CHAPTER TWO: NIKOLAI SERRANO

Aiden's POV 

The school nurse’s office smells like cheap antiseptic. Lily is limp in my arms, her body burning hot, while the nurse speaks to me.

“She threw up twice in class, Aiden. Temperature, 101.8. But honestly…” She lowers her voice, glancing at the sleeping child. “She’s down another four pounds since the spring screening. That puts her in the fifth percentile for an eight-year-old. She’s malnourished. I’m required to file a report if there’s no improvement by next month.”

Her words hit like a punch to my chest.

I nod once, my jaw locked so tight it ached. “Thank you for telling me.”

I carry Lily the eight blocks home because the bus takes too long and I need the air to calm me down. She weighs almost nothing, and even that makes my heart break.

'I love her more than the whole sky,' I think to myself. I will burn the world down before I let it keep hurting you.

*...*...*...*...*...*...*...

The apartment reeked of stale beer before I could even get the key in the lock.

I step inside and the living-room light is off, but the TV is flickering some late-night shopping channel at full volume. 

Lily stirs when the door clicks shut so I freeze and comfort her. “Shh, shh, I’ve got you, little star.” I ease us past the living room, down the short hallway, into the bedroom we used to share.

I lay her on the mattress, peel off her vomit-stained uniform, wipe her down with a warm washcloth, and dress her in my softest T-shirt. She’s already asleep again before I tug the blanket up.

I sit on the floor beside her, my back against the wall, and count her breaths to make sure they're steady. One, two, three… I stroke her hair until my hand stops shaking.

“You’re safe, you’re safe, you’re safe,” I murmur with every stroke.

Then I walk back into the living room and allow my rage to flare in my chest. I step into the kitchen, and gather every single beer bottle, and line them up on the counter like evidence. I snap a picture and send it to my dear mother before recording a voice note.

“Listen to me carefully. The next time I come home and find bottles of liquor, I’m calling CPS and I’m not stopping them. You want to drink yourself to death? Fine. Do it somewhere that isn’t around my sister. If I ever see another bottle within ten feet of her, I will make sure you lose the only thing you have left. Test me. I’m done asking nicely.”

I hit send, block her number for the night so I don’t have to hear whatever slur-filled reply she’ll leave, and grab my keys.

My phone rings before I’m out the door.

Unknown number?

“Hello?” I call out. 

“Mr. Cross? This is Dr. Halvorsen, academic advisor to the scholarship cohort. We need you on campus immediately. My office. It’s urgent.”

I look back at Lily’s door. She’s eaten and taken her pills. I'm pretty sure she'll be out till tomorrow.

“I’ll be there in twenty.”

I lock up, pocket the keys, and start heading towards the school.

*...*...*...*...*...*

With most students in their dorms, the school was creepily quiet. Dr. Halvorsen’s office door is slightly ajar. I knocked once before stepping in.

And stopped breathing.

Behind the desk, leaning back in a chair like he owns the entire continent, was the most beautiful man I have ever seen.

Not handsome. Beautiful. 

Brutally, impossibly so.

Mid-twenties, maybe. Shining black hair, sharp heekbones, shining silver eyes and perfect pink lips. 

He’s wearing a charcoal suit that probably costs more than my yearly tuition, the jacket was open, his white shirt unbuttoned at the throat, hints of his tattoos peeking above the collar.

Who the fuck was he?

Dr. Halvorsen suddenly hurries in behind me, slightly out of breath. “Aiden, thank you for coming so late. This is Nikolai Serrano. Mr. Serrano has requested, well, rather unusual curriculum adjustments that directly concern your schedule.”

Nikolai’s gaze slides over me slowly. He shamelessly examines my entire body and when his eyes finally meet mine again, something electric slams straight through my sternum.

My pulse beating so loudly, I'm shocked that no one else can hear it.

“Pleasure, Aiden,” he says lowly, his faint accent curls around my name. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting the only person in this entire program who scored higher than me on the entrance diagnostic.”

I scoffed at that. 

I scored higher than everyone on the entrance exam, so who does he think he is?

He offers his hand but I don't take it. 

Nikolai's smile widens predatorily, like he can hear my exact thoughts.

Dr. Halvorsen pretends not to notice the way we're communicating through our eyes.

“Mr. Serrano will be… joining several of your courses,” she says. “Starting tomorrow.”

Nikolai never looks away from me.

“Every single one of them, actually,” he corrects softly.

My heart stops.

“Excuse me?” I snap. Nikolai’s eyes glitter with amusement.

Dr. Halvorsen jumps in. “Aiden, the board approved the request. Mr. Serrano’s transfer credits are… exceptional. And his family’s donation to the new surgical wing gave him certain scheduling privileges.”

Of course it did.

“So let me get this straight,” I say, my voice cold and deadly quiet. “You bought your way into every single one of my classes? And you want me to...what? Guide you? Why the fuck would you do that?”

“Because I'm obsessed,” he murmurs, his silver eyes piercing into my soul.

My skin prickles. Heat crawls up my throat. I hate how my body reacts, hate the way my pulse spikes like he just touched me.

“Stay out of my fucking way, Serrano,” I say, barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what you want but you won't fucking get it.”

His licks his lips and smirks. “Too late, Cross,” he whispers back.

Dr. Halvorsen clears her throat. “Gentlemen—”

Neither of us looks at her.

“I hope you’re this mouthy in...other ways, Aiden,” Nikolai whispers.

I can't stop the flush that fills my cheeks. Did he just mean what I think he did?

Nikolai smirks, obviously pleased to know he affected me. I turn and barge out of the room ignoring his last words. 

“Sleep well, Aiden. You’re going to need it.”