Chapter 4
SERAFINA
After waking, it takes a few seconds to piece together where I am—a stranger’s bed.
A stranger’s empty bed.
“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 soldiers and 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 all this. 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 messaging him back.
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.
<3
You didn’t text when you said you would.
Hello?
Sera, answer me.
Where are you?
You’re worrying me.
Why are you not picking up?
Please be okay, dolcezza. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Answer me before I find you myself.
Are you okay?
Call me when you can.
Pick. Up.
I’m going out of my mind.
If you’re with another man…he’s dead. Fucking warning you. I won’t be cockblocked after all this.
This is the final text. I’m coming for you if I don’t hear from you soon.
The last one was sent minutes ago. If he showed up at my house in Ostia, he’d blow up so many of the lies I’ve told Madre in the past few months, so if there’s one benefit of turning my phone on, it’s keeping him stable for the time being.
Me
I’m okay. I’m so sorry for not getting back to you. My phone’s been off. I’m fine. Don’t go to my house please.
After I send it, my breath is stilted until he responds. Within seconds of the message being delivered, the status switches to Read and bubbles appear.
<3
Where the fuck have you been?
Me
I’m sorry, can’t explain. I’ve been with out of the country my brother.
<3
Where?
Me
Can’t say. Pretty sure we’re heading home today. Can I see you tomorrow? Please. I’ve missed you.
<3
It’s not even a question. I’ll see you as soon as you’re back.
Me
Good. I’m turning my phone off again, so don’t text. See you soon!
Alessio’s nice…but when he gets like this, it makes me second-guess our relationship.
We met on a campus tour last spring. Listening to the tour guide and talking to Amara about the most recent drama distracted me until bumping into him and nearly causing him to spill his coffee.
He caught it in time, and his charming smile stunned me. The feeling intensified when he lifted dark sunglasses from sparkling green eyes.
“Checking out the campus?” he had asked, scanning over the rest of the group.
“Sì,” I replied.
The guys I went to school with didn’t hold my attention for long, but Alessio, as he introduced himself then, was forward.
He plucked my cell from my hand and, just as initial panic rose that a stranger was holding such an important part of my life, he was handing it back, his contact information inside.
We texted the rest of the day, and the next, into the following week, and then it was happily-ever-whatever-this-is from there.
With Alessio calmed, I shut the phone off and return it to the pocket of my jeans before exploring Lev’s ensuite to clean up. I splash water on my face and arms, doing my best to not be nosy and poke around. I’ve wrecked this man’s week enough; he doesn’t need me touching his personal effects.
The water washes away the knot that formed answering Alessio. He’s charming and a good kisser, but he’s intense too—and not in a good way. He clearly cares about my well-being, but sometimes, it’s too much. When we’re together, he’s manageable, but problems arise when we’re apart.
If Alessio learned I slept in another man’s bed, regardless of the situation, he’d freak out. Which, I guess I get…but he wouldn’t allow me to explain before immediately reacting.
It’s pleasant to be cared about by someone who doesn’t have to, and I think that’s what appeals the most. Our relationship won’t be a forever thing, but for now, he’s fun. He’s someone to be free with, who isn’t throwing curfews or rules or bodyguards at me.
He’s my dirty little secret. My walk on the wild side.
Once I feel semi-human, I head out of the bedroom, walking down the ornate stone hallway until finding the equally large staircase I recall rushing up yesterday.
The mansion is beautiful in ways Zeno’s villa fails.
The Mancini property is wide-open, summer home vibes, all tan walls, curved windows, archways everywhere, and even equipped with a pool—my favourite.
Vanessa’s mansion is more shut-in, all dark wood and even darker walls, few windows.
It’s like an old-style castle but warmer. Cozier.
My hand grips the top of the railing as I feel eyes stare at me. Curiously? Judgementally? Glancing towards the portrait of Ursin Volkov may answer those questions, but I have no desire to look into the face of my biological father—or whatever the man who raped Madre and produced me can be called.
Being here isn’t anything I ever envisioned occurring.
It’s weird, seeing the place my bloodline came from.
It leaves a twisting in my gut, because I’m not entirely certain how to feel.
Perhaps, if I had warning, I could have prepared, but there was no mentally preparing for this yesterday.
Pushing the thoughts away, I descend the stairs.
At the bottom, the hum of conversation directs me down a hallway as dark as the rest of this place and into a kitchen. The crowd of people around the island look up at my entrance.
Anastasia is closest to the door and offers a warm smile before turning back to her smoothie. She’s nice, the little we’ve spoken last night when she popped by to check on her brother.
Beside her is Vanessa, my…half-sister. Now that yesterday’s dangers have passed, I’m better able to consider what it means after months of begging Zeno to let me see her again.
I still don’t know how to act around her.
Indifferent, since we’re adult siblings who never got to know one another, or excited to have a sister?
Time will tell, I suppose, since now probably isn’t the most ideal time to dissect it all.
She smiles faintly—encouragingly. “Morning.”
“Morning,” I manage as Zeno drags his gaze from her to me, almost unwillingly, like I’ve interrupted the newly found bliss he and Vanessa finally have.
It’s okay, though. Given his recent mood, them getting back together will make him more manageable.
Get the stick out of his ass and all that.
If she’s in his life, it gives me a chance to determine the kind of relationship we could have.
He breaks away to yank me into a tight hug, as if it wasn’t only hours ago he last saw me. “Hey, sleep well?”
“Yeah.” Please don’t ask me where.