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)
Just then, there’s a knock at the door. She holds her pointer finger up at me. “This conversation will continue.”
While Abbie opens the door to receive all the food she ordered, I go to my room and undress. I put on a comfy pair of shorts and a t-shirt and place a set on the bed for Abbie.
After I’ve removed my jewelry, I head into the bathroom. I’m busy wiping the makeup from my face when I hear Abbie in the bedroom. “Are these shorts for me?”
“Yeah. After you’ve changed, come wash your face. You can’t sleep with makeup on.”
“Yes, Mom,” she calls back.
I let out a chuckle, then my eyes lock on my neck, and I see the red marks Misha left on my skin.
The blow hits hard and unexpectedly. It’s difficult to believe the man I’ve had a crush on for so long hurt me.
The realization is a bitter pill to swallow.
I think back to when he cut off my air supply and threatened me. There was no warmth in his blue eyes but only icy danger.
Tonight I saw the bratva enforcer and not the man who ripped his shirt apart to stop my wound from bleeding.
Lifting my shirt, I look at the scar stretching from my hip to my ribs. The scar never bothered me because it was a reminder that night was real and not a fantasy my overactive imagination had conjured up.
“You okay?” Abbie asks as she walks into the bathroom and comes to stand next to me.
“Yeah.” I reach for the toner and dab some on my face while Abbie removes her makeup.
“So,” she says, “your first and only kiss? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrug, pouring a couple of drops of serum into my palm. Working the nourishing liquid into my skin, I answer, “I don’t know. You’re way more experienced than me. I felt it would be silly talking about a kiss.”
Abbie scowls at me. “That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.”
“Ugh, I know.” I give her a remorseful look. “Honestly, the night felt so surreal. Half the time, it was hard for me to believe it actually happened.”
“Was the kiss at least good?” she asks.
I nod, a tiny smile tugging at my lips. “It was perfect.” I let out a huff as I reach for my moisturizing cream. “That’s what makes this all so confusing. It’s like the Misha from that night and the Misha we saw today are two totally different men.”
“You have to remember,” Abbie says while wiping her hands on a towel, “he’s loyal to Viktor Vetrov and Luca Cotroni. You don’t just turn your back on the bratva and mafia, and you certainly don’t do it for a woman.”
“You’re right.”
Heading to the living room, I watch as Abbie loads a plate with chocolate-coated strawberries, all flavors of macaroons, and a massive red velvet cupcake.
“Anyway, I’m over him,” I mention as I steal a pistachio-flavored macaroon off her plate.
I might not believe the words coming out of my mouth, but I’m determined to make it a reality. The man left red marks on my neck, and if that’s not a red flag, then I don’t know what is.
Anger bubbles in my chest just at the thought of how he treated me.
Abbie bites into the cupcake, her gaze searching my face. After she’s swallowed, she says, “It’s for the best. You’re from two completely different worlds.”
“Are we?” I ask. “We’re both from mafia families.”
Abbie scrunches her nose. “Besides the criminal world, I mean. You’re on opposing sides.” The corner of her mouth lifts, but the smile looks sad. “Romeo and Juliet.”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah, and we both know how that story turned out.” Changing the subject, I ask, “Are you really going to pursue Nikolai?”
She shakes her head while picking up a strawberry. “Nah, I just like ruffling his feathers.”
Relieved, I help myself to another macaroon. “We should focus on our training. If we’re going head-to-head with the bratva, we need to know how to fight them.”
“Among other things,” she mumbles around a mouthful. “My father expects me to take over the business.” She lets out a worried chuckle. “Can you imagine me running the empire? I can’t even kill an ant, never mind a human being.”
“That makes two of us,” I sigh.
Silence falls between us, and our worry tightens the air. It’s one thing training and a completely different thing controlling hundreds of soldiers and running a criminal empire.
I have no idea what the future holds, but it doesn’t look as rosy anymore.
Chapter 10
Misha
“Rat torture is not for the faint of heart,” Instructor Volkov says while bringing images up on the screen. “As you can see, rats are placed in a metal bucket, then strapped to the individual. You can use a flame torch to warm the back of the bucket, forcing the rats to gnaw their way through the person.”