Page 73 of The Mafia and His Obsession Part 2 (Tainted Hearts 5)

This dirty, filthy loud place, it was now my solace.

My shoulders relaxed, and I flexed my hands before closing them into a fist.

A few more steps forward and I was exactly where I wanted to be. I could breathe better, finally.

The roars were louder, like thunder to my ears. The sounds vibrated through my chest and I felt it with each intake of breath.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Beat. Thump. Beat. Thump.

“Fighting or watching?” a voice asked beside me.

My gaze found what I was looking for. At the end of the alley, there was light. And hundreds of people. They were formed into a circle, some jumping on their feet and everyone shouting in unison. Urging. Roaring for victory.

In the middle…there were two men.

I couldn’t see them from where I was standing, but I knew this place like I knew my myshka’s body.

“Fighting,” I growled, turning to face the voice.

The man’s eyes widened at the sight of me. He was shorter than me, but his body was bulked up with muscles. His bald head was shining under the fluorescent light, and I saw the fear in his darkened eyes. He made a choked sound. “You—”

My lips twitched. Me. Their worst nightmare.

Ignoring the cowering man, I walked past him to the table against the far wall. The man sitting there nodded in my direction. His silent greeting was almost cold and my lips twitched again. Fuck, I loved this place.

“You are fighting again tonight?” his partner spoke up in disbelief.

I cocked my head to the side, regarding the skinny fellow. Raising an eyebrow, I waited silently. Zad snapped his mouth shut and looked down at his paper. “Umm, we can fit you in. Next round.”

“How many?” Nor demanded. My gaze moved to the other guy. He was usually silent, except when it came to important business.

“Two rounds. I don’t need the money.” My voice sounded unreal to my own ears.

I only wanted blood.

I just wanted the fucking fight. No money.

I was already filthy rich as it was. Their dirty money made no difference for me.

Suddenly, the group went crazy.

Nor looked behind me and then nodded in satisfaction. We had a winner.

This place was a death-pit.

And everything I needed right now.

“Put me in,” I growled, my veins throbbing with adrenaline.

“Next!” Zad shouted on top of his lungs. He looked back at me, his eyes lighting up with a devious smile. “We figured you might come back tonight. We had someone ready for you. He has never…lost. But you will fight him in the second round. First round, you get to fight our first winner from tonight. He’s had some time to recover since the first fight, so don’t think you’ve got an advantage. I’ve got the best fighters right now, and we’re making money tonight. A shitload. Good luck.”

Perfect.

I nodded, sending him a cold look. If he thought I was losing tonight, then he was mistaken.

The only one walking out of here alive was…me.

Viktor Ivanshov never lost.

Shrugging off my jacket, I threw it at Yegor. He caught it with a solemn expression. Walking past him, I slapped his shoulder and then leaned forward to whisper, “Stop looking at me like you’re already planning my funeral.”

He swallowed, closing his eyes for the briefest second before opening them again. He stared right at me. “Good luck.”

“Now that’s more like it.” I winked before walking off.

The crowd split in the middle, making a clear path for me. Some of the girls tried to reach forward and touch me, but my snarls stopped them. They tried to smile and seduce, but none of them held an appeal to me.

You’d think this place would only be filled with men and raging testosterone, but I was surprised to find that females seemed to like watching men fight to the death. And very few times, we got to see some bitches going at it too.

Now in the middle of the circle, the sound of the audience cheering made my stomach clench. My opponent joined me, and a growl rumbled through my chest.

I could hear the people screaming, shouting and urging us to start the fight, but I tuned them out.

The need to kill thrummed through my body. It was the only way to stop the rage. For a small amount of time, before I had to come back here. Before I’d lose my shit again.

My blood boiled under my skin, searing through my veins. My body stiffened as I watched my opponent prowl closer. I surveyed with a cold bored stare. He was an easy target.

An easy fight.

Easy blood to spill.

Easy fucking death.

When he lunged at me, my brain shut down.

Kill. Kill. Kill.

There was pain, a raging fire in my body as I let him hit me. My stomach caved me where he landed a hard punch. I played with him, with his mind. He thought he had an upper hand. He thought he could win.