Vanessa was at the fighting ring where she was showcasing her skills with the knife to her subordinates.
" Again," she said as she swiped the knife in her hand at her opponent, the man was startled by her quick speed and immediately tried to dodge her attack. But he wasn't paying attention to his steps and in his hurry, he misjudged the distance and stumbled before he fell back right on his butt.
Vanessa noticed his mistake and immediately tapped her boot and as soon as she did that a knife poked out of the black boot that she aimed right at the throat of the man who was already shivering with fright. She slammed her boot at the chest of the man who instantly raised his hand in defeat. " I surrender. Please, let me go now, mistress."
Vanessa clicked out her tongue as she prodded the tip of the small knife that was poking out of her boot into the skin of the man who was lying under her feet. " you are such an embarrassment, Xavier! You can't even use your skills in a mock fight and that too when I was going easy on you, how are you going to take a stand in case a real fight broke out and someone attacked our gang? Are you going to raise your hands in defeat even when I- your boss will be taken hostage by the enemies?"
" Who will dare to take you as a hostage, boss?" said Xavier as he tried to sit up straight but Vanessa didn't let him instead she started to put more pressure on her foot and slammed Xavier back on the floor of the fighting ring with a loud bang.
" It doesn't matter whether anyone will dare to take me as their hostage or not—— what matters is whether or not I have capable subordinates next to me if you can't even take me on then how are you going to take those burly bastards who are out for my blood on, huh?"
Then she looked around the room that was filled with tall, muscular men who were none other than her subordinates. She sneered as she threw her knife at one of them who barely dodged it on time. If not a bloody knife would be sticking out of his forehead and he would have been as good as dead.
" I don't have any need for men who can't even fight, I am here to take on the underworld together with my brother, if you assholes can't even save yourself, what are you doing here for?" She snarled as she swept a chilling gaze at the men who lowered their heads in shame and embarrassment.
Then she turned to Xavier who has slithered away from her and stomped towards him, the man squeaked and closed his eyes in fear before Vanessa crouched in front of him and pinched his chin forcing him to look up at her.
" In a fight, you can't make mistakes, you can't show your fear and most importantly——" she punched the side of his face so hard that the latter winced as he opened his eyes and covered his head with his hands. " You can't close your eyes if you are going to die then die staring in the eyes of your murderer, make him stare at those deadened and unwilling eyes so that your gaze haunts him till death! Make the most out of your last breath! You hear me?"
" We hear you!"
Vanessa didn't say anything and took the towel that was handed to her by one of her men and wiped the sweat that was trickling down her face as she stepped out of the fighting ring. As soon as she descended the steps, a man with a buzz cut and sunglasses came rushing to her with her cellphone in his hands. " Young miss, Sir Blake is calling you"
Vanessa stopped in her tracks and stared at the phone that was in the hand of her subordinate and then just as casually as she could, she looked away from the name that was flashing on the screen of the cellphone. " Tell him, that I am going to have a meeting with Mateo."
" Boss has already checked up your schedule beforehand and he has said——"
" Said? What did he say?" asked Vanessa as she looked at the guy who was responsible for delivering her brother's message.
The guy blushed as he answered in a voice that was as small as a mosquito. " Boss said that if you don't pick up the phone then it won't be your wedding that will come first but your wedding night, with the man of his choice."
At first, Vanessa thought that her brother was bluffing and decided to ignore the call but then she was reminded of how much of a fanatic her brother could be when it came to the matter of her marriage and decisively picked up the call, she was really worried that in case she was a step late, she might find a man tied and dumped in her bed with a sack on his face. " Hello, Brother——-"
" VANESSA BLAKE! HOW DARE YOU BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF YOUR FIANCÉ! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH TROUBLE I HAVE TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE OF YOU? IF NOT FOR MY QUICK WITS AND DANGEROUS FAME, I WOULD HAVE LOST A COUPLE OF MY GOOD BUSINESS DEALS AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL YOUR FAULT! I WANT TO SEE YOU AT THE BALKE MANSION IN THE NEXT HALF AN HOUR OR ELSE—-I will show you what it means to be in trouble young lady!"
Before Vanessa could say anything, Derren's screaming drowned her voice and she couldn't even get a word out much less say anything in retort.
The entire fighting arena fell silent and Vanessa could almost feel the burning gazes of her subordinates on her back…. Every time…. Every damn time, her brother would embarrass her like this! And just for the sake of that stupid thing called marriage! She was the mafia princess! At least show her some respect!