3

*Diego*

My blood boiled when I found out what had happened with one of our various sources of income, and it only became worse when I found out I was transferring schools because of it. I already hated going to school and learning in general, the only thing that made it bearable was the mechanisms I’d put it place to make it tolerable, and it took quite a long time for me to do it.

I’d tried reasoning with dedushka to just let me stay and we’d figure out another way to fix things on that end, but it was pointless and a shear waste of my time because yesterday, he and his wife, my beautiful babushka happily finished the last process of enrolling me into Keystone memorial, and before I could take everything in, I was put in a uniform.

“How was your first day?” Dedushka asked as I walked through the main lounge.

“I don’t know, you tell me how you think it went.” I retorted my voice void of any emotions.

“Rebenok,” Babushka sighed walking into the room with a cup of what I assumed was chamomile tea on a tray for my grandfather. “The man is only asking, be nice.”

“I am.”

“No you’re not,” She shook her head placing the tray on the table before walking up to me and cupping my cheek with her warm hand. “You know if there was another way, we’d  have taken it.”

She was right, if there was another way to fix the mess, both my grandparents would have worked tirelessly to make it work just so they wouldn’t inconvenience me. Yes, they loved me that much and they showed it just as much as they did disciplined me.

My grandfather was the Pakhan of the most feared Bratva not only in the country but on the continent, he’d worked hard and built a reputation and system that worked seamlessly until a few weeks ago when we were alerted that one of money washing fronts was under investigation.

We thought the investigation would blow over and operations would go back to normal soon, but that wasn’t the case, instead it escaladed and now my system was fully disrupted all because of one person—Sienna Leighton.

“So, what’s the girl like?” Dedushka asked.

What was Sienna like?

Annoying, arrogant, pompous, overconfident, the list is endless.

“It’s only been a day,” I found myself saying as I placed my car keys on the table.

“Right.” He nodded.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to give you a report soon.” I continued not knowing why I chose to give that response when I’d already read what type of human being the person I was working with was.

She was the bane of my existence with her bluntness, for someone so small she was too unbothered and walked like she owned every space she was in, even when she spoke she was confident, not an ounce of self-doubt like every word had already been decided long before she opened her mouth.  

It was irritating to say the least.

Everything about her screamed order, discipline and control, and I didn’t trust people who looked as put together as she did. More often than not, such people were either hiding something or hadn’t been tested yet,

Either way, I was going to find out her deal and make her pay for messing up my life, starting tomorrow morning.

---

When the following morning came, I got up earlier than necessary happy and ready to set my plan in motion, starting today I was going to be a thorn under Sienna Leighton’s flesh, and she didn’t even know it.

Taking a shower and pulling on my uniform even though I didn’t like it at all, I grabbed a snack from the kitchen and ran out before grandmother could catch me and force her ever hearty but heavy breakfast down my throat.

By the time I got to school it was 7:30am…..perfect.

I sat quietly in the parking lot waiting for her to show up. From what I’d gathered, Sienna was always dropped off at 7:50, so I was waiting for her for me to execute my plan. As soon as I saw her angrily getting out of the car even before her driver could help her out and she stormed into the building.

I waited for a minute before going in. The hallway was crowded and filled with students talking, laughing and existing in a way that felt too hectic, but even then, I walk through them, in a straight line, not adjusting for a single person like my grandfather taught me, I was a Morozov and we never moved out of the way for anyone, they moved for us, and most people took the hint and moved out but she didn’t.

Before I could stop myself, I bumped into her, but it wasn’t hard enough to knock her over, just enough to cause her to lose her balance and stumble a step back.

 Like a true athlete, she steadied herself before snapping her head towards me, one hand clutching the strap of her bag before it fell off.

“What were you’re going.” She snapped not looking up at me, yet.

“You bumped into me.” I teased.

In the moment, I took a minute and looked at her properly. Her blond hair was slightly out of place like she’d been running her hands through it one too many times, her eyes were dark and shoulders tense—she was definitely annoyed about something.

Perfect, this is exactly what I needed to know what set her off.

When she looked up and her eyes registered that it was me, her expression shifted and her eyes darkened

“Were you following me?” She hissed eyes narrowed.

“It’s too early to be delusional, no?” I smirked tilting my head to the side watching her reaction like it was something worth studying. “But no I wasn’t following you, you were standing in my way.”

Her eyes flushed with anger.

“I was standing still,” She shot back immediately. “That’s not considered ‘in your way.’”

“Then maybe you should pay attention,” I retorted my voice smooth. “People tend to move when they see someone coming.”

She let out a short disbelieving humorless laugh, like I’d just said the dumbest thing she’d ever heard.

“Or,” she said, stepping closer, “you should try to walk elsewhere.”

“I was using this path.”

“You don’t own the place.” She hissed her glare sharpening.

“It could be if I wanted it.” I shrugged.

“So would I, but that’s not the case, is it?” She retorted and I couldn’t figure out whether I wanted to be mad at the fire in her or admire it.

Before I could respond, the principal walked up to us dressed in his ever sharp suit.

“Ms. Leighton, Mr. Morozov,” He said glancing between us. “What are you doing here, the bell rang minutes ago.”

She opened her mouth to answer but I spoke first.

“Apologies Sir,” I said calm and easy. “I got lost, I stopped her to ask for directions.”

His expression immediately changed from a stern to understanding.

“Ah,” He nodded. “It happens a lot with new students.”

I gave a small nod.

“It’s always a joy to have helpful students such as yourself.” Mr. Vane complimented Sienna who just nodded and offered a small yet convincing smile.

“It’s my pleasure to help lost people such as him.” She answered smirking at me. “After all that is what leaders do.

Such an arrogant, cocky little human being.

“It is.” He nodded before turning back to me. “Do you have a student ambassador assigned to you yet?”

“No, sir.” I answered quickly.

“Alright,” He said looking between us again. “Sienna will help you, she’ll show you around and help you get settled-”

“No,” She said before the man could even finish his statement.

Of course she was going to put up a fight, but I wasn’t going to back down either.

“Sienna,” He sighed.

“What kind of ‘leader’ refuses such a small responsibility?” I started sarcasm dripping off my tongue. “If you can’t handle one student, what more a whole team?”

Her eyes darkened even more at my words, but I couldn’t read the emotion going through them, cause it certainly wasn’t anger.

“I know you’re busy, but it’s just for a few weeks Sienna.” Mr. Vane encouraged and begged. “Plus I don’t know anyone more capable than you, especially seeing how you handled the others.”

“I’ll do it.” She said lips tight.

“Perfect,” He smiled patting our backs. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

Satisfied, he walked off.

I waited till he was out of sight and earshot before closing the distance between her and I.

“Now I have a reason to follow and look at you,” I smirked. “Captain.”

My mission had been accomplished, I needed to get as close to her as possible to know everything about her life from what she ate to the color of underwear she had on.

Her jaw tightened and for a second I thought she might punch me. But she didn’t, instead she just moved back and started walking away.

“Hey, you’re supposed to show me to my class.” I yelled after her.

“I would rather show myself to hell.” She retorted before disappearing down the hall.

Sienna Leighton was something, and I was going to find out everything about her and destroy her, getting under her skin was only the beginning, by the time I finished with her, she was going to regret ever finding out and exposing Zade.