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Chapter 21
I’m scared to love you, but I’m even more scared to walk away. - Anonymous
Anton
I take my seat around the large table where all the other Clan leaders are also gathered. I am to Ion's right-hand side, and of course, his wife, Marianna, is to his left. I can feel the difference in this meeting already; all of them are talking with each other in hushed tones. There's so many things we need to discuss, and I only know about some of them. I did get a heads up about a certain vote we are having. In fact, I told Natasha about it, though I did not let her come with me because she is very pregnant now. We are just one week shy of finding out whether the baby is a boy or a girl. I know that this vote is important to her, and it will mean a lot for her and for our child, especially if it's a girl. I will have to take the vote for Clan Constantin myself right now. I don't think she needs to be traveling, and of course, I always take care of my woman. In order to convince her, though I had to have Beth come to keep her company. That should preoccupy her while I'm gone.
Ion sits up in his chair and slaps his hand down on the table. The room immediately quiets. His skills of intimidation are top-notch, I'll have to give him that. He took over for the Clans so easily when we had nobody, and I think even though Mariana sometimes gets mad at him for not stepping up for her sooner, I think she admires that about him too. He is the only one who could have done this, honestly. I have too much of a temper, I'm too much of a hot head. I would have started beheading some motherfuckers with some of the behavior that was going on in the Clans if I'd been the one to take over. I'm grateful to Ion.
We go over the minutes from the last meeting and talk about regular business. This is a business meeting after all. Illegal or not, we do things by the book.
I make everyone aware that the heir to Clan Constantin is growing right now inside my fiancé. I get a lot of congratulations from around the room, but everything quiets as quickly too. Ion’s face lets me know there's something much more serious to discuss. I wonder if there's any news on if Jan for sure is the one who went after Mariana, or if somebody else is involved.
The whole room goes silent, and Ion points to the leader of Clan Adame. He is an older man and doesn't usually speak too much at these meetings unless something really strikes a chord. That's not one I'm close with, but he is a Clan leader none-the-less and therefore we must listen if he has something he needs to say. I lean back in my chair and put my chin to my fist I find out what is going on with the Clans.
The old man's voice is shaky, and now that I look at him, I can see that he's definitely up in his years and maybe not even well. “Many of you may know this by now, but in case you don't, I am terminally ill. I have been sick for a long time fighting this disease, but I'm afraid I'm on my last leg here. I can't fight anymore. We are looking at months, possibly even weeks, before I pass away, and the problem is my sons and daughters are dead. Well, the truth, I do have one child. I have one child left; a daughter who has been running from me for many years. I know that I have probably deserved it, probably been or harsh man, but now that I am dying I see that I need her. We all need her. We can't keep losing the Clans and turning them over to somebody who doesn't understand the inner circle just because we are lacking in male descendants. On top of the fact that I'm going to ask you to help me find my daughter, I also ask you to support Mariana in a vote to see if women can rule.”
A scandalous whisper travels around the room. This man from Clan Adame is the last man I would think would vote for something like this, something so new age as a woman ruling. But I guess I was wrong, I guess death tends to put things into perspective for you. Really, he is right about this because we can't afford to fuck up the Clans’ infrastructure every single time we lose a Clan leader when there is no direct descendant.
Ion brings his hand down again on the table, but this time it's louder, causing some to jump in their seats. Everyone looks to him as he begins to speak. “In this instance I will have to agree that we need to keep the infrastructure between the Clans solid. We have already undergone so many changes because of the death of Clan leaders. My beautiful wife here who I remind you is actually a Vasile and technically the rightful leader to the Clans. If women were allowed to rule, things would change drastically. I did not see the reason until Clan Adame came to me in earnest. We are going to find Willow, we're going to find and bring her here, and hopefully, if we vote correctly she can rule, but if not, we will take her heir just fine. We will help her find a good marriage with a man worthy of the Romanian blood. I want you to prepare to send a group of your men out, a team that does nothing but search for this woman. You are to capture her, and you are to bring her to me. We need to get her here as soon as possible and explain to her that she is an important part of this Clan family.”
