Why have we returned to this topic? Why do people always require so much convincing of facts? This is why dealing with people isn’t my forte.
“If thinking so makes it better in your head, then feel what you must, but you’re not to blame. Getting shot kept you alive, which is all that matters.”
She burrows deeper into my pillow, leaving behind a peach and vanilla scent that’ll linger when she goes. I’ll be forced to wash my bedding immediately, unable to ignore the scent.
“Thanks, Lev. For lending your bed…and saving me.”
“Anytime.” That’s an appropriate response, I think.
Within minutes, her sleepy breaths reach across the bed, a tribute to how exhausted she is. Once again, the sounds are welcoming rather than irritating—a fact thatisirritating—and I relax into my own pillow, musing how she’s the only woman to ever lie in this bed. Besides perhaps Ana when we were kids, but that was so rare and doesn’t count.
People don’t belong in my space, especially near my bed.
Yet, my eyes shut, and in the midst of counting her breaths, sleep steals me until morning.
4
SERAFINA
After waking, it takes a few seconds to piece together where I am—a stranger’s bed.
A stranger’semptybed.
“Lev?” But the room appears empty of other life.
I slide out of the bed, eyeing my initial sleeping location. The chair started comfortable when sitting, but after accidentally making it a bed, it lost all appeal. Exhaustion won out while waiting for Lev to wake, which is exactly what Zeno predicted, but I reassured him I’d find a spare room to pass out in.
Which is why telling Zeno about sleeping the second half of the night in Lev’s bed, even though literally nothing happened, won’t be possible. Considering Lev is on the mend, it’d be a shame for my brother to kill him.
Besides, passing out in a near-stranger’s bed is probably the only halfway decent thing to occur this week. After realizing Zeno, being the over-protective brother he is, placed two bodyguards on me for some unknown reason, I, being the sister who lives to annoy him, managed to escape them. Had I had a crystal ball and could have known giving them the slip would result in being captured and Lev injured, then those soldiersand I would still be trotting around town while I pretend to be unaware of their presence. Hell, maybe by now, we’d all be best friends.
If it could have prevented allthis. This…guilt gnawing at me. Because of one of my decisions, a man got hurt. The entire situation goes against my attempts to blend into the life my mother and Zeno have given me. I opted to not obey Zeno’s command for once, making my point, except it isn’t Zeno or even me who paid that price.
Except, I nearly did.It’s with numb fingers I fix Lev’s bed so it appears untouched by either of us; it’s the least I could do in appreciation for everything. Even the brief errand doesn’t distract from the very real fact that if the Bratva didn’t come for us, I could be dead right now.
Instead of the chilling harsh reality, I distract myself by fluffing Lev’s pillows, wondering if he’ll like it. As I move, my cell feels heavy in my pocket, which was a surprise to discover last night. My kidnappers stupidly didn’t take it from me. Since they planned on Vanessa finding me one way or the other, my phone being on me clearly made no difference.
Shortly after discovering it, I powered it down to ignore the few texts and a missed call I can’t let Zeno notice. At lunch a few weeks back, he got weird learning I’ve been seeing someone. Since then, he’s left the topic alone, and I’d prefer not to remind him.
Being alone for the foreseeable future, I switch the phone back on to finally respond. Even so, my fingers are colder than they were seconds ago—colder than when considering my near-death—all at the prospect of messaginghimback. He hates not hearing from me after only a few hours, and it’s been close to an entire day, maybe even longer, so I don’t anticipate this ending well.
With the phone booted, messages and emails flash over my screen, as well as a handful of missed call notifications. Before focusing on the name I should be thrilled to have checking in, I respond to a friend’s messages first, each delivered three hours apart.
Amara
Mall tomorrow?
You okay? You never take this long to text back.
You’re concerning me.
The latest was sent last night, and with only an hour time zone difference, she may or may not be up yet, but I respond either way.
Me
I’m okay, but it’s a long story. I’ll have to skip the mall today. I’ll text you when I can, and I know it sounds weird, but I promise I’m alright.
Next: the messages that make me want to switch the device off again. The ones from Alessio, my boyfriend since February, coined as a heart emoji in my contacts to hide his name, just in case.
