Page 20 of Dark Desires
I let the moment stretch, her gaze holding me captive for just a second longer, and I can feel the heat rising between us. It’s dangerous, it’s wrong, but it’s there. Clear as day.
“Until the next time,Devotchka.”
With that, I turn and leave. But I can feel Isabella’s gaze on my back.
The stakes are higher now—personal, raw. Whatever comes next, I have a feeling there will be no avoiding it.
I stand near the edge of the room with my half-brothers, Lev and Luk, keeping an eye on the scene.
“So, Cassanova, you’re about to be off the market soon,” Luk teases.
“Yeah, I’m sure there’s a line of broken hearts somewhere,” Lev adds with a smirk.
If only they knew.But the truth of the matter is that my little fling with Isabella has to stay between her and me forever. If it were to get out…
“How’s it feel?” Lev goes on, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Wedding’s going to be here before you know it.”
I roll my eyes. “You two are acting like I had a choice in this. It’s an alliance, not some fairy tale.”
Lev chuckles. “Alliance, marriage—same difference when you’re tied to the Mancinis. You know Domenico won’t let you get off easy, even though he knows just as well as us that this is a marriage of convenience. They’re all about family, loyalty, and making things stick. Just ask Yuri.”
Yuri, who’s currently chatting with Domenico across the room, nods in our direction, lifting his glass. No doubt he’s in the middle of discussing the finer points of the alliance with the Mancini patriarch.
Luk’s smile fades slightly as he glances toward the crowd. “While it’s not what we originally intended, this pairing is smart?—”
“Yes, pardon me for not being Ivanov-born like the rest of you,” I scoff, shaking my head.
“It wasn’t just that,” Luk adds. “The death of Stephania’s parents left her vulnerable at an early age. Marrying her off gave Domenico an opportunity to make sure she’s well taken care of?—”
“While he saves his own daughter for another, better suitor.” I keep cutting him off. I have a hard time quelling this tinge of bitterness at the back of my throat. Fortunately, Luk knows to ignore it.
“If the De la Rosas really are moving in on our turf, we’ll need every bit of support we can get. Domenico knows it, too,” he says. “The Mancinis and the Ivanovs need each other.”
I take a sip of my drink, eyes drifting to Domenico as he speaks with Yuri. “De la Rosa’s a snake. It’s only a matter of time before he makes his move.”
Luk shakes his head. “De la Rosa’s got an ego the size of Chicago and no goddamn boundaries.”
“And the Mancinis,” I say. “They’re one of the oldest families in the city, and if war breaks out, they’ll be good to have on our side. They’re tough as they come. And I need to be ready.”
“Good thing you’re settling down then,” Lev smirks. “Nothing like a good old-fashioned wedding to bring people together, and to get you focused.”
“Who knows?” Luk says. “Maybe this time next year you’ll have a baby on the way.”
I open my mouth to insist that this won’t be the case, when the world explodes.
The roar of gunfire rips through the air, the sound echoing off the crystal chandeliers and marble floors. It all happens in an instant—guests screaming, glasses breaking. Without thinking, I take cover and turn my attention to the front of the place.
The front doors burst open as masked gunmen pour in, weapons raised.
Shit.
The people around us scatter like leaves caught in a storm, overturning tables, shoving each other in a desperate bid to escape. I see Stephania by the bar, her eyes wide with shock as she gets jostled.
Before I can move, she’s knocked back by one of the guests storming by, her head slamming against the edge of the bar. She drops to the ground, crumpled like a broken doll.
I turn in her direction, but before I can reach her, there’s a flash of metal, the glint of a gun.
Bang.
