Chapter 63
GAbrIEL
The Dominico library was the last fucking place I wanted to be right now, but Nico and Emberline had me cornered. The Don of the Dynasty, granted tremendous power, lectured by his most trusted soldier and the female he loved.
“You know this is a trap, right?” Nico leaned down, peering into my face like I was a toddler needing a stern talking to, and fuck him. “Bruno laid the threat out plainly enough. They’re drawing you out into the open so he can assassinate you.”
“He can try. Even without Emilia, we still have three votes to his two, no matter how he plays this.”
“Unless you die,” Emberline pointed out, her voice breathless. “There’s an assassin, Gabriel. You need to listen to reason.”
I wanted to tell them both everything would be alright. That this meeting would take place on Dominico territory, that our family had ruled this Dynasty since the first day. I wasn’t afraid of her uncle. And I wasn’t afraid of Vincenzo, either.
“This won’t go the way you think, Gabriel,” she cautioned, brown eyes full of worry. “Giovanni wouldn’t call a council meeting and drag all this out into the open unless he had a foolproof plan for success.”
“He doesn’t know we have Rocco in our pocket.”
“We don’t know if you have the old bastard in our pocket,” Nico pointed out stubbornly. “He’s unreliable, even when we have him backed into a corner. Especially when we have him backed into a corner.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “They are not chasing me away. This is my birthright, and I am claiming it. I refuse to let these fucking traitors intimidate me. We have the numbers, as Giovanni is about to find out.”
Emberline touched my arm, dark eyes gleaming with worry.
“My uncle is always ten steps ahead, Gabriel. You have to assume he’d made arrangements for tomorrow, either to kill you or outmaneuver you.
Either way, your best approach could be to lie low, wait for him to come after the Basin, then fight him on your own terms.”
I put my hand over hers. “Giovanni is desperate if he’s asking Vincenzo for help. He’s lost you as leverage, he’s lost the Basin, he’s lost all possibility of controlling this Dynasty as he’d hoped. Desperate males make mistakes, and I’m about to bury him while he’s weak. Publicly.”
She sighed. “Just make sure he doesn’t bury you, instead.”
Council was held in the Sala del Giuramento.
My territory. Dominico land since this city was nothing but mud.
I was firmly in my element. Nico and Dante prowled the upper balconies, and even though I’d asked her—nicely—to stay on the island, Emberline was up there somewhere, knife in hand, hunting down any threats her uncle may have planted.
Her brother, despite his begging, remained on the island. Not tied to a chair, but it had been a close thing.
Severin took his usual golden chair to my right while a smug as fuck Giovanni commandeered Luca’s, hands folded primly in his lap, monk’s robe on full display for anyone who still gave a shit about his pious act.
As expected, a black-robed Vincenzo took his mother’s seat, his brother standing behind him, then we waited for Rocco.
Rocco, my ace in the hole.
Rocco, who’d better keep his fucking oath of fealty, or I would take more than his hand as punishment.
After a pause, a smiling Giovanni rose. “My nephew has proven unfit to helm the DiRavello court, so as the eldest member of our bloodline, I have taken his place, by ancient right. Since we are all present, I will speak. I submit my formal claim to this council, as well as bring charges of impropriety.”
I stopped watching for Rocco’s arrival and waited for what would surely be a laundry list of complaints, not that I gave a single fuck about anything that came out of this traitor’s mouth.
My eyes caught a flash of movement to my right, light reflecting off metal, followed by a burst of flame, followed by black, rolling smoke spilling from the high balcony.
One assassin down.
Giovanni paused, eyes widening as the acrid smoke reached us, reeking of burned flesh.
I gave him a sedate smile. Checkmate, motherfucker.
“We are here today to hear claims for the title of Don.” His lips pinched together as Dante leaned out over the railing and gave me a thumbs-up. A less subtle signal than I would have hoped for, but it had the desired effect.
Giovanni looked like he was about to stroke out.
“A respected and powerful role, one that should not be taken lightly,” he barked, glaring at me.
