Page 75 of Obsessed Bratva King

She grins. “You don’t let anyone see it.”

Elena watches us, nodding in approval. “Now, repeat after me: ‘I am not afraid.’”

I swallow.

Veronica nudges me. “Come on, Cora.”

I set my jaw. “I am not afraid.”

“Again,” Elena orders.

“I am not afraid.”

Elena tilts her head. “Not bad. You’ll need to work on the delivery, though.”

Veronica snickers. “Yeah, that sounded more like wishful thinking than confidence.”

I sigh. “I am wishing.”

“Well, stop. Confidence is pretending until it’s real.”

I press my fingers against my temples. “God, you two are exhausting.”

Elena smiles. “And you’re learning.”

I shake my head but can’t help the small smirk tugging at my lips. “What else do I need to know?”

Elena’s expression shifts, turning serious. “There are unspoken rules in this world, Cora. You need to learn them.”

She counts them off on her fingers.

“One. Never assume kindness is real unless you know what the person wants in return. Trust is currency here, and it’s rarely given freely.”

“Two.” Veronica jumps in. “Always know who’s loyal to your husband. Those are your allies.”

Elena folds her arms. “Three. If someone underestimates you, let them. Then prove them wrong when it matters.”

She meets my gaze. “And four. Never, ever show your fear.”

“She’s right,” a deep voice says. I jump, spinning around to find Ivan leaning on the door, arms folded.

“Where did you come from?” I ask.

“You get used to them appearing like ghosts,” Veronica says. “I always say we should put bells on their collars like cats.”

Ivan continues to stare at me. “I need you.”

“What for?”

“Time you learn to shoot properly.”

20

CORA

The shooting range is buried deep beneath the mansion, past a maze of steel-reinforced doors.

The moment I step inside, the smell of gunpowder and oil fills my lungs. The walls are lined with racks of weapons—handguns, rifles, even a few knives gleaming under the overhead fluorescent lights.

---