Chapter 7 Lev
LEV
When I enter the meeting room for the monthly gathering Vanessa hosts with her Elite, only Anastasia is present so far. She’s picking at her nails with her feet propped on the table, the pointed tips of her heeled boots coming dangerously close when I settle in my regular seat beside her.
“You could sit normal, heathen.”
“I could,” she shrugs, rolling her head until I’m in view, “but where’s the fun in that?”
My counterargument dies on my tongue when Vanessa strides in, Zeno close behind, which immediately has me straightening.
Regardless of their new relationship, letting an outsider in on Bratva business doesn’t seem like something she would do.
He lowers into Dimitri’s seat to Vanessa’s right after a jerk of his chin.
Vanessa settles her palms flat on the table scarred with blood, burn marks, and gashes.
“As you all know, Dimitri’s in Toronto, so he’ll be sitting this one out.
I’ll catch him up on anything he needs to know once he’s home.
Zeno’s joining us for a bit to ask something, and then he’ll be heading out. ”
Her gaze finds me across the table, which at first is strange, but it worsens when Zeno looks over too. There’s too much attention on me, and my spine tingles.
“Lev.”
Fuck. My index finger drums its one-two-one pattern on my knee.
“Say no if you want, but I need a big favour. Don’t know if Vanessa mentioned, but when she discovered Ursin’s journal, there were details regarding my family, particularly Serafina.”
It’s been nearly a week since she left. Her faint scent still lingers in my room, so, other than showering and changing, I avoid it more than usual.
“Turns out, Ursin promised Serafina in marriage to another Cosa Nostra family—the Vitales. Their Capo, Alessandro, is unwilling to break it off, regardless of what I offer. Taking it to the Commission isn’t possible, because they’ll view the agreement as binding, considering it was made by her father…
technically.” His sharp tone pushes forth the picture of her in my bed, but she’s lying in another man’s, due to an arrangement made possible by Ursin, of all fucking people.
“As much as I hate to admit it,” he continues, sighing, “the agreement is binding.”
When Vanessa first told us about Serafina and her parentage, she mentioned Zeno made every effort to keep her away from the Cosa Nostra, so she and their mother can reside as civilians. Forced engagements aren’t part of that; that’s a mark of the mob.
The girl with the heart—who sat by my bedside and argued when being offered half the bed—doesn’t need some asshole forced upon her.
During my years within the Bratva, I’ve witnessed women shoved into marriages, and, more often than not, they’re not treated well.
Some men view the wedding ring as a gateway to sex, their wife’s feelings aside, resulting in marital rape.
My mind vibrates at the disgusting thought of Serafina placed in that situation.
I hate it.
I hate it more than the peach and vanilla sent lingering on my pillow. But none of this should be my concern. She’s Zeno’s family, part of an entire other organization.
The noise in my head pounds harder than ever. My tapping pattern speeds up, chasing peace…but not reaching it.
One. Two. One.
Zeno continues, unknowingly answering my wandering thoughts.
“Not long after, I discovered Serafina is dating someone. She won’t tell me who, only that they met around her birthday, which is when the deal for her hand should have gone through.
Which makes me suspicious that the Vitales are involved—specifically Alessandro’s eldest son, Alessio. ”
“Wait.” Ana leans forward, dragging her shoes off the table—small mercies. “You’re saying, she’s dating her fiancé and doesn’t even know it?”
“It’s what I’m thinking, sì.” He huffs, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.
“She refuses to tell me anything, though I managed to get the number she’s been texting.
It leads to a burner phone, which only adds to my suspicion.
” He pauses, sharing a look with Vanessa.
“My Captain gathered all my best, and I picked two I felt would blend with her, but she figured it out and gave them the slip. Then Ivan captured her. Given that, I’m not confident about my other choices.
Neither is she—her words. She’ll be attending university soon, and while I won’t hold her back, she needs eyes on her.
She despises the idea of security. I haven’t told her the real purpose for sending protection, or about her engagement—and I won’t until necessary.
She claims her boyfriend is another student, so if it is Alessio, campus is the best place to catch him.
Someone has to be on the ground with her, near her, protecting her…
so when he comes around, we’ll be able to determine if it’s the Vitales or not. ”
He stares at me.
He can’t be asking…?
“Lev, I need someone trustworthy. She’s my sister.”
He is.
My finger taps, my mind creating a list of every reason this can’t happen.
One: babysitting isn’t in my job description. Hell, it’s not even in my capabilities. Computers, networks, and the Bratva. That’s as far as my skills run.
Two: spending that much time around Serafina will be more painful than the bullet wound in my shoulder.
Three: the concept of being around someone all the time—even if it is Serafina…no. I barely stand being around my own twin, and Zeno’s suggesting I live on a university campus with thousands of people around all the time?
If my nightmares had nightmares, this would be it.
One. Two. One.
Immediately, I look at my Pakhan, because Vanessa can’t possibly agree with this, but she tilts her head.
