Page 73 of Mafia Love

I rolled out the way and pushed the pain out of my mind. Pushed it right out.

He stood and held it gracefully in the air.

“You know, in Russia, I got the chance to learn sword fighting. Samurai style. This is Shi Shi Mushi. The Japanese believe in naming their swords. Some for their deeds, some for their strengths. I gave it that name because of how I embued it.”

“I couldn’t give a flying fuck what you call your sword. Where’s my girl?” I pulled out my gun and pointed it at him.

“Luc, you got here too early. She’s not ready to see you yet. I mean, come on, dude. Raphael must have told you we’d contact you and give you the directions to get here for eight. When you think about it, the same result would have been achieved. Right?” He waved the sword around as he spoke.

“You know what? I’m bored now.” I fired a shot at him, but he was quick. He dodged it. Then I did something I didn’t normally do. I underestimated him.

I didn’t think, and since we’d never actually fought like this, I’d never been able to assess his fighting skills.

Victor launched himself into the air with the grace of a dancer and the sharpness of a sword fighter. He whipped the sword across me and knocked the gun out of my hand.

I reached for my other gun, but he sent a roundhouse kick straight to my chest and knocked me flying.

Back on the ground, I winced and got up quickly. Victor looked scrawny and like he couldn’t do much in a fight, but that was his advantage. He clearly had skill.

“So, I should let you know that I embued my beloved swords with viper venom. One nick, and you’re dead. D.E.A.D. Ha ha ha.”

Fuck. This just kept getting better and better.

This guy was a prick and a fucking half. He smiled on seeing my temporary stupor. I was going to have to really focus. A bullet in my arm didn’t exactly help.

He came at me, but I dodged him. One more time, and I rolled to the left, closer to where I’d dropped my gun. No way was he just going to allow me to get it though.

The ferocious look on his face told me so.

I moved swiftly, fast, quickly, dodging his blows.

Swerving around him, I managed to land a kick in his back, sending him down to his knees. I took the opportunity to kick him down the stairs, and he dropped the sword.

Good, finally.

I launched myself down at him before he could recover and knocked him further back. The minute we made contact, the punches began.

Fist for fist, blow for blow. I was surprised he could take a guy like me.

The asshole also had an ace up his sleeve.

He pulled a pocket knife from the pocket in his sleeve and dug it into the bullet wound on my shoulder. It was so painful I cried out from it and saw stars again.

That gave him the upper hand, and he managed to get on top of me and pin me down.

He pulled the knife out and held it to my face.

“I should cut your face off and eat it. I think I’d love to display it on the front of my car though. Like a flag. On your cheek I’d writeidiot.”

“Fuck you.” I tried to headbutt him, but he sliced across my cheek.

“You have the diamonds, don’t you?” he sang.

I did. I had them in my jacket pocket. They’d stayed there, safe.

He went to move away my jacket, but I caught his hand and crushed it. That made him madder. He stuck the knife in again. Right into my wound. The damn wound was throwing me off my game. I should have been able to take him down easily, but then I realized why I was thrown. My arm felt numb, and suddenly, I couldn’t feel the pain anymore. Or my arm.

Fucking bastard.