AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you have a lot of business to take care of tonight?” I ask with a pointed stare.
He clears his throat, then shakes his head as he takes a long drink. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
I glance at Michael, whose face is giving nothing away, but I don’t expect it to. He was trained by the same man I was. He takes his own drink and doesn’t hesitate before swallowing down a mouthful. They both know better than to think I’d let them get away as easily as being poisoned.
“While we’re alone,” Michael finally says, “you’ll forgive me for asking…”
“Why I’m marrying a Romano?” I offer.
Rhys and Michael exchange a look before Michael nods. “I won’t be the first person who wants to know. In fact, I can’t believe you left her out there alone.”
I laugh. “She’s with Phoenix.”
Michael’s face finally shows something other than indifference: pity. It creates a rage in me that I can barely swallow back because while I knew I’d done Phoenix a disservice by keeping him locked away, the fact that so many would still believe him less capable is beyond me.
“You can’t seriously expect him to—”
“I don’t believe you understand what he’s capable of,” I interrupt. “And not just because I’m in love with him.”
Rhys’ eyes get a little wide like he’s surprised I’d admit the open secret just like that. Little does he know how much I care about protocols and appearances. I’m marrying Alice to protect her and to ruin Romano, but I’m no less committed to all three of my boys.
“Phoenix has spent the last fifteen years learning to be more deadly than he ever was when he was sighted.” I sip my drink again, letting the scotch burn gently on the way down. “He’s capable enough it terrifies me some days.”
Both Michael and Rhys are searching my face, so I crack open my expression and let them see the honesty there.
“Nothing gets by him, I’m afraid.”
Rhys’ cheeks tinge pink, and he knows I know. He knows he’s on borrowed time. “Kane,” he says carefully, “your plan to marry that girl is…there’s more going on in Romano’s empire than you realize.”
I hum, running my thumb over the handle of my cane as I let him stew. “I didn’t make a rash decision. Unlike Romano, I know exactly what’s going on under my nose, even if I don’t show it. And I know exactly what this marriage will accomplish.”
“You’ve been obsessed with her for too long,” Rhys blurts out, and Michael looks genuinely surprised enough that I relax a fraction. His son is acting alone, though I will be allowing Ari a few hours with Michael to be certain. “You’re not seeing the whole picture. If you do this, Romano will have you exactly where he wants you.”
I can’t help a laugh, though there is no humor in it. Just a promise of pain, and I know Rhys hears it when he pales. “Will he?”
“What the hell is going on?” Michael interrupts, looking furious.
I turn to him and give him his pitying look right back. It’s obvious he’s out of the loop, and he seems more pissed than frightened of my sudden change in mood. “Go enjoy the party, Uncle. I need a private word with Rhys.”
Michael might not be blood related to Rhys, but he’s still part of the family, and I can tell he understands exactly what’s about to happen. He knows just how ruthless and soulless I can be the moment I hand down judgment. “Just let me—”
“Go,” Rhys says quietly. “There’s nothing you can do for me now.”
How right he is. And I think Michael understands that if he tries to defy me, I won’t hesitate adding his name to my shit list, which is ever growing. I will protect my family, and I will go to bat for them, but I will not tolerate disobedience.
Michael stands there long enough it tests my patience, and then he turns on his heel and lets himself out. The door closes with a click, and Christopher looks over his shoulder, waiting for my signal. I nod, and he goes back to pretending like he’s not there.
“What was your endgame, Rhys?” I ask him after a long silence. “Delivering her to Ricci?”
“No, I—” He breaks off, dragging fingers through his hair. “It’s not what it looks like. The Romanos are fracturing from the inside. They’re weak. There’s infighting, and Romano’s men aren’t loyal. Not the way we are.”
I chuckle. “The wayweare? That’s bold, considering you sold yourself to that powerless piece of shit.”
“If you’d just let me explain what you heard, I promise it’ll make sense. I would never betray you, Kane. I would never betray this family.” Rhys’ voice has a hint of desperation, and it makes me smile because how quickly people flail when they realize they’re staring at the end of their lives. Were I a god—were I actually Hades—I think I might get some perverse joy out of watching them beg to escape their eternal fate.
Unfortunately, I am just a man who has control over one thing: death.
The rest is up to whatever exists beyond that.
