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)
“It seems I first have to train you in the seriousness of combat,” I say. I wave a hand at Seijo then point to Aurora. “The two of you will fight.”
Abigail gives me a horrified look. “It’s unfair for a man to fight a woman.”
Not in our world.
Letting out a dark chuckle, I point at the sparring mat. “There’s no such thing as fairness in our world, Miss Sartori.” I glance between Aurora and Seijo. “Fight or leave my class.”
Seijo Shinoda is a yakuza soldier who can fight pretty well. He’s going to hurt Aurora, which is a fucking pity, but it’s the only way to get Abigail under control, or she’ll make my life a living hell with all her flirting and careless behavior.
“Why Aurora? Why not me?” Abigail asks, her beautiful features tight with the worry that’s finally starting to sink in.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” I mutter with a smirk.
I have to be cruel to be kind, and honestly, unless someone is related to me or one of the few people I call friend, I have zero compassion.
With my arms crossed over my chest, I nod at Seijo and Aurora so the fight will start.
My attention is split between the sparring mat and Abigail, so I can see her reaction because if she doesn’t learn her lesson today, she never will.
Aurora is so far out of her comfort zone, and she has no clue what to do as Seijo attacks. With a kick to the side of her head, he drops her ass to the floor.
“Stop this!” Abigail shouts, shock and panic tightening her features even more.
I ignore her and watch as Seijo keeps attacking. He gets Aurora on her back before he starts punching the shit out of her.
My muscles tighten, and I have to forcefully keep myself from ripping Seijo of Aurora. I find no joy in watching a woman get beaten.
Christ, I can’t believe D’Angelo and Sartori sent their daughters here without any prior training.
Abigail and Aurora must learn how cruel our world is, or they won’t live for long. My sister could kick a grown man’s ass at the age of ten.
I shake my head, unable to understand why the two women’s parents raised them to be so vulnerable.
“Jesus,” Abigail sobs, and when she darts forward, my arm shoots out to stop her. I grab hold of her, yanking her to my side, my grip merciless as I keep her from intervening.
Abigail tries to rip free from me, her eyes wildly flying between her friend and me. “Please!” she begs, her face crumbling.
“Enough!” I snap at Seijo.
I point at Aurora lying on the floor in a world of pain. With rage roaring through my veins, I lock eyes with Abigail. “You did this to your friend. If you could fight, you’d be able to protect her. If she could fight, she wouldn’t have had her ass handed to her. Next time you walk into my studio, you better take the lessons seriously, or one of you will be carried out on a stretcher.” My tone is brutal as I bite out, “Do. You. Understand. Me?”
Abigail’s skin is deathly pale, and there’s none of her careless attitude as she nods, “I understand.”
“This is not a playground for a socialite,” I mutter as I let go of her arm. “This is where you learn the difference between staying alive to fight another day or dying.”
She nods again, and with caution and horror darkening her eyes, she hurries to her friend’s side.
Abigail helps Aurora to her feet before asking, “May we be excused from class?”
“Yes.” I snap and glance away from the women before explaining my actions. “I knew it would hurt you more to watch Aurora being beaten. By using the person you love most, I taught you a lesson you’ll never forget. Do you now understand why I didn’t let you fight?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” As Abigail and Aurora leave the room, I turn my attention to the remaining four attendees and order, “Get back to the lesson!”
My uncle better find a replacement quickly before I kill someone. I’m not cut out for this shit.
Guilt tries to creep into my chest because I allowed Aurora to get beaten up, but I squash it quickly. What I did today can save the women’s lives. Hopefully, they’ll take their training seriously from now on.
Either they toughen up, or they won’t live long enough to see their twenty-fifth birthdays when they leave the protection of St. Monarch’s.
Paula manages to flip her brother on his ass, and I give her a nod of approval. “Good. Do it again.”
Focusing on the woman, who’s doing her best to learn combat fighting, I step closer to give her some pointers.
When the class comes to an end, I head to Uncle Carson’s office. The guards see me coming and quickly open the door.