He lowers me to my feet, his breath ragged. “Sorry I’ve been distant. You don’t need that. I promise I won’t after this.”
Can he guarantee that? If he’s distant after a conversation, how will he manage once the ring is on my finger?
“We should go.” His eyes wander to the plane’s oval windows.
With a final squeeze of his hand, I turn for the plane’s entrance, Lev close behind. At the base of the staircase, my brother rushes from Vanessa’s side to wrap me in a large hug. My time in Russia is the longest I’ve gone without seeing Zeno.
“I wish you were here on different circumstances.” He lowers me back to my feet and glances at Lev. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“Don’t thank me.” Lev’s reply is gruff, tainted with the blame he’s been taking on over what happened at the ballet. “Alessio found her when I was only a short distance away.”
“He was watching. Planned the whole thing. He knew you wouldn’t follow her to the bathroom. Nothing more you could have done.”
Lev’s sharp gaze goes from Zeno to me, and he doesn’t comment further before joining Vanessa and Anastasia beside one of Zeno’s many cars. My brother gestures for me to get into the back while he takes the driver’s seat, Vanessa in the passenger. Lev and Anastasia slide in on either side of me, allowing me to press into Lev without drawing my brother’s suspicion. He shifts, spreading his legs as much as the backseat allows, and I take strength from his knee against mine.
“Vitale’s meeting us at one of my restaurants downtown before opening,” Zeno calls back once we’re off the airfield. “We’ll get this meeting done with, and then you can head back either tonight or tomorrow.” That’s directed toward Vanessa with a hopeful smirk. They’ve relatively stayed apart to ensure Alessio didn’t track me to Moscow, and no doubt it’s been a strain on their relationship.
“I think we can swing it,” she answers with a grin. “Sera has a midterm on Monday, so as long as we’re back well before then...” She winks over her shoulder, and my chest burns with pleasure that she’s paid enough attention, even while running an organization.
Is there even a point to university anymore? Once Alessio is no longer a problem, life will go on, so the answer is yes. Except, it doesn’t feel like it either. It feels like this engagement truly is the end of everything.
Less than thirty minutes later, all of it spent in tense silence, Zeno pulls in front of a Cosa Nostra-owned restaurant. Of all the places Zeno controls, this is one of my least favourites, so I’m grateful my favourite place won’t be tainted by today.
Zeno pulls out his phone and sends a quick text before muttering, “He’ll be here in a few. We should go inside.”
The other four slide out of the vehicle, leaving me inside, clutching the edge of the seat. My nails won’t unlock. My body won’t move as I stare at the restaurant, everything else fading.
What thehellwas I thinking? This won’t work! I’m handing myself to a madman. Why did I assume I could do this? Blackness tinges the edges of my vision, and my chest thrums rapidly, nearly painful, but a voice breaks through the fragile barrier, saving me, exactly as he always does.
“Fina.”
One by one, he uncurls my fingers and tugs me out, only dropping my hand when my feet are firmly on the cement.
Anastasia slips between us, taking my arm in hers to be my support while he can’t be. “You’re braver than I am.”
Zeno unlocks the restaurant and flicks the nearest switch, casting the dining room in light. He leads the way to a table meant for a large gathering and drops into the nearest seat, his hands slumping between his legs, head low enough to touch his knees. “Tell me why the fuck I’m giving my sister up to him.”
“I still vote we kill him. Here and now, while he’s alone,” Anastasia offers with a wicked grin.
“Don’t tempt me,” he groans. “Vitale’s done too much shit to us. The Commission is bound to pardon me.”
“Would they?” Vanessa crouches beside him, rubbing his knee.
“They don’t take favourably to battles within the Cosa Nostra. I once described the Five Families as being a bunch of dysfunctional cousins, but they do draw the line at murdering one another.”
“But it’s okay to help an enemy do so?” Vanessa frowns, presumably thinking of how her father killed Zeno’s with the help of Alessio’s. “Let me at him. The three of us will end this, and your hands stay clean. Hell, go home so you can act innocent. It’s no different than what Alessandro did to your family.”
Zeno stands when his phone chimes, the single noise ratcheting through my heart. “Sera’s right about one thing. Weneed to catch him off guard. From now until the wedding, he will be expecting it. It’ll only be after they’re wed that he’ll assume he’s safe.”
Zeno goes for the door. Vanessa moves beside me while Anastasia releases my arm but remains nearby. Lev positions himself between me and the door, slightly off to the side, forcing me to see my future stride through the door with a winning, gleeful smirk.
Seven men trail him, and every single one is met with a glare from my brother. Once they’re all inside, Zeno shoves between Lev and Alessio, his hand out for the formal greeting.
“Vitale.”
“Mancini. Glad one of you has finally come to your senses.” His slimy gaze finds me over Zeno’s shoulder. “You know the outcome of denying me,SignorinaMancini.” So brief, his eyes flick to Lev, and all my earlier anxiety melts away at the reminder of why I’m doing this.
As much as shrinking away and hiding is tempting, this must happen. Today’s all a giant show, exactly as our wedding will be, so the sooner it begins, the sooner it ends. I step beside Zeno, facing Alessio directly as he mockingly sweeps into a partial bow.