I look around the room and see complete compliance. Everyone is nodding their heads, at least to the fact that they need to find Willow in order to maintain Clan Adame’s operations. I think we're going to be seeing this more often as many of the Clan leaders are aging. The only young ones that are here are myself and Ion. It's really going to make a difference in the way we run things.
Ion motions to Mariana to stand up and speak to everyone. I can see the passion in her face and her movements as she begins to explain to everyone exactly how she feels about the fact that she was not allowed to be Clan leader on her own, about the fact that no woman could be Clan leader on their own. This is the moment we've all been waiting for, and I know I have a fiancé waiting back at home to know what happens, what comes of this.
“As you all know, I have been saying for a long time that the way we do things is completely antiquated. I know that I have not always been involved in Clan business and that I was captured for many years. Does that mean that I don't deserve to know what's going on and to have a say? Women can vote, and women could hold offices. This is the 21st century, and I damn well think we better hop on board. You may disagree, and that is your right, but I am not going to sit here and do nothing about it. My husband, Ion, came to his senses and decided to allow me to announce this, this vote.
This vote is going to determine the future of the Clans and who can run them. We have another Clan in trouble because guess what… there is no male heir! It is best if we let women rule. This will fix the trouble with Clan Constantin as well as Clan Adame. I beseech you, your business sense to choose wisely. The future of the Clans is in each of your hands. For the future of our children and for your daughters, consider this. Thank you.”
I'm surprised at how eloquent she is even though she is obviously angry at this. She's angry at the way that this has been done, but she's not showing anger, only passion. If anyone can convince anyone of anything in this room, it would be her. I bet my Natasha could hold her own in here if she could come. I don't think she's ready for this yet anyway. I know she thinks she is, but she has no idea what she's getting into.
I plan to teach her all of this especially if she's going to inherit her father's business as well. She needs to be a knowledgeable leader.
Paper slips and pens are being passed to each Clan leader, and I ask for a second from Mariana on behalf Constantin. I tell her for now until this vote changes things I will be the one making the vote. She gives me a look but says nothing else as she hands me the materials that I need.
I know what I'm supposed to write down on here. At least, I know what Natasha would want me to write on here. Well, I don't want to go home and tell her that I did not vote for women to rule.
I needed something that would handle the situation of a husband, though. The man or the woman should not be kept from ruling because of the other. There needs to be a rule to reflect both situations.
I write my vote and fold the little pieces of paper and pass them down to Ion and Mariana. They don't even have to take the vote into account. Ion can override and do whatever he wants with the Clans, but I think he has a great respect for all of us and wouldn’t do that unless he absolutely had to.
Mariana looks over Ion’s shoulder as he gets all of the ballots in. He looks thoughtful as he reads every single one of them, and we all wait with bated breath to see what the actual outcome will be. This could be a monumental day for the Clans. I don't think there's been a change at all to the structure, the rules, or the way we do things in maybe a century.
I can read the triumphant look on Mariana's face. I've seen a few times in my own girl back at home. I bet those two would get along pretty damn well.
“Well, it looks like we have what's a completely split vote here, but it looks like some of you have some interesting ideas a way to compromise here.” When he says it and smiles at me, and I know it has to do with what I said about the man and the woman ruling together. The way that Mariana and Ion already do, even if it's unofficial. “From this day forward, I declare as king of the Clans, women are allowed to rule their Clan. If a woman marries, the man will rule with her as a unified team. The duties will be split between the two of them as they see fit. The vote will also be between the two of them. So, when we find Willow, she will rule. Also, I think that may change things for Natasha, right Anton? I guess we will be seeing her from now on.” Ion smirks at me like he knows I have a handful to take care of now. We will hopefully be married before she even gets a chance to try and wreck all of this. She is my hot mess, but she would totally be a fucking hot mess when it came to the Clans right now. She is a Kolosov. It's in her blood to be crazy as shit.
“Yes, it looks like it,” I say as I meet his eyes. Then, I turn to Mariana. “Congratulations on changing things. Sorry I was so harsh before, but I never saw it coming.” Mariana and nods at me, and not like she is angry, just happy. I can't wait to tell Natasha.
