Chapter 8 - Sienna
I stood by the door watching Avit say his final farewells to his siblings and in-laws.
His family definitely wasn’t what I expected.
There was an aura about the men—friendly and laughing on the surface, except for Marten—but beneath it, I had no doubt that if anyone barged into the house uninvited, they’d switch from doting husbands to cold-blooded killers in a heartbeat.
The women surprised me, too. They weren’t snobbish at all, even though they wore thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry and, I was almost certain, designer clothing.
I recognized a few pieces because they looked similar to what Avit had bought me…
clothes I still hadn’t worn because they just weren’t me.
Not that I went anywhere besides campus anyway.
The kids were adorable. I guess I just didn’t picture mafia men juggling toddlers and family life.
I expected scenes straight out of TV shows—men placing guns on tables, puffing Cuban cigars, women catering to their every whim or being degraded—but there wasn’t any of that.
Instead, I saw love on the spouses’ faces, playful teasing between the siblings, the men helping with the kids.
Maybe I shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover, but I couldn’t imagine choosing to be the wife of a criminal.
But one thing stood out above everything else: Avit was definitely hiding the real reason we got married. And I let him, because I intended to use his little secret as leverage.
When the last vehicle exited the estate, Avit strode back toward the house. I headed into the living room, and when I heard the front door close, I turned to face him. I needed answers.
“Why didn't you tell your family we were married? Why don’t they know who I am or who my father is? Is it so that you could kill my father and no one would be the wiser?” I snapped.
Avit sighed, but he didn’t answer. He sank into one of the sofas, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back. As much as I wanted to demand a response, I forced myself to wait. I sat on the other end of the sofa, watching him.
After a few moments, he spoke softly, still not moving.
“All my brothers forced their wives into marriage. I despised it. I hated that they went that route, especially when in our faction, we value our women, one of the few factions that do. I swore I’d never be like that…
and yet I ended up doing the same to you. ”
Wait…those women, who seemed to have their men wrapped around their fingers, were forced into marriage? But they looked so happy.
Before I could dwell on it further, Avit finally opened his eyes, and for the first time since meeting him, I saw uncertainty there.
“And then there’s your father,” he continued. “If my family knew what your father did, I would look like a failure to them.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“For three and a half years, my family had been under attack. We only figured out who it was a few months ago and dealt with the problem. But we almost didn’t make it, and the women were dragged into it one way or the other.
” He paused, his jaw twitching. “I let things slip when it came to the books, and your father used the chaos to steal from us for over a year. Not a week or a month—a whole damn year.”
His eyes closed again briefly before he looked at me. “I didn’t want to drag my family into this after everything they’ve already been through. This was my mistake, and I need to handle it myself. Your father…he’s just an additional headache they shouldn’t have to worry about.”
“But you seem to have a good relationship with your family. Your world was also turned upside down. Wouldn’t they understand? I doubt they’d see you as a failure or incapable of doing your job in this whole mafia business.”
Pain flickered in his eyes as he replied dryly, “You sound like Pyotr.”
“Well, I guess Pyotr’s the smartest of you all, then,” I smirked.
Avit chuckled. “I beg to differ.”
But the humor faded quickly, replaced by a quiet sadness.
“But Avit,” I pressed gently, “if you told your siblings, wouldn’t you figure this out sooner?”
“I have an IT whiz on my side,” he countered. “Unless you’re saying you can’t get the job done.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled. “What I’m saying is you have a strong support system. Use it. It’s something some of us only dream of.”
When my mother was sick, I didn't have anyone to lean on. I watched my father wither just like she did. I’d wished I had siblings to help with the burden.
“I can’t,” he said, sadly.
“Can't or won't?”
“Won’t. Not when it could put the women and children in danger.
When we found out who was behind the attacks, that bastard sneaked into Lev’s house in a damn delivery box.
He couldn’t take down the men, so he went after the women and children.
” His jaw tightened. “I can’t let my nephews and nieces grow up without mothers. ”
“Did you grow up without a mother?” I asked quietly.
