Our first day of training involved basic moves, trying to increase her speed should she need to bolt.Whenshe needs to run.
Not having faith in her is terrible, but after the past few days, the statistics aren’t in her favour. And I don’t know what to do about it.
By day two, Anastasia joined us, which I both appreciate and hate. Having Serafina alone helps clear my head of hell. However, Anastasia’s presence is valuable, considering she’s fought men double her size many times.
“Another thing we need to consider,” Ana muses, folding a hand beneath her chin, “is where we’re hiding this weapon. Weshould try to hide a couple of them on you, just in case. You need to be practicing with two.”
“Two?” Serafina groans. “I barely manage one.”
“Until we know where the two will be hidden, she should master one. She might not be able to reach a second weapon.” Last thing she needs is to be handicapped because we didn’t prepare her the right way.
Serafina lifts her head. “Do I get a say?”
“Nyet,”my sister and I respond simultaneously.
I push to my feet, reaching for her knife to flip it shut. “Let’s go again, but this time, we’ll make it real. Stab me. I’ll fight back. Pretend the knife is open.”
She takes my assistance to get her back onto her feet, tucking stray hairs around her ear. Her shoulders are tight, but my little warrior takes the knife regardless and shifts her feet into position.
“Wait,” my sister calls, rushing between us. “We should start depicting a few different scenarios. After all, we don’t know what the night will look like. He might put her right into the bed or start on the floor. Then there’s the wall… Point is, different positions.”
Every fucking day, I live with the image of VitalewithSerafina. Touching her. Being near her.Breathingon her. Now, to imagine different positions…all because my fucking sister can’t keep her mouth shut.
Ana takes in my clenched jaw and flicks the skin there. “Relax. I meant, this might be a good thing. There will be other opportunities to strike. We don’t know exactly what’ll happen that night; we’re all only guessing.”
“Admit it.” Serafina climbs to her feet and tosses the knife towards Ana, who catches it with one hand. “There’s zero point in practicing because we don’t know what’s going to happen. I get it—stab him. Beyond that, there are too many unknowns toaccount for. Hell, we don’t even know the room’s layout, and that can change a lot. If he’ll strip me himself or make me do it. If he’ll?—”
“Okay,” I snap, cutting her off. The visions my head constructs are bad enough; no need for her to create other ones.
“She’s right.” My sister taps her lips. “Not to say it’s pointless, but it’s a challenge. As she said, there are too many variables to account for.”
Whose fucking side are you on?
Exhaling loudly, I glare at her. “You used to do this all the fucking time! Can’t tell me you had every interaction perfectly planned.”
My sister isn’t fazed by my shout. “I lure them into a vulnerable position.” Her eyes snap to Serafina, smile slowly expanding. “Maybe that’s it. Take charge that night. Seem interested. Lower his guard.”
“Nyet.”
Both women turn towards me. Anastasia—amused. Serafina—grimacing.
“No. That’s not fuckin’ happening.” My teeth slide together painfully. “It won’t work. If you appear interested, he’ll know something’s up and get suspicious. He’s aware you’re not doing this willingly.”
“What if I do? It’s believable Zeno would train me to embrace this, to be pleased about wedding a man with great influence within the Cosa Nostra.” She gags at her own praise for Vitale. “I’ll play nice at the reception and make it believable.”
Every syllable strips more of my sanity—the very little I’m clinging to after the few weeks from hell.
“If he doesn’t believe it?” He won’t. I wouldn’t. She wouldn’t change so abruptly.
“Then I fight.”
She doesn’t get it. She’s not understanding how dangerous he is.
My hands reach for her before I realize what I’m doing, dragging her against my body, holding her tighter than I have in days. My observing sister means little, not if it gets Serafina to understand.
Cupping the side of her face, my thumb nudging her chin up while my fingers wrap the back of her neck, I grind out,“I can’t lose you to this.”
Silence hovers throughout the Bratva gym we’ve cleared out for her training. My focus narrows so everything beyond the woman in my arms fades.
