Wild One

Thirteen

Niccolo

I punch the bag with the utmost concentration. My muscles burned as I taxed them to their limit. Still, the bag wasn't enough. I needed to punch something.

Luciano walks into my home gym. Perfect.

It's been a few weeks since I last talked to Manon. Since she left crying. Since I cut off all ties with her.

I focus on the family completely.

Luciano smiles at me, but I quirk a brow. “Glove up. I need a partner.”

He does as I ask, observing me.

“Are you okay, Cugino?”

I scoff, eyeing his now gloved hands, I take my position.

“Why would you ask me that?”

I go at his raised gloved, my body barely working up a sweat.

So far.

“You just seem...down lately. Va tutto bene?”

(Everything is fine?)

“Sí,” I grunt. “Perché non dovrebbe essere?”

(Why wouldn't it be?)

“You stopped seeing Manon," He stated.

I lost my rhythm a bit, missing the punch. I tuck my neck in, start over. “I don't want talk about her.”

“What happened between you two?”

I quit trying to find a rhythm with his constant yammering.

“What does it matter?” I reply in irritation. “I focusing all my attention on the Family. That's what you wanted isn't it?”

He cleared his throat. “Yes...it's just you seem disturbed about something.”

I scoff. “Oh now you care about my feelings, and what I want?"

“The girl's fine isn't she? Just talk to her—”

My temper soars. “Aren't you the same guy, who told me to focus on this?”

Luciano nods. “Yes. And maybe I was wrong.”

“Maybe you should mind your damn business Luciano.”

His shock is clear.

“First you say, leave her alone. Focus on the family. I do that, now you say go to talk to her.”

I struggle to unlace my gloves, but it's hard to do alone, and the rage blurring my vision certainly doesn't help matters.

“You have your own life! Stop meddling in mine.”

Luciano comes up to me, having already undone his gloves, helping me tug off mine.

“I was just trying to help."

I jerk away from him. “Non lo sei.”

(You're just not.)

I stalk away for the second time in my life, leaving him behind.

My whole life I was content being in Luciano's shadow. Neither one of us is used to it being the other way around.

***

I spend most of my time training my guys now. I stay busy, and best of all, Luciano stays out of my way.

He's caused nothing but trouble anyway.

I'm not disillusioned—I've become hard hearted. Even more so.

I suppose it's just being alone most times. But I prefer my own company. I am the least annoying person I know.

Some days, I wonder about Manon. What is she doing? But those days are few and far between. Most days I miss Dena. I think of what could've been.

Then I move on.

I am a soldier.

Always have been.

The ultimate sacrifice for a soldier—perhaps for anyone— is not his life—it's moving on, and leaving everything he cares for behind.