Page 4 of Deception & Desire

“Is this some kind of test?” I hiss back. “Because if it is, then I wouldn’t know a thing about any of that, would I?”

“We need this alliance?—”

“We?I have nothing to do with this.”

“Amos Rubio would disagree. You’re mydaughter.”

Something stirs within me at the mention of the Cartel’s kingpin—the man responsible for so many of my father’s gray hairs and the eternal thorn in the Guild’s side.

As much as I loathe having to admit it, my father has a point. If the Cartel targets Marco Chiavari, his entire family is at risk by association. And, from what I’ve gathered so far, an alliance with the Prince’s Hand is our best bet to ensure that never happens.

But the Guild’s Italian contemporaries from Manhattan have been feuding with them for years. So it’s no real surprise that negotiations aren’t going smoothly.

Despite the fact that Teo married the don’s sister.

“Give me one honest reason I should follow you into that room.” I glare at my father.

He matches my glare, our bright green eyes clashing.

“I will die if you don’t.”

Right. This all suddenly becomes very simple.

It’s almost alarming how quickly my body relaxes, how I slip my hand back into my father's and follow him to whatever awaits me behind those doors.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers before pushing them open.

The room is smaller than I expected, beautifully decorated and cast in flatteringly warm lighting courtesy of a small chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Chairs flank each side of the room, facing forward toward the far wall where…five sets of eyes turn to face us.

Three I recognize immediately, having known them for my whole life. There’s another person I don’t know at all, but I can guess from his dog collar why he’s here.

And then there’s the other person.

Yeah. I recognize him, too.

Tall and broad, looming in the center of the room with an expression of carefully crafted composure. His dirty blonde hairis pulled away from his face. It accentuates the tightness of his jaw—the only giveaway that he’d rather be anywhere else.

Had he loomed like this the last time I saw him? Had he gazed at me with those piercing brown eyes? He certainly hadn’t been wearing a suit that time, not one that hugged every curve of his muscles so tightly he might rip the seams if he flexed his muscles.

All I remember was that he was going to attack Teo. I’d acted on instinct, taking him down, the same way I’d done with that drunk bastard at the VIP table.

Now, he was standing before me—my final destination, apparently.

The don of the Prince’s Guild, Leon Natali.

This isn’t a dinner. It’s not even an intervention.

It’s a wedding.

2

LEON

Of course, it would be her.

Her.

Of course.

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