Page 30 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

R age pours through me. I should have known Malrick would be onto us and send a fake priest. I should have thought of it.

My thinking isn’t clear—I’m too caught up in Luna.

Just the glimpse I got of her at the beginning of the aisle.

.. she’s stunning. A fierce desire to protect her—and have her—burns through me like wildfire. It consumes everything.

I need to put all that aside so I can focus. I damn near got us killed. I grind my teeth, racking my brain for a solution.

“A Morven. I haven’t heard of those being around for hundreds of years,” Renzo comments.

“It’s odd, isn’t it?” I add. “I mean, it fits since Morvens were once priests who betrayed their order for power and were cursed into eternal service. Using it to masquerade as a priest was definitely a stroke of genius.”

“Thank God for Luna’s talent. She spotted him immediately,” Luca added.

“If I had any doubts about her value to Malrick, they’ve just been put to rest. Jesus.

Damn good thing we had the blood on hand.

Luna’s blood and your blood, given willingly and offered in love, was the trick to killing it, but still. We were just fucking lucky.”

I sigh. “I’m not so sure Luna’s blood was offered in love. But it worked.”

Renzo cocks his head. “Who the hell would have access to a Morven? I can’t see Malrick having that kind of connection in the magickal realm, at least not without everyone knowing.”

My gut tightens. “What are you saying?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe Malrick has a backer that we don’t know about?

Someone strong with a lot of magickal connections would explain the ability to not only find a Morven but to send him.

It would explain a lot of things, actually.

Like how the Blood Orcs managed to fly and land on your driveway.

Presumably, they did the same thing to break your skylight and enter your place. Flying is not a Blood Orc trait.”

“It’s true,” Luca joins in. “I hadn’t thought of it, but it does explain a lot. Malrick must have serious magickal connections. Ask Esme.”

“I would,” I say, “but I haven’t been able to reach her.” Unease fills my chest. Esme has been a great friend to me, a little sister. The fact that I haven’t been able to reach her bothers me more than I can say.

“That doesn’t bode well,” Renzo says and then immediately apologizes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to?—”

“It’s fine, and you’re right,” I agree. “I’ve been trying to contact her but nothing. As soon as Luna and I are married, my priority has to be finding Esme.”

“Back to the marriage. We still need to find a vampire priest.” Renzo shakes his head. “I’ve struck out.

A thought hits me. A friend I haven’t spoken to in a very long time.

At least a hundred years, in fact, but I know that he would know a vampire priest. I have no idea how to reach him, but I know who does.

I dial Kael’s number. When he answers, I say, “I need a number for Julien Montrevault, Duc de Saint-Cyr.”

Luca’s eyebrows go up. “That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long while.”

Kael says, “On it. Will text it to you as soon as I get it.”

A moment later, my phone vibrates with the text. I dial the number as my gut tightens. Julien and I didn’t part on the best of terms. I can only hope time has softened his anger. The line rings once... twice... then a click.

“Montrevault,” says a familiar voice on the other end, and it’s like the years fall away.

“Julien,” I say.

There’s a slight chuckle. “Nico Valdici. It’s been a great many years.”

“Yes, it has. I trust you’re doing well?”

“I am. Better than you and your brothers, from what I hear.”

I snort. “You should know better than to believe everything you hear.”

Julien chuckles again. “True. But since you’re calling me, I’m guessing there’s an issue you need help with. Otherwise, why reach out after a hundred years?”

I let the dig hang in the air. “You’re right. I should’ve reached out years ago. I just wasn’t sure how my attempt would be received.”

Julien sighs. “That’s fair. I was incredibly angry with you at the time, but it turns out you were right.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to be right.”

“I know,” Julien confirms. “It is I who should have reached out all those years ago. Pride and embarrassment kept me from doing so, and for that, you have my apology. What can I help you with, my friend?”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “I need a vampire priest.”

Silence stretches across the line.

“Well, that’s interesting,” he says at last. “And what would you need that for?”

“It’s a long story. One I’m not inclined to share, at the moment.”

“Well, if you want my help, Nico, you’re going to have to share it,” Julien insists.

I grind my teeth again. Damn him. “Fine.” And I tell him. Everything.

There’s a pause when I finish. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” he asks. “All joking aside, this is serious. We may not have been in touch for years, but I still value your friendship. I’ll help if I can. But I need to be certain this is what you want.”

