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Chapter One
Alessio
Tessari, Italy, is full of wolves, and tonight those wolves howl and gnash their teeth against the bones of their enemies without hesitation. There’s no time to run and hide, as if I even would. I have to remain stone cold for the sake of my family. I can’t let my temper get the best of me. Even if the man standing in our makeshift board room is the last man on Earth I want to see.
Eivor Fiorelli. He should be dead. He should’ve been dead weeks ago, but Carmine insists on trying to make a deal with him.
A deal that our father had attempted to make before he died. Now, months later, it’s still ongoing. After weeks of deception on Soren Fiorelli’s part—and now Carmine is shacking up with the man.
“I’m not sure why this can’t be settled by the marriage of Carmine and Soren,” I say from my place at the table. “After all, they’re willing and happy to share a bed with each other.”
“Don’t discuss them in front of me,” Eivor says with a twisted look on his face. “It’s enough that I have to see them.”
“We’re right fucking here,” Soren reminds him.
I look over at my brother’s boyfriend with a disinterested look. Frankly, we wouldn’t be here if they’d just let me kill Eivor weeks ago. I can do it; I know I can. I’ve killed before and I’ll kill again. The problem: They want to make a deal, and I don’t. Not really.
I’d rather end the feud by taking Eivor Fiorelli down. Then, Soren would be in charge and everything would be settled. Eivor is the last person we should be making a deal with.
Yet.
“Regardless of their relationship, I don’t intend on making a deal based on the two of you. You have betrayed me twice—no, three times—over,” Eivor says to all of us. Myself, all of my brothers, and Soren. There are several guards around the room making sure this meeting doesn’t turn into a fight to the death.
“What are you willing to make a deal based on?” I ask him, my eyes glued to him. I don’t trust him. One of my hands is on my hip, the other is on the table as I lean closer to him.
“How nice of you to ask,” he smirks at me. “It involves you, Son.”
I glare at him. “I’m not your son.”
“Alessio, at least listen to him,” Carmine insists. I glance at my older brother. We look so different, despite being born only a year or so apart from the same parents. His light hair a stark contrast to my dark brown locks. His skin paler and freckled. My skin tanned and olive.
We share facial features that remind me of our mother and height that mimics our father but not much else.
“Why do I have a feeling you already know what his stipulations are, Carmine?” I ask, voice low and suspicious.
Carmine sighs and looks between us. His expression is hardened but I can see past it. I can see the hesitancy there. “It’s for the best, I assure you.”
“What is it?” I narrow my eyes.
The room is silent.
The tension grows thicker.
“Don’t be shy, boy, tell your future brother-in-law,” Eivor breaks the silence.
I blink. “What?” Had Carmine and Soren gotten engaged and hadn’t told us? Was Eivor lying about taking their relationship seriously?
“What’s going on here?” Tommaso, one of my younger brothers asks, his voice laced with irritation. “Just get it over with.”
“Tommy, do not make me ask you to leave,” Carmine threatens him.
I look straight at Eivor again, tired of the delay and the drama. He shouldn’t even be here.
“He’s right. Tell me and get it over with, whatever it is.” I keep my eyes locked on the man I had threatened to kill only a couple weeks before. The tension in the room is thicker than ever.
“Eivor has agreed to ally with us, if we join as families by marriage,” Carmine explains. I glance at him and wait for the catch.
