Hidden Shadows

Chapter 1

The coldness of the blade only steadied Ekaterina's thoughts. It pulled away the heat from her clasping fingers. The knife was one perfect piece of steel, the sharp cutting edge morphing into the smooth handle in a way that reminded her of her family in Russia.

The family that left her behind. Семья не главное. Это все. They always said. Family is not an important thing. It's everything.

Everything, her ass.

Katya balanced the knife, only to feel a small pinch before blood slowly dripped down her finger. Her sense of calm was anchored in her well earned self-confidence. She faced multiple trails and won thus far. She could take on the world.

"You're doing it wrong." Felix's voice by her ear made the young woman jump.

She lowered the small knife and leaned against the weapons table. "Shouldn't you be working?"

The young man greeted Katya warmly. Her adopted brother gestured to the burlap stretched target. "Think you can hit the center with your elbow hanging wide like that?"

Challenge accepted.

Katya recentered herself, facing the target and cocked her arm back to throw the knife. The noise of the men training in the room was distracting. She exhaled and released the blade. It flew, end over end and hit the target. Hilt first. A few men jeered as it clattered to the floor. Katya gritted her teeth.

"See," Felix nudged her aside and selected another blade from the table. "You're letting that arm out wide and it's overarching. Bring it in—"

Katya turned her back on him. She glanced around the room watching men trained with each other on mats on one side of the room, while on the others were in the shooting range. Ten long years she has felt alone. This place, she wasn't. She wasn't going to be the weak one.

"—And it'll hit every time."

She sighed. She waited for the hard thunk of the blade hitting the target before turning back around, arms crossed.Show off. "Nice," she said without looking. "Can we go?"

"Aw. Did showing you up suck all the fun out of it?" Felix ambled down the stairs headed out of the room. "Jealous of my skills?"

"Just saving my energy for later this week," she lied. Her skin itched with the urge to do something. Anything. She wanted to go on a mission. One with Felix and his brothers.

"Indeed. For anything in particular?" He grinned. "A duel, perhaps?"

Her mood lightening as a smirk grew on her face. "I'm going to win this time."

"You say that every time."

"This time it's true."

Felix laughed. "Fine. Winner makes the other one breakfast for a week."

"Deal." Visions of pastries danced through her mind. Since she knew Felix would end up going out and getting something since he couldn't cook to save his life. "At least I'll see you in the mornings. Ever since your father sent you on missions, you're never around. You rarely tell me what's going on."

"I know," he protested. "When my unit is short staffed, I have to step in. It's part of the job."

"Wish I could go," Katya said.

"You know you're not allowed out on missions, much less knowing the family business." Felix felt the glare of his friend. "Father would kill me if he knew you were down here."

"What's the point of living here, then?" Katya raised her arms, pointing all around to prove her point. "I know Papa sent me here to live with you all, for some bullshit reason."