Chapter 59 Lev
LEV
After Serafina is released from the hospital under strict orders to receive ongoing medical care from Zeno’s private doctor, Anastasia, Dimitri, and Katya return to Moscow while Zeno, Vanessa, and I camp out at his villa.
Serafina spends a couple days back in Ostia with her mother.
Gabriella invited me to stay, and Serafina begged with pleading eyes, but for once, I was able to deny her something, preferring she have the time alone.
I need Serafina too—especially as I do everything in my power to avoid Vanessa and Zeno, often finding myself around Nero since there’s nothing else to do.
He asks a lot about my sister, most of which I ignore, and spends a lot of the time drinking.
I text Serafina as often as she needs but encourage her to also spend that time with her mother, knowing once we’re home, I’ll have her for the rest of our lives.
So, a few days post-accident, when we head to pick up Serafina and return to Moscow, my skin is itching to get my hands on her, then out of Rome.
She bolts from the doorway, looking much more healed than we dropped her off. Still, I’m careful hugging her to prevent enticing any aches as I lift her off the ground and kiss her, indifferent about the audience.
“I really wish you stayed here,” she says when I pull back.
“Me too, but did you enjoy your time with your mama? How are you feeling?”
She touches her forehead, grimacing. “I get headaches easily, so I won’t be returning to school for a bit, but I’m alright. Mostly, I want to go home.”
The building behind us looms—the definition of home for her—and she follows my gaze, already shaking her head.
“This will always be home, but the past couple days away from you taught me you’re my new home.
” Her palm rests on my heart. “Besides, we’re behind on our shows, and if I’m not returning to class right away, seems we have time to kill… ”
Nothing has ever sounded better.
We’re interrupted by Gabriella, who comes up behind us to hug Serafina goodbye a final time. The two share whispered words, and then Gabriella’s arms are suddenly around me, yanking me down to her height.
Every warning signal in my body flashes in horror and terror. A stranger is touching me—embracing me—and it takes a lot to remind myself she’s an innocent civilian, to not react, that she’s Serafina’s mother.
She releases me with a knowing smile. “Grazie, Lev. Once again, you’ve saved my daughter’s life.”
“She saved herself.”
Gabriella swats the air. “She’s told me all about you and her.
I can’t say I’m entirely surprised. Zeno sings your praises; I’ve seen what you do for her, and she clearly loves you, so the only thing I ask, from a mother’s heart, is for you to make her happy.
And one day, please come visit so I get to know you better.
” She glances to where Vanessa and Zeno stand nearby.
“All of you. Seems my family is expanding in the most unexpected ways.”
Before Vanessa can agree—since she won’t turn down an invitation from Gabriella—I reply, “We’d love to. Thank you, Gabriella.”
Serafina grins, but it’s Vanessa’s choked curse grabbing my attention. As Zeno says goodbye to their mother, Vanessa mouths, I’m proud of you.
Two days after returning to Moscow, Vanessa texts me to come down to the Bratva gym. It isn’t abnormal she’d want to run extra drills, though her timing feels strange. With Dimitri’s father no longer an issue, war with Zeno long over, and the Vitales dealt with, there’s nothing to prepare for.
There are a lot of cars in the parking lot when I arrive, which may explain it. She’s probably hosting a meeting and using the gym as a large enough space to hold us all.
The sight I’m greeted with as I round the main part of the gym, with its many mats and various workout equipment, sends my heart racing. Not with the number of soldiers in attendance but the wall they form, edging the floor of mats where Vanessa stands in the centre.
Dimitri and Anastasia are nearby, talking, while Katya takes it all in with wide eyes. In the weeks since she and Dimitri returned from Toronto, he’s been training her, building on what she was already working on. It’s curious Vanessa permitted her here, considering she’s not formally sworn in.
