Page 87 of Brutal Intentions

I stretch my arms lazily over my head, playing for time. Trying to figure out what’s really going on. “Glory? Please. I need more witnesses to my glory than you fucks.”

“Would we do you dirty like that?” Marzio asks. “We’ve got a fighting ring ready for you upstairs in the gym, and all our friends are invited to watch you get the shit beaten out of you.”

So that’s how it is. These brothers want to turn my demise into a spectacle.

Now that I’m out of that cage, even with dozens of these numbskulls’ friends around, I might see an opportunity to escape. It’s probably going to be my only chance.

“Fine. Let’s do this.” I shrug and head for the door, but Marzio stops me.

“Housekeeping first. I’ve got some forms for you to sign so we have proof that you willingly consent to this fight.”

“I willingly consent to screwing your mom.”

Tomaso sinks his fist into my stomach, and I double over coughing.

Eyes watering, I straighten up and say through my teeth, “Can no one take a joke? What forms? Fucking get on with it.”

“Sign these and you can go.” Marzio slaps a stack of papers and a pen onto a nearby table.

I take a look at them. They’re covered in legalese. “What are they?”

“Divorce papers for Giulia. She wants to be able to say she got rid of you before you got your stupid ass killed. The release forms are for the fight. So your family won’t come for us when we send them your dead body. Baby brother Rosetti died in a fair fight.”

So, this is how they plan on getting rid of me. It’s a good story, claiming my own pride got me killed. That tracks with the way I’ve lived my life.

Only, I don’t plan on dying just yet. I glance at the other fighter. Rocco looks like a walking root canal, but that doesn’t mean he’s a better fighter than I am.

I snatch up the pen and sign all the forms.

Marzio collects the papers, examines them, and puts them away. “Good. Hold his arms.”

Tomaso and Roberto suddenly grab me from behind while Marzio reaches for a baseball bat.

“Wait, what—”

He swings the bat in a vicious arc at my chest. It sinks into my ribs on the right-hand side, and I hear the bones crack. Pain explodes through me, and when my knees give out, I fall to the floor.

Marzio leans down, a gloating expression on his face. “Mia’s getting rid of your baby right at this moment. If you win this fight, you’ll be just in time to wake her up from the anesthetic.”

Every breath causes stabbing pains in my ribs. “You’re lying.”

“Honor Memorial Hospital. Two o’clock. Booked her the appointment myself, and Mia can’t wait.”

It’s not true.

She wouldn’t do that. Not without talking to me.

It’s nottrue.

But with her family pouring hate and poison in her ear and me gone, just disappeared like I never cared about her, what choice does she have?

Marzio leans down close to me and speaks in a hideous baby voice. “What’s wrong, princess? Are you going to cry? Are you going to wet your widdle pants—”

I pull my head back and slam my forehead into the bridge of his nose with all my strength. He screams and reels back in pain, blood shooting from his nostrils.

“You piece of shit!” he shrieks, and wildly lashes out, slamming his fist into my face.

I reel back and get painfully to my feet. I don’t have time to beat another man to death. I have to get out of here now.

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