Chapter 3
Chapter three
Madeleine
Strumming my polished nails on the arm of the leather chair, I let my eyes travel around the office as I continue to wait for my brother, Leo, to make his grand appearance.
He told me we had an urgent matter to discuss, which has now put my nerves on edge, as I’m unsure what could be so pressing.
Especially since this weekend is supposed to be a special getaway to our Hamptons house to celebrate his engagement to his wife, my best friend, Scarlett.
Yeah, they did things a little out of order.
But the point is, this weekend isn’t for work.
It’s for relaxing.
Something my family clearly doesn’t know how to do well.
I check the slim gold watch on my wrist. He’s ten minutes late. Is this part of his tactic? Is he purposely making me sweat it out?
What could be so important that—
Fuck. My chest tightens, and anxiety crawls over my skin.
He must know.
That’s the only plausible reason why I’m here right now.
He knows about me and Alastor.
I press my fingers to my temple, massaging the pressure points where a headache begins to form.
Have I been too careless over this past year?
Did I let something slip?
I reach for my glass of champagne, needing to calm my nerves. Throwing back the drink, I close my eyes and enjoy the fizz from the bubbles sliding down my throat.
There’s no way he could know. Not when I’ve played my part so perfectly.
Standing, I make my way to the closest window, observing the waves crashing along the shoreline as the sun sets over the horizon—a picturesque view that my family paid millions upon millions to enjoy.
It’s a home that offers elegance and all the comforts one could want in life. Twelve bedrooms, fourteen bathrooms, a ten-car garage, a private beach, and an indoor pool, just to name a few of the amenities. But it doesn’t give me the same calm I experience when I’m home.
My real home.
At the Alarie Estate in Upstate New York.
A place that outsiders find to be intimidating and know better than to venture to in fear of what may await them.
Like death.
It’s a fortress unparalleled to any other in the world, surrounded by thick stone walls that have recently doubled in height and width. A place where I, my mother, my siblings, and the many loyal workers of my family reside.
It’s been my sanctuary since the day I was born.
A home where I truly feel at peace.
Even from things I can no longer avoid.
Like my impending wedding.
I glance down at my watch. Twelve minutes.
This is ridiculous. I wait for no—
The click of the doorknob unlatching and steady footsteps approaching let me know he’s here without even having to turn around. But what has me pausing is the additional footsteps.
Shit. This isn’t good.
Staying strong, I keep my composure, turning as my four brothers all make their way before me, followed by… My throat goes dry as my eyes freeze on Eli.
The man I so badly wish I could hate.
Because then everything would be so much easier.
Not to mention, less painful.
“Madeleine,” Vincenzo, aka Vin, my oldest brother and the head of this family, greets me with a kiss on my cheek before making his way behind the mahogany desk.
He took on this role over seven years ago after our father was murdered, and I hate to admit it, but he’s done a pretty damn good job over the years keeping our family safe, considering all the enemies who would love to stab a knife in our backs.
With his dark black hair and bright blue eyes resembling mine, we look more like twins than siblings, even with a seven-year age gap.
As he takes a seat, his eyes hold mine, a silent apology flashing over them.
Unease settles inside me.
“Take a seat,” he tells me.
“I’ll stand.” I defiantly cross my arms over my chest, jutting out my hip. It might be a man’s world, but I’ll be damned if I ever let one tell me what to do.
Even my own brother.
“Of course you will.” He tips his chin, knowing me better than anyone in this room—well, maybe not everyone—and he recognizes that this is not the battle he wants to fight me on.
Not when a bigger one is brewing.
The others take their places around the room, all eyes landing on me.
“Thank you for speaking with us,” Leo says too formally for my liking.
He stands behind Vin with his tattooed-covered arms crossed over his chest, his dark brown eyes never wavering on me as he appears very much the part of the deadly predator that he is.
He’s the one responsible for hunting down those in the streets of New York who are past due on payments to our businesses or dare to attempt harm to our family.
I’ll never understand why the bastards run. Not when he always finds them.
The others in the room remain silent. There’s a current of tension stifling the air between us.
What the hell is going on?
Clearing my throat, I stand a little straighter. My spine turns into a steel rod as I plaster on my famous Madeleine Alarie smile. The one I’ve perfected over the years. The one no one can see through.
