Page 26 of Crimson Vows

Gia will never understand that he’s more than family; he was a lifeline when I was utterly alone. His father may have given me a place in the King’s empire, but Vincent gave me a brother when I had no one.

He’ll be off to Italy soon, so if I’m going to seek his council, it’s now or never. I make my way toward Vincent’s office. I can feel it in my bones; I’m either moving toward clarity or damnation—if Gia discovers I confided in him. It doesn’t matter. I have to figure out how the fuck to reconcile this feeling in the pit of my stomach to claim her only for myself with the reality that she is not the type of woman to be caged.

I stride through the silent hallway. The carved mahogany door stands as a barrier. My hand hovers over the handle, momentarily pausing as I notice the door slightly ajar. I almost enter when I freeze at the sound of multiple voices inside.

I know I should turn and walk away, but I lean in instinctively, allowing the faint sound of voices to grow louder. The timbre of Vincent’s voice is unmistakable—a low rumble that commands attention even when muffled by barriers. I hold my breath when I hear the other voices. Alexei and Nikolai are with him. Their presence is unexpected. They must have arrived while I was out.

My pulse throbs in my temples. Eyes closed, I push aside the voice telling me to walk away as I try to discern their words.

“You’re certain?” Alexei inquires, an urgency to his voice.

Vincent delivers a chilling confession. “He told me himself. Anthony was the one who set the fire that disfigured your brother and nearly killed you both.”

I stand frozen. Vincent’s words echo in my ears like a sinister melody. Anthony, Gia’s father, set the fire that started the war between the families.

My fists clench at my sides, nails digging into my palm. The thought of Gia mourning her father makes me sick, knowing that he was behind so much turmoil in the King family. Vincent and Amelia lost their mother in retaliation for what Anthony did to the Ivanovs.

“And was he acting of his own accord?” Nikolai’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

Vincent doesn’t respond immediately, and I lean in a little closer in case I’m too far away to hear any whispered words.

“I can’t be certain if he was acting alone... if I had to guess, he was acting at the direction of my father. Anthony was made captain shortly after all of that happened. He was one of the youngest to become a made man, and it makes sense that it was likely a reward for loyalty.” The confession hangs heavy in the air. “And if that is the case... I’m sorry.”

“We are not our fathers,” Alexei says reassuringly.

“Well, I want you to know I did what I had to do,” Vincent adds. “I made things right for both our families.”

“How did you make things right?” Nikolai asks, clearly unimpressed by Vincent’s claims. “Amelia told us his daughter was the one who killed him.”

“And that’s because I told her that’s what happened,” Vincent continues. “As far as the rest of the world is concerned, Anthony died in a boat fire, but anyone who was a part of that evening believes Gia killed her father.”

“I don’t understand,” Alexei replies. “Is that not what happened?”

“Oh, Gia definitely shot her father, but I was the one who killed him.”

My mind reels, trying to process the revelation. Vincent, the man I have trusted with my life, the man I call my brother, let Gia think she ended her father’s life. On top of that, he is willing to share this secret with the enemy before me? A surge of anger and a profound sense of betrayal floods me. How could he have kept this from me?

But amid the storm of emotions raging inside me, a small voice, almost drowned out by the chaos, whispers a question: What else has Vincent done to protect our family? How far does his loyalty extend, and at what cost?

The room spins, my stomach lurching. My mind races as images of Gia’s tortured face when she spoke of her father’s death flash before my eyes. She has been drowning in guilt, believing her actions led to his demise. And all this time, Vincent...

“I’m trusting you both. This knowledge cannot be divulged to anyone. Anthony’s blood needs to remain on Gia’s hands,” Vincent continues, oblivious to my eavesdropping. “It’s better this way.”

Better for whom? I want to roar, to shatter the deceitful calm of his study with the truth. But I hold back, the rage simmering beneath my skin. Everything has changed in the span of a heartbeat. The man I thought I knew was a stranger wearing familiar skin.

I stand outside the study, my heart thundering against my ribs.

My hand hovers over the doorknob, cold and unyielding. A surge of adrenaline washes over me. The knowledge of Vincent’s betrayal sears my conscience. I shake my head, disbelief etched into every line of my face.

I pull my hand back and move away from the door. Confronting Vincent will only make Gia a target. For now, my only option is to keep my cousin’s secret until I figure out what I’m going to do.

Vincent’s words replay in my mind, each syllable poisoning my perception of him. The loyalty I once held for him now wavers under the weight of the secret.

Silent as a shadow, I slip away from Vincent’s office. I need to be anywhere but here. My steps quicken with purpose, determination fueling my every move. Moments later, I step into the elevator, the metal doors closing with a finality. The knowledge I carry can’t be unlearned, and as much as I can’t imagine betraying my family, I don’t know how I can keep this information from Gia. But if I don’t, the price could be too much for everyone involved.

Chapter Ten

Nico

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