When I take my seat next to Alek, he nudges his shoulder against mine. “Show off.”
Chapter 15
Aurora
After weeks in hell, I feel so miserable all I want to do is crawl beneath my covers and sleep.
Instead of doing what I want, Abbie and I walk into the room where our evading and escaping kidnapping lessons will take place.
God, I want to go home.
“Hopefully, we won’t get beaten up in this class,” I mutter, my body sore from all the training I’ve been doing.
I’ve been working my butt off to reach the goal weights Misha set for me each week. It’s been grueling, but I do feel myself getting stronger. But nothing I do impresses Misha. He just keeps barking orders, still cold and closed off.
It hurts. Every freaking day.
“From your lips to God’s ears.” Abbie glances around, then frowns. “Is it just the two of us?”
Just then, the Almeida twins walk into the room, followed by a woman who seems to be in her mid-thirties. Just like Abby and myself, the Almeida twins keep to themselves.
We quickly learned that we won’t be making any friends at St. Monarch’s. Most nights, Abbie and I choose to have dinner in one of our suites. Whenever it feels like the walls are closing in on us, we ask for a picnic basket and find a quiet spot in the gardens.
The gardens are picture-perfect. At the back of the property, there’s a path bordered by old trees that leads to a waterfall. At least once a week, I try to spend some time there so I can just catch my breath and re-center myself.
To my surprise, more attendees arrive, but my stomach sinks as Misha and his two friends also join us. I was hoping this would be one class I don’t have to see him.
I still don’t get why he has to help me with everything, and whenever I ask why, I’m told it’s because he’s the best.
The best at working on my nerves. I’m so over this madness.
“Yay, more people for the instructor to focus on,” I whisper.
“Everybody’s here, right?” the woman in her thirties calls out. “Good. I’m Instructor Yelena, and I’ll be showing you how to evade and escape a kidnapping.”
Abbie glances at her left hand, then whispers, “I’m in desperate need of a manicure. Tomorrow’s Saturday, right?”
I look at my own nails that have seen better days. “Yes.”
“Follow me,” Instructor Yelena says.
We wait for everyone to walk before Abbie and I fall into the back of the line.
“Remind me to make an appointment at the spa. We deserve a relaxing day tomorrow,” Abbie says.
“Okay.” I feel all the aches in my body. “A massage would be amazing.”
“Yes!”
“This is where we’ll train,” Instructor Yelena’s voice carries through what looks like the inside of a warehouse.
To my left are a variety of chairs, chains, ropes, and cuffs hanging from the ceiling. There are also beds with bondage stuff. At the far back are stacks and stacks of crates, and to the right are sparring mats.
Ugh. Please don’t let us do combat training in this class. I need a break.
“Jesus. Are we being taught BDSM or how to survive a kidnapping?” Abbie mutters. “It’s a little too kinky for my taste.”
I smother a chuckle.