Page 6 of Pride

I swallow hard, wondering what exactly that means. “Maybe you’ll find a guy you like at this thing,” I say.

Nina laughs. “I’m not into old men either, Bella.”

I shove her in the shoulder. “They can’t all be old.” I pause. “At least I hope they aren’t.”

“I thought you said you aren’t marrying any of them, so why does it matter?”

I give her a pointed look. “We both know it’s wishful thinking that I have any say in the matter.”

Nina sighs heavily and we both fall into solemn silence. The threat of our world being turned upside down looms over us like a dark rain cloud ready to drown us.

4

ISIAH

The cold air wraps around me like it did that fateful night and it feels like a stark warning, as if Aiden is communicating with me to be careful from beyond the grave.

I pace down the sidewalk toward the underground club. Parties have never been something I enjoy, particularly not ones thrown by my sworn enemy, and yet here I am.

The streets where I grew up haven’t changed, but I can sense the danger of being back here. I may be fifteen years older, but it’s possible someone might recognize me. The name change and British accent should help with my disguise, but I fear that anyone I knew well back then will know who I am.

Tonight, the Benedetto family has unwittingly invited a viper into their lives. They may not be aware of what they did to me or who I am, but I know. I know everything they tore from me and my family. The hatred builds within me every day that passes, and it’s been many days since they killed Aiden.

The thudding bass of music echoes down the street as I turn the corner, coming across two muscle-bound bouncers standing out front of the building where I’m headed.

Arrogance is a flaw when it comes to the Benedetto family, as they’ve invited countless individuals they’ve never even met out of pure vanity, assuming one of them would wish to marry their daughter, rather than get revenge for something they did fifteen years ago. Bella Benedetto is the woman on offer tonight and I view her as nothing more than my chance to wreak havoc on her family.

It will be sweet when they select me, and they will. As rumor has it, Giovanni Benedetto is getting greedy and wants a slice of the pie from the other side of the Atlantic, making me the perfect candidate since our hold on London territory is extensive.

I’ll wipe their kind from the face of this earth. Every Benedetto will die at my hand if it’s the last thing I do.

The guards outside straighten when I get to the door of the club, and I can tell by the look in their eyes they believe I’m too young to be here.

“Invite only,” the one on the left says.

I run a hand through my hair and tilt my head. “Are you suggesting I’m an imposter?”

The guard on the right clears his throat. “He’s saying it’s invite only, so if you don’t have one, move along.”

These two chumps have a real nerve. I slide my hand into my inside jacket pocket, which makes both of them tense, while the guy on the left places a hand on his gun.

I’d like to see him try to pull it faster than I’d pull mine. When he sees the invitation, he relaxes instantly. I pass it to him and he reads my name, eyes widening slightly.

“Apologies, Mr. Darcy. You looked a lot younger than most of the others, so I assumed—”

“You assumed that I was some miscreant that was attempting to break into a party hardly worth breaking into.”

He swallows hard and nods. “Again, I apologize.”

The other guard nods. “We meant no offense.”

I give him a glare. “I’m sure Mr. Benedetto will be disappointed to hear you’re discriminating against his guests.” I step past the two men who have both turned pale. It’s amusing to scare them, as I’ve no intention of telling Giovanni.

The bass from the music is coming from down a flight of steep steps. I make it down to the bottom, which brings me to a set of double doors, I stop and reflect.

Fifteen long years I’ve waited for this moment, a chance to get revenge for Aiden’s death. I never expected the opportunity to fall into my lap so easily, but perhaps that’s fate. Father’s quick thinking and fleeing the states to live in Britain, taking on new identities and building up his business again over there is the reason I’ve been invited here, unbeknownst to the Benedetto family that I’m originally from Washington and was the son of their biggest rival.

It feels like I’ve been waiting for this moment for far too long. Drawing in a long calming breath, I try to focus my mind and keep in check the rage that lives deep within me.

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