Page 94 of Merciless Queen

Lev follows my gaze. “They volunteered for this mission.”

“Give them all raises.”

In a burst of anxious energy, Anastasia snaps and leans across the aisle to snatch the marriage certificate from her brother’s hands and shakes it in front of my face. “’Kay, no, you’re not getting out of this. How does one go from being kidnapped to being married within a matter of two days?”

The story might not be one I wish to tell, but I have to. Papa’s treachery must be known by my Elite, so we’re all on the same page. So they understand why we were attacked, and should Zeno decide a repeat performance is needed, why he detests us.

And that, by biology’s sake, there is another Volkov walking this earth.

My grip tightens around the padded armrest, my nails digging into the leather. A heavy breath that does nothing to ease me works through my lungs.

“Turns out, the Cosa Nostra and the Bratva’s been at war for a long time. Even before Papa was Pakhan, and Zeno’s father commanded the Italians. It was a war they inherited and…”

The instant Vanessashuts the door, I turn and yank Serafina into a hug; one as tight as physically possible until she taps my back for reprieve.

Nero gets to his feet and over my sister’s shoulder, I mouth,Thank you.

Venus trots over and shoves between us, breaking Serafina and me apart with an affectionate snort. I pet the dog, grateful the Bratva left her unharmed and that Vanessa released her from the closet.

“You okay?”

Serafina nods. “They didn’t hurt us. Thankfully, we weren’t even in the foyer when they started shooting.”

Nero heads to the side and picks up a handgun lying by the wall, likely from where they made him discard it. He slaps open the chamber, counts the bullets, and slides the weapon into his waistband. “We going after them? I can call some men. Be on the plane within the hour.”

I think about my parting words to Vanessa:“You can try to run from this, but I refuse to lose.”But not yet. She’ll beexpecting me for the next little while and will only relax after enough time passes. Until then, I’ll leave her be.

“No. For now, we forget the last twenty-four hours have happened.” To Serafina, I say, “I’ll take you home. I think we’ve all had enough fun today.”

For once, my sister doesn’t argue and heads for the door. Nero turns to follow too, saying, “Don’t know how far they’ve gone, so better not leave her alone.”

I nod, despite knowing Vanessa isn’t one to go back on her word. If she’s left us all alive minutes ago, it’s not so she can sneak attack us now.

After another look around the foyer, I follow them to the car.

Serafina’s quieter than before,remaining silent for the entire trip. I’d worry about her if I didn’t see her texting her friends to make plans for tomorrow night, like nothing’s happened. It’s good, though. It’s what I want for her. If she can walk away from this, it means she’s strong enough to separate fact from fiction: from the life she could have had and the life she does.

When we pull up to Madre’s home, she leaps out and without a parting look to Nero and me, heads for the door. I glance into the back seat at Nero, wondering if he shares my concerns, but he merely shrugs before trailing after her.

Madre stands from the couch when we enter, and Serafina rushes right toward her, wrapping her in a large hug. She holds onto her for a moment before releasing her and striding by us all and up the stairs.

Madre glances from her to us, her brows lacing together as she retakes her seat. “What happened?”

Nero grimaces and drops onto the couch beside her, while I lean against the adjacent wall beside the TV. “What didn’t happen?” He snorts.

“Serafina did what I needed her to,” I reply. “She met his daughter.”

Madre looks down at her hands, her lips pressed into a flat line. It takes her a while before she glances my way again. “How’d that go?”

I shrug. “She snuck into my room all to have a conversation with her, and she won’t tell me about what, but it doesn’t matter anymore.”Because Vanessa is gone.

Madre glances toward the hallway again, one hand bracing on the couch cushion to stand. “I should go see her. Talk to her, see if she’s all right. She must be so angry. I never wanted to keep that from her, but…” Madre trails off with a quivering lip and waning strength that drops her back to the couch.

“She’s mad at me, not you. We kept it from her because of this very reason.”

“Still, it wasn’t fair.”

“It’s over either way,” I say with finality, crossing my arms. “This will all be a memory now.” Except for the fact Vanessa is now my wife. A detail I’m not sure when to admit to my mother.

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