I was almost relieved when my dad went and chopped down the tree Maksim had used to climb into my window.
Now he snuck through the front door.
I swallowed, trying to get past the knot in my throat as I checked my phone again, waiting for his text or call. He’d promised a few nights ago to meet me for our Environmental Science project, and I felt dumb just standing near the door to the Science Building on the Eagle Elite Campus by myself.
I was by myself a lot lately.
Now that everyone was dating, I’d just kind of faded into the background. They still checked in on me, and I still spent time with Kartini and Serena, especially when Violet was visiting from Seattle, but it was different too.
Everything was different.
Leaves were drifting down from the trees on campus, giving it a picture-perfect autumn look that had me at least smiling a little bit.
I checked my phone again. I was giving that little shit, aka Maksim, exactly two more minutes before bailing and grabbing a coffee or muffin, maybe even two cookies with the muffin.
I did a little turn, scanning for an approaching figure and finding none, then told myself crying would fix nothing and that I was going to murder Maksim if he was late and smelling like perfume.
He’d done that exactly once. I’d held a knife to his dick with tears in my eyes, and let’s just say I’m the least violent of the second generation of the Cosa Nostra. I mean, other than the insect incident, I was interested in math, science, tech, and how things worked.
It was what had solidified Maksim and me after the insects; our love for science fairs and aversion to blood.
Something he’d grown out of as of late.
I shuddered, remembering the bloody shirt I’d found in his hamper when looking for the old Eagle Elite sweatshirt I liked to steal from him.
He said he’d been fighting in the ring with Ash, but I knew the truth—Ash wasn’t fighting as much anymore, busy having as much sex as humanly possible and making sure everyone knew about it.
I made a face.
“Wow, that was pretty.” Maksim appeared as if by magic, holding his cell phone up. “Do it one more time. Swear I won’t text it to everyone in the family.” His smile was both seductive and sweet. “Come on, one more time, I think you have something in your teeth—PS, is that a zit on your chin?”
How the hell had I ever put up with him in the first place?
I glared. “You’re late.”
He sauntered toward me wearing his Eagle Elite uniform—black pants that hugged his thick thighs, a black jacket with the eagle emblem over the right chest, and his white button-down shirt opened, revealing a bit of tattoo on his chest that claimed his Family birthright.
Petrov Sinacore.
The coat of arms.
It was larger than the other guys’, even my brother’s—because his heritage was both Italian royalty—no joke—mixed with Russian terror, also known as the bloodiest mafia line of them all.
“Button your shirt.” I looked away, remembering the way my hands used to rake down his back while he sucked and licked, tugged at my clothes, or that one time last year when he’d just lifted my skirt and shoved me into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
His eyes narrowed. “You’re blushing.”
I sighed. “Let’s just get this over with. I have things to do.”
“Who is he?” His expression went from teasing to murder. “Who are you doing?”
“God, Maks, do you really have a death wish? I brought my knife today!” I stomped my foot. “I just need to get this done. The world, shocking I know, doesn’t actually revolve around you because you’re pretty!”
“Aw, she called me pretty.” He grinned. “I’m touched. I actually wore a different shirt than normal, glad you noticed.”
I said nothing, even though my brain went, We always notice, Maksim. Just like I saw the dark circles under his eyes and the way his full lips were trying to smile when it looked like he wanted to frown.
I changed the subject and sat on the bench by the tree, dropping my bag on the ground. “I already wrote my part of the paper. You only have to do the last three pages with the conclusion.”
He followed and sat. “And what was our conclusion?” One of his hands moved to my bare thigh and stayed there, warm against my skin.
And I forgot how to breathe.
He leaned in. “Come on, Izzy, you normally have all the answers.” His hand inched higher. “So, what’s our conclusion?”
“That…” I mentally shook myself. “You—”
“Maksim!” Jenna shouted so loud my ears started to ring. “There you are. You ready?”
“Ready?” I repeated, shoving his hand away from my thigh.
Maksim stiffened briefly, then turned and flashed her a smile and a wink. “One minute, Jenna.”