Vanessa turns my way as I approach, but there’s no greeting in her expression, nothing recognizable in the eyes supposedly identical to Serafina’s. Whereas Fina’s is warmth and comfort and home, Vanessa’s is ice, like Ursin’s.
“Pakhan.” My head bows respectfully, sensing whatever this is, she isn’t playing.
Over her shoulder, Dimitri pulls Katya back, and Anastasia merely smirks before settling atop a stack folded mats. Whatever this is, it isn’t good.
“Lev Petrov, you’ve recently disobeyed a direct order. I gave you leeway weeks ago, with the promise of eventually speaking more about it. That time is now.”
Excited energy exudes from the crowd, their feet shifting in anticipation. It’s not often Vanessa will drag people out for a public punishment, and never with one of her own Elite. There’s a reason we’ve made it to where we are.
“I’ll accept the consequences of my actions.”
Her lips curl up in the corner. “I’m aware of that, because you have no regrets.”
“None.” Not if it got me Serafina.
A smirk teases the edge of her mouth, suggesting it was the right thing to say. Still, she gestures to the mat between us. “Kneel.”
Behind, my sister is grinning as Vanessa stares down at me, hints of the old Pakhan emerging. The one who seized her father’s empire when others preferred she be wed off wed, the merciless queen who won’t hesitate to hurt anyone against her.
Which means, she’s pissed.
She bends at the waist, eyes flickering with both pain and pride—and the full truth of this moment hits.
“When learning about Serafina, I vowed to myself to never let the past be repeated. To protect her from the Bratva and anyone who’d lay a hand on her.
She’s my sister, and you know very well, Lev, what loyalty and family mean to me.
So for orders pertaining to her to be disobeyed… hurt.”
“Pros-ti.” I’m sorry.
“Oh, I know.”
In a flash, her fist goes backwards before springing into my face, landing a punch hard enough to bruise my jaw. My head snaps back, rotating my chin to ensure she hasn’t cracked anything. She’s as strong as some of the men, so if she wanted to leave a mark, she would.
Murmurs rise from the crowd behind us, and Vanessa slowly lifts her attention. “See this as a reminder that we’re all held to the same standards. All of you, my Elite…and traitors. Especially ones who pass inside information to my enemies.”
There are more murmurs, more shifting from behind us, and I stare up at Vanessa, seeing more clearly now what exactly this show is.
Ever since Serafina mentioned Vitale’s inside man, I’d been going through all employee records, scouring everything, interviewing when I could.
Although finding them was a priority, it’s becoming harder to focus the closer the wedding got.
Being near Serafina and ensuring her well-being, trying to train her, took precedence.
When Dimitri returned to Moscow and I remained back in Rome, he took over the interviews, insisting it might not be wise for me to speak to the men, to focus on the technical side of things. Something about the desperation to find him affecting my control.
As of yesterday, there’s been nothing.
Vanessa reaches to help me up, showing everyone here that we’re united regardless. It’s nowhere close to what she could have done, and a lot less than I deserved.
“Take care of her, Lev, in the way I know you will.” She taps my tender jaw, red-painted nails sharp against my skin. “I’m not mad anymore,” she murmurs low enough for only me to hear. “Just annoyed about the way I learned about it. Hitting you felt good, I’ll admit.”
“It’s deserved.” I duck from her touch, despising how everyone seems to think they get carte blanche to touch me now, just because Serafina is allowed.
Anastasia comes up beside me with an elbow to my ribs. “That was fun to watch.”
“What’s happening here?” I demand instead of entertaining her jab. It’s then I notice Dimitri’s gone, but Katya sees me searching and points to the far end of the gym, where he’s guarding the exit.
“There’s a traitor in our midst,” Vanessa begins, raising her voice.
“One we finally uncovered. Someone working for the Vitales, a family within the Cosa Nostra—and one who specifically targeted those close to me.” She pauses, letting her words sink in.
