Fast asleep again, she doesn’t hear the translation.
After breakfast, I lead Winter to the barn. While inspecting the grounds, I saw it was set up for training.
“Why are you bringing me here?” She asks as we step inside.
“You’re a Vetrov which means you need to fight like one.”
Instantly there’s a spark in her eyes. “You’re going to train me?”
“Yes.” She knows how to fire a weapon, so I pull her to the mat, and turning to face her, I say, “When you’re faced with an enemy, there’s no time to size them up.” I begin to circle her, my gaze drifting over her body. “You’re not strong enough to go up against a man, but you’re quick.”
I move a couple of steps away from Winter and meet her gaze. “Attack me.”
She immediately assumes a fighting stance, and it has me shaking my head. “This isn’t St. Monarch’s. There will be no time to take in a fighting stance. Just attack.”
Winter darts forward, and I expect her to go for my legs, but instead, her arm wraps around my neck, and the next second she’s on my back, her legs wrapped around my waist. She tightens her hold, and I chuckle before I bend over and slam her against the mat. “Good move but instead of the neck, go for the eyes.”
Winter nods as she climbs to her feet. Her cheeks are flushed, and the paleness of grief removed.
I dart forward, and wrapping my arm around her neck, I yank her body back against mine. “Free yourself before I choke you.”
Winter struggles against my hold, and then her nails dig into my forearm.
“You know that’s not going to work on me. Do better,” I growl as I tighten my hold on her.
The next moment, Alexei says, “Slam your head into his face.”
Winter just reacts, and before her head can connect with my face, I step back, letting go of her.
Alexei and Demitri come to stand next to the mat, their arms crossed over their chests, then Alexei says, “A man has two weak spots. His cock and his face. If you can’t knee him, then you either remove his eyes or break his nose. It will buy you time to finish him off.”
Winter nods, drinking the information in.
“But,” Demitri says as he steps onto the mat, “It’s seldom you’re faced with only one enemy. What do you do when you’re outnumbered?”
“Fight like hell,” Winter mutters, making me chuckle.
“You go for the strongest one first,” Alexei advises her as he steps onto the mat as well.
Winter moves back as her eyes dart between the three of us, sizing up which of us are her most significant threat. She darts forward, and the next instant, Demitri has to quickly block before she knees him. I begin to laugh from the surprised expression on my brother’s face.
Then Winter explains, “Alexei trained as an assassin, and Damien has to sleep next to me, so it left you, my brother-in-law, as the biggest threat.”
Her explanation gets even a chuckle out of Alexei, then he mutters, “Good.”
For the next couple of hours, Alexei, Demitri, and I train Winter, showing her how to react faster and where to hit to inflict the most damage.
By the end of the training, Winter manages to block my blows, making the worry ease in my chest. I go for her neck, and she avoids my arm, her feet moving swiftly.
“Good,” I murmur, making her grin. I stop moving and smile at her. “We’re done for today.”
Winter eyes me warily, staying a safe distance away. Chuckling, I shake my head. “Training is over.” I begin to walk toward the door calling out, “Come, Wife.”
Chapter 21
WINTER
After lunch, Alexei glances between Damien and me, saying, “Come with me.”
We follow him to my father’s study, and there’s a sad twinge as I take a seat at the desk where my father spent most of his time whenever he was home.
Alexei opens a laptop and turns it so both Damien and I can see the screen, then he says, “The finances look good.”
My eyes dart over the figures and pointing toward the total amount, I ask, “Is that how much I… we have?”
Alexei smirks. “Yes. One point five billion. That’s not taking into account the diamonds your father has in the vault.”
“Did you get the code to the vault?” I ask.
Alexei shakes his head. “I had to break in. We’ll need to get a new vault.” He gets up to retrieve a small wooden case, and when he opens it, my gaze drifts over the sparkling diamonds. Alexei gestures to the largest one. “I have a buyer. He’ll pay fifty million for this one.”
My eyes dart up to Alexei’s as it begins to set in that I’ll be okay financially. More than okay.
“Thank you, Alexei,” I murmur as I glance down at the diamonds.