he questions. “I had Lucian looking everywhere for you.”
Lucian is his right-hand man whose body will be falling alongside my father’s when I pull the trigger. I didn’t tell Mila about Lucian, because I figured the talk about our fathers having to die was more than enough.
“I was around, so he couldn’t have been looking very hard. What did you want?”
He puffs on his cigar and grins. “I wanted to go through what’s expected of you tonight.”
I find it difficult not to roll my eyes, or sigh, or do anything that will give away that I’m already bored with the impending conversation.
“While these dinners are ridiculous—and a total waste of our time—we, as Marocchi’s, still have to hold ourselves above everyone else, which isn’t hard to do. It won’t be long before you’re at my side as my oldest son.”
I’ve heard all this before. He should save his breath; he’s going to need to savour every last one. In a matter of months, he won’t be breathing ever again.
“He knows how to conduct himself, Stefano.”
Father’s lazy gaze sharpens in my mother’s direction, causing her to curl into herself.
“Hush,” he growls. “When I need your input, I’ll ask for it.”
I dig my fingertips into my thighs.
One day.
One day I’m going to enjoy killing him. I’m going to enjoy watching the life drain from his eyes and hope I never forget the moment. He’s become too cocky, having not been targeted by the Camarco’s all these years.
He’ll never see my bullet coming.
I told Mila I’d never lie to her, and that’s true. But what she doesn’t know is, there’s a part of me that will enjoy ending our fathers’ lives. It wasn’t until last year I realised I would have to kill them. And since that realisation, my excitement for the job has grown each day.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they bring their spawn with them tonight. Alessandro is looking for suitors, and I want to know who he’s got his eye on.”
The jealousy returns, but I let it settle, knowing it’ll be me she marries. I can’t wait for the day the city sees us hand in hand, as husband and wife.
My father rests his gaze on me and says, “I want you to keep your eyes open tonight. I’m betting he’ll want to marry her off to the mayor, and I want it confirmed, son.”
“What if it is?” I ask, just out of curiosity.
“Then we’ll have to re-evaluate. We can’t let a union as strong as that develop. Imagine Alessandro ruling the city with the mayor as his son-in-law. It wouldn’t be good for us. It would be nearly as worse as you marrying her.”
He snorts and goes back to puffing on his cigar.
“It would ruin Alessandro’s plans if I did marry her. Could you imagine what carnage would follow if I took her as my wife?” I snort, trying to let on that I’m joking. I want to see his reaction as he tries to imagine his son married to the Camarco girl.
His nostrils flare, and the corner of his mouth curls up in disgust.
“It’s not worth thinking about. I wouldn’t let you marry her even to get one over on our enemy. You won’t be tainted with Camarco pussy. Our bloodline won’t be disrespected by mixing with enemy blood.”
He’s never been so wrong. But I sit there, staring at him, making out that I’m listening and agreeing to every word he spews out.
My heart has already been tainted in a good way by Mila. And one day, not only will she be at my side, as my equal, she’ll bear my children, and together, we’ll bring forth a new bloodline to reign over Vita.
“Besides, I have your future wife already lined up for you. You’ll be married the week after your birthday.”
Before the peace ball, I would’ve vehemently refused to take a wife of my father’s choosing. But having the knowledge I do now, I keep my cool façade and tip my head.
“Who?”
“Anthony Dupree’s daughter, Annalise. Alessandro isn’t the only one who can make moves to unify a stronger connection to Vita.”
The Dupree’s own the bank, so I should’ve seen this coming. My father only cares for money, and the power that comes with it.
“I’ve seen the girl, very pretty and willing. She’s already agreed to the union.”
“When exactly were you going to tell me?”
“Today. You’ll meet her shortly. I want her falling in love with you by the end of the night, you hear me?”