Page 19 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A s I walk into the office, I notice the spot of blood on the carpet. A small pulse of fear runs through me.

“I heard yelling. Is everything okay?” I ask, finally meeting his gaze.

Nico gives a small shrug. “Several of my men haven’t seen Blood Orcs before. Turns out they weren’t fans.”

I swallow. “Does that mean you...?”

“You can’t have people working for you who won’t fight for you,” he says, voice flat. “At least, I can’t.”

“I see,” I say quietly.

Nico moves from behind the desk and crosses toward the bar in the corner. He pours himself a healthy shot of amber liquid.

“Now,” he says, turning to face me. “You need to start talking.”

“I... I don’t really know where to begin.”

“Why don’t we start with the fact that you don’t seem surprised that magickal creatures exist?”

I take a deep breath, just as Nico’s phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, then sets his drink on the desk, and turns to his keyboard. A few keystrokes later, all the monitors behind him light up.

Renzo, Mia, Luca, and Pippa appear on screen.

Mia says immediately. “Are you okay, Luna?”

“I’m fine,” I lie. It couldn’t be further from the truth, but what else am I going to say?

“Were they the same... men from your apartment?” Renzo demands.

Nico snarls. “You don’t have to hide it from her. Apparently, she knows all about magickal creatures.” Every single eyebrow on the screens lift. Nico continues, “She was just about to explain to me how it is that she’s not shocked about their existence—or that I’m a vampire.”

I regret not taking that drink now. I grab Nico’s and take a swig. It burns all the way down. My knees are still a bit wobbly, so I take a seat and glare at my friends. “A heads up might have been nice. Some kind of hint that they’re vampires.”

Mia frowns. “Apparently, we’re not the only ones keeping secrets.”

“Touché,” I mutter.

“Let’s get back to it,” Nico says as he takes his seat. “Luna knows who has declared war on us. And she was just about to tell me all about it.”

I bite my lip. As much as I’m pissed at Mia for not fighting for me, I’m not going to turn her and Pippa in. Their husbands will lose their minds if they find out they knew about this.

“The person who blew up the boat...” I trail off. “At least I’m guessing it’s Malrick Comescu.”

Renzo explodes. “Why the fuck would Comescu want to take us on? That’s pretty bold. He’s only got a small following in Moldova.”

I clear my throat. “Not as small as you think.”

“What does that mean?” Renzo snarls.

I say nothing for a moment. The weight of Nico’s stare sits on me like a stone. Finally, I look at him, our gazes lock, and a burst of electricity dances across my skin.

Nothing about this is going to be easy. I brace myself and begin.

“My father has been dealing with Malrick for years. And when I say years, I mean... since before I was born. I used to hear my parents arguing about it after his visits when I was small. My father has been supplying him intel on the family since Mia’s father led it.

And now, as the Valdici famiglia—the intel has helped Malrick advance his goals. ”

I turn to Nico. “I can only assume my father knew about your shipment on the freighter. He would’ve told Malrick.”

“But what makes you so sure it was Malrick who blew up the freighter?” Renzo asks.

“Fits with his personality,” Luca interjects. “He’s always been a bit of a show-off. Needing to be the center of attention. So, your dad’s selling him intel?”

“No,” I correct. “Giving him intel.”

“Then what makes you think Malrick blew up the freighter?” Renzo presses again.

“Because the Blood Orcs told me they were here to take me to Malrick. The same ones that broke into Nico’s place.”

“Blowing up the freighter is pretty...intense. Calls unnecessary attention to us,” Nico growls.

“Definitely something Malrick would try,” Luca finishes, nodding. “But I can’t see him doing it unless he’s absolutely sure he’s got a lot of backing. He has to know he’s starting a war with us.”

Renzo glares at me. “Just how long has your father been selling—pardon me—giving secrets?”

“As I said,” I clarify, “since before I was born. He’s been pushing my father harder the past few years. Pressuring him for more details.”

Nico’s head tilts. “So Malrick’s coming for us.”

I nod. “That would be my guess.”

Renzo confirms again. “Why is your father complying with this? What does he owe Malrick? Why not come to us? If he’d just told us, we could’ve taken Malrick out years ago. Put him in his place.”

I bite my lip again. “It’s not that simple.”

Nico growls, “Then perhaps you should explain. In detail.”

I try to remain calm but sweat breaks out across my back and palms. I can feel the weight of all the vampires’ stares—but mostly Nico’s. And I know, at any given moment, he could kill me faster than I could blink.

“My father made a deal with Malrick years ago,” I begin. “I don’t know how he found out, but both my parents knew about the magickal realm. The deal with Malrick... was for me.”

“I don’t follow,” Renzo says. “What do you mean, for you?”

“My mom couldn’t get pregnant. Malrick said he knew a witch who could help. I didn’t learn any of this until I was in my teens. Anyway, my father took my mother to this witch, and she got pregnant with me.

“Malrick said that for his part in the deal, my father would have to give him intel on the family. Back then, I don’t think my father realized your family would be involved.

But over the years, as it became clearer that Renzo was rising, Malrick’s relationship with my dad became more.

.. important. Anytime my father hit a wall, he leaned on Malrick.

