Page 4 of Stolen Queen

I find him there pouring a stiff drink. "He’s right, you know. You seem off.”

Lana enters behind me.

Elio downs his drink. “Long day, that’s all.”

“Doing what?” I know his schedule forward and backward. There was nothing challenging on it today.

“Just life.”

What the fuck does that mean?

“We can’t afford to mess this up,” Lana says, irritation lacing her tone.

Elio shrugs. “We don’t need them.”

Lana glances at me, her expression asking me to talk sense into Elio.

I study him, trying to figure out what's up. Does he not like Ava? Nah, that can't be it. Elio likes beautiful women. And he's always been committed to this arranged marriage since his father set it up with Rinella eight years ago.

“Maybe not, but you’d be a fool to think you have the inside track to Caruso. You’re still young, mostly unproven. This alliance gives you more power. Besides, if you don’t marry her, he’ll send her off to someone else, and she certainly deserves better than some old motherfucker," I say.

Elio arches a brow. “You care about what happens to Ava Rinella?”

I clear my throat, feeling uncomfortable being caught thinking anything about Ava. “Sure. She’s a nice kid.”

“You’re missing the point,” Lana interrupts. “We lost our parents and Lazaro.” She refers to her twin. “This family is dwindling down to nothing, and I bet it’s not by accident.”

“We don’t know that Lazaro is dead,” Elio says, although we all know he probably is. Well, all of us except Lana, who’s convinced he’s alive. But Lazaro was an impulsive, explosively violent man who was also loyal to the family. No way he's not here unless he's dead.

“And Mom and Dad were in a car accident," Elio finishes.

Lana glares at him. “No one suffers that sort of loss?—”

“Families like yours do,” I interrupt. Organized crime is a dangerous life. We have higher levels of accidents that lead to death and permanent disappearances.

“That’s my point,” she snaps. “Our numbers are dwindling, big brother. We need an alliance to make sure no one comes looking to get rid of you.”

She's not wrong, but a glance at Elio tells me he's not worried. I suspect he's relying on Caruso's growing support to protect him.

“I promise you, I’ll take care of this family. I won't let you down."

“I hope so, Elio. You’re the foundation of this family," Lana reminds him.

He nods, offering her a reassuring smile. "And I'll continue to be that. For you, for Lazaro, and for our parents. I know this alliance with Rinella is crucial. I won’t let anything mess that up."

But there's something missing in Elio's declaration. Something that tells me Rinella is going to be pissed.

When Elio dismisses us, I head out, thinking I’ll go to the club. Maybe a good fuck will banish Ava’s sweet smile and fiery eyes from my mind.

But somehow, I end up at the Rinella estate. Jesus. What the fuck is wrong with me? But do I drive past, make a U-turn, and go to the club? No. Because I’m a fucking idiot.

I park around the corner and hoof it toward the Rinella property. It’s well-guarded, but I know where the cameras are and how to avoid detection. Rinella is an ally, but Elio has never trusted him, and in the vein of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, I’ve learned all about Rinella’s home.

Slipping past the perimeter, I stick to the shadows, my eyes scanning for any sign of movement. I can’t deny the thrill I’mfeeling even as I know this can get my ass killed. I creep closer to the house, catching a glimpse of light from an upstairs window.

Ava walks by, and I stop, watching her. Even as I admire her, I’m kicking myself. What the hell am I doing? Ava is Elio's fiancée, promised to him over the last eight years. Elio was eighteen at the time, reeling from his girlfriend moving away. I try not to think too much about how Ava was only ten years old when her father made this arrangement with Elio’s father. Fucking bastard.

In the end, though, she’s now eighteen and Elio’s fiancée. I have no right to be sneaking around, hoping for a glimpse of her. I respect Elio. I’m his cousin, but he treats me like a brother. I’ve never envied him his life, the losses, the weighty responsibility. But right now, I’m jealous of him. That he gets this captivating woman simply because he’s the eldest son of the D’Amato family.

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