Page 49 of Bratva Menace

It had put everything into perspective. Highlighted exactly what was at risk if I didn’t succeed. Pressure had squeezed my chest all night, making it impossible to catch even a minute of sleep. I was too busy planning.

While my father was being watched every hour, every second, I had no one. There wasn’t a single guard monitoring my movements. It worked in my favor, sure, but it also pissed me the fuck off because it meant my grandfather didn’t think I was a big enough threat to even bother with surveillance.

I was going to make him look me in the eyes when I killed him so he could see exactly how much he had underestimated me.

A knock sounded at my bedroom door.

“Yep?”

Father and Autumn walked in. Behind them stood a guard detail of four.

I arched an eyebrow. “Four?” I laughed, sitting down on the bed. A pair of black dress shoes sat at my feet. “Grandfather really doesn’t trust you.”

“It’s actually insulting, if you ask me.” Autumn strolled further in, her heels click-clacking along the marble floor. She was dressed in a beautiful, floor-length green dress, her blazing red hair up in a fancy updo. “That he thinks four will be enough to stop me if I want to do something.” Autumn scoffed, shaking her head. “Insulting,” she repeated.

Father followed her inside, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. He wore a dark suit, much like my own, but his tie was red, and it matched the pocket square in his breast pocket. “Yes, you made that abundantly clear when we opened the door and saw them standing in the hallway.”

She shrugged. “I was annoyed. I warrant at least six. Maybe seven. Add in the three for you, and we should have a guard detail of ten, not a measly four. It’s offensive. I have a reputation to uphold here.”

“Wait a second, why do I only have three?”

Autumn gave him a look that could only be described as Oh, honey.

Father put a hand up in the air, palm outward. “You know what? Don’t answer that. We don’t have time to argue.”

Autumn pouted. “What about later?”

“Fine. Later.”

Because scheduling a time to argue was completely normal behavior.

He turned to look at me. I’d just finished putting on my shoes, and was officially all dressed and ready to go. “Let me look at you.”

I stood.

His eyes traveled up and down my frame. He fixed the lapels on my jacket, straightening them, and then brushed my shoulders. “I hate that this is your fate. I wanted you to marry for love, not for some trade deal for your grandfather.”

I shrugged. Everyone else seemed to care more about the whole thing than I did. Probably because no one knew what I had planned to get out of it. “Love can grow. Look at you and Autumn. Didn’t you two hate each other when you first met?”

Autumn snorted. “That’d be an understatement. He tried to kill me.”

“You tried to kill me first,” he said back, affronted.

“I don’t remember it that way.”

Father rolled his eyes. “Anyway, while yes, you’re right—love can grow—this was never the path I envisioned for you. But maybe this can be the start of a great adventure for you. After you’re married, we can step into negotiations and see about having the two of you move back to Las Vegas. Or would you prefer to stay?” His eyes did a slow sweep of the room, and he squeezed my shoulder.

I understood what he was trying to say without needing to hear the words. Grandfather most likely had a bug planted somewhere in the room—several, if I had to bet on it, and he was probably listening right that minute. Father was talking as though we had no plan to overthrow him. As if we were truly there to honor Grandfather’s orders without putting up any resistance.

“I’m happy to stay,” I answered, playing along. “As long as you can convince my idiot siblings to come and visit.”

He allowed his lips to quirk just a fraction. “I’m sure I can do that. You have everything you need?”

“Yep. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

Father nodded. “I’ve looked into her. Your future wife. She seems nice. Sweet. I think you’ll like her.”

There was nothing wrong with sweet. Sweet was good. Safe.