Page 19 of Desperate Decisions

“Distinct possibility my cousins wouldn’t have survived to see the funeral if I hadn’t been there.”

Bianca nodded, at least somewhat satisfied that I truly had been justified in going. We poured the glasses and let the wine breathe, Bianca swirling it mindlessly. “Did you get there in time?”

“Thankfully. Nonna went a few days after I arrived.”

Bianca’s finger tapped against the glass, her gaze faraway. “They always seem so indestructible when you’re young.”

“They do,” I agreed. “I appreciate you letting me be there for her last days. I know it wasn’t ideal.”

“It really fucking wasn’t.”

I waited until she got a quarter of the way into her wine, hoping the smooth richness would keep her more even-tempered. “I have something I need to talk to you about.”

“Ominous. What now?”

“Were you planning on bonding the rest of us for alliances?”

“Eventually. Why?”

“Have you heard of ideal mates before?”

“Sounds like bullshit. What is it?”

“Basically it shuts off a person’s brain when they get too close to someone of a certain amount of biological compatibility. It forces a heat in the omega, and a rut in the alpha. There’s no way to plan for it, no way to know until it happens.”

Bianca stared at me, her lips pulled into a frown. “Did you do something stupid?”

I hesitated. “That depends on if you’re carrying a weapon or not.”

“I’m always carrying a weapon.” She pulled out a tiny pistol and cocked the gun, curling her finger over the trigger. “Now tell me, Elio. How fucking stupid were you?”

I stared at the barrel of the gun, trying my best not to panic, not to let my racing heart run the show. “Bianca…”

“Tell me. How insubordinate were you? And where is your little whore now?”

“Put the gun down.”

“Oh, you’re the one in charge now?” Bianca rose from her seat, moving gracefully toward the fireplace in her suite. “Come make me a fire.”

“Why?”

“That sounds like a question instead of obedience. I said make me a fire.”

Moving cautiously, I stacked the wood and kindling, lighting it in several places with the matches nearby. It was hot as hell outside so I couldn’t fathom what she wanted the fire for.

She laid a long metal stick into the flames, the blunt end nestled in the heart of the fire. Dread prickled up my spine.

Bianca gestured with her gun for me to return to the table, and I did. With a lot of people I could’ve gotten the gun out of their hand, maybe turned it on them, but if I did that to Bianca, I probably wouldn’t make it out of the compound alive.

“Drink your wine.” Bianca sat back down and picked up her wine, keeping the gun trained on me. “Did you come back from Italy with a mate?”

“I didn’t mean to. If I had been in my right mind, you know I never would have.”

“Excuses.”

“It’s not an excuse. It’s an explanation. You and I both know I’ve followed your lead for over two decades. You know I’m loyal. Do you think I would throw your trust away if I had any choice in the matter?”

Bianca hummed and took another sip of her wine. “I suppose not, but the fact remains that you did throw my trust away, whether you meant to or not. You know I can’t let that go by without punishment.”

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