Reckless Games (Reckless Mafia #1)

Chapter 16

Angela

I was right. This place was a feast for the eyes, with Lorenzo throwing orders like a true king. Shirtless . Now, I had always believed in the power of manifesting, but to see my desires materialize so quickly was a pleasant surprise. How can someone look so dangerous yet so beautifully appealing at the same time? It should be a criminal offense. A grave one. And I should sue him.

I watched in awe as Lorenzo effortlessly flipped one of his men like a sack of potatoes, catching his weak punch with ease and nailing him to the ground. He delivered a couple of swift punches, eliciting a groan of pain from the guy beneath him. “Fail,” he announced, and the man rose to his feet, blood trickling from his nose, lips, and forehead—practically his whole face—before slinking away from the center of the fighting ring. Gio quickly noted Lorenzo’s remark on the clipboard he held before calling out, “Next.” Just like that, Lorenzo had another opponent to defeat.

This was the eighteenth man he had failed. Yes, I was counting. Watching Lorenzo duel with his men, leaving them breathless and on the ground in no time, was an understatement of how thrilling it was. I probably looked crazy, sat on a desk in the corner of his training room, cheering like a lovesick cheerleader at a high school football game. But did I care? NO .

“Yes! Go, Lorenzo! Woohoo!” I screamed excitedly, my eyes glued to my man as he punched the lights out of his next opponent after flooring him with a powerful kick. “YES! That’s number 19. We are doing great! Hang in there, my man!” I yelled, popping another piece of popcorn into my mouth. Lorenzo glanced at me, his lips curling into a proud smirk, before he threw a wink in my direction.

I was sure all his men were looking at me like I had grown two heads, probably wondering who the crazy girl screeching like a love-struck puppy was. But no one dared to say anything. They could not. Instead, they avoided glancing in my direction out of respect for whatever my crazy ass was doing. I was pretty sure it was because they had strict orders from their big, bad mafia boss. But who cared? I was fucking thrilled and enjoying the show. That was all that mattered.

“This is fucking shameful! Is this how you all plan to defeat the enemy without weapons?” Lorenzo barked after kicking his 20th opponent to defeat. “Send these amateurs back to the first round of training, Gio. I won’t take this batch with me on the next mission. We’ll stick to the previous ones.”

Gio nodded, making quick notes as Lorenzo turned his attention back to me. His eyes softened just a fraction—a look reserved only for me. As he approached, I could feel my heart pounding with pride and excitement.

Sweat glistened on his face and sculpted six-pack, making him look like some kind of Greek God. My heart raced as he stopped in front of me, trapping me on the desk by placing his hands on either side of my thighs.

"Enjoying the show, Dolcezza ?" he teased. I bit my lip, my eyes shamelessly roaming over his chiseled chest and abs.

"Maybe," I replied with a playful smile tugging at my lips.

Without breaking eye contact, I grabbed the water bottle on my side and twisted off the cap, offering it to him. He took it from my hands with a grateful smile, his fingers brushing against mine and sending a jolt of electricity through my body.

Lorenzo tilted his head back, chugging down a few gulps of water, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow. I watched, entranced by the sheer power of this magnificent man. He set the bottle aside, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before leaning in closer, his face inches from mine.

"Thanks," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.

I swallowed hard, my pulse racing as his proximity overwhelmed me. "Anytime," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze softened, and for a moment, the world outside this room ceased to exist. "You know," he began, his voice low and husky, "having you here... it makes everything better."

My heart melted at his words. "I'm glad," I replied, reaching up to trace the outline of his jaw with my fingertips. "I love watching you. You're... amazing."

He chuckled. "You're the amazing one, Angel. You have no idea what you do to me."

“If that’s the case, can I be rewarded for it?” I leaned in closer, my voice sultry, a playful idea popping into my mind.

“Your wish is my command, Ma’lady.” Lorenzo leaned in to close the gap, but I stopped him by placing my hand on his chest. He looked confused for a moment before I blurted it out.

“I want to duel with you!” I clapped my hands excitedly, watching his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “What I mean is, will you teach me all those cool moves?” I made exaggerated ninja hands.

“Absolutely not,” he laughed, shaking his head.

“Come on, don’t be a buzzkill. I mean, if you think about it, I should know basic self-defense, especially since I’m living with the most sought-after villain,” I said, looking anywhere but his eyes.

“Well, rest assured, this villain will always protect you. And he will most definitely burn the world if he has to. So you don’t have to worry,” Lorenzo replied, his voice firm and reassuring.

“I know, but... please.” I pulled out my best puppy face, my last resort. “What if someone tries to get handsy with me? I should know how to kick his butt, don’t you think? Just in case my villain isn’t there at the time. You know, precaution is better than cure and all that.” I could see the wheels turning in Lorenzo’s mind as I silently prayed for him to agree.

