"Wait for me in the car." Alessandro instructs, and I do as I'm told. I watch as he speaks to the men and gets my bag from the backseat. What the hell are they even going to tell the cops? There must be some evidence left behind. I was abducted, sure, but Alessandro did just kill two men, and so did I. This is where my calmness starts evaporating and panic sets in. I should've thought this through before I stabbed the guy in the neck. Alessandro's face looks grim as he approaches the Mustang. I think we might be in deep shit. "What happens now?" I ask as soon as he gets inside the car. "Are we going to wait for the police?" Something like this has to be reported, right? He starts the car and leaves with the same screeching tires he arrived with. "No, the clean-up crew is almost here. This isn't a matter for the police, those guys were from the Bratva." "The Bratva?" I frown. "Russian mafia. The question is, why the fuck would a member of the Bratva try to stall a business deal

It's only past ten at night when Alessandro walks through my bedroom door. Quite early compared to recent times. I put the book I was reading down on the nightstand. "Hey, everything okay?" He looks exhausted like he hasn't slept in days. And maybe he hasn't. I must really be a psycho because I haven't had any trouble falling asleep after Saturday. He takes off his jacket without looking at me. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?" He still sleeps beside me every night, but he's distant. I know he feels guilty for what happened to me, but I'm alive and unharmed. Why can't he just get over that? "Are you talking about Sammy?" I sigh. "I'll still see her around campus. She made the best choice for herself." "And you don't resent me for that?" He's still not looking at me while he's getting undressed, and it's unnerving me. "Why would I resent you?" I frown. "You didn't make her move out." "But yet she did move out because of me, no?" "Do you want me to blame you for Sammy moving out

The new apartment is absolutely stunning. It's on the penthouse floor, so I don't even wanna know how much it costs. It has exposed brick walls and high, exposed beam ceilings, and way too freaking big for two people to live in. It has a stunning view of the park and the lights of the city twinkle brightly through the large windows. "Wow." Phoebe's mouth hangs open. Fucking wow indeed. This is the type of place you strive to live in one day, when you're really successful in your career and you finally feel like you've made it. It's further away from campus, but I'm no longer allowed to walk anyways, so it doesn't really matter. It just feels like too much, though. The other apartment was much smaller and more suitable for students. "This is like a full-blown home!" Phoebe walks the expanse of the open-plan apartment. The kitchen. dining room and living room are all in one, but it's large and freaking beautifully furnished. "Oh my god, I could live here forever!" Phoebe laughs and

"You're not focused!" Thomas shouts at me. "You're angry, you're too in your head!" I'm breathing hard as I rest my hands on my knees. When I said I would learn self-defense moves, a full-body workout was not what I was expecting. Thomas is a drill sergeant, it feels like I'm learning MMA. "Maybe you should try again tomorrow." Phoebe says from where she's sitting on a bench eating cereal. "I think she's pissed off at Boss." If I had something to throw at her right now, I'd throw it straight at her head. I'll get her later. "Yes, training resumes tomorrow." Thomas lightly slaps me on the back. "We need to work on your stamina. I want you on the treadmill every night." "What the fuck." I fall down on the mat. "I didn't say I wanted a personal trainer." "Shit luck!" Thomas shouts down at me. " Now you have one, so next time you're attacked, you'll know exactly how to handle the situation." He's talking as if there definitely will be a next time. "Have you heard anything from Ales

A private party. Here I am, sitting at home in my gilded cage, pining after a guy, who is going to have a private party at the club. I throw back my shot of tequila, the rage trying to consume me. Maybe I shouldn't be here tonight, because things might not end well for Alessandro when I'm in this mood. I don't care about him, but this is my sister's job, one that she loves, and I don't want to make a scene. "I think it's better that I leave, maybe I'll go to the movies like Thomas suggested." I reach for my coat I hung up on the back of my barstool, but Phoebe stops me. "Don't be stupid, you don't know anything about the seduction of males." Phoebe shakes her head. "This is where you make him jealous sissy. He will see you looking fly, wonder why the hell he hasn't been giving you the time of day, and regret his decisions." Phoebe makes everything sound so easy. But what if he thinks I only came to the club because of him because I'm not. I'm here to let loose because I'm bor