Page 15 of Tragic Empire

Nico doesn’t use his sexuality as an excuse, and I understand why, but it also concerns me. I worry that despite being openly gay he seems to have little desire for romantic human connection. I hope that he doesn’t expect to marry a woman for The Outfit one day. I hope he understands that I would never do that to him—even if he was willing.

I’ll talk to him in private soon, even though he’ll brush me off. It’s times like this that I wish my brother were by my side. Cesar always knew how to get through to Nico, much better than I have ever been able to.

“I’ll marry her,” Apollo cuts into the bickering. Just the sound of his voice uttering those words shuts the whole room up.

“Fucking plot twist,” Armani says, his jaw slack.

“If she picks me, she’ll need to give me an heir,” Apollo points out. “I’m not the best match, but I wouldn’t despise being married to her. The Kings would certainly cower under my leadership, though. That could be useful.”

“If you want to give her a choice, who else do you suggest?” I ask, trying not to sound excited by the prospect of Apollo finally tying the knot. I’d hoped after all this time he might find a love match, but I’ll take anyone for him at this point.

“Definitely not Matteo,” he quips. “Too young, too unserious. The Kings wouldn’t accept him.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I agree with him, but he doesn’t need to be so pleased about insulting his youngest brother.

“Anyhelpfulsuggestions?”

“You could volunteer,” he points out, looking unbelievably smug.

It’s impossible not to gape at him. “You want your stepmother to be the same age as your little sister?”

“I think you’re the only one of us who won’t eventually pursue a physical or romantic connection with her and that might be the best thing you can offer the poor girl.”

“Who’s to say she won’t eventually want him?” Armani scoffs. “Let’s face it, the ladies love a DILF.”

“Gesù Cristo, Son,” I hiss. “She’s not eventwenty.”

“You’ll be good to her,” Elio says with an air of indifference.

I shouldn’t even consider putting myself on the line. I shouldn’t allow myself to be subjected to another nightmare of a marriage. But if I’d do it for anyone, I would do it for Jade. A political marriage wouldn’t be the end of my world. I could provide for Ana without crossing boundaries, give her a life free of being attached to some other mafioso douchebag who sweeps in for an alliance.

With a resigned sigh, I scrub a hand down my face. “I’d prefer to be a last resort. Anyone else want to throw their hat in the ring?”

My sons share measured glances, quiet mumbling filling the room.

Until…

“You can give her my name as well.”

The room snaps into startled silence.

I don’t think a single one of us expectedthatoffer.

A rough sound leaves my throat, clearing it before I shake out of my shock. “Well, first things first. We need to inform her about her mother.”

ChapterFive

Ana

Jade’s room is quiet but not in a tense way. Matteo and Dmitri left Jade, Ivan, and me alone only a few minutes ago. They didn’t want me to feel crowded, and I’m certain Matteo didn’t want to say something insensitive. When you crack jokes about any and everything, it’s hard not to say the wrong thing at the extraordinarily wrong time.

At least he’s self-aware enough to know he isn’t the comforting type.

“Are you sure you don’t want to try and eat anything?” Ivan asks hesitantly. “Sometimes calorie intake can help after a shock.”

“No,” I answer hollowly. The idea of food makes my stomach roil.

I can’t imagine having an appetite when all I can see is the memory of Cole’s death playing on a loop. The way his head snapped back with the force of the gunshot, and the way the bullet hole bloomed with sickeningly dark blood. My throat still burns with the screams I couldn’t hold back, the ones I couldn’t hear but I couldfeel.