Married to My Enemy

“Look, buddy,” the guy said, “the lady has spoken. So, I think you better leave us alone.”

“You don’t tell me what to do,” I said angrily. “Nobody tells me what to do!” Once again, unable to stop myself, I shoved the guy in the chest. He stumbled backward a few steps.

“Stop it, Giovanni! Get the hell out of here and leave us alone!” Arianna yelled.

“Listen, you’ve got one more time to put your hands on me,” the guy warned.

“Oh yeah? Or what?”

“Or we can take this outside,” he snarled.

I pushed him in the chest again.

He gritted his teeth. “That’s it. I’ve had enough of you.” He stepped forward and shoved me. I stumbled backward, but only because I’d had too many drinks. I was pretty sure I could beat this guy in my sleep if I wanted to. I grinned and pushed him again.

We got into a wrestling match right there on the dance floor. Not before long, security hurried our way.

“HEY! BREAK IT UP! GET OUT OF HERE!” they yelled. One guard grabbed hold of the guy, and another grabbed hold of me. Together, they began pushing us through the club, and then shoved us right out the door.

“Look what you did! What’s your problem, man?” the guy yelled.

I punched him in the jaw, taking him completely off guard. He fell into the wall beside the entrance. Not giving him the chance to recover, I punched him in the stomach until he doubled over and fell to the ground. Once he was on the ground, I kicked him, taking pleasure in the way he howled and sputtered and begged me to stop.

“GIOVANNI! LEAVE HIM ALONE!”

I halted at the sound of Arianna’s voice. She hurried towards us and kneeled beside the guy. “Brad? Brad? Are you okay?”

I stepped back, running my hands through my hair. My knuckles hurt from punching him, and upon seeing his bloody and bruised face, I finally began to sober up somewhat.

“Shit,” I said, realizing what I’d done as I watched Arianna help the guy—Brad—to his feet.

“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” he said, his voice choked with blood. H

e then shrugged away from Arianna’s touch. “Stay the hell away from me. Your ex is psycho. I’m out of here.”

“Brad, I’m sorry,” Arianna said to his retreating form. But he just waved a dismissive hand at her and continued on his way. Slowly, Arianna turned around to face me. Her gaze was so cold, my previously boiling blood now seemed to freeze in my veins.

It was safe to say that I was completely sober now. And I had no idea what to say for myself.

I avoided her eyes, seeing a trickle of Brad’s blood on my shoe.

CHAPTER 21

Arianna

I closed my eyes and raised my head to the sky, praying for patience. When I reopened my eyes, the full moon, sitting high in the sky stared back at me. I almost wanted to laugh. Was it true what they said about full moons turning people crazy?

Clearly, that was the case for the man standing before me.

As I looked at Giovanni, I saw that he looked worse for wear. His normally pretty eyes had dark circles under them, it looked like he hadn’t shaven, and despite the circumstances, he looked embarrassed of himself. But it didn’t matter. I felt no sympathy for him.

I let out a long and slow breath. “Giovanni—what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I could ask you the same,” he said in a low voice, although he avoided my gaze.

I laughed mirthlessly. “What I’m doing is none of your business. You and I are over. We are done. The engagement is no more. So again—what the hell do you think you’re doing? What right do you have to act like this? What is wrong with you?”

Giovanni shook his head. “Unbelievable,” he said. “I…I can’t even deal with you right now.”