Loving a Killer | 18+

2.4 - Bad Teacher

| Norah |

No one said anything at breakfast when I arrived. I didn't expect them to since Maddox and I agreed to come down at different times. Also, I was thankful no one had spotted me leaving Maddox's room to go back to mine to change.

Not that I had a problem with being with Maddox. He and I just had no idea how my family would react. Maddox was like a brother to Ricardo, Luca, and Matteo. They grew up together and had more of a history between the four of them than between my three brothers and me. It was just a different dynamic with him not being blood and how I am.

Not to mention how if the boys knew, then my father would soon find out as a result. And who knew how he'd react...

I hoped that that was a challenge for a different time and that it wouldn't become a problem until Maddox and I were ready for ourselves. At the moment, we had bigger things to worry about. Like how we were going to tear down the Russian mob. Lately, I had been leaning towards Maddox's plan to go straight for Viktor. Although, that also was a secret that he and I had been discussing that.

"Morning sleepyhead," Matteo grinned as I took my normal seat next to him. I nudged his shoulder playfully, making him spill his orange juice a little onto himself.

"Good morning," I smiled an ornery smile. Maddox laughed from across the table at us. I flashed a knowing glance at him. He sipped his black coffee and winked at me slyly. Heat filled my stomach in response and I focused on my food to keep myself from blushing.

"How's training going you two?" Adriano asked from beside Ricardo, directing his question to Maddox and me. I swallowed the piece of omelet I was chewing on and looked to my father.

"Well, Maddox sure isn't the best at teaching, but I'm learning," I poked at Maddox's ability to teach me how to fight. Maddox's jaw set, but I could see he was astonished at my bold statement. I tapped his leg with the toe of my shoe, letting him know I was kidding. Maddox was the most qualified teacher I had.

Adriano laughed under his breath, looking to Maddox. He raised his right eyebrow almost sternly at Maddox.

"I'm sure you're doing your best to teach her how to fend for herself, right Maddox?" Adriano assured, yet also was testing Maddox. Maddox shifted in his seat and grabbed his mug.

Maddox didn't take his eyes off of me as he sipped his coffee, gazing at me from under his dark eyelashes.

"Of course, Sir," Maddox replied in a firm manner. I held in a laugh, taking enjoyment in seeing him squirm under my father's inspection. "We have a training session today, in fact," Maddox reassured him, adding to today's plan.

His eyes were that familiar dark grey, and I knew I was in trouble for getting him admonished by his boss.

• • •

I met Maddox down in the sparring room. He was there already, leaning against the concrete wall across the room. His eyes met mine instantly and I could tell by the look he was giving me, I was in for it.

"What are we doing today, King?" I asked.

"Follow me," He instructed and pushed himself off the wall. I did as I was told and followed behind him out of the sparring room into the hallway.

We walked for a little bit before we came across a room at the end of the hall. He typed in a passcode and opened the door, holding it for me. I went in before him and he closed the door behind us. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the metal click of the lock. He flipped the lights on and before me were a couple of line-ups of what looked like a gun range. I felt like I had seen something like this in a cop show. With the rubber shreds against the wall behind the hanging posters of painted black figures, the shadowy torsos sectioned into numbered targets. A foam torso that looked like one of the sparring dummies was off to the right with stab wounds all over.