Page 149 of Only Fools Rush
Max wouldn’t know what hit him when his entire army turned against him.
“Little Leona, growing into the woman she was meant to be,” Giulio said. He gathered Alessio and Romolo around me. Daniele was talking to Cas a few feet away. “Getting married. Running the Family. Just like we all thought you would.”
I frowned, my ears catching on one word.
“It’s just a shame that Max ended up being the enemy,” Giulio continued. Alessio nodded in agreement. “Oh, well, everyone loves Caspian just as much. It’s a good match, and it would make your father proud.”
“I’m sorry.” My brain struggled to catch up with what I was hearing. “What did you say?”
Romolo smiled. “When Giulio said that you were alive, I was so damn relieved. But when he said that you and Cas were planning to retake the Family, I knew I had to hear you out.”
I turned to Cas, a question in my eyes, but he kept his eyes on Giulio, his throat bobbing.
“Leona—”
“I know. I’m really glad I could convince them to come,” Giulio said with a sigh. “Half the guys in here probably wouldn’t have even shown up if they didn’t think you two would get married.”
“Married,” I repeated. Even the word felt weird as it slipped off my tongue. “Cas and I aren’t getting married.”
Giulio’s eyebrows pulled together. “Then what…”
Ryuji chose that moment to waltz over and throw an arm over my shoulder. “Queenie, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Your face is as white as a sheet.”
Giulio said something else, but my gut twisted with nausea. Had these men only agreed to switch sides because they thought Cas and I were getting married?
“Sweetheart,” Ryu said, grabbing my chin, and forcing me to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
It spilled out of my mouth before I could stop it. “These men want me to marry Cas.”
“Marriage? Between you two?” Ryu scoffed. “What the actual fuck?”
Obi walked over with Ciel. Obi didn’t look surprised by any of this. He only looked at Cas with his eyes knit together in frustration. But Ciel did look surprised. What was going on?
“Wait, it’s not what you think,” Cas started, abandoning his conversation with Daniele.
I held up a hand to stop him, my heart thundering.
“Giulio, could you please explain what you meant?”
His mouth hung open, but I leveled my gaze at him, and he swallowed. “I’m sorry, I was under the impression that you and Cas are getting married so you can run the Family together.” He looked at all of us. “Cas said you’d get married.”
My eyes went wide as my head whipped to him.
“That is absolutelynotwhat I said.”
“What the fuck?” Ryu growled. His head whipped to Cas. “You said you’d put a ring on her finger, but I didn’t think you were actually fucking serious.”
A ring?
What?
My brain spun.
“Calm, everyone, please,” Obi said, lifting his hands. “Leona…”
All the pieces suddenly clicked together.
If you’re going to be a queen, you must make strategic decisions that further your goals.
