Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 156

Chapter 156

Aria’s POV

I woke up before the sun

That never happened before

Normally I had to drag myself out of bed blinking through sleep and soreness but today felt different My body still ached but it was lighter the pain dull and fading more like a memory than a burden

I sat up slowly my muscles stretching but not screaming My arms were stronger my legs steadier I could feel the difference and that gave me a strange kind of energy

I got dressed in the workout clothes Enzo had left for me last night A black tank top soft and fitted with matching leggings I tied my hair back in a messy bun and looked at myself in the mirror for a moment

I looked… ready

I didn’t wait for anyone I made my way to the home gym down the hall by myself The house was quiet no footsteps no voices Just the sound of my bare feet brushing the cool floor

When I opened the gym door the lights were already on The room smelled faintly of mint and sweat and metal weights The mats were clean the punching bags lined up neatly the weights stacked on racks in perfect rows Everything was waiting

So was I

I walked in and started stretching It was simple slow movements but they felt powerful every muscle warming under my control Not under pain Not under fear Just me choosing to move

I was finishing my lunges when the door opened behind me

I turned

It was Enzo first his brows lifting when he saw me on the mat already

“Well look at that” he said “Our little fighter couldn’t wait for us”

I shrugged but I smiled “Thought I’d get a head start”

Dante and Matteo came in behind him both holding bottles and towels Their eyes found me and there was something different in the way they looked this time

Not like I was fragile

But like I was fire

“You really are serious about this huh” Matteo said walking closer “Didn’t even wait for your fan club”

“I didn’t come here to be babied” I said softly

Enzo grinned and threw me a water bottle/ “Good Because today we’re taking it up a notch”

They didn’t go easy on me

The warmup was already harder than anything I’d done before Jumping jacks Burpees Mountain climbers Squats My body was burning within

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Chapter 156

minutes but I kept going Every time I felt like stopping I heard Dante’s voice in my head from the last session This pain means your body is getting stronger

So I pushed through

We moved to strength training Enzo stood beside me showing me how to hold small weights in each hand and squat without hurting my back He watched me like a hawk correcting me when I leaned too far or bent my knees wrong

“You’re doing good” he said quietly “Don’t stop breathing Keep your core tight That’s it Like that”

I didn’t realize how many muscles I had until they were all on fire

Then Matteo took over He made it a game We did reaction drills he’d tap one shoulder and I had to move the other way ducking dodging He’d fake left and spin right and I had to keep up or fall on my butt

I laughed once when I tripped and he caught me by the wrist

“You’re faster than yesterday” he said helping me up “Your feet are starting to listen to you”

“That’s a first” I panted smiling

Then came Dante

He didn’t smile He didn’t joke

He held out padded gloves for me to wear and adjusted them tightly around my wrists

“Ready to try again” he asked

I nodded

બીપ

We went slow at first He showed me how to block how to raise my arms to shield my face how to duck and counter The first few times I missed Every time I reacted too late or not at all my frustration built

I wanted to get it right

I wanted to prove I wasn’t just someone they had to protect

After the fifth time he landed a soft tap to my shoulder I snapped

“I don’t want to be the weak one anymore” I shouted

The gym went quiet.

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My hands were shaking not from fear but from something deeper Something that had been trapped inside for so long it felt like it was tearing through my chest

“I’m tired of always being behind Of always being the one people feel sorry for I just… I want to be better I want to be strong”

Dante didn’t say anything at first

He just looked at me with those steady dark eyes then stepped back and raised his hands again

“Then prove it”

My breath caught in my throat

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Chapter 156

But I lifted my fists

We started again Slower this time Each movement clear He struck I blocked I struck He blocked But I didn’t stop thinking I didn’t let frustration take me

I breathed

1 moved

1 focused

Then finally I blocked his hit clean and countered with a sharp jab to his side The sound of the soft thud echoed in the room

Silence

I pulled back stunned breathing hard

Dante stared at me His mouth curved just slightly

“You did it” he said simply

Something swelled in my chest

Pride

Not the kind that someone else gives you

The kind you earn

I collapsed onto the mat legs shaking arms numb My chest was heaving but I was laughing too

Matteo dropped beside me grinning like a proud idiot “That was badass”

Enzo handed me a cold towel and kneeled to loosen the gloves from my hands “You’re making us look soft”

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