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Chapter 8
Abbie
A lot has happened in a short amount of time. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it.
Aurora and Misha are a thing. Like an actual couple.
With Misha belonging to the bratva and Aurora’s father still their enemy, I don’t see how this will work.
Walking to the dining hall with my friend, I bite my bottom lip to keep the words in. She’s so freaking happy, and the last thing I want to do is pop her bubble.
We’re having dinner with Misha and his friends, which means I have to sit at a table with three bratva enforcers who probably won’t hesitate to kill me once we set foot off St. Monarch’s grounds.
Yay me.
When we reach the table, my eyes skim over the three men. They’re all attractive in their own way, and I’m sure girls fall over their feet to spend a night with them.
Just not this girl. My spine is stiff as Alek, the insane one, reaches for the chair next to his, yanking it back while muttering, “Sit your ass down, woman. I’m starving.”
You’re doing this for Aurora.
“Be still my beating heart,” I mutter as I slump down in the chair. I watch as Misha kisses Aurora on the forehead, and the moment is so sweet I briefly forget about the lunatic next to me.
I pick up a menu, and while scanning over the selection of food, I wave a server closer.
“What would you like to order, Madam?” the server asks.
I tap my pointer finger on my bottom lip as I say, “I want calamari with lemon butter, the fifty-hour-cooked beef short rib, and thhhhe…”
“Iisus Khristos,” Alek mutters next to me. “Just bring her the whole fucking menu.”
Shooting the jerk a scowl, I say. “Shut up.” I turn my attention back to the server and smile at him. “And I’ll have a serving of fries.” Just as the server looks at Alek, I add, “Oh, and a Sprite Zero, please.”
“Seriously?” Alek stares at me. “Diet soda won’t help shit when you eat so much.”
Excuse me?
My temper flares sky-high as I glare at the man who clearly has a death wish. “Are you calling me fat?”
His eyes drift over me, then the corner of his mouth lifts in a dark smirk. “No.”
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
“I like Sprite Zero,” I explain, then look at Aurora. “What are you having?”
“Your leftovers,” she chuckles.
Everyone places their orders, then Aurora and Misha forget about the world around them and start whispering to each other.
They look good together.
It takes a while before they notice Alek, Armani, and me staring at them.
Searching for a safe topic of conversation, I say, “Aurora and I are going to the nearby town on Saturday.”
“You’re what?” Misha asks, giving me an incredulous look.
Okay, maybe that wasn’t a safe topic. My bad.
Aurora smiles at Misha. “Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. We’re going shopping.”
Alek raises his eyebrows and chuckles. “And I’m told to behave when you’re about to lose your shit.”
“Why?” Aurora’s eyes dart to Misha’s face. “The hits have been canceled.”
They have?
I glance between Misha and Aurora, wondering whether the hits were canceled because he’s dating her.
I didn’t know Misha had that kind of power in the bratva.
But damn, yayyy.
It will be awesome to move around without worrying someone will blow your brains out.
Armani decides to join the conversation by saying, “That doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to leave the grounds.”
If the hits are canceled, there’s really no reason why we can’t leave St. Monarch’s for a couple of hours. I glance around the table as I say, “Yes, but no one besides the three of you will know about our little escape act.”
Misha takes a deep breath, then says, “The three of us will go with you.”
Ugh. I was hoping to have Aurora to myself. I hardly get to spend time with her since she started hooking up with Misha.
“The fuck?” Alek asks, looking stunned out of his mind.
Armani groans, and rolling his eyes, he mutters, “I don’t do shopping trips with socialites.”
For once, I totally agree with them and add my two cents. “Yeah, I’m not so sure about that.”
Misha locks eyes with Aurora. “Either we go with, or you’re not setting foot off the grounds.”
Aurora turns her attention to me. “It’s okay, Abbie. They can carry all the bags.”
Ha. I’d love to see Alek carry the bags. Grinning, I agree, “Oh, right, I didn’t think about that.”
“The fuck?” Alek repeats, not looking happy at all.
