She nods into the couch. “Figured it’s a natural reaction. You burst in, forced Nero to give up his weapon, stuck my dog in a closet, and had us kneeling. I didn’t know what to expect.”
“Sorry,” I repeat, almost needing her to reassure meshe’sokay. That out of everything the Bratva brought to this poor woman’s life, traumatic memories aren’t included.
“It happened. Vanessa and my brother are together, so something good came from it.”
Your sister.She doesn’t refer to them both being her siblings, but asking how she feels about Vanessa isn’t my place. Reflective questions like that are reserved for friends like Amara, not a forced-upon bodyguard.
“Well…” She drags out the word as she slides from the couch and to her feet. “Good night. My first class tomorrow is at nine, like today’s, so same timing?”
She’s asking, not telling, but my response is phrased as obeying rather than agreeing. “Got it.”
She starts for her room, and I really should let her go, but a nagging question that’s been irritating me all day has me calling her name, waiting until she turns to face me. “Why science?”
She blinks. I expect a full-winded answer about possible career paths; instead, her responding shrug is weak. “Not sure. I’d like a career in the sciences, but I haven’t made a decision yet. I figured step one was getting here—doing what no other Cosa Nostra woman gets to do. After that…we’ll see.”
That wasn’t the expected response.
I hate it, because I need organization in my life, toknowand understand reasons for everything. Hell, it’s half the reason I’m here—to understand her and the effect she has on me.
The flicker that dulls those blue eyes reminding me of warmth and safety is very telling, though. Concern. Stress. Because she may be allowed to attend classes, but at what point will Zeno chain her to the mob?
She walks to her room and shuts the door. I only look away when her bedroom light switches off, thinking how it’d be a shame if Zeno did precisely that.
If he changed Serafina’s future and took away the passionate parts of her, the parts that made her my angel and myprintessa.
Notmine…but something I wouldn’t want to see destroyed.
14
SERAFINA
My second day of classes goes much like the first, only with three changes:
One: I buy the coffee this time and have the strange pleasure of watching Lev trip over his words to thank me.
The more time we spend together, the more it’s obvious he’s different. Not in a bad way…just different. It’s refreshing. Nice but strange. He’s almost never smooth in conversation, and everything he says or does has a purpose. He speaks so few words, opting for shorter sentences.
Two: Amara finally replies, explaining she’ll be returning the day of the party and to remind me to invite Alessio.
And three: Alessio agreed to getting together tonight. It makes my day drag.
Throughout it all, my guard loyally trails behind.
Last night, before bed, I nearly called Zeno to beg him to assign someone else to this duty and allow Lev to go home. Lev, who’s pulling double duty becauseIasked for him. He claims his agreement is for Vanessa, but he wouldn’t be here, stuck between duty and loyalty, if I never asked. He’s trying to capture the bad guy, and here, I have him playing student.
Burden. Worse: a selfish burden.
This time, I don’t argue with the thread of doubt.
By the time evening comes, my focus shifts from Lev to Alessio, my guilt becoming tomorrow’s problem. It’s been a while since I saw Alessio, though distance has been good for us, I think. Even though I’m bummed he didn’t return to school, starting university without the added pressure of a relationship has been healthy.
Killing time until seven gives me a while to get ready, opting for a cute but casual, mid-thigh, black summer dress—one of my favourites because it has pockets. I fix my hair into soft waves and apply simple makeup.
Lev’s in his typical place on the couch when I leave my bedroom. His fingers rapidly fly over the keyboard, the clicking a reminder of where hecouldbe working. Lazily, like exiting my room interrupts him, his eyes drag from the screen to me.
And they don’t move away.
A stillness settles over him. Silent, still, observant, preparing to strike. It’s a reminder that while he’s playing student, he’s actually a member of the Bratva—a trained killer.
