Page 112 of Barinov

“Come back from that edge?” I ask, my voice shaking more than I fucking want it to. “I’ve always flirted with that darkness, with that line. I’ve left men in the ring bloody and broken, but always breathing. Now, I don’t know how to—”

“You’ll get used to it,” he interjects.

He says it so bluntly and so eerily calm. I sometimes forget that behind the man who brings bouquets of roses to Bella’s dances, lies a ruthless mafia kingpin with more blood on his hands than both of my parents combined.

“You did what you had to do to survive. No one outside of that ring gets to judge you for this. And if they do?” He leans forward, his steel eyes blazing holes in my skull. “You send them to me.”

“Careful, Roman,” I chuckle. “That almost sounds like you care.”

“I do. Just don’t tell anyone.” Roman smirks. “It’ll ruin my image.”

“Thanks.”

He nods. “In the spirit of caring and all that shit, you should know I called Northvale.”

“Northvale?” I echo.

“Yes,” he confirms. “Dean Chambers is a client of Atrum and owes me a favor or two. Or three, but that’s not the point.” He shakes his head and laughs. “Anyway, I got him to agree to slap a temporary hold on your course load. You’re still enrolled, but everything’s paused. I couldn’t have you out there flunking while searching for my daughter, she’d have both our asses.”

“No shit,” I laugh, then wince. “Wait, what do you mean paused?”

“You’ve only got two classes left to graduate,” he says. “Your architecture class is officially frozen. Timeline’s suspended. When we get her back, you can pick up where you left off.”

“I’ve already done most of that senior project,” I mutter. “Just need to get the damn presentation finished.”

“Good. Now you’ve got time to make it legendary. The other professor was more of a dick about it.” He shrugs. “But we persuaded him. As long as you pass the final after she’s back, you’re golden.”

“Wow. Thanks.”

“Called Wexley too,” he adds, pushing up from the chair. “Had to get Cade’s dad involved to back up my story, but they agreed. Cade’s on hold as well.”

“Appreciate that.”

“Don’t mention it.” He shakes his head, turning to head to the door.

“Roman?”

He halts his steps and turns back to face me.

“Thank you,” I say. “I mean it. Not for just shoving your hands into my blood, but for what you said.”

“We’re family now, Lex.” He huffs, rubbing his shoulder. “Whether your mother can stomach it or not.”

Chapter 25

ZEKE

Eden

33 days since I got my sister back.

“Woah, woah, woah,” Bella snaps. “We’re where?”

“Keep your voice down,” I whisper as sternly as I can. “I’m not supposed to be in here anymore.”

Over the last few days, Luca has had me off doing one of two things. One, I’m either on complete lockdown in my old room with zero access to any type of technology. The dick even yanked the tv off my wall.

Or two, he sends me and Ivan on another stupid errand. He says it’s for the trials, but I know better. Hell, I helped the guy create the trials and not a single one of them needed Ivan and I to fly to Philly for three damn days.