Dimitri and Anastasia are nearby, talking, while Katya takes it all in with wide eyes. In the weeks since she and Dimitri returned from Toronto, he’s been training her, building on what she was already working on. It’s curious Vanessa permitted her here, considering she’s not formally sworn in.
Vanessa turns my way as I approach, but there’s no greeting in her expression, nothing recognizable in the eyes supposedly identical to Serafina’s. Whereas Fina’s is warmth and comfort andhome, Vanessa’s is ice, like Ursin’s.
“Pakhan.” My head bows respectfully, sensing whatever this is, she isn’t playing.
Over her shoulder, Dimitri pulls Katya back, and Anastasia merely smirks before settling atop a stack folded mats. Whatever this is, it isn’t good.
“Lev Petrov, you’ve recently disobeyed a direct order. I gave you leeway weeks ago, with the promise of eventually speaking more about it. That time is now.”
Excited energy exudes from the crowd, their feet shifting in anticipation. It’s not often Vanessa will drag people out for a public punishment, and never with one of her own Elite. There’s a reason we’ve made it to where we are.
“I’ll accept the consequences of my actions.”
Her lips curl up in the corner. “I’m aware of that, because you have no regrets.”
“None.” Not if it got me Serafina.
A smirk teases the edge of her mouth, suggesting it was the right thing to say. Still, she gestures to the mat between us. “Kneel.”
Behind, my sister is grinning as Vanessa stares down at me, hints of the old Pakhan emerging. The one who seized her father’s empire when others preferred she be wed off wed, the merciless queen who won’t hesitate to hurt anyone against her.
Which means, she’spissed.
She bends at the waist, eyes flickering with both pain and pride—and the full truth of this moment hits. “When learning about Serafina, I vowed to myself to never let the past be repeated. To protect her from the Bratva and anyone who’d lay a hand on her. She’s mysister, and you know very well, Lev, what loyalty and family mean to me. So for orders pertaining to her to be disobeyed…hurt.”
“Pros-ti.”I’m sorry.
“Oh, I know.”
In a flash, her fist goes backwards before springing into my face, landing a punch hard enough to bruise my jaw. My head snaps back, rotating my chin to ensure she hasn’t cracked anything. She’s as strong as some of the men, so if she wanted to leave a mark, she would.
Murmurs rise from the crowd behind us, and Vanessa slowly lifts her attention. “See this as a reminder that we’re all held to the same standards. All of you, my Elite…and traitors. Especially ones who pass inside information to my enemies.”
There are more murmurs, more shifting from behind us, and I stare up at Vanessa, seeing more clearly now what exactly this show is.
Ever since Serafina mentioned Vitale’s inside man, I’d been going through all employee records, scouring everything, interviewing when I could. Although finding them was a priority, it’s becoming harder to focus the closer the wedding got. Being near Serafina and ensuring her well-being, trying to train her, took precedence.
When Dimitri returned to Moscow and I remained back in Rome, he took over the interviews, insisting it might not be wise for me to speak to the men, to focus on the technical side of things. Something about the desperation to find him affecting my control.
As of yesterday, there’s been nothing.
Vanessa reaches to help me up, showing everyone here that we’re united regardless. It’s nowhere close to what she could have done, and a lot less than I deserved.
“Take care of her, Lev, in the way I know you will.” She taps my tender jaw, red-painted nails sharp against my skin. “I’m not mad anymore,” she murmurs low enough for only me to hear. “Just annoyed about the way I learned about it. Hitting you felt good, I’ll admit.”
“It’s deserved.” I duck from her touch, despising how everyone seems to think they get carte blanche to touch me now, just because Serafina is allowed.
Anastasia comes up beside me with an elbow to my ribs. “That was fun to watch.”
“What’s happening here?” I demand instead of entertaining her jab. It’s then I notice Dimitri’s gone, but Katya sees me searching and points to the far end of the gym, where he’s guarding the exit.
“There’s a traitor in our midst,” Vanessa begins, raising her voice. “One we finally uncovered. Someone working for the Vitales, a family within the Cosa Nostra—and one who specifically targeted those close to me.” She pauses, letting her words sink in. “Take this as an official warning: the Mancini family of the Cosa Nostra are our allies. Zeno is a partner, a friend, and an ally to every single one of us. His sister, Serafina Mancini, is alsomysister—a Volkov by blood, which demands your protection. The vows you swore to me, the same you once swore to my father, you swear silently to her. Right here, right now. Because ifanyoneputs her at risk, it won’t only be me you’re dealing with, but Lev.”
Attentions dart to me, appropriately confused. Forher, I meet their stares with my own.
“Lev has lied for her, killed for her, been injured for her. Anyone who raises a hand to her is his to deal with. Serafina is considered Bratva, so to learn one of my own endangered her—working againstme—by giving information to Alessio Vitale is unacceptable.”
More shifting and shared looks. They’re realizing why they were all brought here—and it wasn’t to watch me be punched.
