Blood Between Us

Fifty-One

Matteo was the first one to move.

He stepped forward slowly, deliberately, rolling his shoulders once like he was preparing for a cage fight instead of a conversation.

His eyes dragged over the four Volkovs.

Then he smirked.

"It's five against four."

The words dropped heavy.

Dimitri didn't even blink. "You're counting wrong."

And that was it.

Vincenzo moved first — not loud, not reckless — just fast. He shoved Dimitri hard in the chest, a brutal, testing push meant to start something.

It started everything.

Dimitri launched back at him without hesitation, fist swinging. It connected with a sickening crack against Vincenzo's jaw. The sound echoed through marble and glass.

Chairs scraped violently across the floor.

Matteo lunged for Viktor, but Viktor was already moving — calm, controlled — sidestepping and driving his elbow straight into Matteo's ribs. Hard. Precise. Matteo grunted but didn't fold. He swung back, catching Viktor across the cheekbone. Blood split skin immediately.

Valentino stood in one smooth motion, grabbing Vladimir by the collar and slamming him back into the wall. Vladimir recovered fast, driving a knee up into Valentino's thigh, then shoving him off with a snarl.

Ivan intercepted Francesco before he could reach further into the room. Francesco swung first — a sharp hook — and Ivan absorbed it, then drove his shoulder straight into Francesco's chest, sending both of them crashing into a side table.

Wood splintered.

Glass shattered.

The room erupted into chaos.

Dimitri and Vincenzo were trading blows like men who didn't know how to stop. Vincenzo's punches were heavy, brutal, bone-breaking intent behind every swing. Dimitri fought mean — no wasted motion — a punch to the throat, a knee to the stomach, driving Vincenzo back into the edge of the fireplace.

Matteo came back at Viktor with raw aggression, tackling him into the couch. They hit the floor hard, grappling, fists slamming into ribs and faces. Matteo pinned Viktor for half a second — long enough to land two vicious hits — before Viktor twisted sharply, flipping their positions and driving his forearm across Matteo's throat.

Valentino and Vladimir were moving fast, fast enough to blur. Vladimir grabbed Valentino's wrist, twisting hard, but Valentino countered, slamming his head forward. Forehead cracked against nose. Blood spilled instantly.

Francesco recovered and came back at Ivan, both of them breathing hard now. Francesco's grin was gone — this wasn't playful anymore. He swung low. Ivan blocked, then drove a punch straight into Francesco's stomach that knocked the air out of him.

Furniture overturned.

A lamp exploded against the wall.

The sound of fists meeting bone filled the estate.

Alessandro hadn't moved at first.

He watched.

Measured.

Then he stepped in — and when he did, it was surgical.

He grabbed Dimitri mid-swing and pulled him back with controlled force, driving a punch straight into his ribs. Dimitri staggered, breath knocked from his lungs, but came back immediately, tackling Alessandro into the wall.