Page 4 of Crimson Fate

“Please don’t tell me one of your awful jokes,” I plead.

“You know you love them. What did one elevator say to the other? I think I am coming down with something!” Eva erupts, laughing at her joke, and I can’t help but chuckle at her response.

“That’s better,” she says excitedly. “Anyway, Amelia sent me to pick up a few more of her things.”

“Christ,” I mutter, annoyance edging my tone. “Wouldn’t it be easier if she had you just pick up everything all at once?”

“Did you ever think she’s drawing this out because she misses you?” Eva’s soft voice is probing. “Maybe if you hadn’t forbidden her to come to the penthouse—”

“Amelia made her choice when she married Alexei Ivanov.” I cut her off, my voice colder now. “I may support her following her heart, but I don’t know what she expected when she married into a rival family. I’m the head of the King family now—our interests have to come first.”

Eva’s eyes hold mine, searching for something I’m unwilling to give. She nods slowly, understanding as always, yet I can tell she disagrees.

“Whatever you say,” she says finally. “I’ll just get the things she asked for from her room.”

“Thank you,” I say, but the words taste bitter, like a luxury bought at a price far too steep.

Eva disappears into Amelia’s old bedroom, and I make my way to the study. Shaking my head, I attempt to clear my thoughts. I sit down behind the large mahogany desk and try to force the intrusive thoughts about my sister from my mind. She made up her mind when she married an Ivanov, and no amount of guilt she or Eva put on me will change that.

Despite not being able to change the situation, one fact remains. I miss Amelia as much as she misses me.

Chapter Two

I sit at my father’s desk, fingers tracing the intricate carvings on its mahogany surface. His scent, a mixture of expensive cologne and Cuban cigars, lingers. The mountain of paperwork before me seems to grow with each passing second, threatening to consume me whole. Anxiety washes over me as I ponder the gravity of my new responsibilities. Amelia may have walked away from her duties, but I refuse to let everything my father built be destroyed on my watch.

The door creaks open, and Eva steps into the room. Her chestnut-brown eyes display concern, her lips pressed into a thin line. She crosses the floor with graceful strides, the clicking of her heels against the marble floor echoing through the silent room. As she reaches me, she places a comforting hand on my shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring.

“Vincent,” she says softly, her voice a soothing balm amid the chaos of my thoughts. “Let me make you some lunch.”

I look up at Eva, the turmoil swirling inside me spilling into my gaze. “I thought you were here to pack up the last of Amelia’s things for her, not take care of me.”

She shrugs and, in a gentle voice, replies, “Can’t I do both?” I smile, grateful that despite her being my sister’s best friend, Eva has always been a reassuring force in my life.

“I...” My voice falters as I struggle to find the right words. “I don’t know if I can do this—”

She shakes her head, peering at me with her oversized doe eyes. “Do what?”

“Lead the family,” I explain. “It’s so much, and I... What if I fuck everything up?”

Eva’s eyes soften as she listens, her hand on my shoulder a steady presence. “Vincent,” she says, “you have always been stronger than you give yourself credit for. For as long as I’ve known you, I’ve watched you do everything your father asked of you. The only difference between now and then is he isn’t here to tell you what to do—but you already know. You’re going to be fine.”

As she speaks, images flash in my mind—the late nights spent at my father’s side, the countless hours of training, and the strategizing I witnessed. Despite my doubts, there’s no denying I’ve worked hard to earn my place at the helm of our empire, even if my father lacked faith in me before his death.

“Your resilience is one of your greatest strengths,” Eva continues, bolstering my wavering confidence. “I have zero doubts that you will be able to get through this.”

“I wish I had the same confidence in myself that you seem to have in me,” I admit. Our predicament differs from that of any other business when the CEO dies. Our family business was different, though. Instead of board members, I have capos to answer to. They may not have known about my father losing faith in me as the underboss, but that doesn’t seem to matter. With the death of both my father and his consigliere, the wolves are at the gates, and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep them at bay.

Eva squeezes my shoulder gently, her touch grounding me in the moment. “Vincent, you’re not alone in this. Amelia and I, all of us, support you every step of the way. You don’t have to carry all this on your own.”

I close my eyes briefly, trying to understand her words, but the fear keeps gnawing at me. “I asked you not to say her name around me.”

“She’s your sister,” Eva reminds me.

“Not anymore. She’s an Ivanov now,” I state, ensuring my tone remains emotionless.

“I don’t understand. I thought you gave her your blessing,” Eva pleads.

“I gave my blessing for her to marry him and step away from our family, but that doesn’t mean I have to be okay with it. It sure as hell doesn’t mean I’m going to be a fucking idiot and let her in here as if nothing has changed,” I explain. “She made her choice, and choices have consequences.”

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