Lucca’s eyes are open, and he’s smiling for me. “Oh, I was so scared,” I whispered, kissing him frantically, “you were so pale.”

“I heard you,” he said. “Keep holding my hand.”

I’m crying, Mariya’s crying, Kon looks a little misty and Meiying looks disgusted with all of us.

“Moya sestra, my sister, you are a warrior!” Ilia says, hugging me again.

“We have much to talk about,” Roman says, looking between me and Lucca. “But it can wait.”

“What the fuck! Did I miss all the fun?”

I look up to see a man who looks strikingly similar to Lucca. He’s leaning against the door of our room in an impressively well-equipped, private hospital near Geneva.

“Shh!” I whisper, hurrying over to him, “He’s sleeping.”

He raises a haughty brow. “And you are?”

“Tatiana Aslanova,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Are you Dario or Giovanni? I’m guessing Dario.”

“You would be correct,” he acknowledged. “Your brothers were the reason for that rather impressive rescue mission?”

“It was a three-pronged assault to take down the syndicates that wanted to destroy the Aslanov Bratva,” I clarified. I know I sound snotty as hell, but I’m so angry at Lucca’s brothers.

“Oh, I know,” he agreed pleasantly, “we were busy removing the Don of the Costa Mafia as part of your ‘three-pronged assault.’ Were you the one who executed his heir at the college?”

“Your brother handled that. And rather impressively, I might add. His knife-work is amazing,” I agreed. “He also planned the attack against the Rostova compound and took two bullets bringing down the Pakhan.”

“Wait- Lucca planned it?” Dario frowns, “I thought Alexi Turgenev handled this mission.”

“You would be incorrect.” It’s Roman, who puts an arm around me. “Alexi and Maksim Morozov have done nothing but sing your brother’s praises. He put together the plan during the flight over from Ireland. I am Roman Aslanov,” he said, putting his hand out. “I see you’ve met my sister Tatiana already?”

“Dario Toscano, and yes. She’s been very protective of my brother,” he said, giving me a sassy grin.

“Lucca nearly died to save us,” Roman said gravely, “we owe him a great debt.”

“This is… amazing,” Dario said, shaking his head. “Wonderful news. My brother has spectacularly redeemed himself.”

“Speaking of that…” I took out my phone. “May I have your number?”

“Sure?” he said, typing it into my contacts.

“I’m sending you a file,” I said coldly, pulling up the app. “Lucca will not appreciate the fact that I gave this to you. But I think it’s important that you know who your brother truly is. After looking through my research, you might wonder why your Consigliere was so eager to throw Lucca under the bus.” Dario’s so carefree, even now, like disowning his brother wasn’t an issue. I hope the records I put together from Dante’s - that thieving prick - records shame him and Giovanni the way they deserve to be.

He looked down at his phone with a frown. “Are you talking about-”

“Not here,” I cut in, aware that my brother is watching this exchange, mystified, “take some time later when you can go over the information. I think Lucca deserves some groveling from both of you.”

“I see…” Dario said slowly. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to check to see if my brother’s awake yet.”

“Of course,” Roman and I said together. Dario looked at us, chuckling before he headed back to Lucca’s room.

“I can see, moya dorogaya, opasnaya sestra, my dear, dangerous sister, that you and I need to sit down for a very long discussion,” Roman said, smiling at me.

“You and Ilia were right, you know,” I said. “I was quite capable of thriving at the Ares Academy.”

He burst into laughter, linking his arm with mine. “I know you don’t want to leave Lucca, but give him a moment alone with his brother. I’ll find you a very mediocre sandwich and some coffee.” 

“Fair enough,” I agree, squeezing his arm.

Chapter Thirty-Five

In which there is disciplinary action. Because Dean Christie never forgets a punishment.

Lucca…

Two weeks later…

“It feels so strange to be going back to school,” Tatiana says, looking out the window as the Aran Islands loom up in front of us while the jet heads for the runway on Inishmore.

“Yeah, like nothing happened and we just spent two weeks living on bread and water, locked in our bedrooms,” Kon said.

“Do you think we could get extra credit for this?” Jun asks, “Like as an extremely detailed practical application test?”

“I’m fairly sure we’re very fortunate that Dean Christie didn’t expel us,” Meiying said, filing her nails, “let’s not push it.”

“What do you think our discipline for suspension will be?” Mariya asked uneasily, “I know she promised none of her power tools would be involved, but with her terrifying imagination, anything is possible.”

The next day…

“Good morning, students!” Dean Christie says cheerfully.

“Good morning, Dean Christie,” we all reply dutifully.

“Ah, you’ve all dressed comfortably, very good, very good,” she notes approvingly.

We’re all wearing sweats and thick socks with our trainers, standing out in the chilly commons area in front of the main building. My hopes for a simple punishment are dwindling by the second as I look at the genuine happiness on the Dean’s face. There are close to a hundred students gathered around us, looking forward to the potential for some macabre entertainment. 

“You were all suspended from the Ares Academy for fourteen days for behavior against school policy. This is a serious matter.” She’s still smiling happily. “Of course, simple suspension is not enough. The high standards of the college need to be maintained with appropriate punishment for misbehavior.”

Two of the groundskeepers step up, and with the help of a huge metal hook and a lot of grunting, pull up a steel hatch in the ground, about a meter across. It’s pitch black down there, the dim light from the sun illuminating a set of metal rungs like a ladder set into the concrete wall.

“I feel that it’s important to reflect upon the seriousness of your actions,” she continues. “Often, this is not easy with various distractions available to keep you from addressing this behavior. You will spend seven days in this underground chamber, reflecting upon your conduct. In the dark. There is a liter of water and two nutrient bars a day for each of you. You will, of course, have to work together to find the items and then make sure the food and water are shared equitably.”

“Dean, Tatiana is just getting over a bout of pneumonia that nearly killed her!” I step closer to her, stopping when the guards flanking her put their hands on their sidearms. “Please allow me to serve two weeks’ punishment instead of risking her life.”

“Or I will!” Mariya chimes in.

“I won’t,” Jun says.

“No, I should be taking Lucca’s punishment!” Tati protested.

“Enough!” The Dean’s voice whiplashes around the commons and the other students flinch back. “You will all climb down into the pit. You will stay there for a week. You agreed to accept disciplinary action for your behavior. Now take your sentence with dignity and climb down into the pit.”

I go first, swinging down to the first handhold, and testing the stability before descending. “There’s fifteen rungs on the ladder,” I shouted up to the others. “The metal is a little slippery from the condensation, take your time.”