Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
There’s no sign of my fun-loving friend as we stare at each other because, let's face the facts, neither of us is prepared for the training.
My face crumbles as Abbie says, “And our parents had to have known what the training would entail. They knew this would happen, and still, they had us come here.”
God, there’s no giving up and going home.
I nod, and knowing there’s no other way through the next four years but to head straight through it, I lift my chin. “We’ll make it. Together.”
Abbie nods, the guilt of what happened to me because she mouthed off to Instructor Nikolai still etched on her face.
“We’ll learn everything and train hard,” I say, my voice cracking over the words because now that I’ve had a taste of the pain, I’m so not looking forward to any of the classes.
Not actually believing the words, I whisper, “We’ll get through it.”
God, it’s going to be hell, and I’m not sure we’ll survive.
And even if we survive, will we be the same two women standing here today, or will it change us irrevocably?
Chapter 12
Misha
“What are we waiting for?” Armani asks.
We’ve been standing outside Instructor Nikolai’s studio for ten minutes.
“I’m waiting for the lesson to end,” I mutter.
White-hot rage burns through my veins. Seeing Seijo Shinoda from the yakuza hitting Aurora was fucking hard. If Armani didn’t have a hand on my shoulder, I would’ve done something stupid, like going into the room and killing Seijo.
I keep telling myself there can never be anything between Aurora and me, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to let Seijo get away with hurting her.
Fuck, it was brutal.
It’s clear Aurora has zero fighting skills. She was totally blindsided.
What the fuck was her father thinking by sending her here?
Alek shakes his head, an I-told-you-so grin on his face. “Misha is pissed off because Seijo beat up his woman.”
Before I can tell Alek to shut up, the Almeida twins come out of the studio. They give us as wide a berth as possible.
When Seijo comes out, I push away from the wall and step in front of him. Our eyes lock, and I stare at him with barely controlled rage.
“How about a game between the yakuza and bratva?” I ask, trying to sound calm but failing miserably.
Crossing his arms over his chest, the fucker gives me a smug look. “What game?”
“Laser tag.”
Knowing there’s no way Seijo will meet us alone, I have to include the other two fuckers.
“Fuck yeah,” Alek chuckles. “It will be… fun.”
Aka. bloodbath.
Yeah, I suppose it’s fun for him.
“What time?” Seijo asks.
“In ten minutes.”
He nods, then pushes past us to find his friends.
“Laser tag?” Armani asks with a raised eyebrow.
“I want to get him and his friends alone in that dark building where I can fucking beat the shit out of them,” I mutter.
“No killing,” Instructor Nikolai says as he comes out of the studio.
“Yes, sir,” I reply, standing a bit straighter.
With Nikolai being the cousin of Victor Vetrov, I have to be careful, but there’s no way I can let Seijo get away with hurting Aurora.
I know it’s training, and she’ll get hurt a hell of a lot more, but my heart refuses to look the other way. It’s one thing for me to threaten her, but I won’t stand for another man laying a hand on her.
Nikolai exhales, then asks, “Are you going to beat up every guy who has to fight her in my class?”
Locking eyes with him, I nod. “Tit-for-tat.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, then he chuckles. “Trust the three of you to make my life hard.”
When Instructor Nikolai walks away, Armani glances at me. “You’re looking for shit.”
Alek throws an arm around my shoulder. “Hey, at least I get to beat up those yakuza scum.”
Armani ignores Alek’s comment. “What do you think will happen if Viktor hears that you’ve got the hots for the enemy?”
I have no fucking idea.
“He’ll probably pat Misha on the shoulder,” Alek mutters. When we both stare at him, he shrugs, “The Vetrovs are known for marrying their enemies. Alexei Koslov married Isabella Terrero. Damien Vetrov married Winter Hemsley. Viktor married Rosalie whats-her-name. They were all enemies before falling in love.”
“Jesus Christ, Alek,” Armani snaps. “You’re not fucking helping.”
“It’s the truth,” Alek exclaims with a shrug.
“I’m not marrying anyone,” I say. “Can we focus on the game instead of the past and present bratva bosses' love lives?”
“Oh yeah,” Alek rubs his hands together, looking way too eager, “How are we doing this? Do we each pick one, or is it a free for all?”
Armani lets out a sigh, shaking his head at Alek.
“Seijo is mine. I don’t care what you do with the others,” I say.
We walk down the hallway toward the armory and greet Instructor Grigory, who’s in charge of weapons training.
“We’re just going to have a game of laser tag,” I tell the instructor.