Chapter 17
Seventeen
Ashton
When the mail comes on Monday, I rush to check it, both nervous and relieved that the letter from the Student Conduct Office has arrived. I’ve been itching out of my skin waiting to see the results.
I tear open the envelope. I wish Nova were home, but she’s still at class. Sophia and Bristol are on the couch, Bristol in front of her laptop doing an assignment, Sophia lounging around without a care in the world.
Must be nice.
I heard she’s dropping out of school. I’m not sure what that means for her future. Is she living with us indefinitely?
Glancing over the letter, I can barely focus on the words written on the page.
I’m terrified that I’ll be expelled, although based on the professor’s remark last week, I’m hoping I’m overthinking it. Maybe it’ll just be a short suspension.
I tear open the envelope and read the words that make my head swim: probation.
It definitely could have been worse for assaulting Henry Bennett, that asshole.
For the next six months, I have to keep my nose down and remain out of trouble.
“Everything okay?” Sophia asks, noticing me staring at the letter longer than necessary.
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Yes, it’s better than expected.” I had convinced myself that I’d be fine, but deep down, I’d been worried. What happened if I had gotten expelled? What next? Would Nova even want to be with me?
Dropping out of college was one thing but, to me, being expelled would be far worse.
“That’s good,” Sophia says, and forces a smile.
I grab a seat on the edge of the coffee table, facing Sophia. “What’s your plan?” I ask.
She tilts her head, staring at me, confused. “I’m sorry?”
“I heard you were dropping out of Great Falls. What’s your plan?”
Sophia folds her arms across her chest. “Not that it’s any of your business, I already have a job lined up.”
“Do you?” I hadn’t seen her so much as go out on an interview. “What’s the gig?” I’m not sure that I believe her.
“I’m working for Dante Ricci.”
Bristol tears her gaze away from the laptop and to Sophia. “Isn’t that Luca’s father?”
The girl is sweet, innocent, has no idea that Dante is mafia. She doesn’t know that about any of us, except for Liam, and he doesn’t exactly follow in his father’s footsteps.
“It is,” I say and clear my throat, trying to steer the conversation away from Dante. I return my attention back to Sophia. I consider her a sister, just like Nova was to Luca. Well, except I’m sleeping with Nova. I have zero intention of doing that with Sophia.
“I start this afternoon. I’m just enjoying my last few hours of freedom.” Sophia smirks.
“What’s the job?” Bristol asks.
I really wish Bristol would stop with the questions. I glare at her, but Sophia answers anyway, ignoring me.
Does she not realize that Bristol is clueless about the family?
It’s better to keep her in the dark.
Safer for her.
For everyone.
“Oh, I’m working at the bar he owns, Bloody Rogue. Hell of a name, am I right?” Sophia asks with a laugh. “I’d have gone for something a bit sexier like Pour Decisions.”
I don’t comment on how the name is a literal threat to anyone who crosses him. Is Sophia oblivious to the work Dante does? Her own father is mafia; she ought to know the kind of man he is.
Bristol smiles and shrugs. “There are worse names. I mean it could be called Get Hammered.”
I snort and shake my head. “You all are too much.” I point at Bristol. “Get back to your studies.
“I’m actually filling out an application to transfer here for next semester.” She smiles sheepishly, her nose crinkling.
My eyes widen, surprised. Liam hadn’t mentioned it to me, but we’d both been pretty busy yesterday and again this morning at the gym, getting ready for this week’s hockey game.
“Don’t worry. I’ll live in the dorms,” Bristol says and cackles. “You should see the look on your face.”
“Hey, that’s between you and Liam where you live.” I hold my hands up in the air. “I’m not getting involved in that mess.”
Sophia laughs. “That mess? You mean their relationship?”
I nod vigorously. “You guys are this love/hate spectacle. I don’t want to be around when you both start wanting to kill each other again.”
Bristol opens her mouth slowly, her cheeks burning. “How did you know about that?”
“Liam can’t keep a secret to save his life,” I say.
I’m thrilled when Nova arrives home and I show her the letter, practically bragging that I’m in the clear.
Her expression is much more somber.
“You’re on probation?” Her mouth drops. “That’s hardly fair!”
