Page 72 of Deadly Knight (The Bratva’s Elite #2)
Earlier That Day
One.
Two.
Three.
The screen flashes as the main server reboots momentarily, letting the updates I downloaded earlier apply. The processes the server is in charge of are immediately adopted by the second server—the backup one—until the updates finish.
The door to the basement opens, whoever’s hovering about to threaten the peace I’ve found, and my finger begins tapping its typical pattern against my leg to ground myself. This task gives me something to focus on. Something that isn’t a wedding due to take place in a few days.
Fucking christ.
If only I’d never?—
Whoever it is begins down the stairs. One, two, three… All the way to twelve. An even number; a comforting fact.
“Kill me.”
“Suicidal thoughts, Lev. Should we talk?” Dimitri comes up behind me, his steps across the room were too quiet. Or I was too lost in my head thinking about the wedding from Ad .
It’s been like that since I met her though. All my orderly thoughts and feelings have been made disorderly and messy. It’s unnerving and confusing as to why I enjoy it at all.
“I’m fine,” I grumble, watching the remote connection to the server begin booting back up. The window-in-window shows a black virtual screen, the server’s operating system logo flashing right before the progress bar appears, allowing me to track the update installation.
Ten percent.
“Sure you are.” Dimitri moves beside me, propping himself against my desk, even though he knows I hate people doing that. “You look like shit.”
“I feel it too.” The reminder has me reaching for the energy drink can nearby, only to find it depressingly empty.
Fifteen percent.
“Vanessa mentioned how she pieced it together.”
“If you’ve come to lecture me, Vanessa and my sister have done it plenty.”
“ Nyet , I actually came to thank you for your help in Toronto and everything with Katya. As well as helping them find me.”
Twenty percent.
“Wouldn’t have without Katya.” She gave us answers for the address I tracked his cell to.
“Regardless.” He lightly slaps my shoulder, activating the old injury received when I hopped in front of a bullet for Serafina.
An act that was the beginning of the end.
Thirty percent. It’s speeding up.
“Since Ivan’s dead, you’ll need a new tattoo. Hooded executioner for killing a relative,” I comment, this time initiating the conversation.
“Soon. Katya is getting one next week. I can wait for my executioner until you and Ana get yours.” He eyes the spot on my arm I’ve left blank for it, for the day when Anastasia and I decide who’ll take the shot on our own papa.
“Don’t. Might be a while.” The topic she and I both avoid, though we shouldn’t for much longer.
“You got it,” he murmurs. “Well, I also came to say bye. We’re all packed up and ready to leave.”
For this, I glance away from the screen. “It’ll be weird not having you around.” Not that he was often, considering he was in Canada so much, but this feels strangely different—more permanent because the mansion won’t be his main stop anymore. “See you at the gym tomorrow?”
“You bet. If”—he scans the monitor—“you get away long enough to work-out.”
“Exercise gets me out of the house.” Sometimes, like now, it does more for me than my computers. Zeroes and ones don’t always help, but counting reps do.
He understands the meaning beneath my words. Ones unspoken to even myself. “Need to talk about it?”
“You have to know me better than that.”
He laughs. “I’d be a dick to not offer. If you change your mind, I promise no judgement over what went down between you two. Hell, I don’t even have to say a word.” With his offer hanging, he bobs his head and turns away. “See you tomorrow then.”
“Bye.”
I count his steps to the stairs, and then up them, stopping when the door shuts. Counting relaxes my brain, giving me the all-clear when I’m alone again.
For when the anger I came down here with reignites and even updating the servers aren’t helping.
For when my thoughts return to the woman upstairs.
The fucking bride-to-be.
The one I’m about to initiate a war over.
The one I’m ready to give everything up for.
Serafina Mancini.
Preorder Defensive Rook , Lev & Serafina’s age gap forbidden slow burn romance
Releasing early 2026!
Enjoyed the cameo of Nico & Rafael Coresetti? You can grab their fairytale inspired romances here:
Nico: The Hunt in Elusion (FREE) - Cinderella
Rafael: The Beauty in Scars - Beauty and the Beast