read Christian’s agreement several times. The marriage was more like a true business arrangement than a pre-nup, although stocks, bonds, bank accounts, land, homes, and every other tangible object were divvied up in precise percentages. However, that wasn’t the most important aspect of the contract.
The terms of secrecy were.
No discussions of community business outside of the sect.
No admittance of anything, including wrongdoing to members of law enforcement.
No sharing of trade secrets to business partners.
No divorce.
There would also be a provision for our children, including the fact our firstborn son could ascend to the Council throne, especially given the bloodline.
Where I’d once been excited about the prospects, I was now disgusted. I could only imagine Winter’s thoughts at this point. While I couldn’t blame her for wanting her own life, she was now a prisoner of the system.
I headed toward his desk, smirking seeing my name on a file. Everything was going according to plans. We would sign our life away and decide on a date for the wedding. Backing away, I found his personal assistant in the file room.
“Tracy, where is Christian?”
“He’s in a meeting in the conference room.”
I nodded, for some reason my anger increasing. “Thanks.”
“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. That’s wonderful,” she called as I left.
Wonderful. I had several other words for it.
I wasted no time, walking into the conference room and anticipating exactly who I’d find inside.
The three men of the current Council sat at the conference room table, various papers in front of them. While Frank Neves and Bobby Torres were from rich and extremely powerful original families, they were weak in comparison to my brother. Christian had truly risen to the occasion. I could almost see the outline of a crown on his head.
Sadly, I knew at some point it would become a crown of thorns if any additional cracks occurred within the community.
Christian looked at his watch, lifting a single eyebrow. “You’re early for the signing.”
I glanced at the clock, half laughing. “Never too early to conduct business.” As I took a seat, both Frank and Bobby appeared to be uncomfortable. They were hiding secrets. “So, let’s get to it. Shall we, gentlemen?”
Christian remained amused although he closed the file in front of him.
What are you hiding, brother?
“What’s on your mind, Matteo?” he asked.
“What’s on my mind? Let’s see. For once, seeking the absolute truth.” I looked around the table, catching their guarded reactions.
“What are you talking about?” Christian asked as he leaned back in his seat. Always the comfortable man. Never worried.
Until recently.
“What’s the real reason that the name was switched in Winter’s Box?” I rapped my fingers on the table when not one of them said a damn thing. “I get the whole thing about her father’s connections to law enforcement and we’re certainly likely to need assistance if the Taglioni casino is tanked, but my guess is you didn’t stop there. You continue to hunger for additional power.”
I could tell my accusations surprised them, although Christian also held an air of respect. He should know better than to play a game with me.
“Unfortunately, you’re not a Council member, Matteo. We can’t discuss Council business.” Bobby’s voice was more strangled than usual.
I grinned and leaned over the table. “Then let’s make it my business. Not only do I make certain that all the Council’s finances are kept within the letter of the law, but I also handle securing any... deposits as necessary. Then there’s the reality about the six million dollars Father McGivney stole that the old Council seemed clueless about. The funds have been restored using my creative accounting methodology.” I chose my words carefully. “Given the methods used, I believe that makes me an accessory to potentially any number of crimes. And Christian has already mentioned the concept of prison time. Isn’t that right, brother?”
I noticed the same look as two days before in my office.
He flicked his index finger across his lips, studying me intently. “The less you understand the better at this point. Besides, you have a wedding to plan, a lovely bride to control.”
I sucked in my breath, finally getting to my feet, leaning even further over the table. “Let me make this very clear. There won’t be a wedding unless you tell me exactly what’s going on.”
“You can’t do that!” Frank exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table.
“Oh, I believe I can. You need me given my connections to Christian and my abilities to work with so many of our enemies. That puts me in a