Page 16 of Venomous Vows

“Come to my office,” I order, conscious that my brother will know just by my tone what kind of mood I’m in.

“Okayyyy,” he drawls. “See you in a minute.”

The screen to my phone lights up to let me know he’s hung up and I moodily await Zane’s presence so that we can get this out of the fucking way.

The door to my office swings open and Zane immediately locates Elena in front of me before swiftly closing the door and examining the tension in the air.

“Well,” he starts, shoving his hands into the pockets of his suit jacket. “You’re both still alive, so that’s good.”

“Elena and I were just coming up with the terms of what she’d owe the mob if we secure Marcella.” Zane bobs his head, showing that he’s following while I continue. “I’ve asked her to marry me and give me two children. If she wants to divorce in five years, I’ll take care of her and the children.”

“But the children remain here,” Elena inserts before I can say it myself. “So I have another solution.”

She turns her whole body in her chair and faces Zane with a craned chin. “Will you marry me?”

Zane stares at her for a long and hard moment—probably registering the words—before his sole focal point is on me.

I don’t do what I want to do and that’s to shake my head. Zane is fully aware of what I’m asking and the responsibilities that I have to take as a leader.

Plus, he’s my second.

And if my second trumps what I’ve asked or said, then I have more problems that I’ve just undug.

“Elena, I?—”

“Listen,” she starts, causing my temper to rise even higher that she’d actually pick someone else over me and I don’t enjoy how it makes me feel.

I shouldn’t care.

Elena drives me fucking crazy and always has, so why should I be surprised that she’d pull some stupid shit like this?

The woman was born to drive my sanity over a cliff.

In the long run, she could be doing me a favor. Yet I can’t get the idea out of my head since I formed it.

The two of us together would make one hell of a breed of children. I, at least, need a son to run the show. But a daughter…she might rule the whole fucking world if I place her on my throne.

It’d be some shit to watch her boss around grown-ass men. My father might believe differently, but he’s dead and this is my town now.

My decision.

And a little curly-haired girl with the fierce strength of her mother would be something fucking else.

I like the idea too much.

“We’ve been friends a long time,” Elena goes on. “And I know we haven’t been around each other in years, but I’m still the same. We used to do everything together. And if this family needs an heir, I’d give you one.”

Zane breaks eye contact with me and I know then that I have him on my side.

That he’ll still ride or die with me.

“Elena, Adrian is the leader and the one who needs to breed heirs, not me. I don’t need a wife.”

“But you’re still his family, right? His nieces or nephews could be given it down.”

Zane shakes his head. “That’s not—it’s not ideal, Elena. The mob boss needs a—” Elena whips around to face me again, almost looking panicked.

“There has to be a different way. We’re not good for each other. You know that. There has to be a million…well, one woman who likes you, right?”

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