My heart is thumping as I fear the worst, and Sophia nods gravely.
“She feared for your lives because the only way Morgan could really control your fortune wasn’t through messing with the conditions of your father’s will. It was, well, there’s no other way of saying this, but Sister Agatha truly believed your lives were in danger.”
“Surely not.”
I stare at her in horror, and she nods. “I’m sorry, Rose, but yes, Morgan will have paid every mercenary out there to remove you from her life—permanently—leaving her to inherit the fortune. So, Sister Agatha turned to me for help because on the one hand she wanted you to experience life before turning away from it and yet on the other hand, she didn’t want to be responsible for you losing yours in the process. She believed that fighting fire with fire was the best alternative but accepted it also came with risks attached.”
“My sisters?”
My only thought is for them, and Sophia’s anxious expression doesn’t help erase my fears.
“We’ve had no word of them yet, but we also have no word on my sons. They are operating in the dark, like Julius did, and so no news must be good news.”
“I hope you’re right.”
My heart is thumping through fear more than anything else right now, and Sophia sighs.
“I wanted you to know the full story because you deserve it. I want there to be no regrets between us and to assure you that my sons are dangerous men who take their missions seriously. Your sisters are in the safest hands, as you have discovered for yourself, and I’m sure we will soon hear of their progress.”
She smiles. “So, shall we play some more and leave the men to talk business? Then, I have arranged a fantastic lunch for us to enjoy.”
“I would like that.”
I turn my attention to the music, hoping it will work its magic because until my sisters are safely with me, I will never be completely happy, despite how well things have worked out for me personally.
43
JULIUS
Visiting my father’s den is an experience every single time. The scent of cigars mixed with the finest whiskey is a comforting one. His ominous presence reassures and I’ve always been aware I can tell him anything and he will have the solution to it. He may disagree with me, and he does—often but we work as a team, and we always have done.
He is the CEO of our family and our lives, and we defer to him on everything. Nico is about to step forward as head of the Ravera empire, leaving our parents to retire to their favored island in Italy.
But he is still firmly in charge, and as I take my usual seat across from him, I sense anticipation in the air and lean forward, desperate to hear his thoughts.
“You did well, Julius.”
He raises his glass of whiskey in my direction.
“You’ve honored the terms of your mission, and Rose is now your wife and possibly pregnant with your child. Good job.”
His words irritate the shit out of me, and I snap, “Then it’s a good jobsheasked me.”
“Explain.”
His gaze is sharp, and I take great satisfaction in leaning back and saying nonchalantly, “As it happens, Rose asked me to marry her, and I refused.”
“And your reason was?”
His expression doesn’t change, and I can’t bring myself to tell him that I’ve fallen deeper for her than I imagined.
“It’s a classic tactic, Father. People want what they can’t have. In turning Rose down, it only increased her desire to make it happen, so when I finally said yes, she took that as a win. Nobody will ever accuse me of forcing my wife to marry me, and we are in a good place where we mutually agreed to be.”
His low chuckle gets me off the hook, even though I hate the white lie I just told. I do love Rose, and I did want to marry her, and not for her fortune either. Because it’s her. However, my father would never understand that and consider me weak. It’s better he is of the opinion I played a cunning game and leaves it at that.
“Have you heard from the others?”
I’m desperate for news for Rose because the light is dim in her eyes all the time her sisters are in danger.