“I was twenty-one when my parents were assassinated. Mariya, Pyotr, and Ninel were still under eighteen. And even though I was technically an adult…I still needed them.” His voice cracked on the last line.
Avit wasn’t the same man who had forced me to marry him. Sitting next to me was someone…unhealed. A man carrying more demons than he’d ever admit. A man who’d had to grow up too fast because of the life he was born into. Something we both understood far too well.
I shifted closer, fighting the instinct to pull him into a hug, to hold him, to take even a fraction of that pain away.
Avit didn’t seem like the type of man who let himself be vulnerable with anyone, so why was he being vulnerable…with me?
A darker thought whispered at the back of my mind: Was this real…or was he just pretending so he could keep his hold on me?
Was everything tonight a sham?
He hadn't been around for the past three days, then suddenly showed up with his family. I found it hard to believe that he really hadn't told his family about us.
Were they all in on this act, his little performance to win me over so I’d trust them…trust him, and turn on my father?
Every laugh, every hug, every polite word suddenly felt like it could be part of some carefully staged play.
Yet, deep down inside, I hoped it wasn't.
Avit stood abruptly, his mask pulled over once again. “It's been a long night. Why don't you go up and get some rest. Wexler told me you weren't feeling well. I'm sorry I didn't ask sooner. How are you feeling now?”
“I'm okay. I think it's just the flu; everyone on campus seems to have it. But I’ve got a few things to help me sleep tonight.”
He nodded. “If you need anything, let me know.”
“I will.”
Avit turned and walked away. I expected him to head upstairs toward his room, but instead he moved down the hall toward the office.
I made my way upstairs. Once I changed for bed, the events of the night replayed in my head. I found myself thinking about Mandy and how much I missed having her to talk to. She was the one person I could always call when my life felt like it was spiraling.
And right now, it was. I needed someone to help me sort through the confusion in my mind.
I really liked Avit’s family, and his vulnerability tonight had felt…
real. Or at least rare. Maybe it only surfaced because his family showed up.
I didn’t know anymore—what was fake, what was real, or what he wanted me to believe.
But my phone was still locked away somewhere in this house. Avit still hadn’t given it back, and I wasn’t even sure that if I asked for it, he’d let me have it.
I took two cold tablets, swallowed them with water, and curled under the covers.
“No matter what happened tonight, don’t get attached, Sienna. Avit is the enemy…he always will be…” I mumbled as I drifted off to sleep.
The next few days, Avit hadn’t been around, and I had to admit that I missed our morning routines. But with each day that passed, despite self-medicating, I felt like trash. I tried to act normal around Wexler, but I knew I wasn’t fooling him. It only made him hover even closer.
I was standing in the bathroom with Mandy on campus while she touched up her makeup.
“Sienna, I think you should take a few days off school and get some rest.”
“You know I can’t.”
I didn’t want to stay at home, not in that house, and it wasn’t like I’d get any rest anyway. I was still trying to figure out who the hell my father had been working with.
Mandy turned to me. “Sienna, I love how dedicated you are to your studies, but passing out during a lecture shouldn’t be one of your goals. You’ve gotta go to the hospital.”
“I hate hospitals.”
And I did. They reminded me too much of my mother.
“Well, at least a private doctor. If you don’t have the money, I could give it to you.”
“I’ll give myself a few more days, and then if I don’t get better, I’ll go to the doctor, but you’ve gotta go with me.”
“Deal.”
After Mandy finished touching up her makeup, I splashed some water on my face, hoping it’d add some color to the paleness that had settled in.
When we left the bathroom, Wexler was standing there.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Sienna. And get some rest.” Mandy pulled me into a hug.
“I will.”
She pulled away and gave Wexler a wave before walking off.
I turned to Wexler. “I have to head to the library to pick up a book before heading home.”
“No problem, Miss Sienna.”
I made my way into the library with Wexler walking behind me.
I grabbed the book I had requested from the librarian, then went to check out some new arrivals on one of the shelves. The shelf was next to a window, and below it were shrubs.
Then I heard someone whisper my name. I spun around to see if it was Wexler, but when I looked at him, he only lifted a brow. I shook my head.
“Sienna,” the whisper came again. “It’s Dad. I’m in the bushes.”
