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“Mariana. I’d imagined you survived that horrible accident, can’t say I’m glad you did though puppet” I saw her cringe at the word, she recovered quickly, walking around the room. Her heels clacking against the cement floor were the only thing we could hear until she spoke “How the mighty have fallen, Jonas. It was bound to happen one way or another, but I’m curious. Who helped you all those years? I know you didn’t do it alone. You couldn’t of. You’re just a slimy little bottom feeder who hopes to get to the top. It’ll never happen Jonas, never. And you know something, I’ve figured it out. All those years with me and you never made any moves; you never made any move to marry me and take the throne for yourself. I’d wondered and wondered why that was until finally, it clicked.” She turned around and stared at him, looked right into his dark eyes.
“You were never authorized to marry me. You were – as you are now, a bottom feeder doing the dirty work for your boss. All that time I thought you were the boss when you were nothing but a babysitter. Who’s your boss?”
When he didn’t answer, she looked back to me, before turning her attention back to Jonas, “I never forgot you know.”
“Forgot what, puppet?” She didn’t cringe this time. Instead, she smiled.
“What you always said to me.” I didn’t know what she meant; I could only imagine that it had something to do with her time with Jonas. They both understood what she meant, so it didn’t matter if I did or not. “You’ve been bad, Jonas. It’s your choice, burn or cut?”
***
I was on edge as I poured over every tip and idea I had. The idea that one of the original clans was betraying us was mind-blowing to me. I expected them to be a little selfish after they all had announced they wanted a chance to date her, but she had chosen. The engagement would be officially announced to all of the clans as soon as Mariana gave the go ahead, which I hoped would be soon. Despite the threat, I was sure the closer she got to me, the safer she would be. Everything would be as it should be, and maybe whoever had their damn panties in a twist over me staking my claim to Mariana Vasile would let it go, seeing they had already been defeated.
My mind was also preoccupied with worry about Bianca. I knew that Bianca was the key to many things; the Vasile line, Mariana’s reason for being alive, and the only thing that would keep Mariana with me. I had no qualms about caring for her like she was my own. She was beautiful and sweet and had nothing to do with Jonas as far as I was concerned. I couldn’t help but let my heart fall for the little four-year-old who was getting to experience life outside of captivity for the first time; she made me feel like a child again sometimes.
But I also knew she was vulnerable.
She was the chink in the armor that someone could use against myself and the Petran clan. I was going to have to be vigilant and count on my allies. My mind automatically went to my father. I hated to disturb him now that he was living it up with my mother safe in the laps of luxury, but he might have some insight into who would want to do this. He’s been living off the grid for years; I only hope that he doesn’t hate my sudden intrusion into his new life.
I looked at the clock and saw that it was still morning. I needed a good workout, firstly to clear my mind, but also because I had been slacking since Mariana got there. I quickly got changed, pulling off my shirt and pulling on some shorts and headed for the gym. It was a nice one, a room in my home with all the equipment I could ever want. I had seen Mariana admiring it a few times, and she had started to use it a couple of times a week since the doctor gave her the go ahead. We were poised to be the Ken and Barbie of the mafia.
The thought made me laugh as I climbed on the treadmill, always liking to start there first. It got a good sweat going and got me pumped before I started with the weights.
I began with a quick walk and a small incline, making it more challenging with each three-minute interval that went by. I had just broken out in a fast run, sweat dripping from my brow and down my back when Mariana came into the room. I slowed down the treadmill but didn’t stop.
“I am sorry to bother you. I can come back later,” she said, sounding more insecure and shy than I could recall h
er ever being. There was something on her mind.
“No, it’s okay,” I said through a slight pant. “You can talk to me while I work out. I guarantee the view will be better,” I teased. She laughed and shook her head as she came in and shut the door. She came over and sat down on top of the bike that was next to me, letting both her feet dangle off one side.
“I wanted to talk about the engagement,” she said, and I almost tripped and fell right off the treadmill but quickly recovered. This wasn’t a subject she usually brought up. She had seemed resigned to the whole thing but was the first time she had directly wanted to talk to me about it. I decided it was best to stay supportive in my silence and just let her get whatever it was off her chest in case it was in my favor. “I realize that there is more danger, something going on, even though you won’t tell me everything. I also know it would be safest for Bianca and me to go ahead and align ourselves with someone. I think it is time to announce the engagement and get the ball rolling on the wedding, set a date and all of that.”
“I think that’s a very smart move,” I responded carefully, not trying to show too much elation or manipulation in the matter. I was glad she was coming around to it. “I will send out the word immediately. We can throw an engagement party in a few days, and we can pick a date in the Spring.”
“Oh, I thought you would want to do it sooner than that, but Spring is great. I bet it will be beautiful,” she said shyly. I could tell there was something else. “But before we make all these announcements, I need your help explaining this to Bianca.”
And there it was. She was worried about what Bianca would think about it all. “I would be happy to help. Let me get done here and get cleaned up. Then, we can tell her together.” Mariana nodded and left the room. Suddenly, I wanted my work out to be cut short. I couldn’t believe Mariana was finally getting on board. A warm fuzzy feeling I wasn’t used to came over me. This was a little more than the power it would give me now. I was about to have a family.
After my shower, I found Bianca and Mariana playing together in Bianca’s room and went in, all of us sitting down on her little bed together. She was about to be five soon, her birthday landing close to Mariana’s, but I didn’t know her capacity for understanding things. I hoped we could get something across to her. “Mama and Ion have something to talk to you about, Puff,” Mariana began, taking her daughter’s hand.
Bianca looked back and forth between the two of us and then nodded. “Okay. Is it bad?”
I chuckled a little. “I don’t think so, no, Puff.” I reached out and tickled her under her chin to make her giggle. “We want to know what you think about something.” I looked to Mariana for help.
“I know that you like living here,” Mariana stated, getting a smile and another nod out of Bianca. “So, how would you like to stay here forever?”
“Yes, mama, can I?” she asked, wiggling in her seat.
“You can if Mama marries Ion. Do you know what it means to marry someone?” Mariana asked her.
“It has something to do with a dress and a ring. Would it make you my daddy?” she questioned, looking at me with those big doe eyes. She was more perceptive than I gave her credit for, I guessed.
“Well, I can be that if you want me to be. And you can wear a pretty dress and stand next to your mother while we tell everyone that we like each other. What do you think?” I asked her, feeling amused at my attempt at an explanation. It was pretty rough, but Mariana didn’t seem to protest.
“I like it!” she squealed, clapping her hands together before hugging us both. I knew that if I had won over Bianca, then I had won Mariana. Things were going to get better now. They had to.
Chapter 18
