Page 71 of Beautiful Vows

I'm not wrong. Dominic rises from his seat, looks around the table, and says, "I'd like to make a family announcement."

My stepmother grins from ear to ear.

Is she pregnant?

Dominic clears his throat before speaking. "I'm officially handing over my position in the Syndicate to Dante. I've had a long, hard think about everything you did to gain my approval for this position and you're not only ready, you're going to be an outstanding leader." He smiles as he lifts his flute in the air. "You've come a long way for someone who never wanted this. But I never doubted you. To Dante."

I hear some 'wows' from my rights.

"I'd like everyone to toast my son, the new head of the de Luca family." Dominic smiles at me before placing his glass on the table. "I'll make the arrangements for you to be officially sworn into the Syndicate in the coming weeks."

Dante doesn't know what to say. But my stepmother does.

She stands and twists on her heels to face Dominic. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Don't you dare speak like that in front of my family!"

But I'm thinking the same. Because people like Dominic always have an ulterior motive simmering beneath the surface.

I just need to work out what it is.

Chapter 24

Dante

We get back from the family dinner at my father's, I can barely contain my elation. Finally, everything is falling into place.

I pull Lia close, sweeping her into an embrace. "The two of us will run everything," I murmur against her hair. "I'm about to become the new head of the de Luca family, and with you, we'll change the way everything runs."

Rafe and Cade exchange grins, knowing this solidifies the safety of their relationship. No one will dare question it with me at the helm. If they do, I'll not hesitate to put a bullet in their brain. Then again, Lia may be the one to do that.

"Did you realize Helena did not make a single derogatory comment to me tonight?" Cade asks, arching a brow. "That must be a first."

"After her performance at Amara's eighteenth birthday, Dominic probably warned her to keep her mouth shut." Lia motions a zip shutting over her mouth. "He'd be better off sewing her lips together."

She runs a hand over her swollen belly, a protective gesture. "But I'm glad. Right now, all I want is for them to be safe."

"They'll always be safe," I assure her firmly. "Which reminds me - the house is nearly finished. We'll be moving in before my ascension is announced. You'll be safe there."

Cade nods. "I did a full sweep myself. No listening devices or anything sinister planted."

It's all finally coming together.

The next morning, the apartment is strangely quiet.

It could be because I wanted Lia in my bed and all to myself last night. Because those two fuckers have been taking liberties, using Rafe's injuries to get her into their bed.

Not that they've touched her since Rafe was hurt. I know Rafe just wants her sweet body next to his.

And it's not as though Lia isn't afraid to let me know Cade and Rafe are her husbands, too.

Soft footsteps break the silence, and I know it's my queen.

I watch her as she moves into the kitchen. "Morning."

"Good morning." She smiles so widely it makes my heart pound.

"Did you sleep well?"

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