Page 56 of Unforgiving Queen

“Something like that.” A hint of amusement shaded his expression despite the direct hit he’d just taken.

“You got another video?”

My brother and the rest of the heads of the Omertà had been getting clipped messages of their worst nightmares and secrets. My brother had received another message with evidence of someone discarding Father’s body. Just enough to show they knew who murdered him but not enough to reveal who it was.

The Omertà leaders suspected Tatiana Nikolaev. So did my cousin who had been trying to get his paws on her. Itsuki was like a spoiled child, always aiming for a way to grab more power, but never succeeding in execution. I’d never let him have it. Firstly, I owed a favor to Illias, and secondly, the world would go down in flames if Itsuki got his filthy hands on it.

Dante took advantage of my distraction, landing a punch. I grunted and let out a low curse. Why in the fuck did I agree to this session? I did enough destruction—to others and myself—at the club.

The boxing gym in Castello del Mare was Dante’s latest upgrade to the home we grew up in. By now, he’d transformed every single room in the house. The basement was the last part of the castle to be upgraded.

Understandably so.

“Yes.”

I stopped, surprise washing over me. Up until now, Dante had always shared every fucking detail of the videos.

“And?” I urged, sweat dripping down my forehead and coating my back. We’d been working out our frustration in the ring for an hour now.

He just shrugged, his expression blank. “And nothing.”

I didn’t particularly care for the details of Father’s untimely death. The fucker deserved it—we both knew it—but something about my brother was off.

He changed the subject. “How long are you staying?”

“Already eager for me to leave?” I landed another hit with my left fist.

“Fuck, Amon,” he wheezed, hunching over with his head between his knees.

I chuckled. “Keep your head in the game, little brother.”

“Fuck you.” It was nice to finally see him out of breath. “Heard Romero arranged a marriage for Reina. You know anything about that?”

It was the only reason I was back in Europe. The rumor had been circulating for a while that Romero was looking to marry Reina off. That deal would happen only after I ensured her arranged husband deserved her. My chest twisted at the thought of her with anyone else, but I ignored it. I was used to it by now. Three years later and the thought of her falling for someone still filled me with dread.

“Maybe…”

He gave me a knowing look, but there was something else there too. So I punched him again. He let out another grunt when I landed a hit on his lower ribs, but that didn’t stop him from laughing at my scowl.

“That heiress will be your downfall, Amon,” he said. “Why don’t you ask Romero to give her to you? He owes you enough.”

There was a long list of reasons, but it started and ended with the fact that we shared a father.

“I’m not interested in marriage,” I grunted.

Another punch. My hardest one yet.

“Then why are you trying to break my ribs?” I ignored his dig and punched him again.

I’d been keeping tabs on Reina since running into her that winter evening at Oba’s. I’d built a whole fucking surveillance company just so I could check on her, ensure she was still alive and unharmed.

If only Dante knew how bad I had it for the girl.

Was it healthy? No. Did it change our blood relations? Fuck no.

But it kept my head screwed on right and allowed me to function each day. So here I was, checking on her as part of my daily routine. The thought of her alone calmed the erratic beat of my heart.

I couldn’t believe how fucking wrong shit had gone for us. Bitterness tasted like acid and ash, consuming me wholly and turning my heart into a black hole.