What the hell?
I couldn’t make it obvious, if Wexler saw my father here, he’d probably skin him alive.
I pulled a book from the shelf and flipped through it, glancing toward the shrubs.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” I whispered, then glanced at Wexler to see if he heard me.
“Hey, sweet pea, I need to talk to you.”
“No. Just leave,” I hissed softly.
I put the book back and grabbed another one, flipping through it as well.
“Sienna, please. I really need to see you. Meet me at the café where you used to work.”
“And why should I?” I asked, annoyed, trying to keep my voice low.
“It’s important. I really need to see you.”
I sighed. Maybe he wanted to apologize for selling me, for getting me into this mess. At the very least, I should hear him out.
“Okay, fine. I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.”
Now I had to figure out how the hell I was going to ditch Wexler and meet up with my father.
I put the book back on the shelf and walked over to Wexler.
“Do you mind if I use the bathroom before we go?”
“Miss Sienna, are you okay?” Concern cracked through his usual monotone.
“I’m fine. I won’t be long.”
He nodded. I headed to the bathroom and slipped inside, closing the door quietly before turning the lock. I moved straight to the last stall. There was a window above the toilet—small, but big enough for me to fit through. Thankfully, I was tall enough to reach it.
I climbed onto the tank and pushed my knapsack through first, praying my laptop wouldn’t shatter. Then I hauled myself up and out, going headfirst. I toppled through the window and hit the ground on my back, the impact knocking the air out of me.
I couldn't just lie there. It wouldn't take Wexler long before he realized that I was gone.
I scrambled to my feet and grabbed my knapsack. The world tilted, nausea climbing up my throat. I steadied myself, waited a few seconds until the dizziness passed, then took off across campus toward the café.
About two minutes later, I pushed open the café door, breathing heavily, quickly scanning the room. I spotted my father and made my way to the last booth, sliding in with my back to the entrance.
“Hey, Dad. Why did you need to see me?”
“I wanted to know how you’ve been. Is Mr. Safin treating you well?”
“If he’s treating me well?” I snapped. “I shouldn’t even be there!”
“But you are,” he said casually, “and now we have an opportunity to use it to our advantage.”
“What? Are you serious? A small part of me hoped you wanted to apologize for selling me like damn livestock.”
“Sweet pea, what’s done is done. You’re there, and the fact that he didn’t pull you out of school means maybe he likes you. We can use that. Mr. Safin is a powerful man, one of the most powerful in Philly.”
“Are you crazy?” I hissed. “He’s also extremely dangerous. Be grateful you’re still alive after betraying him. Stealing from him again is suicide.”
“Come on, sweet pea. You’re a woman, use your womanly charm. You’ve gotta help me get out of the country. I’m sure you can steal a few million from him, then find out how I can slip out of Philly without being detected.”
I closed my eyes, massaging my temples. My head was pounding. I couldn’t believe this! After everything, the only reason he wanted to see me was to come up with another scheme to swindle Avit. I was an idiot for believing he'd want to do anything else.
I looked at my father once again. It was a mistake coming here. It was time to leave. “Dad, I…”
His eyes suddenly widened.
A hand shot out, grabbed my arm, and yanked me to my feet. Instinctively, I swung my hand to slap whoever it was, but they caught my wrist mid-air.
And then I met Avit’s cold, furious stare.
Behind me, I heard movement, my father scrambling away like the coward he was.
“So you sneak away from Wexler to meet your father. What were you hoping for? To come up with a plan to save him…or yourself?”
“That’s not why I came—”
Avit’s grip tightened painfully on my arm.
“Ouch! You're hurting me!”
“Do I look like I care? You've taken me for a fool, haven't you.” He peered down at me and snarled. “From now on, since you clearly can’t be trusted to go to the damn bathroom alone, Wexler goes everywhere with you.”
I tried to pull away. “I wasn’t planning on—”
“Save it, Sienna. Seems I was too lenient with you. That’s a mistake I won’t make again.”
He spun me toward the door. I barely managed to snatch my knapsack before he dragged me out of the café and toward the waiting SUV.