Page 63 of Crimson Fate

“Of course not,” he finally says, his voice low but carrying a sharp edge.

A vague sense of unease tightens my chest. “Just say whatever is on your mind.”

He leans forward, bracing his hands on the granite island like a man about to deliver a decisive blow. “I don’t know if you can’t see it or what, but that woman is in love with you.”

I stiffen, the plate in my hand suddenly feeling like lead. “Who, Eva? What’s your point?”

“Do you think it’s wise to let her keep coming around here when you know she has feelings for you? It seems like the only way this can end is very messy for everyone,” Marco answers.

I laugh. “Did you ever think I might love her too?” The declaration is an obvious shock to Marco.

“What? Since when?” Marco fires back, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “And what the hell about Gia?”

Gia’s name strikes a nerve, sending a jolt of guilt through me. I’ve been so caught up in the storm of my feelings for Eva I haven’t thought much about what this would do to Gia.

“Look, I get it,” Marco continues before I can respond. “We all need distractions, but Gia is part of our world, our family. She deserves better from you.”

I swallow hard, attempting to keep my anger in check. “Watch what the fuck you say to me. I’m still the head of this family,” I remind him.

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but it needed to be said. Just do right by her before this goes any further. You owe her that much.”

“First off, Eva isn’t just some distraction.” I can’t deny the truth in his words about Gia, but I also refuse to deny my feelings for Eva. “Second, we both know Gia is going to loathe me after I do what has to be done to her father.”

“What happens to her after you take care of Anthony?” Marco asks.

“What do you mean?” I shake my head in confusion.

“Her mom died when she was little. Once Anthony is gone, what will happen to her?” Marco demands.

“She’s a grown-ass fucking woman!” I exclaim. “Besides, why the hell do you care so much about what happens to her?”

“Because she deserves better than being caught in the crossfire.” Marco’s eyes flicker, his lips pressed into a thin line.

I grip the edge of the countertop, my knuckles whitening. Marco’s words echo in my head, a relentless drumbeat of guilt and responsibility. The weight of the promise I made to Gia sits heavy on my shoulders, but I refuse to marry someone because I feel guilty that I have to kill her father for being a traitor.

“Smells amazing.” A voice breaks through my concentration, and I blink away the images of Gia, replaced by the sight of Eva leaning against the doorway. Her hair cascades over her shoulders like a dark waterfall, and the softness in her eyes makes my heart skip a beat.

“Thanks,” I reply. “I haven’t burned anything this time.”

She laughs. “That’s amazing. I’m starving,” she replies, and I notice she is wearing the clothes she had on last night. “Oh hey, Marco. You’re here early.”

Marco offers Eva a curt nod, his gaze fixed on me as he clears his throat. “I had some things to take care of,” he says, though the undertones of warning are unmistakable.

She returns my smile, and I ask if she could take our plates to the dining area because I need to finish discussing something with Marco.

She hesitates, eyeing us both before doing as I asked.

As Eva steps away, I turn my attention back to Marco, a storm brewing in my chest. “What the fuck do you want from me?” I growl through clenched teeth, sensing the white-hot anger in him.

“I want you to think about the consequences of your actions for once,” Marco replies evenly, his eyes boring into mine. “I want you to consider what’s at stake here.”

“And what exactly is that?” I snap, my frustration building with every word.

“Everything,” Marco says, his voice dropping to a hushed tone. “The family, our reputation, and the trust we’ve built over the years. Do you really think it’s worth risking all that for a love affair?”

“It’s not just a love affair,” I argue, feeling the weight of my emotions crashing against the walls I’ve built around myself. “She means something to me.”

Marco shakes his head, disappointment etched across his face. “Vincent, you always said family comes first. Gia is more family than that girl will ever be.”

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