Livid

KEVIN

I hate to admit it, but she was right. I really don't usually engage in fights with women. It's not being indifferent or gender typing. I just often see my mother and my other female friends like Astherielle in them as I was seeing in Rose right now. She must have sensed that even until now, I was still holding back. Her second attempt to hit me was a clear indication of her growing impatience.

My father raised me to have high respect for women. He was my role model for it. I had witnessed it first hand with the way he had treated my mother. So, unless it was a life and death situation, I try to avoid hurting a woman even when they were part of the opposing team. It didn't seem right.

"Rose," I said, repeating the name she gave. I was a little doubtful if she had given me an alias or a nickname or if it was her real one. It would have been easier to ask instead of second-guess. But, it was quite obvious that asking her will lead me nowhere and give me nothing.

She will keep on dodging my questions unless I am able to win this fight against her.

'Should I consider this a life and death situation then?' I mentally shook my head, wishing that it was that easy.

Sadly, in order to achieve that, I will have to let go and stop restraining myself.

"Careful, Kevin. A rose is filled with thorns. If you are careless, you will surely prick yourself," she said in response. I can't help but smirk.

"Funny how that came from you. You must be full of thorns, both inside and out. You look too young to be in such a place. Do you even know what you are doing?"

Briefly, I saw anger flashing before her eyes. However, it was gone before I could even point it out.

"Did I somehow hit a nerve?'This thought made me wonder what her story was. How did she even know about this certain place?

Only those who are either involved in the Mafia or some who are in almost the same circle knew of the daily brawl happening in the basement of Rhythm.

The brawl started as something for fun. Eventually the people who made a point to watch every match began to place bets and of course with money involved, I wasn't about to hinder them from having their definition of fun.

Furthermore, her winning streak was making me wonder where she learned how to fight. And most importantly, why. Why did she have to learn how to fight in the first place? Was it necessary or was it for simply knowing how?

"Hey Kevin?" momentarily, I had gotten lost in my thoughts which I belatedly realized was a big mistake.

I hardly had time to dodge, let alone think of a counter-attack as I found Rose in a perfect stance, delivering a clean blow on my chest, instantly knocking the breath out of me.

The last thing I saw before passing out was the fluorescent lights hanging above the ceiling.

--

MARGAUX

Oof!

I slightly flinched watching Kevin, the Mafia Boss leading Rhythm, slowly made his fall on the ground. He fell with a thud, I grimaced somehow feeling sorry for the added bruise caused by the fall and meeting the ground knocked out cold.

I wasn't certain if I had just been lucky or if he was merely out of focus which allowed to find an opening to deliver a powerful punch.

After his body connected on the floor, there was complete utter silence in my surroundings. I was tempted to bite my lower lip. However, I had to keep myself collected. I was able to knock out the Mafia Boss who had been rumored as the best fighter in town in just a single blow.

It took a whole minute or two before the two people who came in with him rushed to his side. One was female while the other one was male.

"Kevin," the lady stated, gently lifting his head. She seemed worried. Was she the girlfriend? I mused, looking at how she seemed so devastated, the distress was quite evident on her face.

"He's going to live Elle, don't get yourself so worked out," the guy with her spoke, darting his gaze towards me right after.

"Name is Nico, what's yours?" I cocked my head to one side, blowing out a strand that had seemed to have fallen across my face.

"I only promised to reveal my identity to him," I said, pausing to gesture at the unconscious Kevin before continuing

"You, you're not included," this Nico guy seemed to have disliked my answer, the unmistakable temper fiercely seen in his eyes was as clear as day.

"Nico, don't." the lady stated, warning the Nico guy, still holding Kevin's head.

I smirked.

"It seems like I won though. Unfortunately, Kevin is yet to wake," I said, catching Nico's glare.

"I don't know what your deal is, woman. But, mark my words you will one day, regret ever stepping in here and crossing paths with us," I grinned, looking right at Nico. His petty threat held nothing. I was so tempted to spat in his face that compared to their little Mafia crew, I came from a larger one, powerful and well-connected.

Unfortunately, I can't even make that claim. As far as the world knew, my entire family was dead and that psycho Japanese Mafia Boss had taken the reins, assuming power and leading my father's Golden Island.

I clenched my hands into fists, restraining myself from hurling a full-force punch towards Nico and knocking him out cold too.

"You do not know the hell that I went through. There is nothing that I regret," I paused. "No, let me rephrase that, I'm one hundred percent aware of what I'm doing. Regret? If there's one thing I regret is that I seemed to have waited too long."