Page 29 of Crimson Fate

Eva, however, truly did get me questioning how I felt about sacrificing my happiness. I never imagined saying this, but a part of me does want someone at my side. Someone I can trust. As much as I have come to rely on Eva and Marco, it’s not the same as having a partner. I want Gia by my side, her strength and fire to temper my own.

There’s work to be done, preparations for the dinner, communications to send out. And then there’s Gia—beautiful, fierce Gia. I need to see her, wrap myself in her presence, and convince myself that she is the one. I may not be in love with her, but I was being honest when I told Eva I could see myself one day loving Gia.

The thought of her lights a fire within me, burning away any lingering doubts. She’s not just a piece on the board; she’s the queen. She will be my queen.

The cool night air hits me as I step outside, the city’s sounds a distant symphony. At this moment, beneath the starless sky, I feel the pulse of power coursing through me, the unyielding resolve to protect what is mine.

Chapter Eleven

The moment I step into the lobby of my building, an uneasy prickle dances up my spine. My head snaps in the direction of Walter sitting at his desk. It takes a fraction of a second for recognition to flicker—Amelia and Nikolai stand beside him. Walter laughs as Amelia has a conversation with him. When Nikolai sees me, I watch as he nudges my sister with his arm.

She glances up at me and smiles, excusing herself from Walter’s presence. “Vincent, hi—we were just about to give up on you getting home anytime soon.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” My words come out sharply. The day’s dealings have left me with little patience for unexpected visitors, even if one of them is Amelia. “And what the fuck were you thinking bringing him with you?”

“Alexei is out of town on business, and he doesn’t feel like it’s safe for me to be alone. He insisted I don’t leave the house without him. I swear, sometimes he can be as overprotective as you were.”

I glance at Nikolai, his mountainous frame a silent testament to his role as her protector. His eyes meet mine, unflinching and loyal to the bone. “I hope you don’t expect me to play host to him. There’s no fucking way I’m letting him upstairs.”

Amelia’s eyes plead with mine before she offers a compromise. “Nikolai will wait downstairs, but I need to talk to you. It’s important.”

With a curt nod, I gesture toward the elevator. “Fine. But make it quick.”

We stride across the marble floor, our footsteps echoing against the high ceilings. I can’t shake the sense that whatever Amelia wants to discuss is more than mere sibling chatter.

“Thank you,” she whispers as we slip into the elevator. My eyes are trained on Nikolai as the doors slide closed, and his posture reveals his discomfort with being separated from my sister. I would never tell Amelia or Alexei, but I deeply appreciate the fact that she is being looked out for.

I press the button for the penthouse and glance up toward the camera. A moment later, the quiet hum of machinery envelops us. I don’t answer her thanks. Instead, I lean back against the cool wall, arms crossed over my chest as I study her. She stands poised, composed, the epitome of grace under pressure.

“Whatever brought you here better be worth this interruption,” I mutter.

Amelia remains silent, an enigma swathed in dark fabric and secrets. The bell dings softly, announcing our arrival at my sanctuary.

“So, Alexei’s away on business? What kind of—”

“That’s not your concern,” Amelia interjects sharply, cutting me off mid-sentence. Her gaze locks with mine in the reflection, fierce and unwavering. “Let’s keep this about us.”

“Fair enough,” I say as I push away from the wall of the elevator and step out into the expanse of my home, though truth be told, it still feels like my dead parents’ home.

Amelia follows. She surveys the room—the dark wood, the leather chairs, the chessboard set mid-game from Marco’s and my last session.

“Do you know why I’m here?” she asks, turning toward me with an earnestness that commands attention.

I settle behind my desk, leaning back in my chair and letting out a long sigh. Amelia and Eva share everything with each other, so I had a pretty good idea of what may have brought her here. “If you spoke to Eva, I’m guessing this is about Gia?”

She perches on the edge of the desk, invading my territory with the ease of someone who knows they won’t be turned away. “You’re not seriously considering marrying her for the sake of some silly alliance?”

Her question hangs in the air, weighty with concern. “I don’t owe you an explanation. If you don’t want me asking questions about Alexei’s business, don’t ask me about mine.”

“This isn’t business, it’s insanity,” she cries. “Why on earth would you even consider such a ridiculous idea?”

“Back off, okay, Sis? It’s one strategy I’m considering.”

“Strategy?” Amelia’s brow arches, and her fingers curl around the edge of the desk. “We’re talking about marriage. That’s not a strategy. And besides, did you ever ask yourself what kind of woman would even agree to such an arrangement?”

I scoff at the remark. “I thought you two were friends.”

“That’s a pretty generous way to describe what we are. She was a presence in our father’s household because of who her father was, but we were never close. I will say anyone willing to marry someone in the name of forming an alliance makes me question their actual motives.”

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