Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Perfect, my very own UFC match with the scary one.
“Katya,” Andrei barked. “Leave the ring and have a seat. Let’s see what your new tutor can do.”
She hesitated briefly.
I shook my head. “Go. Old man isn’t safe when he unleashes the Kraken.”
“You little shit!” Phoenix roared, much to the amusement of everyone watching.
I grinned and shrugged. “Oh, I’m sorry. Does that hurt your feelings? You know they have a senior discount down at the Sizzler, should make you feel so much better. I think it’s buy one steak, get one free?”
He lunged.
I dove.
And so began an hour-long fight for my life with the scary son of a bitch.
Hit after hit came until I was seeing stars. I tried to get him to the ground several times, knowing it was his weakness, but he wouldn’t budge; he kept me fighting with my arms, legs, and fists.
I got a few good knees into his sides.
Both of us had blood running down our faces, and nobody was winning.
Katya eventually covered her face with her hands while Andrei cheered on Phoenix like he was waiting for the guy to murder me. Glad I could provide some entertainment.
Phoenix’s knee came up and tried to connect with my liver. I blocked it with my hands and shoved him away, then did a spinning back kick only to get caught and thrown onto my back. I flipped over and jumped to my feet, holding my hands out in front of me. Blood and sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes and invading my mouth.
He snickered. “Had enough?”
“Coupons? No, I’m good, thanks, but I think it’s really environmentally friendly when old people cut them out and put them in those cute little plastic bags just in case it rains.”
“And now I kill you,” Phoenix said calmly. “And I keep them in a gun case, for your information.”
“Clever.”
“I thought so.” He circled me and tried to kick me back. I caught his ankle and twisted away.
“End it,” came Tex’s nearly bored reply. “We have dinner soon.”
Phoenix grinned. “My pleasure.”
Had he been messing with me?
No way! I was an assassin, one of the best my Family had; there was seriously no way this boss could destroy me. I was the one who protected the bosses.
I held my hands up, ready to fight more, when Phoenix jumped into the air and kicked me in the stomach with both feet, landing on his back. I flew against the ring, then fell forward with a thud, finally on the ground. He straddled me, grabbed me by the neck, and held a small knife to my throat. “Now, what was that about a full mount?”
The sharp edge of the blade was diving into my skin.
“Enough,” Tex said. “Let’s go eat, and Santino, your skills are far better than I imagined. She’s in good hands, just don’t make her bleed while you train her. Unless her goal is to get made, that’s as far as it goes, training-wise.”
“And if I want to?” Katya piped up. “Get made?”
The room fell silent.
Andrei finally said, “It would break my heart to put you in harm’s way, but women are as fierce if not more so than men. You have the heart of a lion—I would be proud to call you my sister for that sort of bravery and sacrifice.”
Phoenix pulled the knife away, and I stayed there in the ring, on my stomach, while they walked away.
When the door clicked shut, Katya was immediately by my side. “Does it hurt?”
I almost cracked a smile. “Everywhere.”
“Here?” She touched my back, my sides, my arms, legs. I loved her touch; I was also slightly delirious… I flipped over onto my back.
She frowned.
“Here.” I pointed to my mouth. “It hurts here.”
She ran her fingers across my lips.
I gripped her hand, then the other, and pulled her on top of me, her legs on either side. “Full mount.”
She moved against me. “I like this position.”
“Don’t get me killed.”
She leaned down and dragged her tongue up the side of my neck, licking my sweat and some blood. It made me so horny I wanted to cry in desperation.
Her mouth found my ear. “No promises, now keep teaching me; we have forty minutes until it’s time to eat.”
“I loathe you.”
“Please.”
It was the please that did it for me.
“Fine, let’s get to work, but if I pass out, just leave me here to die.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Heartless,” I muttered.
“Didn’t you say I had to be?”
I laughed and got to my feet. “Touché.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You don’t make up for your sins in church, you do it in the streets, you do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it.” —Martin Scorsese
Katya
Weeks ago, had you asked me if blood was sexy, I would have puked and then screamed in rage or maybe just horror.
But tonight?