Page 27 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

A phone call? Really? I say to my brother telepathically.

I hear Renzo’s snort in my mind. Well, I tried reaching out. You ignored me.

I was a little busy.

I’m sure, he replies, dry as ever. But this is important.

I try not to sigh. What is it, Renzo?

I’ve sent you a guy.

A guy? My suspicion rises. Guy for what?

If you shut up and let me finish...

Sorry, I mutter.

He’s a vampire. Also a priest. He should arrive at your location in a few hours.

I still, the implication hitting me like a well-aimed bullet. So that’s how long I have.

Exactly. That’s the time you’ve got to convince Luna to marry you.

What makes you think Luna doesn’t want to marry me? I demand. But secretly, I’ve been worried about the same thing.

This time, Renzo doesn’t answer with words—I can feel his amusement through the bond.

Because I’m married to Mia, he says finally, and I know Pippa. These girls have been terrified of marriage their entire lives. This isn’t going to be an easy conversation.

Maybe. Maybe not, I say, but if I’m being honest… I know he’s right. And now that I have a deadline, my trepidation only sharpens.

Look, Renzo says, you need to point out that if she doesn’t marry you, she’ll have to marry Malrick. And God knows she doesn’t want to do that.

Gee, thanks, I reply dryly. Quite the way to sell marriage.

I’m just being honest. And if I’m totally honest, I have to tell you, brother, that can’t happen. Malrick marrying Luna? That cannot happen. Which means… he hesitates.

Which means what? My stomach knots as I brace for what I know is coming.

Which means if Luna doesn’t marry you, we can’t let her live.

Despite anticipating this was what he’d say, I’m speechless. I want to argue with him, but all the air has fled my lungs.

Your argument as to why we have to keep her from marrying Malrick was a strong one.

The flip side of that is we can’t let Malrick have her because if he does, it just makes us look weaker.

I didn’t share earlier, but we had to fight off not one, but two attempts to grab a major shipment that arrived in port today.

It’s only going to get worse. We need to keep Luna to help shore up our reputation, but if we fail at that, we’ll have no choice but to kill her. Malrick can’t have her.

White hot rage boils inside me. There is no way I will let you hurt one hair on Luna’s head.

Not one hair, do you hear me? I will fight you to the death.

I can’t believe those words came out of my mouth, but I meant them.

Luna is mine. Only mine. No one will harm her. They will suffer greatly if they try.

So you’re already in love with her, Renzo says softly, ignoring my rage and my challenge.

Suddenly, all the anger vanishes. I say, I’ve been in love with her since the moment I saw her. It’s weird—it’s like there’s some sort of connection.

Yes, he says. I know. I have it with Mia. Luca has it with Pippa. We all have it. Father always likes to say we’re in control of our own fate, but...

I know, I cut him off. We’re really not. I have a feeling this was fated long ago.

You also have to realize that, unlike Mia and Pippa, we can’t give Luna our blood which means she will not live long, relatively speaking. A human life is so much shorter than ours and she will grow old.

I know. It’s the thought that woke me out of a sound sleep this afternoon. I dreamt of Luna dying.

It will be incredibly difficult to watch that happen and not just for you, but for her as well. But you cannot share your blood with her. Because if you do, then they are all sisters, and the curse comes true.

I’m aware, but, Renzo, I cannot let anything happen to Luna. She will marry me. I will not let Malrick have her. I take a breath. Do you think this means our downfall is inevitable? The Valdici family? Since we cannot control fate, is it already written?

Renzo hesitates. I think it means we’re in for a rough ride.

Maybe we lose territory. Influence. Maybe we’re no longer feared.

But the curse doesn’t say “death.” It doesn’t say “end.

It says ‘…the clan of Valdici will be no more.’ There are too many ways to interpret that.

Whatever it is, we will do our best to ride it out.

Exactly, I reply. Whatever’s coming—we’ll get through it. Somehow. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.

