Chapter 3 The Mafia's Way

A knock on my door woke me up, I heard Marco's voice on the outside telling me to get ready.

I stood up groggily and went to the bathroom, swiftly took my bath then changed into a pair of slacks and singlet, then wore a sweater on it and soon enough I was following Marco towards the training ground.

When I stepped in a few heads turned, both men and women.

A slow awkward feeling settled into me until someone waved their hands in my direction as the person walked towards me.

“You must be Agnes,” the man said with a small smile stretching his hand forward. I took it firmly.

“Yes I am, pleased to meet you-”

“You can call me marshal, come with me” he said, already walking into the training room. I followed closely behind.

“Get on the stage, let's see what you got, only then will I know what to do with you” marshal said.

I slowly took off my sweater and walked towards the stage, stopping in the middle. I stared at marshal but he wasn't looking at me, he was scanning the crowd.

“Bruce” he called to some guy who was doing push-ups, Bruce quickly walked up to him.

“You called sir”

“Of course I did, spar with her,” marshal said, pointing towards me.

Bruce's face scrunched up in disgust.

“I am sorry sir, don't you think it's best you pair her with someone of the same gender or…strength?”

Marshal raised a brow. “Are you questioning me Bruce?”

He swallowed. “No sir” then slowly walked up towards the stage.

He felt insulted, that much I deduced.

He walked slowly and came to stand in front of me, he stared me down like I was but a bug he could crush with his fist.

Maybe he hoped I'd chicken out and quit. Too bad for him, I grinned provocatively. Anger clouded his face worse than before.

Good.

“Space” marshal shouted.

We both took 2 steps back.

“Position”

We both dropped into our fighting stance.

My heart hammered in my chest wildly.

“Fight”

He moved. I didn't have time to think, I quickly raised my hand in defense as his fist slammed into my head with a deafening crack.

Only he didn't let me recuperate, he was onto me again, this time it was a jab going for my stomach, I immediately put my legs up in defense, still…

“Stop,” marshal shouted. And we did.

Fuck, my vision was blurry, they fucking said spar, was he trying to kill me.

Well I did piss him off but still….

“You're not giving it your all Bruce, is this how you intend to train her” marshal said sighing.

My eyes almost budged out of its socket. I stared at Bruce. What the fuck did marshal mean.

“I apologize sir, but I doubt the recruit would be able to stand my full force” Bruce said.

“Don't be such a misogynist pig,” I spat.

His eyes twitched.

Marshal smiled. “You heard the lady Bruce”

He paused.

“Fight”

Again he moved with alarming precision. His legs kicked out slamming right into my side with force. My body whizzed past and dropped down, blood fell past my lips.

He didn't stop. He moved towards me with purpose, I stared up at him.

He raised his legs. “Who're you calling misogynistic, weakling?” He asked as his legs raised higher ready to slam into my face. I closed my eyes.

“Enough” a familiar voice rang out.

I opened my eyes to see Ronan walking towards the stage.

The whole training ground was quiet.

Bruce withdrew as he bowed his head in respect.

“Take a break Bruce,” he said.

“Yes sir” he replied and walked off the stage.

Ronan sighed as he stared at me, eyes calm. “I'll spar with you”

“Even I wouldn't recommend that Sir” marshal cut in.

“It's fine marshal” Ronan said as he swiftly took off his coat, someone collected it from him, followed by his wristwatch, then cufflinks, he rolled the sleeves of his suit jacket, loosened his tie and opened the first two buttons of his shirt, exposing the tattoos on his neck and arms.

“Sometimes gentle parenting needs to be paused. In order to make a child learn faster, you need to beat the book into his brains”

I could feel waves of malicious intent flood over me.

He sighed. “Get up”

I gingerly stood up, my legs wobbled.

“Take your stance, on the count of three, charge towards me” he said.

“One” I breathed out softly.

“Two” I balled my fists as I prepared to advance.

“Three” I charged forward, aiming for his head.

So close…..

He moved to the left and a “twack” on my neck had me stumbling.

I didn't stop though, I kicked my leg from behind, he caught it….. and dragged my feet sharply, I fell face down my nose hit the ground as a sharp cry left my lips.

I pushed myself up and hunched over in pain.

“Get up Agnes” Ronan shouted. “Do not embarrass me”

Silence.

“On the battlefield you'd have died already, you do know the world doesn't stop just because you're hurt right?” He came to a stop in front of me and crouched down.

“You may fool everyone here but you don't fool me, I know you can do better than that, so quit acting weak and give me your best shot” he seethed.

My head snapped up to his. Hatred and anger burning inside.

He gave me a cheshire grin. “That's what I'm talking about”

I slowly stood up as he did. Heart beating fast.

“Do you think you can fight this time around?” he asked.

“He's strong,” I replied.

“Then use your head” he simply smiled and walked off the stage, he didn't stay to watch, he just took his things and walked out the door.

Everyone stared quietly.

“Bruce, I believe you're up now,” Marshal said.

Bruce walked up and came to a stop in front of me.

“Position” marshal started again.

We both took our stance.

“Fight”

He moved, his first attack was a kick to my left side, I let it hit.

The pain spammed into me momentarily.

I locked his leg with my arm, my eyes snapped to meet his, a smile dancing on my lips.

Bingo. He was right where I wanted him to be, I didn't waste any time.

I curved my right hand and raised it upwards, bunching my arm as hard as I could then slammed my elbow down on his leg with a deafening crack.

He screamed out in pain but I wasn't done yet, I kept the leg I had locked tighter then raised my right leg and slammed it right into his penis.

This time around I let his leg go as he fell down and wailed in anguish.

His body curved into himself as his hands cupped his penis in pain.

I dropped to the floor, half bent, half standing.

All the while no one interrupted.

They all just stared on with grave facial expressions.

After minutes of waiting Bruce finally stood up, sweat stuck to his face twisted in pain.

“You….. you fucking bastard, that was unfair, you cheated” he said pointing his finger at me, while his other hand crouched his penis.

“Unfair?” Marshall shouted, walking towards us as he came to stand on the stage with us.

“Of all people Bruce, I wouldn't have expected you to say that.

Since you know the mafia doesn't care about fairness or unfairness.

It never has. It only cares about the weak and the strong.

You die or you live.

You win or you lose.

How you do it doesn't matter.

Because the ways of the mafia always play dirty.”

Silence.

“Take them to the infirmary, today's training is done”

And everyone got into action, some came to me, some went to Bruce.

My eyes lolled to the back of my head, as a cruel smile danced on my lips.

So this was the way of the Mafia.

How tragic.