Page 30 of Crimson Fate

“What are you talking about? It’s because of who her family is that makes her the perfect bride for me. Our union will help me protect this family’s legacy.”

“Protect, yes. But at what cost?” Amelia leans forward, her voice soft but insistent. “Clearly, she and her father are just power-hungry. What kind of life could you possibly have with a woman like that? You know how Isabella turned out. Father married her because he didn’t want us growing up without a mother, but in the end, she killed him.”

I pause, pondering her words. Gia’s image—her smoky eyes, the curve of her smile—flashes before me. “I know, okay? And Gia is nothing like Isabella. And Jesus, happiness?” I scoff because the word is foreign on my tongue. “Grow up already. That’s a luxury for those of us who are not trying to uphold a legacy.”

“Will you please shut the hell up about this legacy shit already? Daddy was not a great man. He killed a lot of men to get what he wanted. That’s it!”

“And do you think your husband or I are any better?” I ask through gritted teeth with my fists balled at my sides. “This is who we are, Amelia. Gia understands that. When are you going to stop living in a goddamn fairy tale and start seeing the reality around you?”

“I’m not naïve.” Amelia looks away from me, my words clearly hitting their intended mark. “I know what you and Alexei have been forced to do, but nothing says you can’t make a different choice.”

I turn my seat toward the window. The city’s glittering lights blur into a kaleidoscope as I pour two fingers of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the last rays of sunset bleeding through the blinds. I considered the question as I offered my sister a drink. She nods, and I pour another.

“And is that where Alexei is? Off making a different choice?” I question. She falls silent, and I know the answer without her speaking it. Wherever he is, he’s committing acts that would turn most men’s stomachs in the name of his family—of his legacy.

I turn to face her, sliding her a glass as I take a swig. The whiskey warms my insides. I don’t wait for her to respond before I continue. “And for your information, I had dinner with Gia the other night, and we had a pretty amazing evening. I know you won’t believe me, but I think there is a chance of us having something beyond convenience between us.”

“After one dinner with her?” Amelia’s eyebrow arches skeptically. “What can you possibly know after one dinner?”

I set the glass down more forcefully than intended, the clink echoing off the walls. “She’s not just a pretty face, Amelia. There’s fire there and fierce loyalty.”

“Fire can burn, Brother,” Amelia warns, her gaze steady and unyielding. “And loyalty? Who is she actually loyal to? You? Or would she be loyal to her father in the end? I hope you understand I’m only here because I love you.”

“I know you do.” As much as her marrying Alexei felt like a betrayal of sorts, I know Amelia cares deeply for me. “But this is my life now, and I have to make decisions I think will help me achieve what I view as fulfillment.”

She swallows and takes in a sharp breath before she continues. “I will pay you the same respect you did me. If you truly say you have fallen in love with Gia, I’ll support your union. But only if it’s genuine. You deserve to be with someone you love and who loves you in return, even if you don’t think you do.”

I tighten my lips into a thin line, considering what I’m about to reveal to my sister. “Look, I don’t want you or Eva to think you have any sway over my life, but I have been thinking a lot since Eva left the other night. If I’m being frank, a part of me would like to marry someone I can actually have feelings for.”

“Well, for fuck’s sake, Big Brother, are you actually starting to see reason?” Amelia gasps before she takes a drink of her whiskey, wincing afterward from the bite of the amber liquid.

“Don’t get me wrong, I still very much plan to marry Gia. But before we make everything official and announce our engagement, I plan to take Gia away for the weekend. I want to give us a chance to really connect,” I explain.

“I’m not sure what on earth you think can be discovered in just a single weekend, but I do actually hope love is what you find. I want that for you more than you will ever know. If it is, I’ll be the first to toast to your happiness.”

“Thank you.”

“Make me one promise,” Amelia says. “If at any point during this getting-to-know-Gia weekend you don’t see yourself being able to love her, you won’t drag this out. End things and move on.”

“I can’t guarantee that,” I answer. “But I will do my best to come as close to honoring that as I can.”

Amelia rolls her eyes. “Fine, whatever. Oh! Also, don’t let things stay soured with Eva. She only wants what’s best for you. We all do,” Amelia adds as she drinks the last of her whiskey and places the glass on my desk.

“I understand that, but she needs to remember we don’t come from the same world that she does,” I state firmly.

“I know, but she means well,” Amelia replies. “I better get back down to Nikolai. I’m sure he’s pacing the lobby like a caged lion by now.”

“Hey, Sis,” I say as I stand, moving around my desk to escort her to the elevator. “I really am glad you’re happy.”

Amelia smiles, her eyes softening with warmth. “Thank you. And I hope you find the same happiness, whether it’s with Gia or someone else.”

I snicker at her remark and at her inability to bite her tongue. After hugging Amelia, I watch as she steps onto the elevator, and a moment later, it starts its descent.

Alone now, I let out a breath as I pull out my phone and flip to Eva’s number. I consider calling her, but as the silence in the room amplifies my heartbeat, I decide to text her instead.

Sorry I lost my temper. I press send, my finger lingering over the screen for a moment before pulling away. A mix of relief and uncertainty washes over me.

I swipe the screen, and as the digits of Gia’s number align under my fingertips, anticipation courses through me. I lift the phone to my ear, and when I hear the voice on the other end, I do my best to keep my voice steady. “Hello, Gia? It’s Vincent.”

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