Page 214 of Alessio

“Remember where you started,” Alessio murmured, “and how you got here.”

That said, he dropped the bamboo to Oliver’s chest. He turned to step off the mat, done with putting Oliver in his place, and willing to see how the man treated his prospect now. It was the sharp edge in Corrado’s voice when he called his name that made his steps hesitate.

“Alessio.”

Over his shoulder, he found Corrado glaring at him.

Scowl in place.

Fists clenched.

Body tense.

Angry all over.

“Don’t do that again,” Corrado uttered, teeth clenched.

Alessio said nothing because he didn’t need to. There was one thing the rooms downstairs didn’t take from Corrado, and while it may not seem important in the grand scheme of things, it might be the only thing that would get him through the training.

If only because he couldn’t give up.

His pride.

Not bothering to respond—Corrado wouldn’t want him to—he turned to leave the gym altogether. Dare had been right; he didn’t need to bother the prospects when they were being trained. He was a distraction.

At least, for this particular one.

“Les,” Cree said quietly as he passed, “you know better.”

He shrugged, saying nothing.

Cree only nodded back.

“Tomorrow, six AM, sharp,” Oliver said to the twins, “make sure you are both down here, and ready to go again.”

Corrado felt like telling the man to stick his early morning training session right up his fucking ass, but he didn’t think that would do him any good. Except to maybe have Oliver riding his ass worse than he already did.

“Got it,” Chris muttered, taking it slow as he bent down to pick up the shirt he’d discarded earlier. “Ass crack of dawn to get the shit beat out of me again—perfect.”

“I can hear the sarcasm.”

“I wanted you to.”

Corrado might have enjoyed the rare sight of his twin being a smartass—Chris was far more likely to fall back and stay in line—but he was too sore and way too pissed for that. If his entire body wasn’t a canvas of newly formed bruises, then he was going to be very shocked. He fucking hated bamboo now.

Hated it.

“And you, did you hear me?”

Corrado’s back tensed, knowing Oliver was talking to him. The only thing he really wanted to do to that prick was bust his mouth, but he had other things to handle first. Eventually, he would get his chance to put Oliver in his place, but today was not that day.

Unfortunately.

Soon.

“Corrado. Did you hear me?”

“Yeah, I heard you,” Corrado said, waving a hand over his shoulder.