Ria looked at his inherently cruel face, not doubting it for a second.
Nicholas stepped back into the ring and both men began circling each other after Mitchell rang the bell. Ria wanted to scream at them to stop; instead, she sat paralyzed, waiting for one to make the first strike.
When Ty’s fist swung out, clipping Nicholas on the jaw, Nicholas returned with a swing of his own, connecting it to Ty’s cheekbone. After that, the two men didn’t try to hold back, each countering the other’s movements and returning each strike with one of their own.
Ria wanted to cry at the damage they were doing to each other on the outside and in. Emiliano was effectively placing a wedge between the two that would never be overcome, each seeing each other as opponents instead of friends.
Nicholas didn’t know how to lose. He had let Zane break his arm rather than submit. Ty was just beginning his fighting career and would not want to lose to someone he admired.
As Ty took a step forward, putting all his weight behind a punch, Nicholas effortlessly moved, using Ty’s forward momentum against him. His fist connected under Ty’s jawline, hitting the sweet spot. Ty crumpled to the ground.
Ria screamed, jumping to her feet and wanting to run to him.
Emiliano got to his feet, raising his hand to silence his friends. “Nicholas has proven the student is not ready to take on the master.”
Mitchell helped a groggy Ty to his feet.
Emiliano’s harsh features stared down at the pit. “Remember tonight, Ty. Betray my trust again, and you will have more to fear from me than the pit you’re standing in.”
“I understand,” Ty mumbled.
“Now we can have dinner. Mitchell will see that Ty is taken care of.” Emiliano led her to the door and back upstairs.
Ria resumed her seat on the couch, trying to get her shaking under control. Emiliano appeared as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t just had two men beaten on his orders. He sat unconcernedly on a chair with Carmen sitting adoringly at his feet. Each night she had attended, he had a different woman. They all were beautiful, but with different hair colors, faces, and ethnicities. She had yet to figure out if he had a particular type, only that he liked variety.
The door opened and Nicholas entered. He had changed from shorts to slacks and a dress shirt that highlighted the blue of his eyes.
He kneeled down in front of her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she answered. “How could you?” she ended on a whisper.
“I’m not going to lie; Emiliano offered me a choice with Henry. The sick bastard deserved what I gave him and more. Do you think you’re the first woman he’s attacked?”
“No.” The violence he had inflicted on her had shown his total disregard for women. “But Ty?”
“That one he didn’t give me a choice.”
“Is he okay?”
“Mitchell is getting someone to take him to Zane.” Nicholas’s jaw was clenched.
“It’s time for dinner.” Emiliano stood and walked into the dining room with everyone following.
Nicholas pulled out a chair for her, and she sat down with him next to her.
Ria barely managed to swallow any of the delicious food served to her. Nicholas, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have a problem, nor did he mind the other women flirting with him.
She glanced up from her plate of food, and Emiliano’s eyes caught hers. She read the silent message. Stiffening her shoulders and picking up her fork, she was going to take his advice and show Nicholas that his flirting with the other women didn’t bother her.
After dinner, they returned to the living room where the women were being selected by the men for the night. Nicholas was talking to a pretty blond with breasts that were a good D cup. His type, she was familiar with—brain dead with large boobs.
“May I leave now?” she asked Emiliano, ignoring Carmen stroking his lean thigh.
“Yes.” He motioned to Mitchell, who went to stand by the door. “You do not want to stay?” He arched a brow in Nicholas’s direction.
“No, thanks.” She left without a backward glance, ignoring her name being called. Her heels clicking on the tiles drowned out Nicholas following her.
“Ria, wait up.”
“Go away, Nicholas. I don’t want to interrupt your fun.” She slung open the door before Mitchell could.
Before she could slam the car door, Nicholas wrenched it open, getting in beside her. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
She released a volley of Spanish that she hadn’t spoke since she was young and had learned the words from her brother Matthew. Nicholas just sat there, staring at her with a smile until she ran out of names to call him.