A muscle feathered in Max’s jaw. “A political play that means nothing.”
“Something you’re intimately familiar with, Max,” I said as I stepped forward. “But no. I love Cas. He loves me. This was always going to be our future.”
“In that case, the line of inheritance is clear,” Giulio said. “The Family falls to Caspian.”
The men shifted from foot to foot. It was like, suddenly, they respected us again. Suddenly, we were legitimate.
Simply because in their eyes, Cas would take power, and I’d be the meek wife by his side. It made my blood fucking boil. But if I stopped to consider it now, stopped to think about how Cas had clearly known this was on the table and hidden it from me, I’d ruin everything.
I’d save my anger for when Max either left or was dead at my feet.
I forced the words out. “The Family falls to Caspian. Cas will be the Head.”
Cas cleared his throat. “Max’s claim cannot rival a legitimate marriage. With our union, we claim leadership of the Vero Family. It’s ours, not his.”
Ripples went through the men.
Cas stood tall. He stretched out his hand to mine in a silent plea. I saw the apology in his eyes, but it meant nothing—just like me believing I could be the Head meant nothing.
I took his hand, my fingers cold in his. I didn’t meet his pleading gaze. I stared straight ahead at Max, who was staring at our clasped hands.
“The future of the Vero Family belongs to us,” I said before turning to the rest of the men. “Is this a debate? One of us trying to prove we’re better leaders? Fuck, no. It’s a choice. Make yours. Now. Our side, or his.”
The men started to move, shifting across the imaginary line I’d drawn through the room. My heart stuttered in my chest, watching how each man made their decision.
By the end, half of the men stood behind Max. Half stood behind us.
Alessio, Romolo, and Giulio fell to our side.
But Daniele stood beside Max.Snitch. The truth was clear in his seething stare. He looked at me like I was worthless, a little girl playing a stupid game, and that was exactly how I felt.
“Well, there you have it, Max.” Just power through it. Just hold on until this is over. “What’s it going to be?”
Cas squeezed my hand, but I ignored him.
The click of a gun drew our attention to where Wynn stepped up behind Max, guns raised. “Careful now.”
Wynn. Thank God he was here.
His eyes flicked to mine, to Cas’s, and his face fell. My heart sank even further as I realized he knew, just like Obi and Ryuji had. He knew, and he didn’t tell me either.
Max chuckled, turning from Wynn back to us. “Well, this was a surprising development. Congratulations to the happy couple.”
“Fuck you,” Cas growled.
“Let me say this to all of you,” I said, addressing the men who chose Max. “Max is a parasite. A piece of shit, garbage human?—”
“Ouch.”
“—who only wants to use you as a means to his own ends. If you ever want to change your mind, if you want leadership that cares about your future, and the future of this city, come find us. It’s never too late to pick the winning side.”
“And you all,” Max said, voice hard as he looked at my half of the room. “Don’t bother coming back. Traitors don’t get second chances. If we see you on the street, you’re dead.”
With that, he inclined his head, and turned to leave. He walked right past Wynn, casting him a withering glare. His half of the army followed after, their guns still raised at us until they had safely exited the building.
Everyone on my side breathed a collective sigh of relief once they left.
“Ciel,” Wynn said with a jerk of his head. The two of them followed shortly behind, only returning a few minutes later to confirm they were gone.
