“What did Vitale talk to you about?”
“Reminding me of his expectations.”And you.“He’s annoyed you took my virginity—he guessed, all things considered. He doesn’t care if we continue until the wedding, but afterwards, I’m not to see you again.”
If he’s disappointed or upset, I’ll never know.
Because he remains silent.
Nero has some ungodly sleep schedule, so before anyone wakes, I slip downstairs to ask him for a change of clothing for Lev. He’s alone, making coffee when I reach the kitchen, swinging inside with my grip on the doorframe to balance me.
“Hey, I’m stealing some of your clothes. Please don’t ask questions.”
He turns from the coffee machine. “Mini-Mancini, you know me better than that. But you won’t look so good in my stuff.”
“They’re for Lev.”And there it is.
His eyes dart out of the kitchen and back, his brows now completely disappeared into his hair. “Sera, you didn’t…?”
In the past, yes, but not last night.
“I was swimming last night to clear my head. Lev found me after you all went to bed, and we got to talking. For fun, I yanked him into the pool. I doubt his clothes dried fully overnight.”
Nero, being in the organization years prior to my birth, witnessed more than I could ever imagine, which means he probably sees through my lie. If he does, his regular playfulness returns with a shrug. “Sure. Grab whatever. I won’t ask questions until your brother does.”
Upstairs, I let myself into Nero’s room, skipping over the carpet of clothing to find his closet and root around for clean clothes, ending up with track pants and a plain tee that should fit Lev. With them draped over one arm, I head down to the guest room.
A quick knock, and he opens the door in only his boxers, his bare abs a display I can’t be looking at with Zeno’s room down the hall. “Here.” I shove the stuff at him. “Dry clothes.”
He bundles them closer, shielding himself from me. “Thanks. See you in a bit.”
Taking the dismissal, I turn back to my own room.
“You’re not coming?” Vanessa asks in a near-whine as she hugs Zeno goodbye.
He shakes his head. “I should go check on Madre.”
Earlier, I asked to visit her before flying back to Moscow, but Zeno mentioned having Elio, his Captain, take her out of the country—location undisclosed to everyone but himself and Nero—until the wedding. He doesn’t want to call Alessio’s bluff. It’s good she’s safe.
“Is she mad?”
“Sì, but not at you. She’s annoyed with me.”
“You?” I release him from his hug. “What did you do?”
He sighs, rubbing a hand over his neck. “Didn’t end this. Didn’t kill Alessio before you offered yourself up. Stood there while he handed you his ring… I could go on. In her mind, my faults are stacked high.”
“Well, at least it’s you she’s mad at for once and not me. I swear, she’s spent the last few years complaining about everything I do.”
“That’s because you never stayed in one place for long. Constantly running off with your friends. Forgetting curfew, which we both know is bullshit. I should have expected nothing less.”
“Because you too were a pain in her ass?” With the age gap between us, he was close to being inducted by the time I was born.
Zeno rests his arm over my shoulder and steers me towards the vehicle Lev and Anastasia already sit inside, Vanessa by the passenger door. Nero’s in the driver’s seat, opting to drive us to the Bratva plane while Zeno visits Madre.
“Because Vanessa was correct the other day. For many reasons, I’m glad you were raised away from all this, but in the end, the mob is part of you. Madre came from the Costa clan, and the Bratva makes up half of you. It was bound to emerge at some point. I’m sorry it had to be for this.”
“Wow. I never thought those words would come from your mouth.”
“They’re hard to admit but truthful either way. Regardless,” his voice raises as we stop beside the vehicle, “return to school and enjoy the month. Try not to think about Vitale. I’ll visit, since there’s no point in trying to hide you. Lev will continue attending your classes because, deal or not, risking you isn’t worth it. Last thing I need is Alessio kidnapping you.”
