Out of all of us, he’s the only one I can genuinely believe fell in love.
Sure, Raf is married and smitten with his new bride, but what Gio and Stephanie had was something even I could get behind.
Which was why her death completely crushed him.
Since then, he’s never quite been the same.
Of course he would support a peaceful solution if it’s available.
But I just don’t see that happening with the Tanaka-kai.
“Alright, as long as everyone’s giving me their two cents, you two care to pipe in?” I ask, nodding to the twins.
Sandro just shrugs, a typical response I would expect from my brother of few words. “Like I said, she’s pretty enough, and it could work.”
“Raf? Anything to offer besides your opinion of my sex life?”
He takes a minute to consider me, his sharp gaze thoughtful. “I would tend to agree that the Tanakas aren’t trustworthy. Then again, if we do nothing, or worse, keep fighting, eventually, someone is going to take us out—because the Yakuza aren’t the only ones eyeing our territory.” Then he mirrors his twin with a one-shoulder shrug. “But I also get why you would want to make your own decisions about who and whether you even want to marry. Dad might disown you over it, but he didn’t go quite so far with me. And if he does, there’s four more of us who can take your place. I say pick your own path in life. We’ll always find our way. We’re family.”
“Three,” Miko cuts in before I can fully wrap my mind around my sharp-tongued brother’s surprisingly heartfelt speech. “There are three other Chiaroscuro brothers who could take Leo’s place. Let’s be honest, we all know the don wouldn’t give his empire to me. I’m clearly not an option, even as the oldest. He might have adopted me, but that doesn’t make me worthy of inheriting his title.”
Tension fills the air as he voices a fact we’ve never spoken of before.
I hate that it’s true because, frankly, Miko would make a far better Don than I would. He’s smart, cool-headed, and ruthless.
He knows how to make men respect him, and if they don’t, he knows how to make them fear him—two key talents required in ruling an empire like ours.
I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be Don without him as my right-hand man.
But he’s right.
My father would never name him heir.
The guilt that gnaws at me strangely solidifies my resolve, and I toast my brothers before taking another big swig. “Any one of you would make a better Don than I could. Let’s face it, I’ve never wanted the job. But I’ll marry the Tanaka girl because it’s for the family. And who knows? Maybe it’ll actually fix this shitstorm we’re in.”
“There he is!” Raf jokes, my other brothers clinking their glasses with his before they all drink as well. “I was starting to worry you’d be groaning all the way up to the altar.”
Gio chuckles. “He still might at this rate,” he adds, pointing to my drink.
“I’ll be fine,” I insist and take another gulp.
At least Sora is beautiful and will be fun to play with,I think with a smirk.
I just can’t stop thinking about our heated exchange in the bathroom—and how it makes her ten times more appealing that she won’t just throw herself at my feet like most women do.
I get the sense that she’s going to be much more of a handful than I imagined.
And I can’t wait to find out.
Gio was right.That’s my first thought the next morning as I wake with a groan.
My head is throbbing, my mouth dry, and when I open my eyes, the bright sunlight streaming through my window slams into my skull like a jackhammer.
I should have stopped at least two martinis sooner. But I’ve lived through worse hangovers, and the sight of two aspirin and a tall glass of water on my bedside table reminds me that today,
I don’t have the luxury of sleeping it off.
“Up. Go take a shower,” Gio says, smacking the flat of my foot sticking out from my blankets.
