Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
The instant Paula hits the floor, I’m on top of her. She gets in two punches before I manage to wrap my arm around her neck. Using all my strength, I tighten my hold.
“Let go, Abigail!” Nikolai shouts.
I free Paula, and as I climb to my feet, she gags as she struggles to breathe.
Shit, the hold was too tight.
“What the fuck was that?” Nikolai asks.
I shrug as I look at him for the first time. “Just doing what you taught me, sir.”
His expression is cut from granite as he stares at me. “A hundred sit-ups.”
Yeah, fuck you too.
Walking to the back of the studio, I drop to my ass and start with the punishment. Aurora gives me a sympathetic look before focusing on her own training.
I’m stuck in my mind and only snap out of it when Nikolai crouches by my feet. “You’re acting like a child.”
I freeze mid-sit-up and stare at him. “Enlighten me. What have I done to give you that impression?”
“This sulking attitude you have.”
Sulking attitude? The fucking audacity of this man.
I nod, and climbing to my feet, I lock eyes with him while giving him the sweetest smile I can conjure on my face. “I’m not sulking, Mr. Vetrov. This is me being professional.” I step closer to him, my chin held high. “We fucked. It was mindblowing, but that’s the end of the story. There’s no reason for me to flirt with you any longer.”
Anger burns in his eyes as he growls. “I fucking knew it was a mistake.”
I shrug. “It is what it is.”
Nikolai walks back to the other trainees, and I drop down to my ass to finish the hundred sit-ups.
My freaking abs are on fire by the time the lesson ends, and I’m the first out of the studio.
When I walk into my suite, my phone rings, and seeing the call is from my father, I let out a sigh. “Of course, this day isn’t shitty enough.”
I answer. “Hello, Father.”
“Abbie, I trust the training is going well?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” he mutters. “I’ve arranged for Elio to collect you and Aurora from St. Monarch’s on Saturday morning.”
Shit. The birthday party. I completely forgot.
With the attack the past weekend, I don’t feel it would be safe for me to leave the grounds.
“Do you think it’s wise for me to leave the safety of St. Monarch’s while there’s a hit out on me?”
Because you can’t call a truce with the bratva and mafia.
Oh, by the way, your enemy’s cousin fucked me so good I can still feel him between my legs.
“Don’t be overly dramatic,” he snaps. “Elio will collect you and Aurora. Don’t be late.”
The call ends without a goodbye, and I drop the device on the table.
I shake my head, and needing an outlet for all the anger and disappointment I feel, I grab my painting supplies, a blank canvas, and the easel.
Leaving the suite, I carry everything to the waterfall at the back of the castle.
After I have the canvas resting on the easel, I glance at the beautiful scenery around me while trying my best not to think about the disaster that’s my life.
My eyes rest on smooth rocks and the water trickling over them, and picking up the white tube of paint, I open it and squirt some onto my palette.
I let out a sigh when my mind won’t shut down.
You got good dick, Abbie. Leave it at that.
But…It felt like there was a connection between us.
You knew the man was cold and ruthless when you started flirting with him. Letting him fuck you wasn’t going to make him magically fall for you.
Annoyed with myself, I let out a huff as I practically throw the paint onto the canvas.
Okay. Be an adult about this. You’re going to forget about Nikolai and focus on your training.
Ugh. Training. I hate my life.
I don’t want to be here for the next four years. I don’t want to take over my father’s illegal empire.
My brushstrokes grow gentler as I admit the truth to myself.
I just want to paint.
But sadly, a mafia princess doesn’t get to choose her future.
Chapter 15
Nikolai
In hindsight, I regret walking out on Abigail the instant I was done coming inside her. That was a dick move, even for me.
I can’t blame her for being upset.
If only she knew I ran from her like a fucking coward because I didn’t have the balls to admit she made me feel something I haven’t felt before.
This is why you don’t fuck women you’ll be forced to see again.
Deciding to man up and apologize to her so the training sessions won’t be uncomfortable, I knock on her door. When there’s no answer, I head toward the dining hall to check if she’s there.
Seeing Aurora sitting at a table with Misha, I approach them and ask, “Have you seen Abigail?”