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I suck in a breath. Beside me, Anton chokes on his drink.
Cristo flashes me a white grin full of teeth. He could’ve told me this the other day, but it’s typical of him to wait to announce it where it’ll make the biggest splash.
This time though, I’m too fucking elated to be angry.
“Assuming you graduate,” he murmurs softly for my ears only.
That little poke bounces off me. Nothing can kill my buzz. After what happened to my family, after losing my father, after toiling for years and doing every dirty job demanded on me,I fucking made it.
Anton grasps me by the arms and kisses me on both cheeks. Marku rushes toward me and takes his turn, gripping my hand and giving me a chest bump. The men, Lupu and Popescu, take turns congratulating me and making ribald jokes about new brides. Even Alex pats me on the back. Everyone knows how hard I’ve worked for this, the grueling hours I’ve put into this clan, and it’s finally come to fruition.
There’s thechink chinksound of Cristo tapping a fork on his glass.
He raises a toast, “To myconsilier, Lucian, and to his fiancée, Star. Welcome back to the top.”
Every man and woman raise a glass to me with shouts of “Noroc,” and “Good luck.”
My gaze swings around the room. Star is still missing.
After much handshaking, back-clapping, and cheek-kissing, I break away from the crowd and stalk to the exit in search of my fiancée.
Crina steps into my path, a grim expression on her face. “You have no idea what you’ve done. You’re an idiot if you think she’s going to marry you.”
I give her a hard look. She may be Marku’s, whether he’s willing to acknowledge it or not, but no one confronts me like this.
“Oh, she’s going to marry me alright, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”
Gabby slips in from behind Crina, laying a hand on her arm, and murmurs in a shaky voice, “It’s done, Crina. There’s nothing we can do.”
I lean in close and say, “She may be carrying my child as we speak so you’d better damn well step aside and let me get my fiancée.”
Staring me down, Crina spits out, “If that’s true, then you’d better not hurt her, because I swear if you do…”
I hear a sharp intake of breath from behind me.
Suddenly, Zoe is standing in front of me, shielding me from the angry female. “He’d never hurt any woman. He’d never hurt Star.”
I’m touched that my little sister is coming to my defense, but it’s not necessary.
Crina’s razor-sharp eyes descend on my sister with fury. “What the hell do you know? He’s bullied her for years. You say he’d never hurt a woman, that he’d never hurt her, but he’salreadyhurt her.”
“But he chose her over Roxie because he loves her,” Zoe injects.
Crina snorts. “Loves her,” she says in a tone dripping with sarcasm. “Ask him if she even knows about this so-called engagement. Ask him if he’s bothered to propose to her. Does that sound like love to you, Zoe?”
Zoe’s face wobbles with uncertainty. She glances over her shoulder at me. “It’s not true, is it, Lucian?”
I swipe a hand over my eyes. “It’s complicated, but no, of course, I’d never hurt her.”
“But you already have,” Crina insists, her voice gaining traction.
Gabby’s gaze darts around and she cautions, “Shhh, people are looking.”
Lowering her voice, Crina leans forward and threatens me. “I’m warning you, if you ever hurt her again, I’m going to hurtyou.”
“Ach,” I say. “You always were a hothead, Crina, and if it wasn’t for Marku spoiling you, someone would’ve already put you in your place by now.”
Crina gasps in indignation.
