( outfit above ) { Tori's POV }

I get to the gym and I see Luca and Alex in the ring. I immediately start to notice that neither of them seem to be able to get the other down. I walk towards Diego, Lorenzo, Marco, Valente, Francesco, and Riccardo.

"Why are they the only ones fighting?" I ask

"They were up first and it's been a draw ever since." Riccardo answers

"Of course it has." I say

"You say that as if you already knew it would be..." Francesco wonders outloud

"Because to me it's obvious. I'll explain." I say as I walk into the ring and distract the guys from fighting.

"Both of you are just tiring each other out. It'll always be a draw because both of you are at the same level." I state what should've been obvious to everyone.

"How do you know?" Valente questions seeming doubtful that I know what I'm talking about.

"It's obvious. Luca is pure muscle making him physically stronger and all of his hits come with force and are direct. He's skilled yet isn't afraid to take risks to win." I say but pause

"Go on.." Luca says looking at me with a smirk

I give him a nod and continue..

"Alex, however is pure speed with laser focus. Overall Alex is probably more skilled but that is also a weakness, because he is so skilled he doesn't take needed risks to win a fight." I say

"And what's your suggestion to fix this?" Valente questions seeming impressed but I can tell he's trying to challenge me.

"Neither of them are bad fighters. They are probably two of the best I've seen..but they need to learn from each other. Luca needs to speed up on his attacks, as do the rest of you. Alex needs to learn how to take risks, even if it means fighting dirty. Whatever it takes to win." I say with a shrug

Everyone looks at me almost dumbstruck.

"I think you broke them.." Alex jokes snapping everyone else out of their trance.

"We don't have time to study each other." Marco says

"You do, if you do what she does.." Alex says

"Which is?" Riccardo questions

"Learn fast." Alex replies

"You've fought with her?" Luca asks raising an eyebrow

"Yes." Alex says

"None of us have actually fought with her." Lorenzo said

Although that's not completely true, they haven't fought with me to the extent that Alex has.

"It's probably safer for you that way. Tori likes to play around with whoever she fights...." Alex says giving me a smile

"I did learn from the best." I say

"He's the one who taught you to fight?" Luca asks seeming tense

"No." I answer simply and everyone looks at me questionably.

"Her mother talked my father into training her." Alex finishes

"She left one mafia to put you in another?!" Valente questions obviously angry

"No. She didn't know. I kept getting in fights in school, and eventually anywhere where people were being treated unfairly. I always stepped in. It was an act now and think about it later complex. I got bruised up a few times but it wasn't anything major...but as you all know she wasn't a fan of violence so she took me to a small and rusted gym where she signed me up for self defense classes with the owner. She didn't know his family was the American mafia, I mean I didn't even know until today. I always thought it was gang related like underground fighting, but I never thought about the mafia. It was a big step for her to even take me to a gym, much less one where they taught you how to fight. I promise she had a mini stroke that day. Had she of known they were the American mafia, I can assure you she wouldn't have allowed it." I answer defending my mother

"To be fair my father wasn't ever in the mafia. My grandfather passed it down to me. My father never wanted to be a member much less the boss but he's still the best fighter I've ever seen." Alex adds

"What was his name?" Francesco asks seeming genuinely curious

"Michael Gray." Alex answers

"In the underground they called him 'Silent Killer' because no one ever heard him coming, they hardly even saw him." I add in

"Your father was famous. I had even fought with him due to a bet I made with Francesco, in our younger days when we visited New York." Valente says

That interests me.

"Val one of the best fighters I had ever seen. When he went up against Michael and lost, I couldn't believe it." Francesco says

"No offense kid, but you don't fight like you were trained by your father." Valente says

"None taken because I wasn't." Alex says

Valente raises an eyebrow, and everyone else now seems interested as well.

"Alex was taught by his grandfather, I however was taught by Michael, and his grandfather when he visited the gym. Alex and I grew up seeing each other, and training together a little." I explain

"So that's how you two know each other.." Lorenzo says randomly

"Yeah. Michael was the only father figure I had growing up, he taught me everything I know...and Alex's grandfather was like the grandparent I didn't ask for, always on my case about how to react and my emotions. Now I can understand why he was always so hard on everyone." I say as it all becomes clear to me

"My grandfather loved her, told me I would do good if I could get her to marry me one day. He didn't respect a lot of woman but he respected Tori from the time she was a young girl. My grandfather thought it was funny that her mother signed her up for self defense, when she could clearly already handle herself. He was the one who encouraged my father to push her harder in training. Both of them kept trying to push her past her limits, they pushed her even harder than they did me, and each time Tori never once faltered. She barely even broke a sweat." Alex says

"Didn't that make you mad? Jealous even?" Marco asks Alex suspiciously

"No. At that age I liked training but I also liked other sports such as basketball. I also was a ladies man so it didn't bother me that sometimes I would get to train with her, or that sometimes I would get the day off to play ball or video games while my grandfather helped train her with weapons. She was the one who pushed me and gave me a reason to fight at least in the beginning anyway. She also gave me competition, which was needed." Alex answers

"And she can kick your a$$?" Lorenzo asks

"I wouldn't call it that but she's gotten me to tap out a few times. She's even knocked me out once or twice.. ." Alex answers

"She showed us her skills when we were attacked by the Russians, and she's freaking insane." Lorenzo says

"Yes, yes she is." Alex agrees

"You seem to know a lot about her.." Luca says in a hard tone

"As Tori mentioned we grew up together, we trained together, and we've even fought together. We've walked each other through some hard times that we don't talk about. Both my father and grandfather not only trained her but actually considered her as our family. Once upon a time ago we dated and Tori even worked for my aunt Diane back in New York in the fashion industry. So I would say I know just about everything there is to know about her." Alex says and he's right

"Could you two fight now so we can see?" Lorenzo asks hopefully like a child

"Right now?" I ask

"Well yeah." Lorenzo answers

"What do you say T, do want to play?" Alex asks teasingly

"I guess." I reply with a shrug

Alex looks at Luca and says "You might want to step out for this one..it gets intense."

Luca just looks at Alex blankly, then at me like asking for permission or something, so I just slightly nod. That must be what he was looking for because he got out of the ring shortly after.

Alex and I faced each other and that's when I knew that everyone was about to get disappointed..