Page 61 of Deceptive Vows
I offered my hand, which he took with practiced charm. “Your home is magnificent.”
“Thank you.” He smiled, then waved with a flourish toward his daughter. “I’m not sure if you’ve been formally introduced, but this is my daughter Sofia.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Claire said.
Gabriele’s daughter gave a shy smile. “Nice to meet you.”
He cleared his throat, and if I hadn’t been watching her, I wouldn’t have seen the flinch.
Gabriele’s gaze flicked from me to Nazar and back. “I hear congratulations are in order?”
“Uh, yes,” I said and leaned into Nazar. “I wasn’t exactly on board at first,but…” I looked at him and smiled. I’d planned to play it up for Gabriele’s benefit, but the script vanished the moment our eyes locked. “It seems I’ve found a kindred spirit.”
“I remember when my parents would speak of their arranged marriage. Unfortunately for my father, my mother was stubborn and needed a little direction from him.”
My attention jerked to him. I knew what he was saying. His father had abused his mother because she didn’t want to be married to him, and if Marco and Gabriele were a reflection of him, then we were looking into the pit of hell itself.
Before I could find the proper amount of venom to respond, Gabriele turned to Lucas. “Could we maybe discuss a few things in my office? I promise I won’t keep you long.”
A rock settled in the pit of my stomach. My brother leaving with Gabriele, out of our sight, with no protection?
Apparently, the man read a room with excellent precision. “I promise, no harm will come to you. Unfortunately, business waits for no man, not even during the holidays.”
Lucas glanced at Ari and then tugged Claireto him, kissing her cheek. “Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone, okay?” He winked.
Claire lifted on her toes and touched her lips to his. “No promises.”
I watched as Gabriele led Lucas toward a side door, Sofia gliding away to a group of women who looked to be about the same age.
The moment they were out of earshot, I whispered, “I don’t like this.”
Ari nodded, his eyes tracking Gabriele across the room. “Neither do I, but Lucas can handle himself, and our host is smart enough to keep his hands clean with this many people in attendance.”
Lex stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Did you notice the security? Four men at each exit, plus the ones circulating. Heavily armed too.”
His time with Dimitris had rubbed off.
“And not all of them are Moretti’s,” Nazar added. “I spotted at least two with Gray Wolf tattoos sticking out from under their collars.”
“Let’s circulate,” Ari continued. “Draw less attention. Lex, maybe you can keep an eye on Sofia. Anna and I will monitor the main doors.”
“Thea and I will keep our ears open in case anyone feels a little talkative,”Nazar said.
Ari nodded. “Sounds good.”
As our group dispersed, I accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, my eyes never leaving the door where Lucas had disappeared.
Eight minutes later, Lucas emerged. His expression was neutral, but I caught the tension in his shoulders, the faint line between his brows that appeared only when he was deeply troubled.
By the time he reached Claire, we’d all coalesced around him.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
Lucas’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he looked at Lex. “Everything is fine.”
“Lucas…”
His gaze locked with mine. “Later. Dimitris needs to be present.”