“I do,” I say, the words firm and grounded. “I mean it. From the bottom of my soul. But... if I don’t marry her, my family will kill her. They’ll never let her go. Not if it means Malrick gets a claim.”

“Someone should’ve taken him out years ago,” Montrevault mutters.

“We might get the chance yet.”

There’s a smile in his voice as he responds. “Then please—invite me.”

“Will do.”

“I have someone,” he continues. “My guess is they’ll be there in about half an hour. Does that work?”

“Yes.” I provide him with the details.

“Ah, I know it well. Thirty minutes, give or take.”

“Julien... thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he says with a laugh—and hangs up.

Renzo cocks an eyebrow at me. “So?”

“Julien is sending someone.”

Luca frowns. “What happened between the two of you? You were thick as thieves in the mid to late eighteen hundreds.

“He started dating Saska d’Arcenay—and I loathed that woman. Never thought she had his best interests at heart.”

Renzo lets out a bark of laughter. “When do female vampires ever have someone’s best interest at heart?”

“True,” I say, smirking. “But Julien was in love with her, and I couldn’t watch what she was putting him through.

I warned him. He didn’t like what I said and refused to listen.

I thought it was best to make myself scarce after Saska demanded that Julien kill me for speaking poorly of her.

Said I besmirched her reputation, which was so much more important back then. ”

“Typical Saska,” Renzo commented. “Whatever happened to her?”

“No idea,” I say, “but they aren’t together. No shock there. Anyway, he said he’ll send someone. So now... we wait.”

Luca glanced at his phone. “I’m going to go outside and make sure security is still in place around the perimeter of the church. I don’t like being in one spot for such a long period of time.:

“But if we don’t stay here, I can’t get married.”

“Relax,” he says. “I’m just going to verify that everybody’s still in position and that things are good.”

Luca turned and left. Renzo took a seat in the first pew and watched me.

“You sure?” he asked.

I nodded. “God, I’m so sure.”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” he started. “How these women just take over our lives. If you’d told me I would fall in love with a human woman, I would’ve laughed in your face. Hell, if you’d told me I would’ve fallen in love at all, I would’ve laughed. But these women... there’s something about them.”

Renzo continues when I nod. “It’s like we have a connection. On a soul-deep level.”

“I agree. I think it’s all fated.”

“Me too,” Renzo agreed.

Luca strolled back in. “I have no doubt it’s fated,” he said as he sat down next to Renzo. “And that’s what worries me.”

“Do you think our downfall is fated as well?” I asked.

Luca hesitated but then gave a curt nod. “Yes, I do.

“I’m coming to that conclusion also,” I agree.

Renzo gave a small shrug. “But as I said to Nico, the curse can mean all kinds of things.”

“True,” I said. “But if they destroy the la famiglia , then what will we have?”

“I trust you two have put money away,” Renzo said. “As have I.”

He looked at Luca, who nodded.

“Yes. My nightclubs are held completely separately. And even if they go under suddenly, somehow... I’ve set aside enough money to last me several human lifetimes.”

“But what about you?” Luca turned to me. “If la famiglia goes under—what do you have?”

Renzo raised a brow. “Yeah. What do you have?”

I hesitated, but I guessed now was as good a time as any to tell them. “Wineries.”

“Come again?” Renzo asked.

“I have wineries. All over the world.”

“Do you now?” Luca says with a grin. “Well, that’s unexpected.”

“No more so than your nightclubs,” I said to him.

“Touché. But seriously—wineries?”

“Yes. I’ve kept it under wraps, but they make me a lot of money. So even if la famiglia goes under, I’ll be fine.”

“What about you, Renzo?” I asked. “You’ve run la famiglia for years—from behind the scenes, and now at the head. It’s been your focus. Your sole focus. What will you do?”

He smiled. “Oh, I’ve been working on a few things. If la famiglia goes under, so be it. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine—Mia and me.”

“Come on,” I prodded. “You must tell us. What’s your side hustle?”

Renzo grinned. “Rum and whiskey,” he said.

“Really?” Luca laughed. “Awesome. Look at you two in the alcohol business.”

“Yes. And I expect your clubs to start stocking my stuff,” Renzo added.

“Of course,” Luca agrees. “I’ll promote it.” He glances at me.

I grin. “You already serve some of my wines.”

“Of course I do. I should have known you would make that happen.” Luca shakes his head. “You two are quite good at keeping secrets.”

“As are you,” I point out.