“Brothers and…Eli.” I spare him a glance, unable to make eye contact with him. “What is so important that you had to step away from the celebration to speak with me so formally?” I question with my gaze directed at Leo. It is his big night, after all. “Is there a problem with the casino?”
Over the years, I’ve become the unofficial financier of my family. Always good with numbers, I welcomed the responsibility and took pride in my ability to keep the family’s investments…clean. Or as clean on the books as I allow anyone ever to see.
Not that our investments have ever been a problem, seeing that half the police force in this state is willingly on our payroll.
But the casino, referred to by guests as Luxe, is one of our family’s most profitable streams of revenue.
And most importantly, it’s mine.
“No problem with the casino,” Vin states. He steeples his fingers before him. “With everything that has occurred recently, we think it would be wise to take some extra precautions.”
“Of course,” I answer, my eyes bouncing to each brother. “But what does this have to do with me? Do you need access to funds for more improvements to the estate?”
Maybe that’s all this is about. My shoulders relax a fraction at this notion.
“No.” Vin shakes his head. “This is more of a family matter.” His eyes move to Leo before he gives a quick jerk of his chin.
Leo runs his fingers through his dark hair, briefly eyeing Eli before his gaze lands back on me.
No. No. No. Something doesn’t feel right.
If this is a family matter, then why is Eli even here?
“It’s imperative to us that you’re safe,” Vin starts.
“You have always been our top priority, but recently, we’ve been too lenient in a world with so much darkness.
So much cruelty.” He pauses, looking deep in thought as he stares at his desk, and then slowly, he nods. “So, with that said, we have asked—”
“No!” I spit out, my hands falling to my sides, transforming into fists. “No fucking way in hell.” My heart races beneath my chest, panic swirling throughout me. This can’t be fucking happening.
“Madeleine,” Vin states, his voice laced with authority. “Eli is the best one for the job. He will keep you safe and—”
I take two steps, my palms landing on the desk with a loud thud as I lean closer to Vin.
Fury radiates through my veins. “I am quite capable of taking care of myself. I don’t need a bodyguard.
I don’t need him!” My chest heaves with each breath I take as my eyes dart to Eli, who sits there calmly.
All six-foot-five of his muscular body. His gorgeous, deep brown eyes hold mine, causing my breath to catch in my throat.
His thick, brown hair is tousled as if he had run his fingers through it a hundred times. Something he does when he’s nervous.
Am I making him nervous?
I quickly look away, my eyes connecting with Vin’s, who stares me down, an eerie calm surrounding him. “Eli,” he says, his eyes still on me. “Do you mind giving us a moment?”
I don’t dare look away from my brother, not wanting him to win this one. I won’t back down from this fight.
After hearing the door close, I stand straight, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyes drilling holes into Vin’s face.
God, I wish he didn’t look so much like me, or I’d call him ugly.
“I’m only going to ask you this once,” Vin says calmly. “Did something happen between you two that, as your brother, I should know about?”
My lips part but then close just as quickly. I scoff, turning to face the wall of books behind me before suddenly saying, “No. Don’t be ridiculous.”
It isn’t totally a lie.
As my brother, he definitely doesn’t want to know the details about what happened between us.
“Then why do you hate him so much?” Leo asks.
My shoulders drop, my hands dwindling to my sides. “I don’t…hate him.”
I’ve tried.
Believe me, I have, but never with any success.
“Well, you sure fooled us,” Alex notes, making me roll my eyes.
Sometimes, I really despise how smart Alex is.
He’s the brains of our family. The one you go to when you need security footage retrieved, a computer hacked, a new identity created, etc.
But he’s also the one you go to when you spill a glass of red wine on your white carpet at two a.m. in a drunken panic.
Yeah, he wasn’t too fond of that wake-up call.
I turn to face the four of them.
None of them believe me.
They’re all looking at me like I’m the problem.
A clearing of a throat causes me to look at Mauro, whose dark eyes say more than he’ll ever be able to after sustaining injuries from the same explosion that killed our father. There’s not much I can hide from him. He’s the most perceptive of all of my brothers. And probably the deadliest.
However, this is one secret that he and the others can never discover.
“Alastor won’t like this,” I utter, my voice steady, hoping the threat of him might cause them to reconsider their ludicrous plan.