13 Years Ago (1 Year Later)
ENZO
THE FIRST HIT landed before I even realized it was coming, a sharp crack that split my lip and left the taste of iron on my tongue. My chest tightened, muscles coiling to hold back the tremor that wanted to shake me into pieces.
“Say that again,” Marcus growled, drunk and venomous, each syllable vibrating through the room like a hammer. “Go on, boy—say it.”
I wiped the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand, letting the sting mix with the dull ache in my ribs. I looked up, straight at him. “I said you’re a coward.”
The room went silent, except for the slow tick of the clock. I could feel every second scraping against me.
His eyes narrowed at me like he did not expect me to say it again. “Watch your mouth, Adrian.”
I let a humorless laugh escape
