Cruel Saints

No.

Dante immediately leaves. Then my father smiles. “Good choice.”

Lucian stares at my father, then he says, “I spared his life for a reason.”

“Name it.”

“A marriage between Elena and me.”

Oh. My. God.

Betrayal begins to swirl around me like a dark mass, and I manage to take a step away from Lucian.

“An alliance between our families?” my father asks.

“Yes. We need to show a united front if we’re going to win this war,” Lucian answers.

They’re talking as if it’s everyday business… instead of my future.

My eyes lift to Lucian’s face, and my hand moves up to cover my mouth as another wave of betrayal crashes over me.

This was Lucian’s plan all along?

My father holds his hand out to Lucian, and then they shake on it… on an arranged marriage. On my life.

My father lets out a fake chuckle. “When will the big day take place?”

Lucian matches my father’s chuckle with his own. “Is a week too soon?”

When they turn to me, all I can do is shake my head.

This is not happening.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” my father says, his gaze resting hard on me.

My distress grows when Lucian takes a box from his pocket, and then he removes a similar ring to the one on his right hand. It’s just smaller, a black oval stone set in gold.

Taking hold of my left hand, he slips it onto my ring finger, and then he leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Trust me. This is the only way.”

Trust him?

TRUST HIM?

I trusted him last night. I believed him when he said he’d kill Dante.

Yanking my hand out of his, I glare at him as he pulls back. “I’ll never trust you,” I bite the words out, and then I walk toward the sliding doors, and I don’t stop until I’ve passed the fountain and most of the trees. Instead of a wall, there’s a cliff at the end of the property. The ocean spreads out into the distance.

God.

I just got engaged to Lucian Cotroni.

I close my eyes, and the wind picks up, playing with the loose strands of hair framing my face.

I’ve been passed from one monster to another.

Chapter 16

LUCIAN

I watch as Elena storms away from me, and when Leo follows after her, I turn my attention back to Tino.

It was my full intention to kill Dante, but I can’t afford another war right now. I know Elena sees it as a betrayal, but I’m not breaking my promise. I will kill Capone, just not today.

Tino looks smug. The fucker just secured an alliance with me. The thought that he’ll become my father-in-law makes my top lip curl with anger.

I gesture for Tino to join the other men, and as we walk toward the living room, I roll my shoulders to try and get rid of some of the tension.

Hopefully, Elena will see reason soon. It’s either me or Dante.

Alexei is the first to congratulate me, giving me a brotherly hug, and then the other men shake my hand.

“Good luck,” Yuri says with a chuckle. “I hear Italian women are feisty.”

It only sinks in then that Tino agreed. Elena and I are engaged. Within a week, she’ll be mine.

I smile at Yuri. “Thank you.”

With the congratulations out of the way, I get right to business. “The shipments will continue to move as planned,” I assure the men.

“When will the funeral be held?” Tino asks, and I don’t miss the smirk he tries to hide.

Fucker.

My hands curl into fists as I have to restrain myself to not beat him to death.

“Tomorrow. It will be intimate.”

“We can attend?” Marko Nicollaj asks. He’s the head of the Bratva, and I don’t dare refuse.

“Of course. I’d appreciate it.”

“Security?” Alexei asks.

My eyes lock with him, and for the hundredth time, I’m thankful for him. “Can you handle it?”

Alexei nods. “Consider it taken care of.”

Gratitude floods my chest, and I place my hand on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

“This threat? Any new leads?” Tino asks.

I let go of Alexei. “I spoke with a man yesterday. He had a Greek accent.”

Tino’s head snaps back, a dark frown forming on his forehead. “Greek? You sure?”

“I know a fucking Greek accent when I hear one,” I growl at Tino.

“Why would the Greeks want to move in on our territory?” he asks, clearly dumbfounded, and it lessens the suspicion I had about him being behind it all.

“I don’t know, but I plan to find out. I’ve asked for a meeting with Stathoulis.” Peter Stathoulis is the head of the Greek Mafia. Though we have a strained relationship, I don’t think he’s behind the attack. But I’m hoping he’ll be able to shine some light on who is.

We need to get to the bottom of this. Besides my life, billions of dollars are at stake.

Gesturing for a server to offer the men drinks, I turn my attention to Yuri. “Let’s take care of your order.”