Page 27 of Vicious Heir

Pierre gives me an exasperated look once she’s gone. He walks over to the bar cart and pours himself a drink. I stay where I am, hands clasped in front of me, head hanging. I try to look as contrite as I can.

“What’s the scheme this time, little sister? Trying to add a zero to the end of your inheritance? The will’s not even in there, you know.”

“Nothing like that.”

“Well?”

I shift uncomfortably. “I was looking for something about my future husband.”

Pierre hesitates. He lets out a long sigh and takes a drink. “And you thought you’d find it in that old thing? Grandmother keeps the real documents in the safety deposit box, you know.”

Well, damn it, I didn’t even know wehadone of those. But I probably should have assumed.

“Please don’t get Kennedy in trouble,” I say quickly. “You know how she is.”

“That one cares about you a little too much.” He crosses his arms, resting his glass on his opposite elbow. “Tell me why I shouldn’t rat you out.”

“Because—” I wave my hands in the air. “I’m the one marrying a stranger. Can you really blame me for all this?”

“Come on, Lucille. It reallyisn’tthe end of the world.”

“Easy for you to say. You got to pick your wife.”

He snorts and looks toward the windows. “Cute you think that.”

“But you weren’t arranged, were you?”

“When I turned sixteen, Grandmother brought me a list with fifty family names on it. In no uncertain terms, she told me that I may marry a girl from that list. She also said that if I got a girl pregnant who wasn’t on the list, she’d castrate me and kick me out of the family.” He laughs lightly, shaking his head. “I think she meant it too.”

“I had no clue,” I admit, feeling a little guilty, but he’d never talked about this before. I knew Pierre was under an immense amount of pressure to keep the family afloat financially; I just didn’t realize that extended to his personal life too.

“It’s not something we talk about.” He turns back to me, stern now. “I accepted Grandmother’s terms. I did what was best for the family, even if it wasn’t in my personal best interests. Just inthe way you are going to drop whatever this childish nonsense is.” He gestures vaguely at the cabinet.

I rub my hands together. I’m tempted to tell him about Demir, but what if he already knows? He’ll only tell me to let it go and might tell Grandmother that I was poking around about that name.

“Maybe you’re right,” I say, hedging a bit.

“Iamright.” He sips his drink. “Your wedding is soon. You will behave in the meantime, Lucille. No more trouble. No more whatever you and Kennedy have cooking. I won’t mention this to Grandmother if youswearyou’ll behave.” He tilts his head and even manages to smile a bit. “Do that for me, will you, kiddo? Be good, marry that Adriano character, and help the whole family out. Can you do that?”

I pull into myself. I despise the idea of letting my brother down. Even if he’s always been distant and difficult, he hasn’t been nearly as bad as Grandmother. There have even been a few good times where I thought we might grow close. We never did, but still.

Now could be my chance.

Besides, what can I do about this Demir stuff?

I’m marrying Adriano either way.

“I can do that,” I say contritely. “No more trouble.”

“That’s it. I know you have it in you.” He walks over and gives me a quick pat on the arm. “Go on, I’ll keep my mouth shut. You just hang tight until your wedding day.”

Pierre ushers me out, beaming the whole time, while a part of me withers and falls dormant. Going quiet again.

Chapter 10

The Wedding

Adriano

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