60

Alexander
Announcing that I was handing over the crown to Finn as the king of the academy during breakfast went down about as well as I expected. Most people either laughed as if it were a joke or started complaining once they realized it wasn’t.
I was surprised not to see Natalya in the cafeteria, but she doesn’t always eat in the morning. So I text her. She’s still yet to reply, but I thought she might have wanted to witness this.
My crown is what I’ve always valued most and yet here I am, giving it up for the girl I’ve bullied since I arrived here. Finn scans over the document I had my uncle’s lawyer draw up for me yesterday. It’s ironclad and once he signs it, he can never speak a word of what he read in those files.
Finn glances up at me. “How do I know you will pay me?”
I shake my head. “Check your account. It’s already paid.”
His brow furrows as he pulls out his cell phone and logs onto his banking, smirking when he sees the balance. “Fine.” He scribbles his signature in the three spaces on the document and then turns to me. “Consider what I read forgotten.” He holds out a hand to shake, but I don’t take it, because this guy has no honor.
“It is done.” I nod at him. “You shake me down. Don’t expect me to be cordial about it.” I grab the document and turn away from him, walking toward the door. If I don’t get a move on, I’ll be late for law class. I can’t wait to see Nat’s face when I hand her the document and tell her I sorted it. Perhaps it will be the first step in the right direction for us.
I get to class with not a minute to spare. When I glance at Nat’s seat at the front, my stomach dips to find it empty. Eva is sitting in the seat next to it, but she’s not there.
As Principal Byrne starts the class, I watch the door, expecting her to appear at any moment. After ten minutes, I’m convinced she’s not coming, so I write out a text.
Where are you? I’ve got some important news.
The lesson crawls by as I stare at my phone, waiting for a response. After another twenty minutes, I send another text.
Seriously. I need to speak with you after law class. Why aren’t you here?
The rest of the class passes by in a blur, and I can’t focus. This nagging sensation that she’s in trouble claws at my insides, as I know how dangerous the information I dug up on her is for both her and her family.
The bell finally sounds the end of class and I jump up and rush into the corridor, dialing Nat’s number. It rings five times and then goes to her messaging.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath before trying again.
It rings and then again goes to her messaging, her beautiful voice ringing in my ears. I wait this time so that I can leave her a message.
“Stop ignoring me, Nat.” I cancel the call and March down the corridor toward anatomy class, when I spot Eva at her locker. She will know where Nat is.
I slam my hand in front of Eva, so she can’t move away from her locker. “Where is Natalya?”
Her brows pull together. “Sorry?”
“She wasn’t in law class. Where is she?” I hate how desperate my voice sounds.
Eva rolls her eyes. “Why don’t you text her and find out?”
I don’t tell her I’ve already sent her three texts this morning and tried to call her twice, with no luck. The girl is driving me crazy, especially since I have news to give her regarding our Finn problem. “Eva,” I growl her name in warning. “Stop messing around.”
She glares at me, and I realize this girl isn’t a girl I can push around. “When are you going to grow up?”
My eyes narrow as I flex my jaw. “What do you mean?”
“Stop acting like a fucking child and tell Natalya how you feel.” She shakes her head. “Maybe she might feel exactly the same fucking way, ending the bullshit back and forth for everyone.”
I swallow hard, knowing that Eva is right. Although I’ve told her I want to make amends, I haven’t told her those three words. Words that scare me more than anything. If I was acting like an adult, I wouldn’t be accosting her friend, demanding to know where she is. However, Nat isn’t exactly giving me much of a choice with her radio silence. “I have tried to contact her, but she won’t respond.” I narrow my eyes at her. “I will tell her the truth,” I say, removing my hand from Eva’s locker door. “But first I need to know where she is.”
“She got leave to attend her brother’s wedding back in Boston.” Eva shrugs. “She should be back in a few days.”
Wedding.
I grind my teeth together, realizing she didn’t tell me because right now the tables have turned. She’s acting like a brat, and if I want her to forgive me, there’s nothing I can do to change her behavior.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m late for anatomy with Luigi, and so are you.” She gives me a pointed look.
I nod in response, and watch as she walks away, but my mind is racing. The need to see her is desperate and clawing, and it feels like it’s tearing me in two. Instead of following her down the corridor toward anatomy class, I head the opposite way to The Principal’s office.
Finn has his payment after I asked for the money from my uncle. Two million dollars is like a drop in the ocean to him, and I said it was important for the good of the Cartel. He didn’t even question me, no doubt trying to make amends for what he did to my mother.
