Rubbing the back of my neck, I feel uncomfortable. “I guess it does look archaic from the outside.”
“Not really,” he said, “I mean, most of the mafia world does the same thing, right?”
My shoulders loosen a little. “My sister Ekaterina was allied in marriage with Giovanni Toscano, it’s been a great match.”
“Toscano… Lucca Toscano’s brother?” He’s strolling alongside me, hands held properly behind his back like he’s taking me to the Cotillion or something.
“Yes. He’s the Don of the ToscanoFamiglia.”
“Nowthatname I know,” he said darkly.
“It doesn’t sound like a happy connection,” I said, concerned. We’ve been walking in a loop around the Dean’s Building, but it’s closer to two am and for the first time, I realize there’s no one else around.
“It was a deal that went bad,” he said grimly, “I lost a couple of close friends. It was something my father was handling with Dante. I don’t know when Giovanni took over.”
I know when and why Giovanni became the Don of the ToscanoFamiglia,but the fact he was forced to kill his older brother Dante isn’t something I’m willing to discuss.
“Dante was a sleaze, if you’ll excuse my frank appraisal,” I said. “It would not surprise me if he screwed over your father.” He’s expressionless and I don’t know what to think. “If… that’s what happened.”
Matt shrugs. “It was five years ago. Who knows?” He forces a smile, trying to look harmless, I suspect. At this point, the poor man is shivering more than I am so I’m not sure he’d be much of a threat.
“Here,” I hand his coat back. “Thanks for the loan of your jacket and…” I hesitate. Would thanking him for listening seem inappropriate? Like he shouldn’t have been here?
Fuck it.
“Thanks for the company,” I said, watching a warm smile spread over his handsome face. “Goodnight, Matt.”
“Goodnight Mariya,” he said, reluctantly taking his jacket back. “It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”
“Oh, please!” I have to laugh at that. “I’ve already heard of half a dozen women planning to ask you to the ChristmasEve Formal if you don’t ask them first. And that’s not counting the professors. Some of them are even female.”
“Whatever, Morozov,” he laughs, giving me a friendly push. “Go to bed before more of your sweet talk makes my head explode.”
Tatiana is dozing on the sofa in front of the fireplace when I creep into the common room. “Where were you?” she mumbles, rubbing her eyes. “I was getting worried.”
“You have to stop fussing over me,” I scold gently. “I was just taking a walk.”
Her forehead wrinkles. “At…” she checks her watch, “two in the morning? Not exactly safe, fam.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I sass, “I was fine. I did, uh, run into Matt Carlson. We walked and talked for a minute.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Tati’s carefully neutral, because while she’s clearly Team Mariya, I know why she’s concerned.
“Nothing happened,” I said firmly, “and you know I wouldn’t do anything with the slightest whiff of scandal. Though… he insisted I wear his coat for a minute as we walked. Poor thing, he was trying to be a gentleman, but since he’s from one of those crazy hot western states- Arizona, I think? I could be wearing a bikini and be warmer than he was.” I catch her alarmed expression. “Which obviously, I was not. In a bikini.”
“I know,” she laughs, standing up and stretching, “but… look. He’s not Bratva. He doesn’t understand our culture, he may not grasp the whole concept that being affianced… this shit is for life.You don’t want to give him the wrong idea and offer him any hope, right?”
My jaw tightens and I try to pull back the surge of resentment. Tatiana is my best friend. She’s one of the few people at the Academy who truly gets the challenges of navigating life as someone who’s been engaged since the age of fourteen.
“Of course not,” I said, trying not to snap at her. “It hit me, though. Taking a walk, wearing his jacket? That is the only normal interaction I’ve had with a guy. Ever. I always have to be so careful to not make the wrong impression, I can’t even touch a guy unless… like… I’m beating the shit out of him. Nothing that couldpossiblybe construed as flirting.”
Tatiana envelops me in a hug because that’s what she does when there’s nothing to say. “I hope Konstantin pulls his head out of his ass. Soon.”
Damn it. Tears are trying to force their way to the surface and there is no way I’m letting that happen. “It doesn’t matter. I’m never going to have what you and Lucca do. I think I’ve been nurturing some delusional assumption that I would have the kind of marriage that my brothers do, or one like his parents. I mean, Lucya and Alexi adore each other. It’s not going to happen for me. I just need to figure out what that will look like. And… accept it.”
“Moy drug,my friend,” she tries to hug me again, “I truly believe Konstantin cares for you. I do. He’s just being-”
“An asshole, I know,” I finished. “It doesn't matter. This is who he is. He’s not going to magically turn into someone like Lucca. He’s not.”
