Chiara
CHIARA
I haven’t seen Nikolai for nearly three weeks and it’s honestly freaking me out. We had dinner as a ‘family’ the day after I arrived and ever since then I’ve slept with my door locked. But he hasn’t even been home, and I’ve been nothing but a ball of anxiety because what if he just pops up randomly?
I’ve scheduled the day for lifting, and I hate that my mind isn’t here. The last thing I want is for a dumbbell to fall on my head because my stupid step-brother decides to surprise me. And I know he would, too. He’s an ass like that.
My mother arranged one of Dmitri’s men to help me, and I learned later on that he’s actually my honest-to-God bodyguard.
Wayne; good guy, doesn’t say much and is a lot of help when sparring. The strong silent type, like men should be. 10 / 10 would totally recommend.
Oh, don’t look at me like that, I know you think the same.
After applying the chalk to my hands, I get below the bar and Wayne reminds me to keep my posture before I start lifting. The first five reps are easy and Wayne gradually adds more weight, but he always keeps them above what I can take .
My last rep is a bit more difficult, but I push through until I’m done. After he helps me return the weight to the bar, I lay there, breathless and know my body will hurt tonight. It will be worth it, though; nothing better than workout pain.
“Thanks, Wayne, it’s getting easier. I actually enjoyed that last round,” I say with my eyes closed while trying to catch my breath.
“Oh, trust me, I enjoyed the view myself.”
My heart leaps into overdrive and when I open my eyes, it’s not Wayne’s brown eyes staring down at me, but Nikolai’s icy-blue ones. He’s wearing that god-forsaken smirk again, too.
I sit up quickly and spin around to face him, noticing that he’s not alone, and that Wayne is standing by the door. How the heck didn’t I hear them come in?
“What the hell, Nikolai?” I say, knowing I’m not even sounding intimidating at all. I’m sweaty, out of breath and looking at two people who I’m pretty sure were carved by the Gods themselves.
Nikolai brought in a guy as muscular and tall as him, with the same tattoo on the side of his neck, as well as tattoos down his left arm. He has dark eyes, dark curls that brush his shoulders and looks like he’s in the sun all day.
In short, the guy is hot as hell and has a better tan than me.
“Thought you could do with some help,” Nikolai says with a grin and I feel his eyes raking over my body. I’m only wearing black gym shorts and a sports bra, but the way he’s looking at me makes me feel naked.
“I was doing just fine with Wayne, thank you very much. And if you could kindly not look at me like that and go away,” I say, crossing my arms and turning around to head to the treadmill.
I hear a whistle behind me and I know it’s because they’ve seen the dragon tattoo taking up my entire back. Its wings span my back, shoulder to shoulder, and its tail goes right around my waist .
“That’s the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” I hear an unknown voice speak and know it’s Nikolai’s friend. “That’s your new sister? Do you mind if I?—“
“Fuck off, Mihai. I’m supposed to be looking out for her, according to my father. So no, you’re not touching her,” Nikolai says in a bored tone and I try to tune them out, but then I hear his footsteps coming up behind me. He walks up next to the treadmill I’m on, but I don’t look at him.
“So, why have you decided to become Wonder Woman?” he asks in that drawl of his, and I roll my eyes.
“Since I learned that I’ll be attending a school with different versions of you, and figured I like being alive,” I say and chance a look at him. Oh, he’s not smirking this time around.
“You’ve decided to go? That’s interesting,” he says, leaning back against the treadmill next to mine and crossing his arms. “What changed your mind? Realizing you’ll be seeing me every day?”
“Oh, please, that would have sent me running the other way,” I say, and his friend bursts out laughing. “Don’t think so highly of yourself. I’m doing this for me, and I’d rather not die because people know who my step-dad is. Self preservation is a hell of a thing.”
I turn off the treadmill and grab my water bottle, not looking at him but knowing he’s staring me down. When I eventually do look up, I see he is indeed staring at me again.
“Hmm,” he says, then he looks at his friend and grins.
“What?” I ask, annoyed now.
Nikolai shrugs. “I’ve decided to help you now that I know you’re not some air-head using my father,” he says, stepping back. “Can you fight?”
I blanch and look at him, knowing he’s expecting me to be baited by the fact that he thought I was an air-head. But I’m not going to give him that satisfaction .
“Yes, I can fight. Why?—“
Before I can finish that sentence, he aims a punch toward my head and I immediately dodge it. I jump from the treadmill and get into a fighting stance without even thinking about it.
