My cousin rubbed his jaw, smirking at me. “You really want to do this?”
I shrugged. “Scared you can’t take me?”
Matteo let out a mumble of disapproval, but Enzo and I only had eyes for each other. He watched me, his jaw set and eyes narrowed, as I shucked out of my jacket and threw it on the chair.
It had been too long since I fought, really fought. I’d been too preoccupied with Arianne, and I couldn’t deny that she settled me. When we were together, it was easy to get lost in her, to bathe in her light. But sitting here, staring into the flames as they licked the night’s sky, I’d succumbed to the darkness again.
And Enzo knew it.
He fucking knew where my head was at and he pushed me anyway.
He came at me like a bull out of the gates, wrapping his bulky arms around me and tackling me to the ground. We landed with a thud, the air sucking clean from my lungs. I slammed my shoulder into his, leveraging my weight and we rolled. Enzo glared up at me, and the fucker grinned. He actually grinned.
“Something funny?” My brow raised.
“You need this. I’m happy to oblige. Don’t punk out on me now.”
“So this is for my benefit?”
He shrugged. “Maybe I have some stuff to work off too.”
“You two are fucking crazy,” Matteo grumbled from over by the fire.
“I don’t—
Enzo thrashed beneath me, bucking me off, and I clambered to my feet, circling him as he stood. Adrenaline raced through my veins as I studied my cousin. Enzo was a decent fighter, quick on his feet and unpredictable, but he’d underestimated one thing.
I was a man walking a razor’s edge; fueled by love and tormented by the need for vengeance.
I rushed at him, sending a sharp uppercut to his jaw. His head snapped back, his grunts of pain filling the air. “I’ll give you that one.” He spat a mouthful of blood at my feet.
Strangled laughter rumbled in my chest. I felt wild, consumed by anger, and shackled by love. I wanted to protect Arianne, to worship and cherish her. But part of me also wanted to deliver Scott’s head on a platter, to paint Verona red with his blood.
“Imagine I’m him,” Enzo taunted. “Imagine it was me who hurt her. Me who—”
I lunged again, but Enzo anticipated my move, ducking to the left and deflecting my fist with a right hook of his own. Pain exploded in my cheek, but I relished the burn. I soaked it up, letting it feed the fire raging inside me.
“Seriously, guys, maybe we should just—”
We ignored Matteo’s pleas. It was on, no holding back. Enzo wanted me to imagine he was Scott? Then he needed to be prepared to be torn limb from limb.
A shiver rolled through me as I cracked my neck. Enzo’s eyes grew to thin slits, his lip twisting into a smirk. “There he is, the Prince of fucking Hearts. Time to show me what you got.”
I stepped forward; fists ready... I wouldn’t just show him.
I’d annihilate him.
“Pleased with yourself?” Matteo handed me an ice-cold compress before throwing one at Enzo.
“Watch it, fucker,” he grumbled. He was slouched on the couch, his lip swollen and eye split wide open.
I had my fair share of injuries: split knuckles, a bruised rib or two, not to mention the ugly purple bruise around my left eye. But despite the persistent throb of pain radiating through me, I felt better. Lighter somehow.
Enzo had taunted me because he knew I couldn’t just sit and do nothing.
And it had worked.
“I don’t know about E,” I said, glancing over at him. “But I feel great.”
He smirked, flipping me off. “You swing like a girl.”
“Tell that to the split in your lip.”
“It worked though, didn’t it?”
“Yeah,” my voice grew thick, “it did.” I held his glare, silently telling him how much I appreciated it.
“I’ll always have your back.” He gave me a sharp nod.
“You’ve lost your fucking mind.” Matteo blew out a long breath.
“We can’t all be lovers like you, Matt.” Enzo nursed his jaw. “Some of us need to fight. We need it to hurt.”
“You almost killed each other.”
“Nah, I barely scratched the surface,” I chuckled.
“Fuck you, Cous.” Enzo shoved his arms behind his head, wincing in pain. “I almost had you.”
My shoulders relaxed, the tension ebbing away. I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed this until Enzo’s fist collided with my face.