“Agreed,” he nodded, “your work is excellent, both academically and in practical application. However, over the last two years, the Dean and I have been watching you grow, and we are questioning your original placement.”
It feels like he just punched me in the throat. Everyone in my family who came through the Ares Academy was assigned the Assassinations major. As the eldest brother, Dante would have been placed in the Leaders major, but he was denied admission. He was furious when Gio and Dario received their admissions letters.
“This… Professor, this is what I will do in life. This is my family’s primary source of power and wealth. You trained both of my brothers in this major,” I said, forcing myself to sound calm.
He inclined his head. “It was a primary source. Giovanni’s been moving the Toscano empire into more mainstream endeavors. You might find yourself without a purpose in your family’s organization.”
My calm, cool exterior is wilting, and I can feel beads of sweat at my hairline. “The only reason you’d be telling me this is if you have an alternative,” I say. “Have you been in communication with my brothers?”
Fukumoto’s eyes are nearly black; endlessly dark pools that drown a multitude of sins and secrets. There is a soft buzz from his laptop, after glancing at it, he rises to his feet. “The Dean is ready for us.”
We pass the blonde leaving the Dean’s office, her mouth is tight like she’s trying to hold back a torrent of screams or tears, and she hurries past me without looking up. The guy behind her looks at me though, like he wants to tear my spine out through my neck. Fuck this asshole and his posturing. I smile menacingly and lean in just slightly as he passes by.
“There we are, right on time!” Dean Christie says cheerfully, “Come right in, gentlemen.”
She’s lounging behind a desk so huge that it could swallow her and three more like her. Having been called into her office before, I know the two seats in front of the desk are uncomfortable enough that they could be classified as instruments of torture.
“Mr. Toscano, have a seat. Professor? I just picked up some excellent Scotch if you’d care for a drink. The chair next to the bar is quite comfortable,” she said sweetly.
Taking my seat as ordered, I try not to shift around as a spring digs into my left ass cheek.
“In the last two years, you’ve settled in well here at the Academy,” the Dean says, looking over something on her computer monitor. “Excellent scores, particularly in poisons and knife work. You’re good with other students, you take the lead naturally in group projects.”
They’re both looking at me, so I offer up a polite thank you.
“Here’s where I feel things have shifted,” she says, “while you’re certainly on track to graduate in the Assassins major, Professor Fukumoto and I feel that your talents would be better used in a different major.”
Frowning, I try to make sense of her words. “I have never heard of a student switching majors once you have assigned them, Dean Christie.”
“It
Professor Fukumoto hastily takes a drink to hide a slight smile when the Dean emphasizes ‘never.’
“After some consideration, we’ve decided to change your major to the Leaders program with a specialty minor,” she says, watching my surprise before I hastily school my expression.
“With all due respect Dean, Professor,” I nod politely to both while resentment starts churning my guts. It’s a familiar feeling, honed by years of being the fuck-up of the family, and then the invisible son. “My brother Giovanni is the Don of the Toscano Mafia, and my brother Dario is the Underboss. There’s no room in the organization for me with a Leaders degree.”
The two exchange another glance that makes me want to sweep everything off her desk and yell at them both to stop fucking with me.
However, I value my life and all my limbs intact, so I don’t.
“I know you have questions about this change,” the Dean says, “and I fear we can’t answer all of them at this juncture. But here’s the paperwork for the change in majors. Professor Fukumoto will continue on as your academic advisor. He’ll delve into your new major and specialty minor in more detail over the next few weeks. Now, I fear that’s all the time I have for now. You are excused, Mr. Toscano.”
Finding myself out in the hallway with an envelope of papers and a pat on the shoulder from Fukumoto, I try to understand what the fuck just happened.
Chapter Three
“Tatiana Aslanova, a pleasure to meet you!”