“What the fuck?” I cry out, and he walks toward me, rolling up his shirtsleeves. His signet ring is now accompanied by another one on his pinky finger. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Helping you. You want to survive Willow Bridge, correct?” he asks and I nod. “Then I’ll help you. I’m supposed to be looking out for you anyway, seeing as I am older, and no member of this family will be pushed around. You’re practically fucking royalty now, so show me what you’ve got, .”
I try and fail to not look surprised at his use of my real name. He seems genuine about his offer, and I am no longer getting a cocky, slimy feeling from him. So, against my better judgment, I attack him.
I lunge forward with a swift jab, aiming for his side, but Nikolai easily sidesteps, his chuckle grating against my nerves. He’s smirking, that annoyingly confident grin that tells me he thinks he’s already won.
“Too slow, little sister. You need to anticipate movements, not just react to them.”
I grit my teeth, circling him, watching for an opening. “I was just testing the waters. Watch closely; you might learn something.”
Nikolai raises an eyebrow, feinting to the left before swinging a leg out in a low sweep. I jump back, narrowly avoiding the move.
“Good reflexes,” he nods, ‘but jumping back won’t always save you. Sometimes, you have to be aggressive—move into the attack.”
“Like this?” I feint a step backward, then charge, using my momentum to throw a series of punches. He blocks each one, but I can tell he’s impressed.
“Left open,” he comments, a smirk playing on his lips as he easily deflects my attempt at a hook punch. “You telegraph your moves, . It’s like you’re announcing your plans to me.”
I spin out of his grip, panting slightly. “Maybe I’m just luring you into a false sense of security,” I say, trying a different tactic—quick, successive kicks aimed at keeping him on the defensive.
Nikolai deflects my kicks, his movements fluid, almost casual. “Cute idea, but in a real fight, surprises work better.”
I nod, absorbing his advice despite myself. As we reset, he taps his chin mockingly.
“Hit me here, come on. Imagine it’s the face of someone who wants to take something you’re not willing to give, not your dearly beloved stepbrother.”
I roll my eyes and launch forward, fueled by irritation and the challenge in his tone, my fist aiming straight for his chin. At the last moment, he blocks, his arm shooting up in a blur of motion.
“Better,” he admits, and I almost preen at the rare compliment. “But you’re still hesitating. If you’re going to make a move, commit to it. Half-measures won’t get you anywhere but six feet under.”
I growl (yes, I’m annoyed, okay) and his friend chuckles. Wow, I had forgotten he was here at all.
“Find something amusing?” I ask and turn around to look at him.
He shrugs. “Just here to remind you never to turn your back on an enemy.”
Just as he says this, I’m lifted up off the floor and pinned down to the mat. I let out a squeal and Nikolai pins my hands next to me, locking my thighs between his.
“And now you’ve been beaten and raped,” he says casually and my heart leaps in terror at the implication. He’s right; of course he’s right. I shouldn’t have turned my back to him.
I try to catch my breath and he slowly releases my arms, but stays on top of me. There’s an odd look in his eyes, and it feels like he’s come to a conclusion about something.
“Be back here tomorrow and I’ll teach you a few things you need to know. Have you ever fought with a knife or shot a gun?” he asks and I shake my head. “Then I’ll be teaching you. Can’t have you around criminal heirs without knowing what you’re heading into.”
With that, he gets up and holds out his hand for me and when I take it, he pulls me up. It’s weird how that slimy feeling went away just when he decided to help me, and now I somehow feel like I have an ally.
“Why are you helping me?” I can’t help but ask again. There has to be a reason, right? It can’t just be because I’m his ‘little sister’, as he so annoyingly calls me.
Nikolai crosses his arms. “Like I said, you’re family now and you need to be prepared. I’m glad you decided this on your own, but you’re going to need help,” he says, raising his eyebrow. “Going into Willow Bridge unprepared is basically you announcing that you’re a virgin in our world. It’s a shark tank, and you cannot be bait when you’re attached to the Mikhailov name.”
“Especially not with Giovanni thinking he’s running the place,” Nikolai’s friend says, and I frown.
“Giovanni? One of your friends?” I ask.
Nikolai rolls his eyes. “He’s one of The Crowns and practically my brother. But he thinks he’s our leader when we’ve never had a leader since?—“
“Crowns?” I interject, surprised. “What does that mean?”
The two of them look at each other, then Nikolai turns back to me. “Get cleaned up and meet us in the parlor. It’s time someone taught you about the Five Crowns.”