Twenty four

MASSIMO POV

I drew my sword, focusing my gaze on those of Genovese's. He was old, but his sword skill was unrivaled, and no one had been known to defeat him in any form of combat.

His grip on the sword was an art in its own right, so I had to be very careful. I took a deep breath, concentrating on winning the fight without getting nicked by his sword once.

Genovese sometimes subjected his men to training... and you'd think it was just for practice until you found your head rolling on the floor. I'd already watched many of such executions. I refused to fail any test he tried me with.

He came at me stealthily, moving so smoothly, I almost forgot to block the attack- I did at the last second but it was a close call.

Genovese wasn't playing around and I knew that from the power of his strike... even tho he was old, the man's strength was still intact.

He didn't let up, and he growled, the sound raising the hair at the back of my neck as he struck at me.

He was fast and his sword was l