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“How am I supposed to feel?” Since my mother announced I was to marry Elena Adams I have had a rock settle in my gut. I knew this day would come. And just like Lucas, I will do what I have to for my family. He married Sariah without debate, even before he knew who she really was. He was willing to step up and do his duty, as I will. It doesn't mean I'm happy about it.
“I mostly felt annoyed. I wasn’t ready for marriage. Of course, that changed when I saw who I was marrying, but up until that point, I felt a sense of dread.”
I can't describe what I feel. I've never been good at giving my emotions freely. “I have no interest in marriage. This is just another business transaction. We need her to secure our family's future, and that is all I care about.”
“Who knows, you might actually come to love her.”
I snort at the remark. Does he truly believe that is possible? “Elena Adams is a means to an end. It will put her father under our thumb. It will give us power.” With Easton also under our control, we are already cementing our position. We look set to have control over the whole city. It's a heady feeling.
“We already have power, Kane. We are unrivalled.”
In some ways he is right, but in others he is wrong. Yes, we are top dog, but there are still threats to our empire. We have created a situation where the local community sees us as gods, protectors of their businesses. We give back as much as we take, which helps to create this feeling of gratitude amongst the subjects who live within our territory. We are kings, emperors. But that power balance can be rocked at any time. Other syndicates can launch hostile takeovers. If I was one of the others, I would already be planning counter moves to stop us from consolidating our power. I suspect those movements will happen during my upcoming wedding. While I have no interest in marrying the Adams girl, it would reflect badly on our family if she were to die in the process of saying our vows.
Though it would solve my problem.
“Never get too comfortable at the top. It is easy to be toppled. Our position is not guaranteed. If the Woods manage to stop arguing amongst themselves long enough to realise we killed their boss, we will have problems.”
Luke shakes his head. “That debate will be waging for the next ten years. As far as I can tell, Jeremiah Wood left a power vacuum within his organisation. They'll be fighting amongst themselves until they kill each other. I don't think the Woods are people we have to worry about.”
He may be right, but I like to keep my finger on the pulse of everything happening around us. I want to know where threats are coming from, and how to protect my siblings from them. Zeke getting shot had been a wake-up call. Someone getting that close to one of us scared the shit out of me. Zeke could have died that day. He came pretty close to meeting his end. That can't be allowed to happen again.
Aurelia is also suffering. I know she is traumatised by what happened to her and Sariah. Both women had been taken by Wood, and while they have not spoken of what happened during their time in his captivity, I got the impression that fucker had not been pleasant. I’m glad I fucking put a bullet in him.
My brother pushes up from the chair where he is sitting. “Anything you need, brother, you have it. You have the engagement ceremony tomorrow?”
“Yes. Her father is arranging it.” I’m sure that pissed Charlotte off, but we were already breaking customs by having my family organise and pay for the wedding itself. Hamish should have put his hand in his pocket for his daughter, but that tight cunt was more than okay with us footing the bill.
“I’ll cross everything she’s agreeable.”
Whatever happens, the wedding will take place. It doesn’t matter if we care for each other or not. We will both do what is needed to secure our families’ legacies. All I can hope for is that she stays out of my way after I make her Mrs Elena Fraser.
