls at my lips. Interesting. I tilt my head slightly. “Are you sure about that?” I have to ask, because I’m confident I can kill him down there.
“Are you?”
Maria tenses beside me, her fingers clenching slightly around my hand, but she doesn't say a word. I let a short silence stretch between us before finally nodding.
“Fine,” I say, my voice steady, deliberate. “Tonight.”
Liam’s grin widens just a fraction before he turns and walks away, his posture stiff, his fists still tight.