“We already have a standing claim,” Severin reminded him without an ounce of sarcasm, which was a testament to his poker abilities. “Gabriel is recognized by this council as next in line. Are you contesting his birthright?”
I gave the old vampire a nod of gratitude, wondering how Giovanni would spin this. Rocco still hadn’t arrived, and my stomach was a tangle of knots.
Two to two… I would have liked better odds.
“Gabriel Dominico is a traitor to this dynasty. He poisoned his own sire to claim the title, and I have the proof.” Giovanni’s smile was filled with spite.
“I put myself forward as the next Don. I have served this Dynasty and this council wisely for centuries, advised Don Marcello himself, and am the logical choice to lead.”
“I second Giovanni DiRavello’s claim.” Vincenzo’s ingratiating manners grated on me even more when the little fucker glared at me across the table. “The Dominicos have held power long enough. It is time for new blood.”
I shifted in my chair, catching a glimpse of Nico above, fingers flashing in simple code—where is Rocco? What can I do?
“We cannot vote without a full council. A quorum is required for ascension,” I pointed out, voice echoing. Above me, Nico withdrew into the shadows.
“Ah, yes. You will notice one of our chairs is empty today.” Giovanni pinned that hate-filled stare on me, fingers playing along the edge of the table.
My instincts prickled in warning.
“Rocco Demente is being held under house arrest for consorting with the enemy, selling Dynasty secrets, and forging an unsanctioned blood oath. His trial is already scheduled for next week. Today, this council will rely on the active members for this vote. Vincenzo, in your mother’s stead, you may begin the proceedings. Paolo will tally the votes.”
For a brief second, my mind went blank, caught off guard by a development I hadn’t anticipated… but should have.
Severin sat up straighter, hand on his weapon, eyes on Giovanni’s throat. I shook my head. Spilling blood here today would not further our cause.
“I nominate Giovanni DiRavello as Don of the D’Immortali Dynasty, to lead us until such a time as he is incapacitated or death cuts his reign short.”
I studied the old vampire, wondering what he hoped to accomplish. Even with taking Rocco out of play, the vote would still be split two to two. A stalemate. Nobody leaving a winner. This didn’t make sense.
Severin lifted his hand. “I stand with Gabriel Dominico.”
I had to smile. The old master’s cold tone clearly said—he is the only reasonable choice, and the rest of you are idiots.
Vincenzo brought his fist down on the table. “I stand with Giovanni.” My lips tightened, even though I’d expected this. I scanned the darkened balconies, looking for Emberline, wishing I had taken her warning more seriously.
“As the Dynasty’s most humble servant, I cast my vote for myself,” Giovanni said, without an ounce of shame in his morally depraved body.
“Two to one,” Paulo announced unnecessarily.
I frowned. There was no way this would come out in Giovanni’s favor, and I couldn’t see what his game was. Had he only called this meeting to get me out in the open? Or was he simply grandstanding and testing my resolve?
I opened my mouth, about to make the vote two to two, when something whispered through the air, the slightest disturbance, like a moth’s beating wings.
There was a prick of pain at my neck, just beneath my jaw, like I’d been stung.
I scratched the spot, and the tips of my fingers came away stained with a spot of blood.
My stomach dropped as instantly weakness flooded through my body. Giovanni didn’t even try to hide his satisfaction, watching me like a spider who’d caught the fly.
My tongue swelled, my throat closed, and darkness clung to the edges of my vision as I pitched forward in my chair, sprawled on the council table, fingers clawing as I fought for air.
“The vote is two to one in Giovanni DiRavello’s favor. Congratulations, my lord, on becoming the new Don of the D’Immortali Dynasty.”
Vincenzo’s voice came from far, far away, the words ringing out like a death sentence.
I was vaguely aware of Severin calling for a healer, pressing me back in the chair as I fought for breath.
“As my first formal act as Don, I accuse you and your accomplices of sedition, treason, and attempting to overthrow this Dynasty.” Giovanni’s smile was cunning as a spider’s.
“Take him into custody and send out notice. There is a five-million-dollar reward for his co-conspirators, Emberline Dominico, Dante Dominico, and Nico Draconi. Dead or alive.”