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“What the fuck, Ventresca!”

I hit him again. This time with my fist. Straight into his nose. Bone snapped under my knuckles.

His head whipped back and he dropped to the ground. Hard and quick.

The room erupted. There was shouting as phones came out.

Bianca pushed through the crowd.

“Ayla!”

It was too late; I’d already broken my promise to her that I wouldn’t hurt anyone tonight.

Luca tried to stand. I kicked him back down.

He groaned, clutching his face. There was blood everywhere now. And it was beautiful.

I crouched in front of him. Close enough that only he would hear.

“Have I embarrassed you enough yet, Luca? Go on, say my family’s name again. I dare you.”

He spat blood and tried to take a swing at me. The pathetic little thing missed. I caught his wrist and bent it until he screamed.

Now everyone was filming. I could feel it. And I could feel the rush of hurting Luca Bellandi.

The crowd whispered. Ventresca. Bellandi. War. Scandal. The city loved blood when it wasn’t theirs.

Bianca grabbed my arm.

“Enough!” She hissed.

I stood, breathing hard. My pulse was alive, electric.

Luca’s friends finally moved, too scared to fight. But they did have enough courage to help him up.

One glared at me. “You’re fucking insane, Ventresca.”

I wiped blood from my mouth. I didn’t know how it got there.

“Tell him to keep my family out of his mouth.”

The bouncer arrived. But he was too late, as usual. I kept meaning to ask him if he always chose to delay turning up just so the patrons would be entertained. At my expense. Never a dull moment in the underground.

He looked at a bleeding Luca as he hobbled to his feet. Then at me. He let out a sigh of resignation.

“You have to leave.”

I scoffed.

“Obviously.”

Bianca dragged me toward the exit before I could break something else.

Outside, the cold night slapped me clean. The rain had stopped and the streets glistened.

Bianca shoved me against the wall.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”