When I enter the meeting room for the monthly gathering Vanessa hosts with her Elite, only Anastasia is present so far. She’s picking at her nails with her feet propped on the table, the pointed tips of her heeled boots coming dangerously close when I settle in my regular seat beside her.
“You could sit normal, heathen.”
“I could,” she shrugs, rolling her head until I’m in view, “but where’s the fun in that?”
My counterargument dies on my tongue when Vanessa strides in, Zeno close behind, which immediately has me straightening. Regardless of their new relationship, letting an outsider in on Bratva business doesn’t seem like something she would do. He lowers into Dimitri’s seat to Vanessa’s right after a jerk of his chin.
Vanessa settles her palms flat on the table scarred with blood, burn marks, and gashes. “As you all know, Dimitri’s in Toronto, so he’ll be sitting this one out. I’ll catch him up on anything he needs to know once he’s home. Zeno’s joining us for a bit to ask something, and then he’ll be heading out.”
Her gaze finds me across the table, which at first is strange, but it worsens when Zeno looks over too. There’s too much attention on me, and my spine tingles.
“Lev.”
Fuck.My index finger drums its one-two-one pattern on my knee.
“Say no if you want, but I need a big favour. Don’t know if Vanessa mentioned, but when she discovered Ursin’s journal, there were details regarding my family, particularly Serafina.”
It’s been nearly a week since she left. Her faint scent still lingers in my room, so, other than showering and changing, I avoid it more than usual.
“Turns out, Ursin promised Serafina in marriage to another Cosa Nostra family—the Vitales. Their Capo, Alessandro, is unwilling to break it off, regardless of what I offer. Taking it to the Commission isn’t possible, because they’ll view the agreement as binding, considering it was made by her father…technically.” His sharp tone pushes forth the picture of her in my bed, but she’s lying in another man’s, due to an arrangement made possible by Ursin, of all fucking people. “As much as I hate to admit it,” he continues, sighing, “the agreementisbinding.”
When Vanessa first told us about Serafina and her parentage, she mentioned Zeno made every effort to keep her away from the Cosa Nostra, so she and their mother can reside as civilians. Forced engagements aren’t part of that; that’s a mark of the mob.
The girl with the heart—who sat by my bedside and argued when being offered half the bed—doesn’t need some asshole forced upon her. During my years within the Bratva, I’ve witnessed women shoved into marriages, and, more often than not, they’re not treated well. Some men view the wedding ring as a gateway to sex, their wife’s feelings aside, resulting in marital rape.
My mind vibrates at the disgusting thought of Serafina placed in that situation.
I hate it.
I hate it more than the peach and vanilla sent lingering on my pillow. But none of this should be my concern. She’s Zeno’s family, part of an entire other organization.
The noise in my head pounds harder than ever. My tapping pattern speeds up, chasing peace…but not reaching it.
One. Two. One.
Zeno continues, unknowingly answering my wandering thoughts. “Not long after, I discovered Serafina is dating someone. She won’t tell me who, only that they met around her birthday, which is when the deal for her hand should have gone through. Which makes me suspicious that the Vitales are involved—specifically Alessandro’s eldest son, Alessio.”
“Wait.” Ana leans forward, dragging her shoes off the table—small mercies. “You’re saying, she’s dating her fiancé and doesn’t even know it?”
“It’s what I’m thinking,sì.” He huffs, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “She refuses to tell me anything, though I managed to get the number she’s been texting. It leads to a burner phone, which only adds to my suspicion.” He pauses, sharing a look with Vanessa. “My Captain gathered all my best, and I picked two I felt would blend with her, but she figured it out and gave them the slip. Then Ivan captured her. Given that, I’m not confident about my other choices. Neither is she—her words. She’ll be attending university soon, and while I won’t hold her back, she needs eyes on her. She despises the idea of security. I haven’t told her the real purpose for sending protection, or about her engagement—and I won’t until necessary. She claims her boyfriend is another student, so if itisAlessio, campus is the best place to catch him. Someone has to be on the ground with her, near her, protecting her…so whenhe comes around, we’ll be able to determine if it’s the Vitales or not.”
He stares at me.
He can’t be asking…?
“Lev, I need someone trustworthy. She’s my sister.”
He is.
My finger taps, my mind creating a list of every reason this can’t happen.
One: babysitting isn’t in my job description. Hell, it’s not even in my capabilities. Computers, networks, and the Bratva. That’s as far as my skills run.
Two: spending that much time around Serafina will be more painful than the bullet wound in my shoulder.
Three: the concept of being around someone all the time—even if it is Serafina…no. I barely stand being around my own twin, and Zeno’s suggesting I live on a university campus with thousands of people around all the time?
If my nightmares had nightmares, this would be it.
