Page 63 of Dark Desires

Dad sinks back into his chair, his face a mask of barely contained rage. “That man,” he mutters. “He’s going to push me too far.”

I glance at Stephania, who’s shaking her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I can’t do this,” she whispers. “I can’t…”

“You don’t have to,” I say firmly, though my heart aches for her. “We’ll figure something out.”

Without another word, Stephania finally bursts into the tears she’d so obviously been holding back. Sobbing, she runs out of the room and down the hall, her cries fading in the distance.

Dad doesn’t respond. He just stares into the fireplace, the reflected flames in his eyes look like a storm waiting to break. And me? My mind is spinning, torn between comforting Stephania and planning my next move.

“Dad, I don’t get it,” I say. “Christianattackedus. He killed our people, the Ivanovs’ people. And here we are, having him for tea like it’s no big deal?”

My father sighs. “It’s not that simple, Isa.”

“It sounds like you’re not telling me the full story here, Dad. Why are you keeping me in the dark? Furthermore, you don’t seem that shocked to hear about Stephania and Omar’s connection. What am I missing?”

Again, he sighs, lowering his gaze for a moment. “I didn’t even know she was in love with someone else, Isa. Stephania has been so gentle and obedient this whole time. I’m honestly in shock. But the truth is, since you insist on being told everything, when the Ivanovs first approached me with a marriage proposal, it was for you—for my daughter. They’d never even seen you or Stephania, but they wanted my daughter.

“They understood how much you mean to me, my heir,” he adds.

“Except I’m not really your heir. That’s why Stephania has taken center stage here. You know that. I know that.”

“I’m secretly still hoping you’ll change your mind,” he shoots back with a faint smile. “But I suppose things worked out the way they were supposed to. I still had Stephania to offer up for marriage, even though I’m not that keen on it, given Alexei’s?—”

“Origins?”

“Yes.”

I scoff and roll my eyes at him. “You and your old-school bullshit?—”

“It’s tradition. And in our family, tradition is sacred!” he snaps. “Point is, whether I like it or not, the alliance we’re getting through this marriage between us and the Ivanovs protects both families. That being said, I cannot start a fight with Christian de la Rosa either. Not without solid proof.”

“Solid proof?”

“We’re quite sure that it was the De la Rosas who attacked the party. But we’re not positive. No palpable evidence.”

“Who else would it even be?”

“We have countless enemies in this city,” he says. “I can think of ten off the top of my head who’d jump at the chance to take out the Ivanovs and Mancinis in one shot.”

“But it had to be the De la Rosas. They’re moving into town, and Christian’s obviously keen to either align with us or wipe us out.”

Dad sits back, looking like the weight of the world’s on his shoulders.

“Whoever it was, they covered their tracks well. And now De la Rosa’s here, threatening me to my face. He knows what’s going on and that I can’t retaliate without looking like a bloodthirsty tyrant.”

“So what are you going to do?” I ask.

He rubs a hand over his face. “I’m too tired to think about it right now. Why don’t you go and see to your cousin.”

“Yeah. I’ll go talk to her.”

“Thank you,Bella.”

With that, Dad turns his attention back to the fire. I get up and leave, making my way to Stephania’s room.

CHAPTER 21

ISABELLA