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)
“Shit,” she hisses. “Did they see?”
“No. Just stay quiet and still. Let me handle it.”
I step out from behind the hedges so they won’t see Aurora. My muscles tense up as Kazuo stops within striking distance of me.
“Where are your friends?” he asks.
“None of your fucking business.”
He lets out a chuckle as he steps to the side. “You’re all alone?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
He nods, then darts forward with some kind of war cry that does nothing to inspire fear.
My arm shoots out, and the palm of my hand connects with his nose. As Kazuo drops with blood spurting from his nose, I don’t even think and move toward Takaharu. Launching myself into the air, I twist my body and deliver a kick to his neck.
As I land on my feet, Seijo hesitates, but I go for him anyway, delivering a double flying-knee kick to his chin.
I hear Kazuo get up behind me and shake my head. “Really. What the fuck do I have to do for you to learn your lesson?” I mutter as I turn around.
Intense rage burns through me at the sight of Kazuo with his arm wrapped around Aurora’s neck.
He chuckles at me, and wiping the blood from his nose, he smears it over her cheek. “She smells like cock. Is she good?”
You can’t kill him.
St. Monarch’s will take out a hit on you.
You can’t protect Aurora if you’re dead.
Before I can attack, Aurora slams the back of her head against his broken nose.
“Oh, Jesus.” She looks absolutely disgusted by the blood on her cheek, and turning around, she plants her knee in the man’s groin.
Fuck, that blow would even have Alek in pain.
Kazuo drops to his knees, and with his hands clutching his dick, he falls to the ground.
I dart forward, and grabbing Aurora’s arm, I yank her to my side.
“Touch my woman again, and you won’t wake up,” I warn the fucker before I kick him until he’s unconscious.
As I start walking back toward the castle with Aurora right next to me, I point a finger at Takaharu and Seijo, barking, “Stay the fuck down.”
Seijo listens, but Takaharu climbs to his feet. He locks eyes with me then growls, “You’re marked.”
My voice is dark and ruthless as I reply, “So are you. Watch your back and sleep with one eye open.”
I’m on high alert until we reach Aurora’s suite, and I shut the door behind us.
When I lock eyes with her, she lets out a nervous chuckle. “That was both badass and scary as hell.”
“Are you okay?” I ask, my eyes flying over her body to make sure the fucker didn’t hurt her.
“No, I’m not okay.” She gags, then runs for her bathroom. “Ewww.”
I go after her and watch as she cleans the blood off her cheek.
“That’s so freaking gross,” she mutters, making sure her face is clean.
When she finally looks at me, I say, “Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?”
She moves closer to me, a smile curving her lips. “I was good, wasn’t I?”
“You were amazing.” I wrap my fingers around her neck, brushing my thumb over her soft skin. “You saved my life out there.”
She grins at me. “Nah, it looked like you had things under control.”
I shake my head. “I told you I’d kill for you. The penance for killing on St. Monarch’s grounds is death.”
Her eyebrows draw together. “But you wouldn’t have killed him.”
I tilt my head. “For touching you? I would’ve.” I press a kiss on her forehead. “No one touches you. You’re mine.”
“Thankfully, it all turned out okay,” she whispers as she wraps her arms around my neck.
Tonight, yes. Tomorrow’s a whole different story.
Chapter 30
Aurora
Abbie and I stand and watch as Misha, Alek, and Armani take their weapons from the guards.
Watching Misha tuck the gun in the back of the waistband of his pants before covering it with his jacket is hot.
And scary.
Yes, I’ve seen him fight, and there’s been a lot of talk about the bratva and that he’s taken lives, but it didn’t actually hit home that he’s an enforcer – a killer.
I glance at Abbie, and seeing the worry in her eyes, I ask, “Everything okay?”
“I just realized we’re leaving the safety of St. Monarch’s with three bratva and mafia soldiers. I’ll shit myself if they turn on us.” Her eyes lock on mine. “How sure are you about Misha?”
“Like life-and-death sure. He won’t hurt us,” I try to calm her down.
“Yeah, but I might,” Alek chuckles before he walks out of the doors.
“Don’t listen to the fucker,” Misha says as he takes hold of my hand. He meets Abbie’s eyes. “Just stick close to me.”
“Got it,” she chuckles nervously before gluing herself to my side.
Squashed between my boyfriend and my best friend, we walk out of the castle and take the steps down to the armored SUV Misha arranged for today.