Poking the beast, I pat Alek’s thigh. “It’s okay, crazy man. It will give you some training for when you find a woman insane enough to date you.”
Alek looks at my hand as if it’s a lump of shit before his eyes flick to my face. “Remove it if you want to keep it.”
I pull my hand away, and grabbing a napkin from the table, I pretend to wipe my palm while giving Alek a disgusted look.
Ugh, I’m so over this dinner.
Aurora doesn’t notice the tense moment between Alek and me, and says, “Before I forget, we won’t be here the weekend of the sixteenth. It’s my mom’s birthday.”
“Where will you be?” Misha asks. “For how long?”
Aww, he’s already a protective caveman when it comes to Aurora.
“At the Sartori vacation home here in Switzerland. It will just be for the Saturday and Sunday.”
“Then you’re coming back?” He asks, his expression telling me he wants to lock Aurora in his suite.
I think I’d freaking swoon if Nikolai had to be like that with me. My ovaries won’t survive it.
I glance over my shoulder, and seeing the man who’s got my panties in a twist, I lose track of the conversation until Alek says, “About this Saturday, I’m not carrying anyone’s bags.”
“Such a gentleman,” I mutter absentmindedly. “You’ll make me swoon if you carry on like that.”
When I look at Alek, his expression is almost lifeless. A sense of fear ripples down my spine.
“Just in case there’s a misunderstanding, I don’t give a fuck about you.
I’m going for Misha.”
As the server arrives with some of the food, Armani stands up and gestures for Alek to switch seats with him.
Thank God for small mercies. I might not trust Armani as far as I can throw him, but at least he doesn’t look as unhinged as Alek.
When the server sets my plate of calamari down in front of me, Armani steals a piece.
Trying to be civil with at least one of Misha’s friends, I smile at Armani. “Help yourself.”
I don’t know what happens, but the next second, Aurora whispers, “Armani’s not her type. Relax.”
Laughter explodes from me as I shake my head. “Yeah, he’s a little too young for me.”
Alek leans forward to glance at me. “Armani’s older than you, woman.”
Jesus, help me with this man.
“First, stop calling me woman. I have a name. Second, he’s too young by at least ten years,” I snap at Alek. To bring my point across, I gesture to where Nikolai is sitting. “That’s the kind of man I’m interested in.”
Misha glances at me. “I thought you hated him.”
“Nah, it’s a love-hate relationship.” I pop a piece of calamari into my mouth and eat, even though I’d much rather be anywhere else than at this table.
“Does Nikolai know he’s in a relationship with you?” Alek asks, his tone biting.
Asshole. Seriously, the guy is giving me the creeps.
Misha lets out a sigh, and it has Alek shrugging, “I’m just asking a question.”
“I didn’t say we’re dating,” I mutter before stabbing my fork into another piece of calamari.
“Interesting fact,” Armani says. “Did you know Nikolai was married?” Every thought in my brain comes to a sudden stop as I gasp, “What?” “His wife died days after they got married. She had a heart problem.
Word is he hasn’t looked at another woman since.”
Holy shit.
My mouth is hanging open as I stare at Armani. “Oh wow, that’s so tragic,” Aurora murmurs.
“Yeah, unless he’s here, he’s at home with his family,” Alek adds. “The man doesn’t let anyone in. I can understand why.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I look at Nikolai where he’s sitting alone at a table. My heart twists in my chest, and suddenly I see him in a whole new light. I’ve been giving the man hell, and he’s mourning the loss of his wife.
Damn, don’t I feel like shit now.
Needing to talk about something else, I ask, “What time are we leaving on Saturday?”
“Ten?” Aurora looks at Misha to check that it’s okay with him. “Ten works,” He replies.
My appetite is totally gone from learning Nikolai was married and lost his wife.
I’ll definitely have to ease up on him and rather focus solely on my training.
My heart squeezes at the thought, not happy with giving up on Nikolai so easily.
He belongs to another woman, even if she’s no longer with us. Forcing things with him will just be shameful and stupid.