Chapter 36 #2
“This Council makes the laws, Don Marcello, not you.” Emilia lifted her chin, the faintest smile playing at the corners of her mouth, as though she was truly enjoying this.
“Here is my proposal,” she steepled her fingers in front of her.
“We recognize the marriage as valid. We recognize Dante Dominico as the rightful heir of House Dominico, with all the responsibilities that entails. We lift the banishment as unlawful. In return,” she went on, over Marcello’s impending explosion, “Dante submits to Brotherhood oversight for the foreseeable future. Under supervision, so there are no surprises.”
Severin’s eyes gleamed. “Acceptable.”
“Hold on,” Rocco huffed. “I vouched for him. What do I get out of this deal?”
Emilia arched a brow. “You get stability. No interference in your operations. And the satisfaction of knowing you’re not on the losing side of a power shift.”
The old vampire considered, then shrugged. “Fine.”
Luca cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable at speaking, but doing it anyway. “The DiRavello House recognizes the marriage,” he muttered, giving me a grudging look. “But we want council assurances Emberline will not be used as a pawn in these ongoing Dominico power struggles.”
“Too late for that,” Dante muttered under his breath, and I resisted the urge to kick him in the shin.
“Besides my niece’s wellbeing,”—Uncle Gio’s tone remained mild.—“we request that any move to disinherit Dante as heir must come before this Council. No more… surprises.”
Ah, that was my uncle’s game. Shoring up access to the Dominico family through his niece by making sure Dante remained in a position of power. My uncle looked like he’d won at the craps tables.
Marcello looked like he wanted to set the table on fire.
“This is my fucking family,” he snapped. “You would strip me of power over my own House—”
“You compromised your authority when you broke the law,” Severin pointed out evenly. “Be grateful we are not calling for more concessions.” Behind him, Nico’s eyes found mine, his face softening as he looked me over, searching for… what, I didn’t know.
My head spun with how neatly Dante had played them all—walking in as the accused and walking out the named heir of the Dominico family, free to roam the city, with an escort, firmly rooted in his newfound power. His name cleared, his future secure.
I had to admit, I was… impressed.
The buzzard had surprised me. Before this moment, I had thought Dante was nothing but a hammer when the situation called for a scalpel.
“You’re giving him everything.” Marcello sounded horrified.
“We are fixing your mistakes.” Emilia watched Marcello’s face with predatory intensity. “Best to make peace with your losses and move on.” Her assessing gaze moved to me.
“Emberline.” Emilia’s tone turned sharp. “You have been very quiet today. Do you have anything to add to the discussion? As a member of the Pentarch families, you may speak.”
Oh, now I’m allowed an opinion, after all the decisions have been made? I narrowed my eyes, wondering if this was another one of those female tests, the kind I always seemed to lose.
“I’ve been… processing.” Miraculously, I kept my voice even, free of all the snark I was dying to let loose. “There have been many interesting developments.” I slid a sideways glance at Dante, trying to look appropriately awed at my amazing husband. “None of which I expected.”
A few humorless laughs rippled around the table.
“Do you support our decision? Returning Dante’s rights, his position as heir?” she pressed.
Silence stretched, and I couldn’t help my eyes from wandering over to Gabriel. He’d been robbed. As long as I could remember, he’d played the dutiful son, the trusted consigliere, and now… what was he?
The second son of a now-disgraced Don.
Gabriel’s blue eyes burned when they met mine, his mouth set in a tight, hard line, and my heart clenched. I wanted to tell him I was sorry about how things turned out.
But what was I doing?
I should be happy with this outcome, watching the once-powerful family crumble from the inside out. The first part of my plan was in motion, and I hadn’t even lifted a finger.
But I couldn’t stop my heart from aching with longing at what our fake marriage might have been like. Maybe… it would have almost been real.
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “If recognizing my marriage and my husband’s position means fewer threats are aimed at my family, then yes. I support your decision.”
“Motion carried, then.” Emilia leaned back in her chair.
Marcello’s power simmered, but the tide had turned. “You’ll all regret this,” he muttered, the words sounding not like a threat, but like surrender as he mopped sweat from his brow.
Severin inclined his head. “The Brotherhood will send a liaison to Calle Morgana to inspect your wards.” He raised a hand. “Nico?”
Nico grimaced but nodded. “I suppose someone has to make sure this stronzo doesn’t burn half the district down.” He bared his fangs in disgust.
The meeting dissolved, conversations splintering, alliances forming in quiet subcurrents of handshakes and predatory smiles. Somehow, every time I looked up, I found Emilia DiSangue’s eyes on me.
“You enjoyed that,” I whispered under my breath, “handing your father his ass.”
Dante’s mouth curved. “And you didn’t?”
“Maybe a little,” I admitted. “Well, a lot, actually.”
“Don’t lie; you were beside yourself with excitement.” He chuckled. “You looked pleased when Emilia backed us.”
“Us,” I repeated, dread sinking all the way to my bones. “Big assumption.”
Enemies, I repeated to myself. Enemies and nothing more.
“We are formally married. You wanted inside my world, Ember. You’re in it now. Neck-deep.”
I’d intended to tear his entire family down to the foundations, but now I wasn’t sure there would be anything left for me to destroy. Not with the unerring precision with which my husband was dismantling his father’s entire empire.
“I did want inside,” I admitted. “So, I could destroy your family. And I only went through with the wedding because I meant to destroy you, too.” I took a breath, wondering if I was making an enormous mistake.
“But now… I’m wondering if we’re fighting the same war.”
Dante glanced at me, blue eyes bright as they caught the light. “Well. You finally figured it out.” His grin was blinding. “I could use your help, la mia sposa. I’ve been fighting alone for a long time.”