Page 24 of Savage Little Queen

“Alessio was in charge of overseeing everything with me,” I said. “He’s a nice guy. I can see where Vincent gets it from.”

Dom continued to glare at me.

“He saved my life. Alessio. It was he who called off Matteo and Klaus. I was on my knees with a gun pointed at the back of my head. I really thought that was it. Alessio asked me questions about Bianca. About you and the kings. I answered with what Iknew. I told him I’d gotten close to her while she was with us. They wanted to know how close. I said. . . things.” I glanced at Dom to see his hands twisted into fists.

I exhaled. “They asked me what I wanted most in my life. I said my freedom. It was offered on the condition that I bring her to Matteo. He really wanted her alive. I told Enzo what was going on. Ethan has developed a drug like his zombie drugs, only this one completely knocks someone out. He made me a dart version. I shot her with it. I faked her death for Tate. I figured I might be able to pass her death off to Matteo, too, rather than bring her to him.”

“Continue,” Dom snarled when I paused.

“I hired in with your father. I got in close with Alessio. He told me some things. I found out about other things. I went into the fold and did some shit I’m not proud of, but the trust grew. Alessio and I became close. He told me Matteo was in love with a woman before he married your mother. Her name was Delilah. He seriously loved her. Alessio said you and Bianca remind him of Matteo and Delilah. They were young. Carmine had a marriage arranged for Matteo, however. He threatened to kill Delilah if Matteo didn’t stop seeing her. So, Matteo broke it off with her and kept her on the side. It worked for a while until she couldn’t handle him being married to another woman. She took their children and ran. She didn’t go far though. I don’t know why. Maybe she kept hoping things would change. She did change her name and the kids’ names.” I paused and cleared my throat.

Dom hadn’t moved an inch. He was calm. Too calm.

“Your father had a mistress. Delilah. While married to your mother,” I said. “The children are Arcangelo, Tomasso, and Gianna.”

A muscle thrummed along Dom’s jaw, but he continued to sit in silence.

“I found all of this out while in the fold. A lot of it Alessio told me because Matteo wanted me to bring Bianca to him so that you’d be alone. He’s already reunited with Anson, and he wants to. . . replace you,” I murmured. “Because you’re not his son.” My words were met with a heavy silence. I stared at Dom to see he was tense, his face blank.

“Matteo wants you dead, Dominic. Anson is his heir. He’s your replacement.”

Dom didn’t move for a full minute as we sat in silence. Finally, he darted up from his seat and paced the room, his fingers tugging at his black hair. None of us said a word as we let him absorb the information I’d presented to him. Finally, he blew out a breath and moved back to his seat, that eerie calmness washing over him again.

I glanced at Anson and Trent, who looked confused at Dom’s reaction, then at Enzo, who seemed concerned.

“My father isn’t my father,” Dom murmured.

I shook my head. “He’s not. Your father is your grandfather, Carmine. You’re Matteo’s brother. Your family traditions on the night of Matteo and your mother’s wedding led to your grandfather and your mother conceiving you.”

Dom blew out a breath and stared at a wall, a muscle thrumming along his jaw.

“That’s not all.” I cleared my throat again. “I got information on Bianca’s father while there.”

Dom’s green eyes locked on mine. He was eerily still, and I wondered if maybe I should slow down with my info dump on him. Figuring he’d just choke the life out of me if I stopped, I plowed on.

“Her father is Nathaniel Walker. He was Matteo’s friend. One of his best friends. He handled all of Matteo’s accounts. His money. Everything. He also did a lot of dirty work for Matteo, including helping Klaus and Alessio handle. . . business.”

Dom said nothing, so I continued.

“I found out Matteo believed that he’d betrayed him and was helping to work with the Ivanovs to take him down. Nathaniel disappeared. He was last seen with David D’Angelou. From what I’ve gathered, Nathaniel exchanged Bianca to Ivanov for his life. That’s why D’Angelou got his wife and Bianca. Ivanov made the arrangement for Hail and Bianca’s marriage as a way to gain traction and get in league with D’Angelou, who has his fingers in plenty of pots and is growing. More power. More everything, basically. At least, that’s how I understand it, but you know how shit goes in our world. Maybe there’s more to the story. I don’t know. This is just what I know and thought you needed to know.”

“Bianca’s father worked with mine?” Dom finally said.

I nodded.

“And he gave her away in exchange for his life?”

I nodded again.

Dom frowned, the anger clear as day on his face.

“That’s not all. Nathaniel wasn’t even his real name,” I continued. “His real name is Konstantin Volkov. He was always an Ivanov implant. He also went by the name of Jonathan Lawrence and had an entirely different family besides Bianca and her mother. Matteo wants Bianca as a way to punish her father. He knows word will get back to him.”

Dom scrubbed his hand down his face when I finished.

He was silent for a moment.

“So, you’re my. . . nephews?” he finally asked, looking to Anson and Trent.

---