“You mentioned having remote access to your servers through your laptop and being able to get to them anywhere. Take whatever you’ll need to continue helping Dimitri.
If you agree, Serafina and supporting Dimitri’s efforts will be your entire job.
Until further notice, your work on the ground would be covered by Ana and me. ”
Everything inside me is about to deny them until Zeno speaks again, this time activating an emotion I feel so infrequently—if ever.
Guilt.
Guilt means considering my actions, analyzing them to determine what’s right and wrong, but that also means having an insight and understanding them.
Which I don’t.
This time, the strange feeling hits me like a damn brick, and my taps slow to the point that numerous seconds pass before my finger lands on my jeans again.
“Even though she doesn’t want anyone, she specifically asked for you because she trusts you’ll protect her.
I attempted to talk her down, of course, and explained having to assign one of my own soldiers, but she’s determined it be you, so I figured I’d at least ask.
The fact she’s entertaining someone is a win. ”
If she doesn’t want anyone there, even me, then she won’t interact with me. It’ll be like being alone…around a lot of other people. I’m simply the best of the worst in her perspective. It’d make everything simpler.
Anastasia nudges me when I’ve gone silent, my mind and mouth scrambling to reply.
“You talk of trust, but you both barely know me.”
Zeno glances at Vanessa. “That might be true, but sometimes, it takes only one act to build trust. If you do this, I’ll be indebted to you twice.”
“What would this consist of exactly?” I find myself asking, entertaining this insanity.
“If we’re lucky, not much. You could be in and out within the month.
She assumes you’re protecting her from danger; let her think that.
What I actually need is someone to be around when she meets up with her boyfriend.
If he really is Alessio, then the Vitales broke a few rules; the agreement isn’t the official engagement, so there’s still a process to follow.
She remains a Mancini; thus, as head of her family, it needs to be formalized with me.
Until then, they can’t claim her. If Alessio’s sneaking around with her, it might be enough for either a confrontation or to take it to the Commission and null the agreement.
I need a picture—proof of their actions.
“She has a dorm already, a two-bedroom, so you’ll be nearby at all hours.
You’ll attend her classes, but it’s already been cleared with the school that you’re not going as a student.
Besides that, let her do whatever she wants.
I want her to experience university as she should while getting the proof Vitales are going behind my back. ”
Stalk her until her boyfriend comes around. Seems easy enough.
Seems being the key word. It’ll mean a whole new environment. A new room, a new bed, new sleeping arrangements, a new workspace. Sharing a small area—because I doubt university dorms are large by any means—is everything I hate. Everything I should say no to.
The Serafina I met and the Serafina on her social media aren’t the same. The girl in my room was traumatized and emotional from her shitty experience. No doubt, the one attending school will be the one from her photos. She won’t be quiet or shy. She’ll be the very opposite of me.
My fingers pick up their taps again, a motion Anastasia notices, a twitch I can’t stop as three people stare me down, waiting for an answer that feels like my head will explode to give.
People. Shouting. Cheering. Sports. Classes. Parties. Drugs. Drinking. Pictures. People.
So. Many. People.
One. Two. One.
Images flit through my mind—what life at a post-secondary school would be like, since I never got that opportunity. They flash in a rapid whirlwind of hell. Everything about this will ruin me.
“She specifically asked for you because she trusts you’ll protect her.”
Zeno leans back, the motion tearing me from my horrors. “Sorry to put that on you. I’ll let her know and find someone else.”
“No, I’ll do it.”
Anastasia gapes, understanding what this means for my sanity.
Vanessa’s shoulders lower an inch, like she was clinging to my answer. “I’m appreciative as well. For her.”
For Serafina. She asked for me. That’s the entire reason I’m doing this.
Zeno smiles wider than I’ve ever seen and stretches a hand for me to shake, which is entirely unnecessary.
Handshakes are reserved for greetings, not for people who know one another.
He did this the other day too, in the kitchen.
It’s extra touching, but to be polite, I play the role and slip my hand into his.
“You have no fuckin’ idea how happy you’ve made me. Thank you so much. She starts school in about two weeks. Everything will be in order before then. I’ll reach out with more details soon.”
Vanessa lightly claps her hands. “Good. Now that Serafina is taken care of, Zeno, I’m kicking you out—although it’s tempting to allow you to stay and learn something about running an organization.
” She tosses him a sarcastic smirk, their cat-and-mouse game unending, even when they’ve finally conceded.
He stands, rolling his eyes, and quickly drops a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be in your room. Find me when you’re finished.”
“Gag.” Anastasia makes a dramatic noise that follows Zeno out, and only when the door is shut does she update us on the brothel business she leads.
Meetings are difficult for me to pay attention to, unless I’m the one giving updates—which I despise. It’s easy to zone out, and normally, I’d reflect on something about my servers or similar, but this time, it’s something else.
Someone else.
The sooner I meet this boyfriend, the sooner this nightmare will end.
I swear, peaches and vanilla permeate the air even now.