na -

iting for me. Caldwell. Of course. My day started with his bitter expression

. Hated him even more for ratting me out to my sist

ining clothes and

training

e. Flat. Controlled. Emotionless.I turne

er's order now?

to train you." His voic

oor, but paused wh

ing you. I'm t

Really? Then

skin. I planned on making him pay for it. He st

ant to spa

" I shot back. "I

ly before he followed me

d onto the mat, I dr

red me i

on offense,

nly gave a

othly to the left. I followed with a low sweep aimed at knocking him of

n h

, throwing quick punches to distract him befor

ing b

me now, sharp with interest, like he

blocked most of them with infuriating ease, but I still managed to lan

but he twisted out of my hold. I reacted instantly, driving

the m

too good to hit him. Caldwell looked up at m

the smile?"

to kick my ass," he sa

. "What gave you

k only d

ass today," I shot back. "Yo

ightly. "Should we

uld stop it. It had been a long time sin

to his feet in o

ing into my stance a

ged in time. His leg swept toward mine, aiming to knock m

he muttered dur

ered with a sidekick, but he caugh

to catch me before I hit the floor, but we both crashed onto

eat pressed against me. I tried to push myself up, but the movement on

re out my trick?"

d the coin in the air," he

se me? It's not exactly like you t

dn't

'd find y

ed in a casual shirt and blue jeans, his black hair slightly messy and his gre

e

I pushed myself off Caldwell immediatel

voice to stay calm. "Didn

to come early,

ced over my shoulder. Caldwell had already risen to his feet, his

he asked in

uard," I

rowed. "An Amer

d an American instead of one of the local Sicilian

jaw tig

ooked at

with

d onto the mat. They took their fighting stances, circling each other like predators. Nico stru

e jump. They moved with brutal precision, each one testing the other. Caldwell fought l

My breath caught. How the hell was Nico this good? Caldwell wiped the blood away w

g for his face, but Nico dodged at the last second and swung ba

" I sh

them moved. Then they lowered their fists and stepped

ht to be there. His expensive cologne wrapped around me he smelled like cedarw

," he whispered coldly. "I'm not hand

r burned through me. He dared to think that about me? I steppe

and steady. "I handle my responsibilities perfectly well. I

eyes stayed

he said. "Men lik

icked towar

comes, you won't have

ast cold look at Caldwell. Caldwell

myself," I cal

ico was right. Caldwell worked for my father. That alone

, Ms. Aleena," Ca

he bitter tas

people," I said. "The

room and headed back to my bedroom