Or so Tewa said.
After consulting with Kaal and his Signet pack, they agreed that hedging the risk was more significant than the reward.
Mak had gone along with the second arranged nuptials to ensure Tewa used his seat on the Syndicate council to Sauvage’s and Signet’s advantage.
The Lisade’s Don proved helpful, gaining them access to substantial deals with the rest of the Mafia families in the Syndicate with Signet as security contractors and Sauvage as shipbuilding suppliers.
As a result, both corporations’ profits soared in the subsequent years.
Tewa, on the other hand, continued to request additional funds and privileges to honor the marriage bans.
Which meant Mak worked day and night to afford the bride price, schills and diamonds Tewa kept extorting from him.
The man was deceptive to the bones, motivated by material gain, and a worshiper of money.
Being the gracious groom-to-be and a tad young back then, Mak had played along with Tewa’s games while seething in silence.
Now, he was a full-fledged man, with no intention of being exploited anymore.
Mak strode into the glittering restaurant, a jewel of haute cuisine, perched atopTheSombra’sconcourse.
The chandeliers, fashioned like frozen raindrops, cast a soft glow over the opulent space.
Servers moved between tables, and the rich scents of gourmet fare filled the air, adding to the atmosphere of power and subtle manipulation.
Mak’s presence shifted the energy in the room, a quiet ripple of excitement trailing in his wake.
Koda and Kelam marched in behind him and stood guard, flanking the entrance and scanning the room.
Though Mak was running late from a previous meeting, he had no intention of apologizing. There was nothing like making someone wait to remind them who was really in charge.
As he neared Tewa’s table, he noted the smug expression falter as Mak gave him a cold, deliberate once-over.
Tewa recovered, a grin plastered across his face.
‘Greetings,Šar,’ Tewa purred, gesturing for Mak to sit. ‘I was starting to think you wouldn’t show.’
Mak sat opposite him, his face neutral. ‘You know how it is, Tewa. Busy day and all that.’
Tewa chuckled, a sound that grated against Mak’s nerves. ‘Of course. Now, let’s get down to business. What is it that you need from me today?’
Mak leaned back in his chair, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. ‘Let’s order first.’
He raised his hand to signal the server. He picked from the menu, and when the steward left, he made his move with no preamble.
‘You lied to me.’
Tewa’s eyes widened in shock. ‘Šarkhan? I did not. My nieces are the ones who deceived you.’
Mak’s gaze hardened. ‘You’re the Don. You should have known that Shiloh didn’t want me and fled the wedding. Given you failed me with Suri, you ought to have been thorough with Shiloh, and your lazy slip-up makes you complicit in this shit show.’
Tewa seemed taken aback, but Mak’s glare only deepened, his anger just contained. The bitterness burned in his chest like a slow fire.
Fourteen years had been spent with the thought of finding a love that would last forever.
Tewa trembled. ‘Šar,’ he said, his tone patronizing, ‘you know our custom. It is not the Akkadian tradition to force ayoung woman into matrimony when she asks to follow the Path of Light. Suri had her rightful claim. Shiloh chose her way, and she and Saba conspired together. In many ways, I had no part to play in either decision.’
Their food arrived, and silence fell between them as the restaurant staff served up a stunning Wagyu beef steak.
