Every Mafia's Favorite Girl novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160: "Gotcha"

It didn’t take long for the final round to resume after the unfortunate interruption.

The Head Coordinator returned to the ring only after the guests and spectators had settled back into their seats.

He took his position between the two remaining finalists, waited for the warehouse to quiet, and then raised his microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, once again, we apologize for the interruption."

"The Organizing Committee has officially declared Nazario Marchetti disqualified from the competition, along with the cancellation of all his previous records for misconduct during the Trials."

"His right to compete has been withdrawn. We are now left with only two finalists."

He turned toward the young woman standing at his right.

"Ariana Lombardi..."

Then he gestured toward his left.

"...and Jordan Marchetti."

The warehouse erupted in applause.

Excitement surged through the spectators as anticipation spread from one section of the hall to another.

It had been a long time since the final round of the Marchetti Trials had ended in a true one-on-one machete duel.

The Head Coordinator waited until the noise had settled enough for him to continue.

He raised one arm high above his head.

"The rules of the final duel dictate that whichever finalist manages to draw first blood from their opponent will immediately be declared the winner of this year’s Marchetti Trials."

He paused, allowing the anticipation to build.

"So get ready."

"Your final duel starts..."

His arm dropped decisively.

"...now."

The Head Coordinator immediately moved toward the stairs and descended, leaving the ring entirely to the young man and woman standing across from each other.

Another eruption of cheers and whistles swept through the warehouse as the starting buzzer rang.

BZZZZZZZZT!

Aren turned away from the audience until she was facing Jordan directly. The faintest smile touched Aren’s lips as their eyes met.

Jordan was smiling too.

There was no hostility in his expression. No murderous intent. If anything, he looked almost amused by the absurdity of the situation.

"So it’s just the two of us now," he said, keeping his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Aren’s smile widened.

"Are you more nervous or excited?"

"Both." Jordan gave a small shrug. "You have no idea how long I’ve waited for the chance to beat you at something I’m actually confident in."

A quiet laugh escaped Aren.

"Oh, really? Then wait until you see how I surprise you and earn myself a free full baking course from you."

"Woo. I’m terrified," Jordan replied with a chuckle. "I’m about to get forced into teaching you full-time without earning a single penny."

Their faces lit up with such relaxed amusement that several spectators exchanged puzzled looks.

From the outside, the two of them hardly looked like opponents preparing for a machete duel. Perhaps even more strangely, neither seemed particularly intimidated by the weapon in the other’s hand.

Jordan eventually decided they had kept the audience waiting long enough. He raised his machete, pointing its tip directly toward Aren in a playful challenge.

"So? You’re ready to let me win this?"

"I’m totally ready to upset you," Aren replied, lifting her chin with quiet confidence.

Instead of raising her machete in response, she lowered it slightly behind herself.

Her posture shifted.

Her upper body tilted forward.

Jordan’s smile faded into concentration.

The instant her weight tipped past the point of balance, she collapsed forward into motion and exploded into a sprint—

—straight toward him.

Jordan’s eyes widened.

He immediately took a step backward and lowered his center of gravity, bracing himself for the incoming attack.

Aren closed the distance with terrifying speed. Yet beneath that confident charge, she already knew exactly how this duel was going to end.

Winning against Jordan would certainly have been an incredible challenge. He was a genuine machete master, and the custom weapon offered as the prize was undoubtedly tempting.

However...

The reward wasn’t what mattered most.

There was something far more important weighing on her mind.

’If Jordan loses and I win, Natalia will get exactly what she wants.’

’I still don’t understand why that woman is so confident that making Jordan lose this competition will force him to accept that marriage contract.’

’But I have a feeling she doesn’t mean well.’

’I can’t let that happen.’

Determination settled quietly across her features. Within moments, she had closed the distance between them.

Her body twisted, and the machete swept from behind her in a swift horizontal arc, targeting Jordan’s exposed right side.

Jordan had been waiting for it.

He shifted his stance at precisely the right moment.

Their blades collided.

CLANG!

The metallic impact rang through the warehouse.

For a moment, the two weapons remained locked together as Aren and Jordan pushed against each other’s blades, testing the other’s strength.

Aren’s eyes remained fixed on his.

"You left your right side completely exposed."

Jordan’s mouth curved into an exhilarated smile.

"It was an invitation."

With a sharp twist of his wrist, he knocked her blade aside before immediately following with a counterattack of his own.

CLING!

At once, excitement rippled through the crowd as the final duel truly began.

What had started as a cautious exchange accelerated almost immediately into a fierce one-on-one battle.

Jordan’s footwork was clean and disciplined. Every step served a purpose as he steadily pressured Aren toward the edge of the ring.

Aren, however, fought in a completely different manner.

She refused to meet his strength head-on. Instead, she slipped around his attacks, changing angles at the last possible instant and using her smaller frame and remarkable speed to remain difficult to predict.

Their blades collided again and again, each impact sending a sharp metallic echo through the enormous warehouse.

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

The force of the exchange drove them both half a step apart.

Jordan grinned.

"Are you really sure you weren’t familiar with machetes before this? You’re practically matching my rhythm."

Aren’s eyes brightened with innocent amusement.

"I wasn’t lying. I think I just happen to have a very good mentor."

Jordan laughed and lunged again without hesitation.

CLANG!

’When do I get to take her home?’

’Ah, right.’

’I promised him I would finish this quickly.’

’I shouldn’t make him wait too long.’

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