I don’t.
Alexei stands off to the side, immaculate as always, hands clasped behind his back.
Nolan is near him, voice low, talking fast. “…routes are clean through Miami now,” he says. “But his next event needs tighter security. If your client—”
“—is my concern,” Alexei replies calmly.
I can’t hear everything. I’m not meant to.
A blow lands hard enough to knock the breath out of me. I gasp, chest burning, and barely manage to roll before a boot comes down where my head was a second ago. I scramble up, dizzy.
My fist connects with teeth. There’s a crack and a filthy curse, pride sparking in my chest for one moment.
Well, bad idea.
They swarm me for that. Hands grab my arms, shove me forward, and force me upright when my knees buckle. A punch slams into my side where fresh bruises stain my skin. Pain explodes through me. I cry out, and laughter fucking follows.
“Can’t be a soft boy,” one of them says.
“Again,” another repeats.
I glimpse Adriana for half a second as they drag me back into position. She’s standing near the wall, arms crossed tight over her chest, knuckles white. Her face is pale. She’s uncomfortable.
The next hit caves into my ribs and sends me to the floor. I don’t get to stay there, because someone hauls me up by the back of my shirt and jerks me forward hard enough that my teeth click together. My legs shake. Sweat drips into my eyes, stinging. My lungs feel shredded, like I’ve been breathing glass.
“Straighten your fucking feet,” a voice growls near my ear.
I sway, then steady myself, raising my hands again. Violence comes in waves after that. I block. I miss. I get hit. I hit back. They correct me when I’m sloppy. Twist my arm when my angle’s wrong. Drive a knee into my thigh to remind me to keep my stance grounded. When I react too slowly, I pay for it. When I react fast enough, they nod.
I don’t know how long it goes on. Time melts into impact, breath, and pain. My body moves even when my head feels like there’s nothing left inside but muscle memory and instinct. I’m an animal fighting and defending itself.
This is all I’m going to be soon.
I take a hit to the gut that finally drops me for real. I curl inward instinctively, bile burning the back of my throat. My hands slip on the concrete. My vision swims.
“Get up,” someone says, bored now.
When I don’t move fast enough, a boot nudges my ribs, testing me. I force myself onto my hands and knees before they kick me. I can’t take any more on my sides. It fucking hurts. I glance sideways without thinking.
Adriana’s gaze is locked on me. Her lips are pressed tight together, and her eyes look…wet. That’s something I’m not entirely used to yet.
A hand grips my arm and yanks me upright again.
“No breaks,” Alexei says mildly from across the room.
My head snaps up at the sound of his voice. My pulse spikes and my stomach twists.
Conditioned by his mere fucking presence.
He watches me for a moment, dark eyes assessing, then nods once in approval. “Continue.”
And they do.
By the time Alexei decides we’re done for the day, I’m shaking too hard to hide it. My arms feel like dead weight. Blood trickles down from my split lip. They let me stand there, swaying, humiliated in my exhaustion.
Alexei steps closer. “You’re learning,” he says quietly. “Faster than I expected.”
I don’t answer. I don’t trust my voice not to crack or sound hoarse. I’d just rather not.
