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Chapter 10
Abbie
Yesterday it felt like I was making progress with Nikolai, then I made the mistake of hugging him. The man left the studio as if hellhounds were nipping at his ankles.
It sucks.
It’s getting to the point where I’m embarrassing myself. The man has given me nothing to work with, and continuously flirting with him is just stupid.
At first, it was fun, just a little game, but somewhere during the past weeks, it became something more. I’m growing feelings for Nikolai, which I plan on squashing today.
Standing in the foyer of St. Monarch’s, I watch as the three bratva enforcers arm themselves with their guns.
Yeah, I’m not so sure about leaving the premises with them. Misha might be into Aurora, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try to kill me.
Maybe we shouldn’t go out today.
Aurora glances at me, then asks, “Everything okay?”
“I just realized we’re leaving the safety of St. Monarch’s with three bratva and mafia soldiers. I’ll shit myself if they turn on us.” I meet my friend’s eyes. “How sure are you about Misha?”
“Like life-and-death sure. He won’t hurt us,” she tries to reassure me. “Yeah, but I might,” Alek chuckles before he walks out of the doors. Bastard.
“Don’t listen to the fucker,” Misha says as he takes hold of Aurora’s hand. “Just stick close to me.”
“Got it,” I chuckle before hooking my arm through Aurora’s free one.
With apprehension curling around my spine, we step out of the castle and climb into an armored SUV. Misha sits at the back with Aurora and me, while Alek takes the passenger side and Armani slides in behind the steering wheel.
“Ready?” Armani asks.
Nope. Not by a long shot, but if Aurora trusts Misha, then I’ll just have to do the same.
Misha grips Aurora’s thigh as he mutters, “Yeah, let’s do this.”
As Armani steers the SUV through the massive iron gates, I mutter, “If my father saw me now, he’d kill me himself.”
Aurora chuckles. “That makes two of us.”
Yeah, her father is just as strict as mine. The man is going to shit himself when he finds out his daughter is dating Misha Petrov.
My eyes keep darting between the gorgeous scenery passing us by and the back of Alek’s head.
Jesus, don’t let this be the biggest mistake of my life.
Stop worrying. The hits on you and Aurora have been canceled.
When we reach the heart of Geneva, Armani finds a parking space close to Louis Vuitton. Seeing one of my favorite stores lifts some of the apprehension to make space for excitement.
When I reach for the car door handle, Misha snaps, “Wait. You only get out when I give the signal.”
“What’s the signal?” Aurora asks.
“We’ll fucking wave like cheerleaders,” Alek mutters before he climbs out of the SUV.
Yeah, this is not the fun shopping trip I envisioned when I mentioned it to Aurora. If it were just the two of us sneaking out, no one would’ve known.
The instant Misha gestures for us to get out of the SUV, we walk toward him. When we enter the store, I separate from the group and head for the handbags. “Sweet Jesus, I’m in heaven.”
“Let’s not make a day of this,” Aurora says behind me. “The guys are tense.”
Yeah, so am I.
Wanting to set Aurora at ease, I smile as I ask, “Can I have thirty minutes to enjoy in Louis?” Before I have to get back into an SUV with Alek.
“Thirty minutes,” she agrees with a chuckle.
Aurora heads back to Misha, and try as I might, I can’t focus on the stunning collection of handbags. It feels like something is crawling over my skin, and I keep glancing around for any sign of danger.
Knowing Aurora will worry if I don’t buy something, I grab a couple of items and take them to the counter. After handing my purchases to the cashier, I glance over the store until my eyes land on my best friend, who’s walking toward me.
“Did you find anything?” She asks when she reaches me.
Faking excitement, I say, “Yes! Two handbags and the cutest pair of pants.”
When I show her the items, she grins. “Ooh, I like the black one.” She picks it up to admire it. “Gosh, the leather is so soft.”
“Can we have another bag like this one?” I ask the cashier before smiling at Aurora. “Matching bags.”
Damn, I miss spending time with my friend.
My stomach rumbles as I pay for my purchases, and as we walk toward the exit where the guys are waiting, I ask, “Do you think they’ll mind stopping at a drive-thru? I’m dying for a burger.”
“I’m sure they won’t mind.”
When we reach Misha, I ask, “Can we stop at Burger King? I’m buying for everyone.”
“Then we can definitely make a quick stop,” Armani chuckles.
While Misha seems dangerous, he’s good for Aurora. Alek, though, is cold and edgy. But Armani is at least pleasant and friendly. It’s actually weird seeing the bratva and Italian mafia work together.
Then again, the head of the Italian mafia married Viktor Vetrov’s sister. Hence an alliance was formed. I’ve heard Luca Cotroni and Viktor are like brothers, so if you go up against one, you have to face both.
We leave the store and walk toward the SUV. We only make it a couple of yards before Alek shouts, “Down!”
Armani grabs hold of me and shoves me down behind the nearest parked vehicle. “Stay down.”
Horrifying shock vibrates through every cell in my body. Time slows, and it feels like I’m having an out-of-body experience as I watch Armani yank his gun from where it was tucked into the waistband of his pants.
Glass shatters behind us, and the realization hits like a ton of bricks – someone just tried to assassinate Aurora and me.
Anxiously my eyes search for my friend, and seeing her next to Misha, I feel a sliver of relief.
“We have to get out of here,” Misha shouts.
“Just stay covered,” Alek yells to all of us, then he breaks out into a sprint, and dropping to his side, he slides toward the SUV while firing his weapon.
Jesus, he’s actually helping to protect Aurora and me.
A spray of bullets slams into the parked vehicles, making glass shatter everywhere. People on the sidewalk scream and run for cover.
Armani takes shots as well while shouting at me, “Run for the SUV!”
Oh, God.
My breaths race over my dry lips as I look at the distance between me and the SUV. I can easily be killed.
Jesus.
Shit.
“Move!” Armani roars.
Darting to my feet, I run as fast as I can. Every step, every second, the anticipation of a bullet hitting me grows. My skin prickles, and my vision tunnels on the black SUV.
I see Aurora dive into the back of the SUV, and when I reach the open door, she grabs hold of my hand and yanks me inside.
I fall over my friend, and when her arms wrap around me, I can only gasp as the shock of what just happened hits.
“I’ve got you,” Aurora coos while Misha, Alek, and Armani pile into the vehicle.
While everybody checks that no one’s been hit, my mind reels from the attack.
I thought we were safe. I thought the hits were canceled. I could’ve died today.
Only when we reach St. Monarch’s do I ask, “What the hell just happened?”
“Someone tried to blow your brains out, sweetheart,” Alek mutters from the passenger seat.
No. Fucking. Shit.
Aurora pulls me into a hug. “You’re okay. It’s all that matters.”
When Armani stops the SUV in front of St. Monarch’s castle, Alek shoves his door open, snapping, “Next time you want to spend your daddy’s money, think twice. You’re such an easy fucking target.”
“Me?” I gasp.
Then it sinks in – the hit on me wasn’t canceled.
Was it only canceled for Aurora? Why the fuck didn’t they tell me? Jesus, I really could’ve died today.