Fated reborn - Chapter 273: Chapter 273

Luciano's POV.
I didn’t sleep much that night.
Even after the adrenaline wore off, my body still felt too wired, too restless. The fight kept playing over and over in my head—the weight of my fists connecting, the raw power behind each strike, the way everything else had just faded into the background the second I stepped into that ring.
It wasn’t just the fight itself that stuck with me. It was the way they had looked at me.
Like they knew exactly what I was.
Like they could feel it.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my knuckles, the bruises darkening into deep purple under my skin. The sting should’ve bothered me more, but it didn’t. If anything, it felt like proof.
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.
Victor had been right.
I liked it.
Not just the rush, not just the victory. The control. The way everything in my head went quiet the second the fight started, like the world had finally narrowed down to something I understood.
Something I was built for.
The thought should’ve unsettled me. Maybe it did, a little.
I shook my head, pushing up from the bed. Sleep wasn’t happening.
I grabbed my jacket, slipping it on as I headed for the door.
The city was different at night.
Quieter, but not dead. There was always something moving in the shadows, some part of the world still awake, still alive. I walked without really thinking about where I was going, letting my feet carry me through the streets.
The cool air helped, cutting through the heat still lingering under my skin.
I should’ve gone home. I should’ve forced myself to sleep, let my body recover, but I knew it wouldn’t have made a difference.
The fight was still in me.
It always would be.
A sharp sound pulled me from my thoughts.
Laughter.
Not the good kind.
I slowed my steps, tilting my head as I listened. It was coming from the alley up ahead, low voices muttering between sharp bursts of amusement. The kind of laughter that made your instincts go rigid.
The kind that came before something bad happened.
I stepped closer, keeping to the shadows.
Then I saw them.
Three guys. One of them—tall, broad-shouldered, reeking of arrogance—had a fourth pressed up against the wall, his hands gripping the guy’s collar. The other two stood nearby, watching, amused.
"You got the money or not?" the broad one asked, voice low, threatening.
The guy against the wall shook his head frantically. "I—I just need more time—"
"Wrong answer."
The bigger guy pulled back his fist.
I moved before I even thought about it.
"That’s enough."
The words cut through the alley like a blade, sharp and cold. The three of them turned to face me, eyes narrowing as they sized me up.
"You lost, pretty boy?" the leader sneered, dropping his grip on the guy’s collar.
I smiled, slow and sharp. "Not even a little."
He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders like he thought he was about to scare me off. "You should keep walking."
"Yeah?" I tilted my head. "Or what?"
He grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Or you end up on the ground."
I exhaled through my nose, disappointed.
"You really don’t want to do this," I said, my voice even.
"Yeah? And why’s that?"
I let him see it then.
The shift in my stance. The way my muscles coiled, ready. The way my eyes locked onto his like he was prey.
Like I wasn’t just some guy in a leather jacket.
Like I was something else entirely.
His grin faltered for just a second.
Then he moved.
Too slow.
I caught his fist before it could reach me, twisting his wrist just enough to make him gasp in pain before slamming my elbow into his ribs. He staggered back, coughing, eyes wide with shock.
The other two hesitated.
Smart.
"You can walk away now," I told them, my voice calm.
They glanced at each other, weighing their odds. Then, without a word, they turned and bolted, their footsteps fading into the night.
The leader gritted his teeth, clutching his side. "You—"
I stepped closer, cutting him off. "Try it again," I said, my voice soft, dangerous. "And next time, I won’t be so nice."
His throat bobbed as he swallowed.
Then he ran.
The guy they had cornered was still against the wall, staring at me like he wasn’t sure if I was another threat or not.
"You alright?" I asked.
He nodded quickly, rubbing his neck. "Yeah. Yeah, man, I—thanks."
I nodded once, already turning away. "Get home safe."
He didn’t say anything else, just watched as I walked away.
By the time I got back to my place, the sky was already starting to lighten at the edges, the deep blues giving way to the first hints of morning.
Victor was waiting outside my door.
I slowed, raising a brow. "You stalking me now?"
He smirked, pushing off the wall. "You weren’t home. Figured you were off doing something stupid."
I snorted, unlocking the door. "And you thought waiting outside my apartment at dawn was the smart thing to do?"
He shrugged. "I was bored."
I shook my head, stepping inside. He followed, shutting the door behind him.
"You look like shit," he commented, dropping onto my couch.
"Thanks," I said dryly.
He leaned his head back, watching me. "You were out fighting again, weren’t you?"
I hesitated for half a second.
Victor grinned. "Knew it."
I sighed, rubbing my face. "It wasn’t a fight."
"Uh-huh. And I’m a saint."
I shot him a look, but he just laughed.
Then, after a moment, his expression shifted, something quieter settling into his features. "You okay, though?"
I didn’t answer right away.
Because I wasn’t sure.
I thought about the fight, about the way it had felt, about the way I hadn’t been able to let it go.
I thought about the alley, about how easy it had been to step in, to take control.
I thought about the way they had looked at me.
And how, deep down