AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Walking to the library the next morning feels more like floating on air. I barely even register my security detail—one guard about ten feet ahead of me, and one behind. I barely see the traffic lights turning from red to green. All I can think about is Alexei and what he did to me last night.
Holy crap was it amazing. Even now I can feel his kisses trailing down my neck, his hands gripping me. The forceful way he tore off my jeans but then the tender way he drove me to the best thing I ever experienced.
Was I disappointed when he left?
That’s up in the air. Because when a thought manages to squeak through the bliss bubble he put me in, it leads to an avalanche of guilt. As soon as I find a spot in the library and crack open my study book, I take out my phone and scroll over all the messages from my father and Leo.
I’ve been putting them off with the same lie about not being granted access or that I don’t know Alexei well enough yet, but the problem is that I know him better than I should. He’s basically an open book, to the point I refrain from asking certain questions because then I’ll have that information to hold over his head.
I don’t want to hold anything over his head. It’s clear now Papa used something to force him to marry me, but instead of treating me like dirt or blaming me, Alexei has been nothing but a prince. And his businesses are mostly on the up and up. It’s clear he’s trying to ease his way out of the traditional mob life as much as he can, and he’s been successful so far. I don’t get why my family views him as such a threat. They probably only want to take what’s his.
Even if I didn’t like him so much, I wouldn’t want to rat on him. He doesn’t deserve whatever my father will do to him.
And I don’t like him so much—I mean, I do like him but … Oh, hell. It’s just confusing and I can barely concentrate on my studies. Just as I’m about to pack up and head home (yes, I now think of Alexei’s place as home), I get a stream of messages from Leo.
Are you taking this seriously? You want to go to nursing school, don’t you? Papa’s getting impatient. We need something soon.
I don’t know what to make of it—the message feels way more ominous than the last few, which were just nagging check-ins. Out of my three brothers, Leo is the least spoiled and most responsible. He treats our family business like an actual business, and he even tries to avoid turf wars and petty murder sprees. I can’t say he’s ever been overly brotherly towards me, but he’s been the least cruel of the lot.
Is this supposed to be some sort of warning?
As I’m pondering it, the phone rings.
It’s Papa. This is the first time he’s actually called, not messaged. It’s far too dangerous to talk about any of this in Alexei’s apartment because of the security surveillance. Even messaging would be dangerous if Alexei were the sort to go through my phone, but for better or for worse, he’s not.
“Hi, Papa,” I say, the forced cheer sounding as false as it is.
“Go somewhere you can talk,” he orders me.
I nod at my guards that I need to go to the restroom and they take up subtle stances nearby. I huddle in the farthest stall from the door and tell Papa I’m alone and that no one can hear.
“I don’t think your heart is in this assignment, Seraphina,” he says coldly.
“I’m doing as much as I can. I was just about to text Leo.”
“You can tell me, then.”
“I was going to say that I still can’t get access to his office or even his bedroom. I’ve got a security detail on me at all times.” I leave out that they’ve made it clear they’re only there for my protection, not to spy on me. I know they tell Alexei how time out of the penthouse goes, but I also know that it’s more of a debrief than anything else because I’ve heard them talk. It’s honestly comforting to know that they’re not around to watch my every move.
“It’s been more than two weeks,” he snaps. “You either aren’t being serious about your assignment or you’ve failed as a wife. No access to his bedroom? Are you telling me you’re such a mouse he hasn’t let you into his bed?”
My face burns with shame, mixed with the exquisite memory of last night. Papa’s going to ruin it if I don’t put him off. “He’s being a gentleman,” I insist.
Papa snorts. “You’re at the library near his apartment, right?”
A chill settles over me. He’s having me followed. My two beefy armed guards don’t seem so comforting anymore. I’m too frozen to speak and Papa continues.
“Your husband is in a meeting at his wine bar on Seventh. If you go back now you’ll have plenty of time to search for something.”
“He locks the doors when he’s not there,” I choke out.
“Stop lying to me,” he shouts. I jump and hit my arm on the little metal disposal box on the wall. “You’ve seen what I do to liars in my organization.”
“Y-yes, Papa.” That’s part of our education. Every one of my siblings has witnessed exactly what Papa does to someone who betrays us. I have too.
“You’re my daughter, Seraphina,” he says. “Of course, we protect our own. There’s a lot of room for forgiveness here as well.”
There’s not. There’s really not. There never is. “I swear I’m doing everything I can,” I say, my stomach in knots and my hands shaking.