“Take this as an official warning: the Mancini family of the Cosa Nostra are our allies. Zeno is a partner, a friend, and an ally to every single one of us. His sister, Serafina Mancini, is also my sister—a Volkov by blood, which demands your protection. The vows you swore to me, the same you once swore to my father, you swear silently to her. Right here, right now. Because if anyone puts her at risk, it won’t only be me you’re dealing with, but Lev. ”
Attentions dart to me, appropriately confused. For her, I meet their stares with my own.
“Lev has lied for her, killed for her, been injured for her. Anyone who raises a hand to her is his to deal with. Serafina is considered Bratva, so to learn one of my own endangered her—working against me—by giving information to Alessio Vitale is unacceptable.”
More shifting and shared looks. They’re realizing why they were all brought here—and it wasn’t to watch me be punched.
“After today, you will understand why the Mancinis are not to be touched, and what happens when you betray me.” Vanessa snaps her fingers, and three soldiers, who must have been pre-instructed, grab the arms of a fourth.
That fourth looks to the door and back, seeing it blocked by Dimitri, and resigns himself to his fate as the men drag him forward.
He fights a little, flailing arms and kicking legs, but one jams his foot into the back of his legs, crippling him to his knees, while the other two pin him down by his shoulders.
There couldn’t have been someone more ideal to be found as the rat.
Andrei, the same fucker who once spoke to Serafina the morning before her classes. When he made her smile—I fucking hated it, hated the emotions he dredged up in me. Inappropriate ones that ultimately led to my sore jaw.
He stares resignedly at Vanessa, aware there’s nothing more he can do. He had to have known he’d eventually be discovered.
“Why?” she asks simply. “What did Vitale promise you?”
“Power,” he spits. “Marriage to his cousin.”
Vanessa throws a look at me, both of us envisioning Amara. Amara, who’s been missing in action, including not being at the wedding. It’s been weighing on Serafina, though she hasn’t spoken about it.
“You honestly believed a Capo would allow a soldier from another organization into his inner circle? At least my line won’t be missing much. You may have betrayed the vows once given to me, but it’s not me who longs to see you bleed.” She straightens, turning to the crowd. “You’re up, Lev.”
He’s had this coming since he smiled at moya printessa.
Anastasia, knowing me well, slides a weapon into my hand. It’s heavy and cold—metal brass knuckles I slide over my fingers. Andrei shrinks back in fear at my approach.
“Keep him still,” I demand to the others before crouching in front of him.
All I see is the pretty boy smile and then wonder what he truly wanted with Serafina that day. To get close, take her out, and hand deliver her to Vitale? He couldn’t have been stupid enough to believe I’d let her out of my sight.
“I don’t enjoy torturing people,” I start conversationally. “Their blood is messy, their screams irritate the fuck out of me. I believe in simple and straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be gentle. You know what you did, Andrei. You put an innocent woman in the crossfire.”
I stand, adjust the knuckles, and barely look twice before my fist lands in his face while she fills my mind. Another for when she’s smiled at him. His teeth shatter, and he cries out, blood dripping. For once, it’s less of a bother because of who he’s bleeding for.
Another when thinking about how Alessio knew her location. His jaw cracks. Now, he struggles against his human binds.
Another while recalling every single second she had to endure Vitale’s presence. His eye socket spurts blood onto my shirt.
Another, another, another until his face is a mangled mess, his body slumped in the others’ holds, who I gesture to step away. Men all around move for better views, some appreciative, others casting frightened glances around.
All of them understand what harming Serafina will get them: a one-way trip to Ad.
I flick my hand, casting the brass knuckles away. Blood splatters across the blue mats.
“Hope it was worth it.” I spit on his lap, walk around to his other side, and clench an arm around his neck. He struggles for a moment, gasping when comprehending his immediate future, but my grip locks him into position until his struggles cease and his body slumps dead.
I drop him, walking to Vanessa’s side while ignoring the whispering crowd. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She grins. “Because it was so much more satisfying this way.”