“What the fuck just happened?” Aleksandr said.
He’s walking like an automaton next to me. We both numbly drank the toast with his father and Roman and they left almost immediately after.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen my brother in almost a year and I got a full ten minutes of his undivided attention,” I said bitterly. “What… did you have any idea that they were planning this? Did your father talk to you about it?”
We’re just wandering, not sure what to do. I can’t go back to class, and poor Aleks doesn’t look like he’s doing any better than I am.
“No,” he said bleakly, “but I never expected him to. Leonid Rostova simply bellows orders and expects them to be followed before he’s even finished the sentence.”
“I’m guessing you’re not close,” I said. It’s a silly concept. Most bratva organizations are not comprised of warm family feelings.
“He’s a fucking pig,” Aleks said, his pale skin reddening. “I know this wasn’t what you were expecting.”
The enormity of what just happened hits me like a punch to the heart. “Oh, my god. What am I going to tell Lucca?” I sit down on a nearby bench, covering my mouth with my hands, if I can just block the words from coming out, this won’t be real. I won’t lose him.
“Mne zhal'... I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely, sitting next to me and putting a tentative arm around my shoulders.
“And- and you. You have someone you love, too.” My face is wet. I didn’t know I was crying. “I’m sorry, Aleksandr.”
“I can…” he runs his hands through his pale hair, gripping the ends and pulling. “I can talk to my father, I could try-”
“You can’t,” I shake my head, “you can’t. You know that. Roman wouldn’t have- he wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t important. It’s um…” I laugh bitterly. “It’s the only thing I have to offer our family.”
“What do you mean?”
“Things are bad. They’re so bad right now. I never talk about it. Not to anyone, but what the hell, you’re going to be my husband, right?” My throat closes.
“I know your parents were murdered,” he said quietly. “That’s part of why you’re here, right?”
“The Aslanov Bratva is under attack, there’s been so many terrible things. Attempts on my brothers’ lives. Someone tried to kidnap me at our family’s estate in Vancouver. Shipments intercepted and stolen, warehouses burned down, our soldiers killed… it never stops. Roman must believe this alliance will help us.”
“I knew some of this, mostly gossip,” he admits, “but I didn’t know how bad it was.”
“I’m sure my brothers are working overtime to keep it quiet, as much as they can anyway.” I’m trying to wipe my wet face and I’m mostly smearing the tears around. “I’ll…” my head drops and I take a deep breath. “I’ll be a good wife, Aleks. I promise you. I’ll be loyal.”
“Trakhni menya,fuck me,” he groans, “of all the women my father could have picked. I’ve had a front row seat to your romance with Lucca. What are you going to tell him?”
“Tell me what?”
We both jump up from the bench like we’d been caught making out. Lucca is standing in front of us, looking torn between angry and worried. “What’s going on? Athena told me you got called into Dean Christie’s office. I’ve been looking for you.”
Aleks looks at me sadly. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah,” I nodded too hard, like that would make it all make sense. “Thanks.”
Lucca watches him walk away with a frown.
“Hey, let’s go…” What was I going to say?
“You’re crying?” He cups my cheeks tenderly between his lovely, warm hands. “What happened, sweet girl?”
“Can we go…” I rub my forehead. “Can we go to the greenhouse?”
His thumb is stroking my cheekbone. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back to my place?”
I can’t do that. See his bed, smell his rum, wintergreen, and cedar scent. “The greenhouse. Okay?”
“Of course, come on.” He puts his arm around me protectively and I lean into it, soaking up the feeling of safety he gives me.
