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)
Giving her a warm smile, I whisper, “Thank you, Abbie.”
We spend another hour outside, eating and talking about the most random topics. After gathering the containers and shoving them in the paper bag, we walk back to the castle.
“You’re my best friend,” Abbie says as she hooks her arm through mine.
“Ahh…I freaking hope so,” I laugh.
“No, I mean it, Ra-Ra. I’d die for you.”
“I’d die for you, too.”
Chapter 24
Misha
For the past two days, I’ve been thinking about what to do, and I’ve come to the conclusion that if I don’t talk to Victor, I won’t know where I stand.
Stopping outside Director Koslov’s door, I tell the guard, “Can I speak to the director?”
Using a two-way radio, I hear him say, “Misha Petrov is here to see you, sir.”
It takes a moment before the vault door opens, then Director Koslov gestures for me to enter his office.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asks as he nods at a couch.
“I’ll stand. Thank you.” Lifting my chin, I lock eyes with him. “Can you arrange a meeting with Mr. Vetrov for me?”
Director Koslov’s eyebrow lifts. “Regarding?”
“Aurora D’Angelo.”
There’s no going back now.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a smirk. “It took you long enough.” Walking to his desk, he answers, “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you, sir.”
When I turn to leave, the director asks, “How do you plan on getting past Caruso?”
I have no fucking idea what I’m going to do with Aurora’s father.
“If Viktor approves, I’ll just kidnap her.” It’s meant to sound like a joke, but there’s too much truth in my words, and it comes out as a promise.
Director Koslov chuckles. “Good luck with that.”
Nodding, I say, “Thank you for seeing me, sir.”
I leave the office, tension coiling in my gut because if Viktor doesn’t give his approval, I’m fucked.
I head to Instructor Nikolai’s studio, and finding Aurora busy lifting weights, I say, “On the mat, D’Angelo.”
Aurora’s eyes snap to me, and frowning, she sets the weights down and walks over to the mat.
Taking her position in front of me, she whispers, “You’re late. Is everything okay?”
“I had business to take care of,” I mutter, stuck in my head about the impending meeting with Viktor. That’s if he’ll even agree to meet with me.
I take a fighting stance and order, “Attack.”
Aurora gives me a worried look, then she widens her feet and swings a fist at me.
With zero effort, I block the blow. I let out a dark chuckle, “You can do better than that.”
Darting forward, I pat the side of her head. “Come on.”
I’ve been mock-fighting with her so she can get used to the movements, but soon she’ll have to take part in a real fight, so I need her to up her game.
Suddenly Aurora drops, and before I can jump, she swipes my legs from under me.
I hit the mat with a proud chuckle, then flip myself back onto my feet. “Good. You’re getting faster. Always use your speed when you’re up against someone bigger.”
“Okay.” She takes in a fighting stance again.
“Also, when you have your opponent on their ass, keep attacking. Don’t give them a chance to get up again. Do it again, and this time keep me on my back.”
A light frown forms on her forehead. “You want me to punch you?”
“Yes.” I gesture for her to attack.
Instead, she argues, “But I’ll hurt you.”
I let out a chuckle. “I can handle pain. Give it your all. I need to know if you’re ready for a fight against one of the other attendees.”
Nervousness flashes over her face, and this time when she goes for my legs, and I fall to the ground, I grab Aurora’s leg and drop her ass to the mat. Before she can sit up, my thighs wrap around her neck and I squeeze.
“I can get used to seeing you between my legs,” I taunt her.
Aurora struggles against my hold, then mutters, “Yield.”
When we climb to our feet, she says, “Teach me how you did that.”
I go through the motions with Aurora, and when I’m sure she has the hang of it, I instruct, “I’ll attack, then you get me in a chokehold.”
“Okay.”
We take our positions, and when I sweep Aurora’s feet from under her, her right leg slams into my calves, and I go down. She twists her body, and as I hit the mat, her thighs wrap around my neck.
A proud chuckle escapes me, and not thinking, I slap her on the ass. “Good girl.”
“Are you busy with training or foreplay, Mr. Petrov?” Instructor Nikolai shouts from across the room.
“Shit,” Aurora gasps, and pulling away from me, she scrambles to her feet, then loudly snaps at me. “Keep your hands to yourself, asshole.”
I love how she’s trying to cover for us. It’s cute.
“A little of both, sir,” I call out to Instructor Nikolai just to tease Aurora.