It’s part of what made him so good at his job.

What made Mia’s father promote him to second-in-command.

Along with Pippa’s dad. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if Malrick created a lot of those problems only to ‘help’ my father ‘fix’ them later.

“And? I feel quite sure there’s more,” Nico says in a steely voice.

“At some point... my father made a further deal with Malrick. For me.”

Pippa gasps softly. “So that’s what you meant. Your father made a deal with Malrick that when you were of age, you’d marry him?”

I nod. “That was the payment.”

“But why?” Luca asks. “Not that you’re not obviously beautiful and intelligent, etcetera... but why you specifically?”

I sigh. “Because of the witch. Because of how I was conceived... I have an ability.”

Everyone goes silent.

“I can identify magickal creatures. They all have a glow around them. A halo. Malrick wants me because with me at his side, he can’t be tricked.

That’s what he thinks, anyway. He said as much to my father.

No one can approach him without me knowing what they are.

So far, at least, I’ve never failed to spot a magickal creature, no matter what spells they’ve used. Malrick tested me several times.”

“But you didn’t see Nico?” Luca asks.

“Vampires don’t glow,” I say. “I don’t know why.”

Nico taps his fingers on the desk. “Because we’re not magickal creatures. We didn’t come from the magickal realm. We evolved here, like humans. Everything else? Blood Orcs, witches, elves—they all came from that realm. We didn’t.”

“That makes sense,” I admit. I don’t add the thought that came to me earlier—about how I’d assumed vampires didn’t glow because they were evil. I’m damn glad I kept that to myself. “So, where do we go from here?” I ask quietly.

“That’s the question,” Luca mutters.

Renzo’s voice is like a growl. “We go see Luna’s father. Find out what he’s told Malrick. We need to know exactly how compromised we are.”

“Yes, but...” Mia’s voice breaks through. “What about Luna? What does this mean for her?”

All eyes snap to me. I want the floor to open and swallow me whole. Okay—not really. Not when there’s a chance that wish could come true.

“Luna is a problem,” Renzo states. “If her father made a deal with Malrick for her hand in marriage, there’s not a lot we can do.”

“What do you mean?” I demand.

“It depends on how the promise was made,” Luca says. “If it was made in the magickal realm... if a vampire contract was signed... we can’t interfere. It could mean an all-out vampire war.”

“You can’t be serious. You’re not really gonna let?—”

“We’re not,” Nico cuts me off, voice cracking like a whip. “There is no scenarios where we give Luna to Malrick. No way.”

Luca raises his hands. “Let’s take this one step at a time. We have to figure out what the deal is. If Malrick is strong enough to challenge us, then...” He glances at Pippa and places a hand on her arm. “A marriage between him and Luna could solidify ties and stop the challenge.”

“No,” Nico says, his voice like thunder. “Absolutely not.”

“I know it’s not ideal,” Luca replies. “I’m just thinking through the options. But in the end? Malrick won’t hold up his side of the deal. It gives him a foot in.”

“Agreed,” Renzo says, rubbing his face. “I already have enough problems with the old guard. If Luna’s father sides with Malrick and convinces his cronies to do the same, then it’s war. And it’s either I kill them all or we lose everything. And I’d rather not go down that road.”

“We are not giving Luna to Malrick.” Anger radiates from Nico in thick waves. “It is not acceptable.”

Renzo hesitates, then nods. “Agreed. At least... not voluntarily. If this were done under magickal law, with contracts, we might not be able to stop it.”

Suddenly, Nico’s father appears beside Renzo. Dread crashes over me like a tidal wave. He is pissed. “Lorenzo is right,” he says coldly. “We have to see what this deal is—and how it was made.” The elder Valdici’s voice could freeze fire. “We must speak to Luna’s father.”

“I already have people on the way to retrieve him,” Renzo confirms. “He should be here shortly.”

My stomach churns. I want to vomit. They’re going to kill my father. And the worst part? I’m not sure I’d blame them. His betrayal got them into this mess. Got me into this mess. Still... he’s my father. My anxiety is choking me.

“Nico,” his father says. “I’ve sent more guards. Stay there. Keep Luna close. We’ll discuss further action soon.”

The call cuts.

Silence. Small, cold silence.

Nico stares at me, tapping his fingers on the desk. “You could have told me,” he says. His glare pins me in place.

“And what would you have done?” I ask quietly.

“How would it have changed anything? I told you I was running from my father. That he had plans to marry me off. I didn’t know Malrick blew up the ship—not for sure—until the Blood Orcs showed up, and said they were here to collect me for him.

” I exhale to try to loosen the tightness in my chest. “As much as I abhor what my father has done... he’s still my father.

I wasn’t going to run to you just to sell him out. ”

Nico shoots to his feet and starts pacing, his energy like a storm circling the room.

“The problem is, our hands are tied,” he growls. “We need to come up with something—fast. Malrick will insist on claiming you. And if he does, all bets are off. We’re in a war now. He’s already started it.”

I rise slowly. “I’m sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. That’s why I tried to leave.”

Nico storms toward me and stops just inches away. His voice is low. Fierce. “Sometimes, sunshine... sorry isn’t enough.”