Page 60 of Deceptive Vows
Reaching the ballroom, I was left speechless by the majesty of it. Large crystal chandeliers ran down the middle of the ceiling, and more hand-painted murals depicted what looked like Roman gods in various states of entertainment. While the rest of the house seemed to be a mix of modern and old-world styles, this room offered a peek into ancient Rome, with deep reds andgolds adorning the walls and furnishings, along with more expensive, rare art.
“Well, this room is certainly a statement,” I said.
“Da, an unending pocket of money statement.”
I looked at him and chuckled. “I believe he’s saying a lot by inviting us here. He has the money and the ability to outlast anyone who comes against him.”
With a slight nod of his head, Nazar leaned in, his mouth brushing against my ear. “Our pockets may not be as deep, but our passion for justice is just as unending.”
“Da.”
His breath tickled my neck as he laughed softly.
We weaved through the crowd, searching for Lucas, Ari, and Lex. They were holding up a corner on the far-right side of the room with Claire and Anna. Dimitris was absent, as usual. He called these types of affairs casting calls because everyone in attendance was acting.
To be fair, it wasn’t far from the truth.
I stepped in close to Lex and whispered, “No date?”
“Trying the solo flight for a while.”
“Ah.”
Lucas took a sip from the creamy white liquid in his glass. “Eggnog. Not bad, actually.”
“See anyone interesting so far?” I glanced over my shoulder at the different clusters of people scattered around the room.
Ari wrapped his arm around Anna and shook his head. “Not so far. I’m guessing Gabriele will make an entrance soon.”
Nazar slipped his free hand into his pocket. “I wonder if he’ll be accompanied by a date.”
I was curious about that as well. His wife had died after his daughter, Sofia, was born. As far as I knew, he’d never remarried, so there was no telling who might be on his arm.
“Speak of the devil,” Lucas murmured, his gaze shifting to the ballroom entrance.
Gabriele Moretti entered with a flourish that only a man who’d spent decades controlling a room could master. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, and the deep burgundy tie perfectly complimented the room’s color scheme. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, and his smile was calculated as he nodded toguests. Most interesting was the young brunette on his arm, his daughter Sofia.
“If this wasn’t a Christmas party and she wasn’t twenty-four, I’d almost say it was a debutant ball.” I looked at Ari. “I’ve never seen them together in public before. Have you?”
Ari would have known since he was Lucas’s second, and he attended all of the parties and social events as a representative of the Kalantzis family.
He shook his head. “No, and it makes me wonder why.”
“His son Massimo is poised to take over the family business from what I understand.”
“Perhaps Thea isn’t the only one getting married soon,” Anna said.
Talk about piquing my curiosity.
“What an interesting evening this is turning out to be,” Nazar said just loud enough for me to hear.
As Gabriele worked the room, his gaze swept over our little gathering, pausing just long enough to make his notice deliberate. His lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes before he guided Sofia toward us.
“The Kalantzis family.” Gabriele spread hisarms in welcome. “I’m delighted you could make it.” His accent was less pronounced than Marco’s, polished by years of American business dealings, but the Italian still lingered beneath the surface.
Lucas inclined his head, his face a perfect mask of polite indifference. “Gabriele. Quite the gathering.”
“Christmas brings out the best in people, doesn’t it?” Gabriele’s gaze shifted to me, lingering a moment longer than necessary. “And the lovely Thea. A vision as always.”