“Fine—”

“ Yes !” I punched the air in victory.

“But you’ll do exactly as I say. No trying anything on your own.”

“Yes sir!” I saluted as he lifted me off the desk and pulled me to the center of the ring.

“Okay, what are we doing today? Kicks?” I tried to show him my best kick while keeping my balance. “Punches?” I swiftly punched the air in front of his face before taking a spin. “Flip—ah!” I yelped as my hand was suddenly pulled, and the next moment I was lying on the ground, face-to-face with Lorenzo, who balanced himself above me, his weight supported by his hands on either side of my head.

“Warm-up,” he stated in amusement. “We’re starting with a warm-up.” And just like that, he started doing push-ups with me right beneath him, taking advantage of every dip to peck my lips as I stared at him wide-eyed.

“What the—” I exclaimed, barely able to get a word in between his playful kisses. “That’s.” PECK. “Not.” PECK. “Fair.” PECK. Finally, I pushed him off with all my weight and sat up, pouting. “How am I supposed to learn anything like that?”

He laughed, getting to his feet and pulling me up with him. “Okay, I’ll teach you for real this time. Make a fist.” I smiled and quickly formed what I thought was a perfect fist, but Lorenzo’s jaw dropped. I glanced at my hand, confused. “You call that a fist?” his eyes widened. He took my hand, gently pulling my thumb out from where I had tucked it under my fingers, and placed it correctly on top. “You’ll break your thumb like that.”

“ Oh . Got it. What now?”

“Now, punch me.”

“Excuse me?” Did he seriously want me to punch him? “I don’t want to hurt you.” I was genuinely concerned about his pretty face.

“What makes you think you can?” He laughed in amusement. Did he just laugh at me? That arrogant brat! I’ll show him just how much I can hurt him.

I huffed and barreled at him with my fist. Just as I thought I was about to land a punch, he effortlessly blocked it, twisted my arm behind my back, and pinned me to the ground, hovering over me. Again .

“You need to learn some rules, Angel. Rule number one: never run straight at your opponent. Let them make the first move.”

“But you literally told me to punch you.”

“That’s rule number two, Angel: don’t let your enemy know your weakness. Otherwise, they’ll use it against you.”

“Fine. Let’s do it again,” I huffed as we stood up.

“With pleasure, ” he murmured, his lips brushing against my neck as he spoke. “Let’s see if you can handle the next lesson.”

An idea crossed my mind, and I decided to make this more interesting. Stepping back, I noticed Lorenzo watching me with a curious expression. I played my last card. Without hesitation, I took off my baggy t-shirt, leaving me in only my shorts and workout bra. Lorenzo's eyes widened as he glanced at his men, who were also in the room, busy practicing.

“Out!” Lorenzo barked. “Everyone. Now!” I watched in amusement as they hastily scurried away. Smirking, I faced Lorenzo.

“Let’s see if you can handle the next lesson.”

“Playing dirty now, are we, Angel?” His lips curled into a seductive smile as we circled each other. “Not fair.”

“Everything is fair in love and war. Plus, it’s fair considering you don’t have your shirt on either.”

“Fine then,” he growled in a low voice.

I stepped closer as my eyes locked on his. "Ready for round two?"

"Always," he said, his gaze intense. I feigned a left hook, but Lorenzo saw through my move, effortlessly sidestepping and catching my wrist. Using his momentum, I twisted around, trying to flip him, but he was quicker. In one swift motion, he had me pinned against the wall, his body pressing against mine.

"Nice try," he murmured, his breath warm on my ear. "But you’re going to need more than that."

I felt a thrill of excitement. "Oh, I have more," I whispered, using my free hand to push against his chest, creating just enough space to slip out from under him.

We squared off again, and the room charged with tension. Lorenzo's eyes were dark with desire but also with a challenge. "Show me," he commanded.

I launched at him with a combination of punches and kicks, each one blocked or deflected with ease. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, but I could tell he was enjoying the dance. I attempted another feint, aiming low but quickly switching high. This time I managed to land a solid hit to his side. He grunted, and a look of surprise mingled with approval in his eyes.

"Not bad," he admitted, rubbing his side. "But now it’s my turn." Before I could react, he swept my legs out from under me. I fell back onto the mat, but Lorenzo was already on me, pinning my wrists above my head. His face hovered inches from mine, a triumphant grin on his lips.

"Got you," he whispered.

I looked up at him, breathless and exhilarated. "Maybe you did," I admitted. "Wouldn’t you like your reward now?" I teased, lifting my face just enough to inch closer to his lips. He scoffed, bending to close the gap. But just as our lips were about to touch, I pushed hard and rolled around, catching him off guard and pinning him under me in seconds. I ground my hips on his, feeling something poke my heat immediately.

