“Sure.” I snatch a Valentino bag from Persephone’s hands and put it back on the shelf. “Never mind the treaty.”
“A treaty made by old men when they were drunk.” Persephone plucks a vintage Louboutin heel off the shelf, admiring it.
I study Ares, trying and failing to gauge his thoughts on the matter. I would be a fool to buy their casual dismissal of the subject. Angelo always said you could never trust a Stavros.
“And yet, it still stands,” I say.
“I didn’t realize it was such a big concern of yours.” Ares muses as he leans back in my chair, sprawling out like he owns the place.
“How could it not be?” Persephone chimes in. “It’s a heavy crown to bear being the next Vitale queen. So many expectations.”
“Indeed,” Ares agrees. “Particularly when you waited until the Vitale patriarch was on his deathbed to set a date. It’s a risky game, don’t you think?”
I adopt a neutral expression, hoping to appear stoic. I’ve become a good actress over the years, but I have a sinking feeling Ares isn’t taking a shot in the dark here. He suspects something is up, and this could be a fishing expedition. Either way, I can’t tell him the burden is no longer mine because Angelo has returned.
“Believe it or not, I do understand.” His voice softens. “The weight of expectation can crush you, if you let it. And while I take pleasure in the idea of crushing the Vitales, I’m not certain the win would taste quite as sweet if it were at your expense.”
I raise my chin, forcing a smile. It’s often said that Ares Stavros never misses a target with his sharp words, and in this instance, it’s true.
“Don’t worry, brother,” Persephone says. “You can dry your tears with all the Vitale money they’ll have to forfeit, should they fail.”
“Oh, I get it now.” My gaze moves between them. “Is this the part where you wear me down and I confess everything?”
“I’m not looking for a confession, Abella.” Ares shrugs. “You should know my reputation well enough by now. I enjoy the hunt, and I’ll leave no stone unturned in my lifelong pursuit to destroy the Vitales. If you happen to be collateral damage, it’s unfortunate, but inevitable. The stakes are too high to let this disaster of a marriage stop me from getting everything I want, and I won’t pretend otherwise. You’d be smart not to let your guard down around me.”
I stare at the man who holds not only my family’s fate in his hands, but also that of the Vitales. If Angelo fails to fulfill the treaty, the Stavros family will declare war. And not only will the Greek Mafia have the right to strip us of our homes, businesses, and wealth…but also our lives.
I’ve known this since I was a child because the tale of the ancient feud between the Stavros and Vitale families has been shared many times. Decades ago, the Vitale and the Stavros dynasties became unlikely allies, settling on Black Stag Island while they built their empires in and around Seattle. Depending on who tells the story, everything was fine until the other side became greedy. Battles erupted over territories, and once blood was shed, it started a five-year war between the two families that left a wake of destruction.
Eventually, both patriarchs conceded that if they continued down that path, there would be nothing left of either family. So, for the sake of self-preservation, a reluctant treaty was struck, and a mandatory timeframe of peace was enacted. For both families to prosper, it was written within the treaty that any hostile acts during this window would forfeit the perpetrator’s territories, wealth, estates, and businesses before they were slaughtered. In addition to that, both patriarchs agreed to clauses in their wills that required further obligations to bemet by each male head of household once the title was passed on. These clauses were designed to protect their lineage and preserve the legacy of both families. If either head failed to fulfill these duties, the rival family would inherit the estate and eliminate the competition once and for all. This wasn’t just applicable to the Vitales, but their entire faction of theCosa Nostra. In short, it would be an all-out war until every family in the Seattle organization was dead.
However, it isn’t only the Vitales who have to shoulder that responsibility, and if there’s one thing I know from my observations of Ares Stavros, it’s that he has a weakness too.
“My guard will remain suitably intact,” I tell him. “And you’d be wise to do the same. After all, it’s easy to point out the perceived vulnerabilities of others. Accepting our own is a different story.”
There’s an almost imperceptible shift in his features, and if I’d blinked, I’d have missed it. I’m aware that I’m playing a dangerous game, but men like Ares hold no respect for those who cower before them.
“To what are you referring exactly?” Persephone asks.
“Call me crazy.” I fix Ares with a look. “But I think there’s something else your brother wants from the Vitales. Something that holds more value than all their wealth combined.”
An uncomfortable silence falls over the room as storm clouds roll through Ares’s dark gaze. He doesn’t give anything away, but in my gut, I know I’m right.
“And what would that be?” Persephone glances between us in question.
She’s the baby of the family, so it doesn’t surprise me that she’s confused by my observation. She was too young to be out causing mischief on the island when we were teenagers. And although the island is large, we often had the misfortune of crossing paths with the Stavros kids. In fact, it seemed thebrothers made it their personal mission to wreak havoc at every opportunity, challenging Angelo and his siblings to all manner of competition. But there was one Vitale sibling Ares tormented more than all the others.
“Let’s just say she’s a high achiever. A doctor. A violinist…”
“My sworn enemy,” Ares interjects dryly.
“And therefore, someone you can never have, particularly if you try to murder her family. It must be torturous for you.”
His expression remains unbothered, but when he adjusts his watch, I don’t miss the rigid set of his fingers.
“I do think you’ll be a worthy adversary,” he responds. “But on this matter, you’ve missed the mark. I would sooner die than court a woman bearing the Vitale name.”
“A problem easily solved with a marriage contract.” I smile sweetly. “If you could ever manage to get on your knees and beg for a blessing from the Vitale brothers.”
