Page 52

“I see you’ve brought a guest, Dante,” Aunt Tania comments as she steps over to us. She has an air of confidence about her, which doesn’t surprise me.

“Yes. This is Ethan,” I say. “Ethan, this is my aunt, Tania. Contessa is her daughter.”

Ethan wipes his hands on his jeans and then reaches out to shake her hand. Tania looks surprised, but reaches out to shake.

“Well, he certainly has more manners than you,” she chuckles. “Pleasure to meet you, Ethan, especially on a night like tonight. Everyone should behold such a glorious occasion.”

Ethan offers her a strained smile and lets go of her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m happy to be here.”

“Let me find your father, Dante. I’m sure he wants to meet the young man,” Tania insists.

“You don’t need to do that,” I reply. The longer I can hold off on the two of them meeting, the better. The last thing I need is my father making a judgment about Ethan when we’ve just gotten here.

Tania waves a hand. “Of course I do. I’ll be back.”

I look at him as she leaves, and he gives me a curious look.

“She’s excited for tonight,” he says.

“Yvette and Tessa’s union was her idea. She’s thrilled that they actually love each other, but if tonight could be all about her, she’d be even happier,” I explain quietly.

Ethan hums in response and shoves his hands into his pockets. He’s tense.

My eyes fall from his face to his shoulders, down his arms…

“You know, I could ease some of that tension later,” I whisper, stepping closer so only he can hear me.

He blinks at me, and then his face flushes as he processes my words. “Yeah?” his voice is quiet.

“Mhmm. The ritual always turns me on. It’s so intense, so raw. Everyone gets a little hot under the collar,” I tell him, and slowly slide my hand to his lower back.

Ethan blushes deeper, but he moves away from my hand, his eyes scanning the room nervously.

“No one here is judging you. Not for that, anyway,” I insist. “And no one’s going to out you.”

He nods and moves closer again. “What would you do to help me?”

I smirk. “Well, first—” I’m cut off by my father speaking. He’s standing in the center of the room, surrounded by several dozen people, all cloaked in the dim lighting.

“The ritual of loyalty has been a part of our history since the very beginning. Every single person who joins this family must pledge themselves not just to us, but to the Romano family crest.” He waves his hand around, and then pulls out a necklace. The amulet is a silver and purple crest depicting a hand wrapped around a thorny rose, dripping blood.

Aunt Tania must not have gotten to him in time.

She’s standing near him on the other side of the circle.

I slowly rub my hand up and down Ethan’s back as we watch.

“Today, Contessa Romano and Yvette Marcus pledge their marriage in loyalty and blood to the family, bringing together two strong families after two decades of rivalry.”

After my father is done speaking, two people carry out a wooden bench with a leather cushion on top. I can’t see them from where we’re standing, but I know that the legs of the bench are engraved with the crest.

The room is silent except for the classical music and footsteps as Tessa and Yvette walk to the bench from opposite sides.

They’re each dressed in white—Contessa in a white slip and Yvette in white silk pants and a shirt. They’re barefoot, with their hair and skin in its natural state.

It’s hard not to watch Ethan instead of the women. I want to see his reaction to know if he can handle this. As much as I want him, if he can’t handle my family, it’s probably better to know now than later.

I shake the thought of him not being able to away, and bring my attention back to the center of the room.