Page 39 of Corrupt Crown

“I just need to ask him something.Please?—”

“Santo Cristo, Coniglietta.” Sasquatch strides past me with a growl, grabbing the clothes from the bed and launching them at me. “He made me stay behind to keep yousafe. I’m already pissed enough that he’s flown to the States without me, don’t make it even?—”

“The States?” My eyes blow wide as the cogs in my brain turn. “But why…”

“Damned if I know. But he’s left instructions that I begin training with you immediately, so get dressed and meet me outside in five.”

The room feels empty without the Italian man’s huge presence, and I quickly do as he requested, all while contemplating why Rafe has gone to the States.

My mind is filled with possibilities, barely daring to hope he’s gone to retrieve Skye, when I walk across the lawn less than five minutes later, finding Sasquatch doing some stretches.

“Did he say why he was going? Or when he’ll be back?”

His shoulders sag as he deposits his cell and two bottles of water onto the grass. “You’re not going to quit, are you?” Then he twists about to face me, and I shake my head with exaggeratedly innocent eyes as I look up at him.

“Nope. I’m afraid I’m relentless.”

He shakes his head with a heavy sigh. “All I know is he’s gone to keep the sky safe, whatever the fuck that means.”

A sudden lump of emotion forms in my throat as my chest swells with a mixture of relief and gratitude. “Did he say how long he’d be?”

“No more than two or three days. Thestronzowas adamant on doing it himself, despite the fact it’s too fucking dangerous.”

My stomach dips uncomfortably. “What do you mean?”

Sasquatch looks at me like I’m a complete moron, and I can feel my cheeks heat. “If Conti finds Rafe in his territory, hewillkill him.”

I nod once, my skin prickling with goosebumps as anxiety unfurls within me. Despite the rising heat of the morning, I shudder at the thought of Nico getting to Rafe. Of Rafe never coming back. Of what Nico will do to Skye if I can’t save her.

My breathing quickens as my chest feels like it’s about to explode, and I genuinely start to question if I’m about to have a coronary, when suddenly my feet are swept out from underneath me.

I land on my ass on the grass of the manicured lawn with anoofbefore turning my accusation-filled eyes upward to a smirking Sasquatch. “Hey! What thehellwas that for?”

He extends his beefy hand palm facing up, and I gingerly accept it, allowing him to tug me to stand. “You looked like you were spiraling, and I thought you could use the distraction.”

“So you thought it’d be a good idea to knock me on my ass?”

He grins broadly with a nod, his eyes finally taking on that playfulness I’ve become accustomed to. “I’ll be knocking you on your ass a lot over the coming days,Coniglietta.”

At my blank look, he chuckles. “I’m just following orders.”

“Rafe ordered you to knock me on my ass?” My voice grows high-pitched with incredulity. “I doubt that?—”

“He ordered me to teach you how to defend yourself.”

Breath hitching, my eyes prickle with tears that threaten to fall as a kaleidoscope of butterflies swarm within my stomach.

How is it possible that this man cares about me more than my own family?

“Now, let’s get down to basics.”

Three hours pass in a blur of motion, with mostly me ending up on my back, looking up into the smiling face of my instructor. And even though my body is screaming for a break, my insatiable need for knowledge is stronger.

The ability to defend myself, to hit back, to protect the ones I love – that’s invaluable. And something I never thought I’d be given the chance to learn.

“That’s enough for today?—”

“No. We can keep going.” I lower my body into the southpaw position, wincing slightly at the ache in my thighs. “I can go another couple of rounds.”