Rage boiled up in me and I aimed a kick at his butt, but he quickly grabbed my heel and shoved me back. I landed on my tailbone, letting out a pained gasp as tears shot into my eyes. Concern flickered across Diego’s face. To pay him back, I covered my face with my palms and started sniffling.
He knelt beside me and touched my shoulder. “Gemma, are you hurt?”
I quickly dropped my hands and punched his stomach.
“Fuck, you little brat.”
I grinned. “See, this is why I need to start training with Savio. You always hold back because you don’t want to hurt me. How am I supposed to improve like that?”
Diego glowered.
“And you’re not supposed to say the F-word around me. If Nonna or Mom were home, you’d be in trouble.”
He got to his feet and shook his head. “You’re lucky you’re allowed to fight at all, stop bothering Savio. He won’t fight with you. It’s a waste of his time. Why would he want to hang out with a little girl?”
“He hangs out with girls all the time.”
Diego chuckled darkly. “Yeah, he does. You are a kid, Gemma. Just drop it.”
He disappeared through the door. I pushed to my feet and rubbed my tailbone. I’d have a bruise tomorrow, but I’ve had bruises before.
I rushed up to my room and changed into jeans and a cute T-shirt that Toni had given me. I usually changed into those clothes at school because Nonna didn’t approve of jeans. Modest dresses were the only clothes Nonna and Mom allowed me to wear. After I’d brushed my hair and put on my secret stash of makeup, I hurried back downstairs.
The sound of cheering and yowling rang from the speakers of the TV when I stepped into the living room. Diego and Savio lounged on the sofa, their feet propped up on the coffee table. I walked into their line of vision. It was the first time I wore normal clothes and makeup around Savio so I was nervous about his reaction. Neither Savio nor Diego gave me a fleeting glance though.
“Get us something to drink, Gemma. A Coke for me.”
“And one for me,” Savio said, not even looking away from the TV.
Flushing, I turned around and headed for the kitchen.
I was invisible to Savio.
The door to the gym opened as I finished another round of double-unders before I dropped the skipping rope on the ground. “It’s okay,” I called to my older brothers who were sparring in the cage. Neither Nino nor Remo looked my way, too busy fighting.
Diego turned the corner with Gemma hot on his heels. Her eyes became huge as she took in the old casino that we’d turned into our gym. Especially the chandeliers that always got looks from visitors.
I raised my eyebrows at Diego. Hadn’t he told me only recently that he wouldn’t give in to Gemma’s begging? He rolled his eyes in response before he gave me an apologetic look. Diego motioned for his sister to stop and she did, but not without pulling a face. She quickly smiled when she noticed my attention. She was in gym clothes, which looked like they might have been Diego’s a long time ago: too big sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt.
Diego strode toward me. We clapped hands. “Babysitting duties?”
He groaned. “Worse. Gemma has been whining to Dad for weeks now how much she wants to fight with you that he asked me to take her with me.”
Gemma had been begging me to fight with her for months. “Your dad’s okay with me fighting your sister?”
Diego huffed. “Of course not. She’s his precious little princess. The idea that you could hurt a single hair on her angelic little head would drive him insane. He couldn’t bear her begging anymore and wanted me to take her with me so she can watch. As if she’ll be happy with just watching.”
I glanced behind Diego.
Gemma was bobbing on her heels, her hands entwined. She was wearing some strange updo with braids. She was lucky she knew how to fight because with that hairdo, she’d otherwise get beaten up in school for sure.
Gemma was a scrawny kid, but she’d been working out with Diego for a while now. She knew how to throw a punch. “Maybe we can get her off our backs once and for all.”
Diego frowned. “Gemma is stubborn. Once she’s set her mind on something, it’s close to impossible to dissuade her.”
I grinned. “Maybe. But I might know of a way.” I glanced toward Remo, who did a high kick toward Nino’s head. He was sweaty, scarred, and the crazy as fuck look in his eyes made grown men shit themselves. I knew how my brothers appeared to strangers, and most people had every reason to be scared as shit of them.
I motioned for Gemma to come over. She beamed and practically rushed toward us, her face flushed.
Diego rolled his eyes again.
“Hi Savio!”
“Hey Kitty.”
Her blush deepened and she squirmed. “That’s not my name.”
“But it’s so very fitting.”
Diego scoffed. “You should see some of her other pajamas—”
Gemma punched his arm. “Shut up!” She smiled at me, tilting her head to the side and peering up at me through her lashes. Then she tried batting them.
I almost choked on laughter. Kitty was flirting with me.
“If you got something in your eyes, wash your face, Gemma,” Diego growled.
She tore her gaze away from me. She swallowed. “So, will you fight with me today?”
“Is that why you’re here?” I asked.
She nodded, expression brightening. “Diego’s always holding back. How can I improve with that training?”
Diego gave me an exasperated look over her head, and I smirked. “If you want someone who won’t hold back, you’ll have to fight my brother, Remo. He won’t hold back, trust me. After that, I’ll fight with you.”
Nino and Remo stopped their fighting in the cage, their eyes on me.
Gemma’s eyes grew wide as her gaze slid past me