“It’s fine.” I’m not entirely bothered by it, the verdict reached could have been far worse. “I just can’t go punching any other assholes for the next six months. You’ll have to do it for me.” I pull her into my arms, planting a kiss on Nova’s lips.
She wraps her arms around my neck. “Fine. Fine. I’ll be your great big protector this time.”
I carry her into my bedroom, laughing, my lips buried in her neck, her legs wrapped around my waist. I lay her down on the mattress, tackling her with kisses as she moans beneath my weight.
“Ashton,” her whisper sends heat flooding straight to my cock.
The room spins, and with her mouth on mine, I feel absolutely delirious. My body craves the heat and connection between us. I drink her in, the sweet smell of peaches and honey feasts at my senses as I nuzzle her neck.
Gently, she pushes me back, gasping for air, staring up at me as I straddle her waist. “Don’t you have practice tonight?” she reminds me.
“I know something else we can practice,” I say suggestively, raising my eyebrows. My mind is always on sex with her. I can’t help it.
Nova chuckles and stares up at me with a smirk. “Can I ask you something serious?”
“Shoot.” I drop soft, featherlight kisses across her cheekbones and nose like freckles as I wait for her question.
Her fingers wander through my hair, her touch tantalizing. “I heard Sophia is going to start working for Dante full-time, and Liam is going to take on some responsibilities for him too. Does that mean he won’t need you anymore?”
Her question catches me off-guard. “Where’d you hear that?” I’d just found out earlier that afternoon about Sophia. How long had she been intending to come and work for him?
The news about Liam, I’m not sure that’s fact.
Dante didn’t mention it to me. Neither had Liam.
“Harper texted me the news. She’s catching shifts at the bar where Harper works.
Different days and hours. Sophia is doing weekday evenings.
Harper is doing weekends. Well, I guess they might share Fridays.
I don’t know.” Nova is rambling, and I gently caress her bottom lip with my thumb, finding it impossible not to touch her.
“I heard she was going to work for him. I didn’t realize it was at the bar.”
“And Liam?” she asks.
“You’re the first I’m hearing about Liam working for Dante.” I’d always wondered if he’d been hired to discreetly spy on Harper, like I had been tasked with early on in Harper and Luca’s relationship.
“If Liam is working for Dante, then does that mean you’ll still have to work for him too?” Her voice cracks as she glances away, those piercing sapphire eyes looking lost and conflicted.
“What’s wrong?” I move off her, sensing that being intimate isn’t in the cards this evening. Maybe tonight, when I get home and we go to bed.
“What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to go to practice tonight and—”
Nova cuts me off. “No, with Dante.”
“What do you mean?” I don’t understand what she’s asking.
“Are you always going to work for him? I thought it was a temporary job. I thought maybe you’d try to get a real internship or job—”
I pull away and sit at the edge of the bed. “A real job.”
Her hand finds my back as she comes to sit beside me. “That’s not what I meant.” Nova cringes. “Listen, I love my dad, but you don’t want to be like him or Dante, working for the mafia the rest of your life.”
“I am the mafia,” I say, glancing at her. “Don’t you realize that? Moreno, your father, he’s as much mafia as I am, as you are.”
Her eyes flicker. “Don’t say that.”
“Come on. You’ve never thought about working for the family?”
Nova’s eyes widen. “God no! I wouldn’t dream of it.”
I huff under my breath, fix my shirt and stand, trying not to feel betrayed. “Then we’re two completely different people.”
“What are you talking about?” Nova asks, kneeling on the bed, staring at me as I head for the door.
I turn around to face her, my hand on the doorknob. “Do you know why I’m a Criminology major?”
Nova’s eyes tighten and there’s a hint of recognition. “You don’t intend on working for the government, helping the people, do you?” There’s disgust in her tone, betrayal.
“I need to be able to protect the family. That means knowing how to avoid the police, understanding their investigations, making sure we don’t get caught.
” My education was entirely determined by my father, Aurielo, and myself.
My mother, Karina, whether she approves or not, she’s never said a word.
“You’re going to be mafia forever?” Nova rolls her lips together, her brow pinches and then she looks like she’s seen a ghost. She rushes past me for the door and I open it, letting her run.