I know it’s training, and she’ll get hurt a hell of a lot more, but my heart refuses to look the other way. It’s one thing for me to threaten her, but I won’t stand for another man laying a hand on her.
Nikolai exhales, then asks, “Are you going to beat up every guy who has to fight her in my class?”
Locking eyes with him, I nod. “Tit-for-tat.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, then he chuckles. “Trust the three of you to make my life hard.”
When Instructor Nikolai walks away, Armani glances at me. “You’re looking for shit.”
Alek throws an arm around my shoulder. “Hey, at least I get to beat up those yakuza scum.”
Armani ignores Alek’s comment. “What do you think will happen if Viktor hears that you’ve got the hots for the enemy?”
I have no fucking idea.
“He’ll probably pat Misha on the shoulder,” Alek mutters. When we both stare at him, he shrugs, “The Vetrovs are known for marrying their enemies. Alexei Koslov married Isabella Terrero. Damien Vetrov married Winter Hemsley. Viktor married Rosalie whats-her-name. They were all enemies before falling in love.”
“Jesus Christ, Alek,” Armani snaps. “You’re not fucking helping.”
“It’s the truth,” Alek exclaims with a shrug.
“I’m not marrying anyone,” I say. “Can we focus on the game instead of the past and present bratva bosses' love lives?”
“Oh yeah,” Alek rubs his hands together, looking way too eager, “How are we doing this? Do we each pick one, or is it a free for all?”
Armani lets out a sigh, shaking his head at Alek.
“Seijo is mine. I don’t care what you do with the others,” I say.
We walk down the hallway toward the armory and greet Instructor Grigory, who’s in charge of weapons training.
“We’re just going to have a game of laser tag,” I tell the instructor.
“Just the three of you?” he asks as he takes three laser guns from the shelf.
“Six of us,” I reply as the members of the yakuza arrive.
“Should I be worried?” Instructor Grigory asks.
“Not at all,” Alek answers with a wide grin.
“Right,” Instructor Grigory says drily. He hands us each a gun and vest. “Smoke and music?”
“Please.” After putting on the vest, I hoist the gun's strap over my shoulder, then look at the other men, “Ready?”
The three yakuza don’t bother answering and walk toward the building.
“Let’s do this,” Alek says, the crazy glint he usually gets during action already in his eyes.
I might push you away,moy malen'kiy olen', but I won’t let a man hurt you and get away with it.
We all file into the building, and as soon as the door shuts behind us, we’re engulfed in darkness, unable to see anything but shadows and smoke.
The strobing lights and deafening beat come on, and the three yakuza run deeper into the building. My eyes track Seijo as he heads up the stairs to the first floor.
With the red and blue lights illuminating our surroundings every other second, we set off after the yakuza.
Reaching the stairs, I split from Alek and Armani and go after Seijo. The instant I reach the top, I drop and roll until I’m hidden behind a crate.