Checkmate

Chapter 7: day one

"One two three! Again!" He yells as I punch his padded hands. My boxing glove were red and blurred my vision every time I hit the pads. I hit them again and again, sweat dripping down my back and eyebrows making me itchy.

I keep punching and miss the pads almost hitting his face. "Enough!" He yells ducking under my arms.

"That's enough for today" Alessandro says as he rips off the pads. He puts them back in there place then turns to look at me.

I didn't put my gloves away yet and I could hear my heart beat getting louder in my ears.
"Let's go again" I whisper feeling my body crashing.

"No we've been at it for three hours. I'm exhausted and you well you look like you're about to drop dead" he places his hands on my gloves and slowly removes them.

"What's that?" He points to a large scar that runs from the top of my shoulder to the bottom of my right bicep. He traces it then coughs and moves away.

"I got that one fighting a Russian general last year in Moscow." I grab my bag and place a hoodie over my arms. "I'll see you later."

I move towards the door ready to leave until Alessandro runs in front of me. "why don't we go get a drink?"

"I'm good thanks" I grimace and try to move passed him but he keeps blocking my path.

"okay Mr. weirdo what is it you really want?" I raise an eyebrow. There was no way that this guy wanted to get a drink without shooting me. He shrugs and throws his towel over his shoulder before leaving the gym.

I reluctantly follow him back into the house where he pours us each a glass of whiskey. I eye him carefully as he takes a sip.

"It's not poisoned. If I wanted to poison you I would've done it a long time ago." he chuckles and pours himself a second cup. I take a few sips of the drink and sit on the couch, crossing my legs.

I finish my cup and place it in his hands. "I had a drink with you, now tell me what you want?" he pours me another and sits across from me, handing me back my cup.

"Nothing, I just want to know more about you before I leave" I scoff. "Hard to believe I'm sure but, it has come to my attention that you are the key to a lot of what I want in life, so I need to know more about you." His voice dropped an octave until he was almost whispering.

"Alessandro," I drop my voice to a whisper, "I like long ways on the beach, beating the shit out of you, and drinking." I raise my glass and down the entire thing. I get up and drink another cup.

"Madeline, I am being honest here will you please listen to me!" He gets angry and smacks the cup out of my hand. "Madeline Viloni I am here for one thing and one thing only! Do not ignore me when I speak to you!"

"You son of a bitch! you can't make me do anything!" I yell back picking up my cup from the ground and smacking it onto the table.

He comes closer and corners me against a wall. "Madeline" he whispers my name as his breathe tickles my neck, "You are an asset. Don't forget it."

He turns and leaves the room. I take a breathe and think over what he had said.
'You are an asset." What did he mean? What was he saying? That I'm only an asset to him? The mafia? My father?
There was only one place where I knew I would get some answers.
I start towards my fathers office, knowing he would be the one with the answers.