Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
The woman running the class is older. She’s got dark hair streaked with gray and walks around the room correcting form and giving advice as her students go through simple sparring drills. They’re working on their distance and trying to keep their opponent at the right position as each of them moves back and forth.
“Aline!” My guide waves the instructor over. I try to stop him, feeling awkward, but he ignores me. “Got a new student for you.”
The instructor, Aline, turns her intense dark eyes on me and extends a hand. Her smile is guarded but friendly.
“I’m Carmie,” I tell her when we shake.
“Good to meet you. Do you have any prior fencing experience?”
“I was on my fencing team in high school.”
“That’s good. You’ll probably join my intermediate class then.”
“Aline’s the best in the business,” the desk guy says, beaming huge. “She fenced for the Swiss national team and placed tenth in the Olympics.”
“That was a long time ago,” Aline says, scowling. “Stop bragging about me, Billy, and get back to work.”
“Whatever you say.” The young guy waves and walks off.
Aline’s expression softens. “Sorry about that. Billy’s my nephew.”
“You really fenced in the Olympics?” I say, trying not to start gushing, but this woman is suddenly my idol, and I worship the ground she walks on.
She snorts and turns back to her class. “Like I said, it was forever ago. I’ll see you next week, Carmie.” Then she walks off, already barking critique at a nearby student.
I linger for a few more minutes and watch. Aline is sharp and critical but very fair, and it’s obvious her students love her. I feel a strange, excited longing as I force myself to head back through the main gym and give Billy a little wave on my way back out.
“See you soon,” he calls after me. “More fodder for my aunt!”
I’m grinning as I stand on the sidewalk. This is a good day. I found a gym and a trainer, and maybe she’s a little intimidating, but I’m going to get sharp again for no other reason than I want to.
And nobody’s going to stop me.
“Carmela?”
Hearing my name is a big surprise. I look over at the street where two men stand near a black sedan. One is young and gruff with a bent nose and ripped jeans.
The other is my father-in-law.
“Oh, uh, hello, Mr. Federov,” I say awkwardly as the old Russian man stalks over.
He looks nothing like his son. Where Lev is chiseled and devilishly handsome, Oleg has the face of a boxer that’s been beaten one too many times. I’ve heard rumors that he was a mercenary a long time ago, and I believe them. Oleg Federov is about as intimidating as they come.
“Just call me Oleg,” he barks at me. “Does my son know you’re here?”
I bristle at that. “I was just signing up for fencing lessons.”
“Fencing?” He snorts and turns away. “Better than ballet, I guess. Come on, get in the car, I’ll drive you back.”
I don’t know what’s going on. I took an Uber over here and planned on walking home since it’s nice out, but I don’t know how I can turn Oleg down.
“What are you doing in the neighborhood?” I ask him once we’re settled in the back seat. The younger man is Oleg’s driver. He pulls out into traffic.
He ignores my question, which only makes me that much more suspicious. “I’ve been hearing some rumors about my son. From what I understand, he’s been very busy.”
“Lev’s been working a lot.”
“Coming and going at odd hours?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Is he taking meetings at his house?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Hear any names? You know the people he’s speaking to?”
I stare at my father-in-law, head spinning with implications. “Honestly? He hasn’t told me anything about his job. I assumed you knew since you two run the shop together.”
“That boy’s been up to something.” Oleg stares straight ahead, his expression hard. I don’t like the way his body is stiff, and I despise his line of questioning. “I want you to do me a favor, Carmela.”
“What kind of favor?”
“I want you to tell me what Lev’s up to. Yes, I know, it might seem distasteful, but I’ll make sure you’re well compensated. It’s for his own good, truth be told. That boy has no head for business.”
I take a steadying breath, but my heart’s up in my throat. “I don’t know. The idea of spying on my own husband isn’t very appealing.”
“Yes, well, the two of you aren’t exactly in love. Think of it like you’re making sure this family remains as harmonious as possible.” He glances at me, and there’s an implicit threat in the way he smiles. “Otherwise, I don’t know what might happen.”
I say nothing. I’m trembling slightly and don’t trust my voice. I don’t want a man like Oleg to know how unnerved I am, but I think he already knows and likely doesn’t care.