As do I, my brother comments.

Renzo? I start, then pause before rushing on. When you and Mia make love, does anything weird happen? I’m still somewhat startled by what manifested between Luna and me earlier.

Weird as in kinky?

No, asshole. Weird as in supernatural.

He doesn’t answer right away, but then cautiously says, Can’t say that anything more supernatural than fucking amazing orgasms happen. Why do you ask?

I could tell him, but he’d think me certifiable. No reason.

His disbelieving grunt is abrupt through our connection. You’d better get moving. The clock’s ticking, brother. Convince her. Best of luck.

He severs the link, and I’m left sitting in my chair, staring at nothing.

He’s not wrong. I want to believe Luna will want to marry me.

But realistically... if I were her, would I want to marry someone like me?

A vampire. Just like the vampire trying to control her.

After everything she’s been through, I don’t want to add to her pain.

I don’t. But I really don’t have a choice.

I get up from my seat and head off to find my new fiancée. The word makes me smile, even though she doesn’t know she’s engaged to me, yet. Never thought I’d be saying that but somehow with Luna it feels so right.

I find Luna out on the back balcony. A glass of white wine rests on the table in front of her and a tray of cheese beside it, but she’s not eating. She just stares at the horizon, lost in her thoughts. I need her strong for what’s coming. And for that, she needs to eat.

I drop a kiss on the top of her head and sit down beside her.

“How do you like the white?” I ask with a nod to the glass.

She glances at me, but she’s already built up a wall. I can see it in her eyes. It makes me sad, but it also angers me. She’s not even giving me a chance. I must control my temper, though. If she suspects I’m annoyed, she’ll just try to push my buttons. It’s in her nature.

“It’s fine,” she says coolly.

“Just fine?”

“Okay, it’s excellent.” She sighs. “Happy?”

“That’s more like it,” I say, then glance at the cheese. “You’re not eating.”

“I’m not really hungry.”

“You need to eat, vita mia . You have to keep up your strength.” I signal to Carson through the glass door. He steps outside immediately.

“Carson, I know it’s early,” I say. “But what time do you think we could have dinner? Luna’s hungry.”

“Of course, sir. I can have something within half an hour.”

“That would be great. Thank you.” I need to eat too. But first, I have to get Luna to say yes. I turn back to her. “So. We’ve come up with a plan.”

“We?”

“My brothers and I.”

A sour look crosses her face. “A plan for what?” she says, taking another sip of her wine.

“A plan to keep you from being forced to marry Malrick.”

She exhales sharply, setting the glass down. “I still think the best plan is if I leave. If he can’t find me, he can’t marry me. I’m all good.”

“If I thought that would work, Luna, I would wholeheartedly support it. But you’re dealing with a vampire who has friends in the magickal realm. Do you really think you can hide?”

She glares at me. “I could give it a damn good shot.”

I try not to sigh—loudly.

“I’m offering you a better shot.”

She cocks her head. “You can guarantee I won’t have to marry Malrick?”

“I can’t promise,” I admit. “But after careful consideration, we believe this is the best chance we’ve got.”

She snorts. “And why should I believe you? Everyone’s been lying to me lately.”

I fight to control my temper. “Because I haven’t lied to you, Luna. And I’m not going to.”

She crosses her arms over her chest in a defensive manner. “Fine. Then what’s your solution?”

“Marry me,” I say simply.

Her jaw drops. “What?”

“Marry me , Luna. If you’re already married to a vampire, it gives us a much better chance of keeping Malrick at bay.”

She just stares at me.

“You know me,” I say gently. “We’re obviously... compatible.” I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips as her cheeks darken with a blush. “And I’ll take care of you. My brothers and I—we’ll protect you and your friends. Always.”

She reaches for her wine, but her hand trembles slightly.

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“You say yes,” I tell her, locking eyes with her. “You marry me—because this is the only shot you’ve got.”