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“Only what you’d do for family.”
His brows lift as understanding dawns on him. What you’d do for family is much more than a twenty-five percent cut on anything. It’s a willingness to lay down your life.
“And you’d do the same for us?” he asks.
“For Lou, yes.”
“Hmm.” He turns to her, looking much more pleased than when he first came in. “Well, it’s a start.”
Diana smiles and squeezes her husband’s shoulder. “See, I told you we’d figure things out.”
Nodding, he turns his scrutinizing attention back to me. The way he studies me reminds me so much of the way my uncles used to, searching for a flaw, a weak point to exploit. Even when you’re giving them exactly what they want, they search for more.
He taps his fingertips against his chin thoughtfully. “Tell me something, Kane. Peter Deacon? Was that jou?”
Beside me, Lou stiffens. “Peter?”
“Jou must have heard about his death by now. He was found jesterday in his penthouse, stabbed to death. The video cameras have all been erased and the guards saw nothing.”
I risk a glimpse at Lou and see murder in her eyes.If you say I asked you to kill Peter, I’ll strangle you with your own hair while you sleep!
“It was me,” I admit, turning back to Fernando. “Peter and I had a deal. He broke it.”
He nods in approval, because it’s what he would have done. “Very well, Kane. If this is what Louisa wants, then who am I to deny my little girl the chance at true love.”
Standing, he calls for his family to follow him. I also get out of my seat and wait for him to stop in front of me.
“I never believed we would have a peaceful contract between us,” he says. “Frankly, I’m hesitant to trust jou. If it weren’t for a…” He looks at Louisa, his eyes roving downward once again to her belly. “We will see where this goes. But I’m not letting my guard down, Kane. Not yet. Jou understand.”
“My uncles were great men,” I tell him honestly. “But even great men can be short-sighted. They couldn’t see a way to unite our strengths. Can you imagine the powerful front we’d present if everyone knew we were allies? We will make this work.”
“If it doesn’t, you will have a lot to answer for, Louisa.” He reaches for her shoulder as if he’s going to give her a hug but then appears to change his mind and pats her instead.
I’m sure she wants to scream at him that none of this was her doing, but, deep down, he knows. It’s the Don in him that makes him willing to believe otherwise. He loves her, but he loves power too.
“I think we should go,” her mother tells him. “I’ve intruded in their lives long enough. They need time to acclimate to married life alone.”
“Declan will reach out to you in a few days with all the details. Once all of our men have received instruction to allow you access, you will get the deed.”
“And my son will grant jou access through our streets.” Papá motions to Arturo. “Jourfamiliais also welcome.” He makes to leave but stops before exiting the study. “Just one more thing. The most important thing. I want to know it’s true what Diana said. Do jou love her?”
My eyes snap to Lou’s. She watching me carefully, as if, once again, she’ll hang on every word I say.
Without averting my gaze, I give her just one. “Yes.”
15
LOUISA
“How did it go?” Rowan asks when I return to the study after having walked my family out.
“They handed over three suitcases of my things. Declan has his men searching them for explosives now.” As if my family would blow up Rowan with me around. Or who knows? There are times I’m not so sure they wouldn’t.
“Good.”
I blow out a breath, but it does nothing to relieve the ache in my chest. “Papá couldn’t even make eye contact when he said goodbye. So there’s that too.”
“He’ll get over it.”
