Chapter 43
LEV
Where the fuck are you? I push off the wall, scanning the entrance to the female washroom for the fifth time. Since realizing she’s been gone too long, I’ve counted to a hundred twice now, and I’m seconds away from bursting into the washroom, consequences be damned.
As if she’s heard me, Serafina slips from between two other women. Her face is low and shielded, and she walks quickly. Too quickly. Once close, she glances immediately to my left, her lip curling.
“Fi—”
She yanks my hand, propelling me deeper into the crowds now dispersing, since intermission is nearing its end.
She abruptly stops in the centre of the room and throws her arms around me, pulling my mouth to hers in a fevered kiss, like she’ll never get the chance to again.
Her body molds to mine, not an inch of space between us.
For all those reasons, I end it and push her away.
Emotions wash over her, over me, like a cool drench of water at the sight of a tear dripping down her cheek, which she immediately wipes away. Her face is ashen, despondent, a look that not only makes my blood race but drives me to locate and destroy whoever made her this way.
“What is it?”
She glances past my shoulder, scanning the room before pulling me towards the theatre’s entrance. Being stronger, I haul her to a stop and nudge her against a nearby wall, using my body to cut everyone else out.
“No, Serafina. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
She watches over my shoulder as people enter the auditorium. “C-can we finish watching the show first?”
She’s crying and wants to finish the show? Ana’s show could fuck itself. A fist to the wall above her head keeps my voice calm, a surge of anger blasted through it rather than unleashed on her.
All that control training and prison trained me in? Gone.
“Tell. Me.” Before I break something. Before your pain breaks me.
My hand flattens on the wall, my finger tapping. There is no pattern this time, only motion, because that’s how she’s making me feel right now. Not orderly, only chaotic. My mind fills with static and buzzing while only her occasional sniffle breaks through.
“I-I will. Please, Lev. I want to see the rest of the show. I want the rest of this night to go normal.”
The rest of—? “Fina,” I whisper, dropping my head, using her scent to quell the rage. “You’re safe. We’ll finish the show, but I have to know what happened. Did someone hurt you?”
“I’ll tell you, Lev, I swear, but only after. Please believe me. I want to watch the rest of Ana’s performance.”
Lined with water, her gaze fucking breaks me.
Cripples me until all I’m left with is the desire to grant her desire, even though it’s the last thing I actually want.
“Fine.” I push off the wall and clasp her hand, dragging her down the aisle to our seats.
Most of the guests have already re-settled, and we’re two of a handful still standing. “As soon as this is over.”
“As soon as we’re home.”
Not good enough. Arguing in front of everyone is only asking for trouble.
If finishing the show makes her smile again, that’s a small price to pay while sitting in torment, mind whirling as to what changed within ten minutes.
We settle into our seats a moment before the show resumes. The curtain lifting hardly registers, given I’m so busy watching her, searching for a crack in her expression that’ll hint at what she’s afraid of.
Once Ana begins her ballet leaps—or whatever the fuck they’re called—the stress marring her beautiful face shifts into pleasure and relaxation.
Every once in a while, Serafina’s expression falters, and her eyes dart to the side of the room.
Every single time, I follow, seeking whatever has her attention but finding nothing.
After a while, I force myself to watch my sister dance, but it doesn’t make me any less aware of Serafina. The way she claps with the crowd, when her smile shifts.
The second half of my sister’s performances usually drag. Maybe because the intermissions grant a much-needed reprieve, and it’s a tease before sitting through the rest. This time, it’s worse than ever and has nothing to do with me.
So, when Anastasia finally ends in the centre of the stage, close to the edge, and bows to the audience giving a standing ovation, it takes everything in me to not haul Serafina away and wait until the show comes to a complete end.
As the curtain begins lowering and stage lights dim, Ana looks our way—first to me, the slightest ripple in her forehead before she smiles at Serafina.
But her smile is distant and empty, which tells me my perceptive twin noticed Serafina’s demeanour shift, even from the thirty-second glimpse she would have gotten with the reduced lights.
The moment the curtain completely rests on the stage floor, I drag Serafina towards the door to the back entrance. Once we’re away from the buzz and excitement and alone in the service hall, I spin her around.
“What the fuck happened?”
“Let’s go home first.”
“Fi—”
“Lev, please. Vanessa will want to hear this, and we should get my brother on the phone. It’s important.”
I can’t even consider what she’s about to say. “Tell me first.”
“If I do, you’ll get mad.” Her expression is one of heartbreak—maybe mine.
Arguing with her isn’t getting me anywhere. Serafina’s too fucking stubborn to fold, so with a conceding grunt, I lead her to the exit, texting my sister at the same time.
Me
Something’s wrong, but she won’t tell me until everyone’s together. You need to get home sooner rather than later.
Annoying Twin
I thought she looked strange at the end there.
Me
She’s hiding something.
Annoying Twin
I’ll be right behind you.
Me
Drive fast.
My sister dealt with, I open another thread.
Me
You at the mansion?
Vanessa
Da. Why?
Me
Stay. Serafina has something to tell us all but won’t say what.
Vanessa
Should I call Zeno then? Any idea?
Me
None. She’s basically crying. She was fine before intermission.
Vanessa
Get home quickly. I’ll call Zeno. Come to my office when you arrive.
Outside, she’s silent as I open the passenger door, hesitating before climbing in.
Her hand rests on my arm while her expression nearly drops me to my knees.
“I really did have fun tonight. Grazie. It felt like a fantasy, being here with you…like this.” She skims her hand along the front of her gown, which probably won’t be torn off her tonight as originally planned.
She claims it’s like a fantasy, but for me, seeing her smile as much as she did was the best version of reality. Now, it feels like a nightmare soon ending…or beginning.
I cup her cheek, thankful to have her alone for these few minutes. “I’ll take you to all the shows you want if you tell me what happened.”
“Bribing me won’t work, Lev.” Her mouth lifts in the corners, a smile that doesn’t meet her eyes. “Besides, there’s no motive when this will be my last show anyway.”
“Last show…? Serafina—” Never have I felt so completely useless, so unlike the weapon my father made me be, doing nothing but dropping my forehead to hers and inhaling peaches and vanilla. Breathe, pray, and plead, “Printessa, you need to tell me what’s happening.”
She cups my face. “You know, a part of me adores that name.” Then she slides into the car like none of that happened, reaching over until I’m forced to release the door to shut it.
The walk to my side is done with slow steps, needing to calm the rage in my veins before doing something stupid. As I take my seat, the back door of the theatre opens, my sister running out in yoga pants and a hoodie. Her hair is still in that ungodly bun, and she waves before rushing to her car.
I take off down the road, eager to get home. In my rear-view, Anastasia’s keeping pace as we speed through Moscow towards Bratva lands.
Without putting away the car, I barely park it before dragging Serafina into the mansion. Behind me, Ana parks her car to the side and rushes behind us, the three of us heading for Vanessa’s office. I release Serafina as Vanessa turns her laptop to reveal Zeno on a video call.
“Sera, what do you need to tell us?”
She ignores him, heading to one of the chairs in front of Vanessa’s desk. I move to the side to lean against the wall, remaining nearby. Anastasia claims the remaining chair, but not before sending a worried glance my way.
Serafina starts, “We have a problem.”