The Bastard's Betrayal (Scandalous Scions 1)

His cousin tensed, but kept his easy smile in place. “My father and you never managed to see eye to eye.”

“That’s one way to put it.” Kirill sipped his coffee and studied them both. He might be as old as dirt, but the years hadn’t dimmed the intelligence in those dark eyes. “So, what will your first play be? Strong move indicates a strong leader. Can’t afford to fuck around.”

“Si.” Matteo shrugged. “That’s why we’re here. I have a proposal for you.”

“I’m already married, pup.”

Matteo didn’t smile. “I’m interested in putting things to rest and fostering peace between our families.”

Kirill cocked his head to the side. “Peace.”

“Si.” Matteo glanced at Dante and then refocused on the Russian. “You’re an old man, Kirill. Leave the bullshit territory wars and pissing contests to the young and untried…and those on the East Coast.”

“Ah.” He laughed. “This is about Jovan’s people.” He turned and looked directly at Dante for the first time since he’d sat down. “You’re lucky I value my word enough not to shoot you right here for that stunt you pulled with my niece.”

Dante was already tired of this. If left to their own devices, they would circle and snap and couch their words until night fell. He didn’t have time for this bullshit. “A deal, Kirill. I will be excommunicated and cut all official ties with the Verduccis. You won’t see me in LA again.”

Kirill considered that. He was a smart man. He obviously saw the benefit of appearing to defang the Verduccis. Dante wasn’t the only one of Matteo’s people capable of getting their hands dirty, but he was the flashiest. His absence would be a boon on both sides. “And in return?”

“In return,” Matteo cut in smoothly. “You agree to peace with the Verduccis…and to avoid giving Jovan Romanov’s people a safe place to land.”

“They’re family,” Kirill said neutrally.

Dante snorted. “Please. They’re power-hungry jackals and they want you and your American cousins to dance to the tune they set. You’ll hold out, maybe, but will your children? They’re not as strong as you. So many daughters to potentially be married to Jovan’s people, seeding disquiet within the family.” He leaned forward slightly. “Strong alliances will help protect them…like a strong alliance with the Verduccis.”

“What do you care? If your word is to be believed, you’ll be gone.”

He shrugged. “I have a vested interest in the American Romanovs remaining free of Jovan’s control.”

“I see.”

Kirill considered them for a long time, long enough that Dante had to fight not to fidget. He simply sank into stillness beside his cousin and waited. There was no point rushing the old man. He would decide one way or another when he worked through all the angles in his head. If he came to the wrong decision? Well, Dante would butcher his way through that battlefield if and when he arrived at it.

Finally, the Russian nodded. “Your conditions are satisfactory. With one addition.”

“Si?”

“It’s in everyone’s best interest if this peace is held with more than simply words.” He pointedly didn’t look at Dante. “Pick one of my daughters and marry her. I don’t care which one.”

For the first time since Dante arrived back in LA, he saw his cousin flounder. “That’s…”

Kirill raised his eyebrows. “Is peace worth so little to you?”

“No,” Matteo finally said. His skin was flushed with anger, but he gave a jerky nod. “Your terms are acceptable.”

“Good.” Kirill slid slowly out of the booth and stood, his old bones cracking with the movement. “I’ll be in touch as soon. Ensure your junkyard dog is on a plane out of town before the end of the day.”

“Of course.”

They watched him walk out of the diner. Evelyn walked up with her pot of coffee and two mugs. “Still want the coffee?”

“No, thank you, ma’am.” Matteo placed a stack of hundreds on the table. “For your trouble.”

“You two stay out of trouble.” She swept up the bills and headed behind the counter without looking back.

Matteo hissed out a breath. “That went as well as can be expected.”

Dante nodded. His read on Kirill had always been that the old man simply wanted to enjoy the remainder of his life, but humans were messy and sometimes acted chaotically. This had gone much smoother than he’d anticipated. He hoped Rose’s talk with Romeo went equally as smooth. “Kirill’s old enough to understand that the only thing a war accomplishes is us taking bloody chunks out of each other, and then being swallowed whole by Jovan. This was the smartest way.”

“Si.” Matteo stood and stretched. “I didn’t even have to pressure him on the marriage. He came up with it on his own.”

At that, Dante gave Matteo a long look. His cousin always had been filling with cunning. No doubt this was yet another prong in his plan to unseat his father, establish peace, and bolster a thriving territory. “Which of his daughters do you have an eye on?”