Page 9 of Twins for the Mafia Heir

But if Raleigh Warwick and Fantasia Warwick are cousins, and Achilles and Fantasia are siblings- is she seriously suggesting Raleigh marry her first cousin?

Achilles’s mind seems to be working at the same speed as mine, because he blurts, “Cousins marrying hasn’t been in vogue since World War 1, even in our tax bracket. I amnotrevitalizing the tradition.”

To my horror, Fantasia completely shrugs that off. “It’s lucky for us that you’re not arealWarwick then, isn’t it?”

“Fantasia-”

“Enough, Achilles! I’m trying to fix a messyoumade, as usual-”

“None of this is bloody usual-”

Their voices are rising, and my thoughts are spinning too fast to be any good. This is totally beyond me now. I’m not committing to this bit so hard that I have to marry a man who kidnapped me, my enemy, at the demand of his crazy sister. I’m half tempted to turn and run, just run, but I crush down my panic.

Crossing Fantasia would not be wise. Achilles seems to get away with it purely because they share blood, but me? She was suggesting I be off-ed like a child might throw away a toy they’re sick of playing with. Besides, it’s not like there’s a priest standing in this room right now. I can agree to whatever she wants so long as it buys me time to escape. That’s what Ishoulddo, even if what’s being suggested is completely absurd.

What would the real Raleigh do? Well, she might just tell Fantasia to go to hell and fuck the consequences, but Raleigh has people around her supporting her.

I’m here alone, and I’ve got only me at the end of the day. That’s how it’s always been, even when I was a kid. I have to play this as safe as possible.

I step forward, coming up beside Achilles. His fists are clenched so hard the knuckles are white. Unhelpfully, I remember how that grip felt on my hips when I straddled his lap.

“I accept your proposal,” I tell Fantasia, loud and clear. “If you want me to marry Achilles, then… I will.”

Chapter 5

Achilles

Idon’t even hear Raleigh’s response through the roaring in my ears.

“Absolutelynot,” I snarl.

Fantasia’s eyes narrow on me, but she doesn’t look alarmed at the heat in my voice. She looks offended to have her idea so emphatically turned down.

I don’t care. For years I’ve cleaned up my sister’s messes and supported her delusions and given hereverythingshe ever wanted.

Butthis- spitting on Madeleine’s very grave- is finally going too far.

Before she can insult me with any more tripe, I grab Raleigh by the arm and haul her out of the room. I’m not having a row with my sister in front of a hostage. Raleigh trips after me until I’m forced to slow my steps, but she doesn’t protest.

Wesley Hall does have a dungeon, but I’m not putting her all the way down there. Raleigh is a willing hostage, not a prisoner. The room at the top of the manor’s solitary tower hasn’t been freshened up in a while, but it will do just fine while I shout some sense into Fantasia.

In the eastern wing of the manor, we come to a door off the hall that leads to an enclosed spiral staircase, leading up to a tower that existed centuries before this manor was built. I release Raleigh and motion for her to go up before me. She looks back at me only once, bewildered but thankfully unwilling to question my anger, then hurries up the stairs. At the top is another door, and this one I have to unlock before I open it for her.

The room is still furnished, except that all the furniture is shoved up against the far wall and swathed in white sheets like ghosts. It smells like dust and mothballs in here, the walls are nothing but bare grey stone, and the only light is a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling awaiting a new shade. But the door can be locked, which suits my current purpose.

“Is this… my room?” Raleigh asks, looking over the mountain of covered furniture and the faded walls dubiously.

“No, you’ll get a real room,” I tell her, a little defiantly. Even if I have to transport Raleigh to the old house, out from under Fantasia’s direct control, I’m going to make sure Raleigh stays alive through this- andunwed. “I just need to have a word with my sister,” I add with a growl. “I’ll return for you soon.”

Raleigh turns back to me, her eyes too wide, her mouth a tight line. “If I don’t do this, she’ll kill me,” she says quietly. “I know you probably don’t care about that, but… just don’t forget it.”

My jaw clenches. I brought her all the way here, and she thinks I’ll throw her away just like that? I shouldn’t blame her for that fear, considering the tantrum Fantasia just threw, but it’s offensive nonetheless.

“I’m not going to let her kill you, Raleigh,” I tell her firmly. “I swear it.”

Before she can ask how I dare make such a vow when it might go against my own boss’s orders, I close the door between us and lock it.

My angry strides take me back down the tower two stairs at a time. Back in the drawing room, Fantasia is casually sipping a too-full glass of wine. I wonder how much she’s already had, and if I can blame the alcohol for both her headache and her hysteria. On better days, I would be that generous, but right now-

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