Chapter 37

Chapter 37
A U R O R A

I parked the car in front of the house, which definitely required a gardener. It was one of those countryside setups with quiet and peaceful neighbourhoods where mostly retired people decided to settle. Every house was immaculate though except for the one where I was heading to.
Fishing out my phone, I checked the text Viktor had sent me a while back and then looked around. I doubted if this was exactly the place where an ex-Navy SEAL would settle down. It was too...domestic.
I walked up to the lawn, overgrown with grass and weeds, and then knocked on the door. No electric bell. Just old school brass ring.
A few seconds later, I heard the lock click as the door opened slightly. A man peeked out a little, and I caught a glimpse of his face. Tall, tan skin with cropped hair, almost bald on the sides, and an apprehensive look in his eyes.
"Simon?" I asked.
He assessed me with a deep frown. "Depends, who's asking?"
"Viktor Romano."
The cloud in his features cleared out as he nodded like he was expecting me or something. Then he opened the door wide in invitation. "Come in."
I followed him into the house and realised that the man beneath the simple white tee and ragged jeans was much taller and well-built than I had realised.
The house was minimalistic. The living room was small, connected to the kitchen island, and the furniture could only accommodate three people at a time. It did not look like he often has guests over.
He stopped near the kitchen island and turned to face me. His eyes climbed up and down my height, judging me. And I have met enough men in my life to know that I did not like the look.
"So, you are the thing for which he has paid me ten grand?" he asked with a slight upward lift at the corner of his lips.
My eyes narrowed on him. "He did...what?"
"He told me to beat the shit out of you," he admitted and then raised his hands in the air in mock surrender. "His words, not mine."
I scoffed. "Funny, he told me to do the same with you, and I am doing it for free." I waved a hand up and down. "I guess, senior citizen discount and all."
"Cute. Suits you, girl." He shrugged and rounded around to walk into the kitchen to help himself with a cup. All the while, I contemplated whether it was worth wasting my talent on him.
He turned his neck a little, lifting a cup. "Coffee? Or do you prefer hot chocolate with marshmallows in it?"
My patience was wearing thin. I grabbed a random knife from the counter and threw it at him, only to have it stick on the cupboard mere inches away from him.
He was quick, way better than a reflex I expected.
Simon smirked and resumed stirring his black beverage. "He did tell me that you are a wild thing..." he mused, more to himself before turning to face me once again.
"He forgot to mention you are average," I shot back.
This time, he grinned slyly and set the cup down after a couple of sips. I could easily read the judgment in his eyes, being a female and all. One of the advantages Marco taught me years ago is that I'd win a heads-up because people are quick to judge me because of my gender. Something I can always use to my advantage.
"So how does it work?" he asked. "I have never..."
"...fought a girl?" I finished for him.
He smiled.
Mentally, I rolled my eyes, and in a flash, the ceramic in his hands hit the floor. I knew his reflex was good, but he did not know that I was better.
I blocked his blow with one hand and used the entire force of my weight to tackle him to the ground. In mere seconds, I had incapacitated him and locked his legs.
"For a man who has never fought a girl, you do fight like one."
With that, I released and stood over him. He followed, dusting his ass all the while his gaze was stuck on mine with a hint of surprise and annoyance.
"Who the fuck taught you that?" he murmured.
"Doesn't matter. It is enough to land you on your ass."
A corner of his lips curved up, and he nodded. "Okay, I see. Come, let's see what you are made of." He gestured for me to follow as I did, keeping a healthy distance between us before he ventured into a dark room and reached for the switch. As soon as the lights lit up, I looked around in astonishment.
The bloody place has nothing in it. A punching bag hung at the far corner, while a wooden bench was situated beside it. It looked it a fighting arena, only far smaller and domestic.
In the corner of my mind, it reminded me of the room Marco had. It was almost thrice the size, but the rush of adrenaline hung in the air like an intoxicated aroma. I was caught so up in the atmosphere that I did not see it coming. One moment I was looking around and in the other, I was splayed on the floor.
"What the f—? So, you attack when the other person is unprepared? Some soldier you are." I muttered, getting on my feet.
A grin spread over his features. "It's your fault that you were not ready."
His words were uncannily similar. Except Marco would never go easy on me.
"I hope you are happy with that little move because that's all you are getting," I said and lurched at him.
It's not like I never used sneak attack, but my personal favourite was the declaration of victory. Nothing ever felt sweeter when you can defeat the opponent and they see it coming but they cannot do anything about it.
I would not say that this man was easy to fight with, but he was nothing I could not handle. He was challenging me with every goddamn move and left no stone unturned to make me fall on my ass time and again but he kept the blood rushing in my veins like an addict.
Minutes gave way to hours before every muscle in our bodies started to hurt. It fucking ached everywhere. Our moves turned sloppy, and finally, we collapsed against the floor. Ragged breaths filled the air as we sat in silence and counted the seconds in our heads.
I closed my eyes and rested my head against the wall, listening to the drumming heartbeat ringing in my ears. It was chaotic and peaceful at the same time. It was...blissful. For the first time, I stopped wallowing in the unending grief and looked beyond Marco.
He was still lingering at the back of my mind, but it did not bother me. I could breathe without him, see myself beyond him, and absorb the truth for what it is.
I was on my own now.
I was no longer standing under his shadow.
"You want to go for another round?" Simon asked, panting.
I turned my head and found him smirking. "I am good unless you piss me off a little more."
"You fight well."
"I know."
He snorted. "And cocky, too."
"I know that, too."
There was a pause as I went back to closing my eyes and chasing the chaotic solace before he decided to pry into me once again.
"How do you know, Viktor?" he asked curiously.
I sighed and slowly opened my eyes. "Long story short, he owed me. And now his debt is paid."
"You owed him a fight?" He looked at me incredulously.
"It's complicated." My history with Viktor was so much more than complicated but I was sure as hell not discussing it with a stranger I have met a few hours ago.
"So, who taught you fighting? I know it's not Viktor."
His speculation stirred me. It was borderline accurate, but I did not want to agree. "You seem confident," I supplied.
He offered a shrug before reaching out for the water bottle and taking a long swig out of it. "Viktor's strong, but messy. He trusts his gun more than his moves. It works for him. But you are...different. So I'm curious."
I stared at him for a long second, wondering if it was possible to see through me. Then he would know the intensive training I had received to become what I am today.
I shook my head, looking away. "It doesn't matter. As far as I am concerned, you have earned your ten grand fair and square."
He was about to say something when my phone rang. I took it out of my discarded jacket on the floor, and the name of the caller flashed on the screen. Marco.
Without a second thought, I snapped the call and pocketed the phone. And no sooner had I done it, it rang again. I disconnected it again and switched it off.
Simon, as alert as he was, sensed something. "Everything okay?"
"Yes," I mumbled and picked up the jacket. "I gotta go. And thanks for the fight."
I did not wait for his reply and walked out of the house. I got into the car and drove back to the hotel