“Agreed.” He took a step closer to the lines that had been marked out in the dirt, indicating the fighting area. “Come on, Nova. Fucking knock her out.”
“Violent.”
He grinned at me, wild and savage. “Only joking.” He wasn’t joking, and honestly, it scared me sometimes when I got a glimpse of the dark thing inside him, something he kept leashed with his iron self-control. If it ever came out?—
The brunette threw the first punch, but Nova ducked outof the way, light on her feet. She twirled on her heels, her ponytail whipping out, and then slashed the brunette’s thigh with a spinning side kick. The brunette cried out, stumbling.
“Fuck, yeah. We’ve been working on that move.” Ryker was intent on the fight, bouncing on his toes. “Follow it up, Nov.”
As if she’d heard him, she followed up the side kick with a back kick and then a jab to the ribs. Doubling over, the brunette gasped for breath while Nova danced back out of reach, her chest heaving with exertion. She was so fucking sexy in that moment, powerful and untouchable.
And then Volkov appeared, striding into the centre of the yard with fury written all over his face.
Ryker inhaled sharply. “Shit. He doesnotlook happy.”
In an instant, Volkov’s apparent fury was gone, replaced with his usual cold mask. He spoke quietly, but his voice carried, echoing off the prison walls. “No one touches my fiancée, unless they want to make an enemy of the Volkovs. Is that clear?”
The brunette was already crying, pushing through the crowd in her haste to escape, and I watched as the people closest to Volkov shrank away. He turned sharply, wrapping his arm around Nova and pulling her into his side.
She was trembling, and at first, I thought she was upset. But then I realised she was trembling with rage.
As they passed me, I caught snatches of their conversation, mostly indistinct, but a few of the words reached me.
“…no wife of mine will ever have any need to get her hands dirty. The Volkov name will protect you…”
My eyes met Nova’s, hers defiant, and I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. Her mouth curved up in return,some of her rage burning away, and I held her gaze until Volkov whisked her away through the crowds.
“That went well,” Ry commented drily.
I stared after them, trying to catch a glimpse of their retreating backs. “Aren’t you going to go after them? Want me to go?”
Ryker shook his head. “Look. Liana’s going after them. Didn’t you see Nova signal to her just now?”
As we watched, Liana jogged to catch up with them, coming up on Nova’s free side and threading her arm through hers. “I missed it, but I’m glad she’s staying safe. Volkov seemed pissed off, and I don’t want her in any danger.”
“She’s sensible, and honestly, even though I told her to be careful around him, I can’t see him doing anything to jeopardise our agreement. What just happened…it’s a matter of pride for him, really. I know it’s different for you. Your mum and your sister both have their own careers, and they’re not expected to fade into the background. In the world of the Thorpes and the Volkovs, women are fucking accessories. It’s fucked up, and it’s something I’m gonna change when I’m in charge because, honestly, too many men are power-hungry bastards that fuck things up even more instead of making them better. I think Nova would do a better job of running the syndicate than I would. She has a clearer head than I do.”
“You’d ask her to lead it with you?”
“No.” He sighed. “I wouldn’t ask that of her. I know she resents being in our world, and I don’t blame her. I’d get us both out if I could.”
My eyes widened as I stared at him. “You’dleave?”
“It’s all hypothetical. My point is, look at how the Hoytons run their firm. Dan’s mum is a big part of it. Yeah, itonly happened after his dad was killed, but the fact is, they treat women as equals, which they fucking are. Look at how much more fucked up I am than you and Dan.” His jaw was set, the words spilling out of him in a harsh undertone. “C’mon, I’m not in the mood to fight anymore. Let’s go back to yours and go through those numbers. You haven’t finished yet, have you?”
I really wanted to respond to his words, to reassure him, but it was clear he wanted a change of subject. I knew he’d never tell me what was going on in his head—tonight was the closest he’d ever come, probably, so if he wanted a distraction, I could give him that. “Not even close. There’s so much data to go through, and it goes back years. If you really don’t wanna fight, I could use the help.”
“Let’s do it,” he said.
“Attwood.”
“Volkov.”I came to a halt in the corridor.
“A word.” Volkov flicked his finger in the direction of the classroom to his right.
When we were inside the empty room, the door closed behind us, he prowled up to me, shoving at my chest.
“What the fuck, Volkov?” I snarled. “Get your hands off me.”