Bending down to his ear, my lips skimmed over his skin. “Rule number two, Mr. Martinez,” I whispered seductively. “Do not show your weakness to the opponent. Or they will use it against you.”

"Good," he replied, his voice husky and clear, amused by my little act. "I’m glad you are a quick learner. Now take your reward."

He captured my lips in a fierce, passionate kiss. The intensity of it made my heart race, and I kissed him back with equal fervor. The room, the training, everything else faded away as we lost ourselves in each other. His hands roamed over my back, pulling me closer as I felt the heat between us grow.

Our breaths mingled, making me moan at how intoxicating he was. I could feel his heart pounding against my chest, matching the rhythm of my own. Every touch, every caress ignited a fire within me. We moved together, the world around us dissolving into nothingness. His hands found their way to my hips, guiding me, as we deepened the kiss. I felt a sense of power and vulnerability all at once.

Breaking the kiss, he looked up at me. "You’re amazing, Angel," he murmured. "You’ve got me completely under your spell."

I smiled down at him, feeling a surge of triumph and love. "And you, Mr. Martinez, are my favorite opponent."

With a laugh, he pulled me back down. “What are we learning next?” I asked.

“Shooting.”

We stood in his private shooting range, facing the dummy targets set at least seven meters away. My stomach did flip-flops; the excitement bubbling inside me barely contained. Gio and a few men stood at a distance, guarding the area.

Lorenzo moved, snaking his arm around my waist from behind and jerked me backward until my back was plastered against his chest. I gasped, feeling the tightness in his pants—he was that close. He drew his gun from its holster, loaded it, and guided my hands to hold it. His grip enveloped mine to keep my hands steady.

"Remember, the impact of the bullet is strong when it leaves the gun. Hold it tightly to avoid jerking your shoulder," his hot breath fanned against my neck. I tilted my head to catch his eyes. "Eyes on the target, Angel. You can’t miss." The way he said that so seductively should be illegal. I could almost hear the teasing in his voice, knowing he was savoring every bit of this.

"Relax your shoulders," he murmured. I gulped as his hot breath tickled my earlobe as his lips brushed against my skin deliberately. Yeah, relax my foot . How was I supposed to relax when this man was being impossibly hot? "Focus, Angel," he whispered. "Take a deep breath, and when you're ready, push the trigger." I nodded, trying to calm my racing heart. I took a deep breath, aiming at the target. But just as I was about to pull the trigger, my nerves got the best of me, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

The gun kicked back as the bullet left the barrel, and the sound echoed in my ears. I felt Lorenzo's arms tighten around me, steadying my stance.

"Did I hit it?" My voice was trembling slightly.

Lorenzo chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest against my back. "Open your eyes and see for yourself."

I opened my eyes hesitantly and saw the target with a fresh bullet hole near the edge. It wasn't a perfect shot, but I had hit the target. I couldn't help but smile as relief washed over me.

"Not bad for your first shot," Lorenzo’s voice laced with approval. "But next time, keep your eyes open."

I turned my head to look at him, his face inches from mine. "I'll try," I promised.

"Good," he replied, his eyes darkening with a mixture of desire and pride. "Let's go again."

He guided my hands once more, positioning them correctly on the gun. "This time, keep your eyes on the target. Trust yourself."

I took another deep breath, my body still buzzing from the proximity of Lorenzo's. This time I focused on the target, keeping my eyes wide open. I squeezed the trigger, and the gun fired with a powerful kick.

The bullet hit the center this time, and I felt a rush of exhilaration. "I did it!" I exclaimed, turning to Lorenzo with a triumphant smile.

“You’re surprisingly good at this for your first time," Lorenzo commented proudly.

I blushed at his praise, feeling a warm glow inside me. "Yeah, I know I'm a natural,” I said proudly, flexing my shoulders. “Although you could do better, you know. You should take some classes from me.”

Lorenzo’s eyebrow shot up with a challenge glinting in his eyes. “Should I now?”

Without waiting for my response, he took the gun in his hand without breaking our eye contact. In one fluid motion, he loaded the gun and fired six shots in rapid succession, all without even glancing at the target. The loud blasts made me instinctively squeeze my eyes shut and cover my ears.

After a few seconds, I hesitantly opened my eyes to see Lorenzo still looking at me, his arm outstretched and the gun smoking slightly. Slowly, I turned to face the targets. My jaw dropped. Each dummy had a bullet hole perfectly centered in its head. All six of them.

"You were saying, Angel?" he asked with a smug smile tugging at his lips.

I stood there, momentarily speechless. "Okay, okay," I finally admitted, laughing and shaking my head. "Maybe I can learn a thing or two from you."

"Just a thing or two?" he teased, holstering the gun and stepping closer to me.

"Alright, maybe more than that."

***