Page 54 of Merciless Queen

Me

Dead, my revenge ends. Alive, it continues. We’ll talk more when I get there.

I peek to the side, making sure she’s not reading my messages. Not that they give much away, but at this time, she doesn’t need to be aware of her future.

Nero

…You’re concerning me.

Me

The Volkov legacy ends one way or another. Trust me. I’ll explain in person.

Nero

Fine. Well, while you’ve been away on your revenge campaign, Serafina caused trouble again.

I curse aloud, picturing the eighteen-year-old menace. She’s impossible to keep tabs of, and one more incident away of me sticking a bodyguard on her to make sure she stays the hell out of trouble, even if it’s something I initially agreed to never do.

Me

Do I want to know?

Nero

Gabriella called in the middle of last night when she didn’t return home at the time she was supposed to. She’s fine now, don’t worry. Guess she went to some house party and “forgot” to leave. I found her passed out on a lounge chair by the pool. Clothes were intact and she seemed okay enough. One of her friends was on the chair beside her, semi-functioning, and said they had one too many. Got them home, calmed your mother down, and left.

Thank fuck for Nero, one of a few people trusted with Serafina. As my childhood friend, he’s been by my side through everything occurring between us and the Bratva, dating back long before we were in charge of the Cosa Nostra. The trust I have for the man who’s like my brother is the main reason I was able to leave Rome at all and go Volkov hunting.

“Serafina seems like too much to handle.”

Damn Vanessa leaned forward at some point and read my texts, but being lost in thought about Serafina, I wasn’t paying attention. She’s leaning into me, her arm a breath from mine, head tilted as she reads.

Scowling, I turn my screen away, even though it’s too late. It’s bad for Vanessa to know about Serafina right now. Like worlds are colliding, even though it’d be inevitable soon. The churningin my stomach, my sudden dry throat, the tingling sensation running down my spine all make me wish there was a way to wipe Vanessa’s memories from her pretty, little head.

Thankfully, the plane’s door shuts as everyone finishes settling in, and the jets flick on, the whirling rumble a lulling sound to focus on rather than the woman beside me.

Before sliding my phone away, I shoot Nero one final text:

Me

Thank you. Vanessa’s getting nosy and plane’s about to take off. We’ll talk when I’m back.

“Nosy,” she scoffs. “Not my fault you’re the moron who openly texts beside me.”

“Shut up,” I mumble, crossing my arms over my chest and tipping my head back against the leather.It’s going to be a long fucking trip.“Look out the window or something.”

She’s actually silent as the plane picks up speed and tips into the sky. She settles into her spot, staring at her cuffed hands before bringing her legs up and twisting her body until she’s facing me rather than forward.

Although my eyes remain shut, I can feel her gaze on my face. It’s strange to have someone flay me open like she can because no one else in the world has that power. The ability and knowledge to get beneath my skin.

After a couple moments in the sky, she speaks. “Who’s Alessandro Vitale if you’re the head?”

His name, the name of one of the other capos,wasa surprise. It does suggest Vanessa researched about each criminal organization known when taking over, but she clearly didn’t look deep enough to know the Vitales are merely one of five mob families the Cosa Nostra is made up of: us, the Vitales, Costas, Accardis, and Santoros.

I chuckle, keeping my eyes shut. “You have much to learn, Miss Volkov. I’m tired, though, so now isn’t the time.”

She huffs, mumbling something beneath her breath, and goes silent again. Another few minutes passes before her next question comes. The way she rushes it out tells me she’s been mulling it over for a while. “If the war between our families has been going on for years, was the part you said about my father true too? That he did something to spark this.”

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