I stop outside of the door to Byrne’s office, swallowing hard. There’s no way I can just demand that he let me out of the academy without a good reason. Instead of knocking, I head to an empty classroom next door and grab a piece of paper and pen out of the desk.
I write a letter in my best imitation of my uncle’s handwriting, signing it off as him. I perfected his signature years ago for permission slips and more when I didn’t want to ask him or my father for anything.
I dig around in the desk and find an envelope with a stamp on, folding the note inside, and writing the syndicate academy address on the front, along with Principal Byrne’s name. I seal it, knowing the mail has normally arrived by now and it will just look like my uncle posted it. I add my uncle’s address on the back as the sender and hope it’s convincing enough.
The staff has mailboxes around the corner from Byrne’s office. I turn down the corridor and slip the envelope on top of the ones already in his box, and then I head toward the office.
My heart is thudding in my ears as I knock on Byrne’s office door.
“Come in,” he calls.
I open the door and clear my throat. “Sorry to disturb you, sir.”
He looks up, eyes narrowing when he sees me. “What do you want, Alexander?” He glances at the clock on his wall. “And why aren’t you in class?”
“My uncle told me he sent you a letter requesting that I be on leave this morning.” My brow furrows. “Have you received it?”
He shakes his head. “No.” His eyes narrow. “I’ll check today’s mail.”
Perfect.
I nod and step aside while Principal Byrne goes to his mailbox. He returns, clutching a pile of envelopes with the one I forged at the top. “It looks like it arrived this morning.”
He throws down the other letters and opens mine. I watch him nervously as he sinks into his chair and reads the brief and rather nonspecific letter I wrote, mentioning I’m needed for a family event.
Byrne shakes his head and sighs. “What is with your families all thinking you can leave on a moment’s notice?”
I shrug. “Perhaps it’s because they pay so much for us to be here.”
He glares at me. “Quit the smart guy act, Alexander. Or I’ll deny your uncle.”
It’s a loose threat at best, since he believes my uncle did indeed write the letter. There’s no way he’d really deny the request.
There are a few more moments of silence as he reads through the letter again, before he gives me one nod and then stamps it. “You can go.” He holds the letter up with the stamp and I take it from him. “But be back by the start of next week. Too many students are falling behind, and you are one of them, Alexander.”
I nod. “Got it, sir.” I turn away and walk out of his office, thankful that my last-minute plan worked.
Now I just need to get a taxi to Boston and break into a wedding party at the Gurin house. I fear it’s going to be easier said than done.
The taxi cost me a fortune and this tuxedo isn’t the best fit for me, but I’ve made it to the wedding party at the Gurin residence.
It’s a large and fancy home, but not as lavish as my uncle’s mansion. There are two guards posted at the door. One has to be a little taller than me but as thin as a rake with bright blonde hair, and the other is at least a foot shorter and stocky with dark hair and a mean look on his face.
If it goes south, I’d not be too uncomfortable coming to blows with them, but then looks can be deceiving. Somehow I’m going to need to convince them I’m supposed to be here.
I stand in line and hope for the best. When I get to the front, I give them a smile and wait for them to demand an invitation or something.
“Name?” the taller guy asks, glaring at me.
Fuck.
What name could I give that might be on the guest list?
“Thiago Estrada,” I say, quoting my cousin’s name. After all, the Estrada Cartel is a strong business partner for Mikhail. He would have extended an invitation out of courtesy. Whether my uncle would have even considered attending is another matter entirely.
The shorter guard with dark hair scans the list and then nods.
Bingo.
“Go on in,” the taller guy says, stepping aside to allow me into Mikhail Gurin’s home.
I walk past them calmly, even though I can’t quite believe that worked. I’m certain my uncle and cousins won’t make an appearance, so it shouldn’t matter that I’ve given Thiago’s name.
Now, I just need to find my little pet and deliver my gift to her. The contract carefully stowed in the inside pocket of my jacket. I walk through the halls and follow the music and chatter to a large ballroom at the heart of the home.
I scan the room, keeping close to the perimeter as I search for Natalya. My heart is pounding hard and fast at the prospect of seeing her and what she’s going to say when I hand her the NDA signed by Finn Murphy.
A flash of unmistakable dark hair catches my eye and then I see her, walking through the ballroom in the most exquisite lilac ballgown that frames her assets so fucking well she looks like a princess-no, a queen. Mi reina.
I walk across the ballroom and head toward her, knowing I’ve never felt this nervous before. Will she be glad to see me?
There’s only one way to find out.
I walk up behind her, my body tingling with anticipation as I grab her hips and squeeze, making her tense. “Hey little pet,” I breathe into her ear.