Page 24 of Crimson Fate

Gia’s gaze meets mine; her eyes are soft yet resolute. I can tell from the way she looks at me that I’m not the only one who sees potential in our relationship.

“I believe I can too,” she says at last.

“And who knows...” I shrug before saying in a teasing voice, “Maybe I’ll surprise you again and make you fall in love with me.”

“You just might,” she says with a smile as she lifts her glass to her ruby-red lips.

Chapter Nine

The moment Eva steps off the elevator, I know our meeting won’t go as planned. She’s all business, a clipboard clutched in her hands, her eyes scanning the room with a planning eye. But today, there’s an undercurrent of something else in her demeanor—a tension that mirrors mine.

“Vincent,” she greets me. “I’m so sorry I haven’t been available this past week. I had to help a friend out and take some of her shifts at the assisted living facility, but that was just temporary. Now, I can focus on what you need. I’ve drafted some initial ideas for the party.” She waves the papers in her hand, but I barely glance at them.

“I understand. Thanks for coming.” I lead her toward the study.

Inside, I pour a glass of whiskey and glance up at her, asking if she would like one as well.

“It’s ten in the morning,” she states as if somehow this information should have some bearing on my actions.

I shrug and, with a smirk, add, “I can put orange juice in it if that somehow will make it more socially acceptable for you.”

She chuckles, and it makes me smile. I love it when I make her laugh.

“I’m good,” she replies. “But thank you. Something tells me you didn’t just ask me to come here to talk about party favors and the guest list.”

“Sharp as ever,” I reply, leaning back against the mahogany desk. The familiar scent of leather-bound books and the faint trace of cigar smoke don’t soothe me as they usually do. “There’s been... a lot on my mind.”

“I would think so. Is this about the meeting you had with your captain the other day?” Eva is intuitive. She’s always been able to read between the lines.

“Partly,” I admit, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. My reflection stares back at me from the surface, and I can’t help but think how much I have appeared to age just since my father’s death. “Things have become... a bit more complicated since I saw you last.”

“What’s going on?” she asks, her voice heavy with concern.

“Let’s just say plans are shifting,” I answer finally, purposely vague.

I move to stand by the window, watching as the city below moves with a life of its own—a stark contrast to the stillness within these walls.

Eva’s voice cuts through my reverie. “What do you mean shifting?”

“The party we discussed... it’s off the table.”

She blinks, taken aback. The papers she holds—a neat stack of menus and designs—suddenly seem irrelevant. “Why? You seemed to think it was such a good idea the other day.”

“It was... I mean it is a good idea. But I need to cancel it because there’s another event I could use your help planning.”

Eva leans in, eyes alight with curiosity and something fiercer—hunger for the unknown. “Oh, okay. What’s this new event?”

My heart picks up speed, a drumbeat against my rib cage. “It’s a wedding, Eva. My wedding.”

Shock registers across her face. “A wedding? That’s... that’s huge, Vincent! When did this happen? How did this—who? I don’t know where to start with my questions.”

“It was kind of sudden,” I say, watching her closely; every muscle in my body tenses for her reaction.

“I’d say so. Who’s the bride?” Her voice is steady, but there’s an undercurrent of something else—a tremor of emotion she can’t entirely hide.

“Gia Casaletto.”

The name hangs between us, heavy and fraught with implications. Eva is no stranger to Gia, considering growing up, Eva was attached at the hip to my sister, and Gia would hang around with Amelia sometimes.

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