Page 44 of Tempt Me
“Rue. Last night was…”
“A horror show? I can think of some more words if that one doesn’t fit.”
“I’m so proud of you,” she blurts out. She is acting so skittish and not at all like my mom. It’s suspicious and weird.
“Proud,” I repeat. “Yeah, I didn’t do much.”
“You did what your father and I wanted.”
“I still don’t know why.”
She sighs. “There is a long and bloody history between your ancestors and his. It all boils down to a piece of land, a substantial stretch that runs along the border of Arachon and Italy.”
“What’s it got to do with me?”
“The Kingdom wanted it back.”
“Why couldn’t they just take it?”
“It has been passed back and forth for as long as history has been written. It was stolen and registered as property in Italy by Antonio’s ancestors.”
“So what? Why not just let it go?”
“It’s complicated and has to do withhim.” She whispers the last word.
“Him?” I blink several times, but then I realize she’s talking about the Don—the real Head of Solitaire. Placing my bag back down, as this has now caught my undivided attention, I purse my lips. “What is really going on here?”
Mom runs a hand through her hair. “Your father and I are planning something dangerous, and that could possibly get us killed. We need that land back under Arachon territory to form a Duchy, a separate state to Arachon but within Arachon’s borders. It’s yours to rule, and it is a place where you can go where you will be untouchable.”
“What?” I ask, shaking my head. “I’m lost.”
“Just know about it and remember it.”
“Okay, what the fuck is going on here?” I demand, folding my arms as the anger rises within me. “What are you planning?”
She shakes her head. “I can’t, Rue. Just know and remember, yes?”
Without another word, she slips out, leaving me dumbfounded and none the wiser than when we started this conversation.
Turning as the interconnecting door opens and Isaac appears, dressed in his usual black combat pants and tee, I’m disappointed he didn’t suit up. Fuck, he’s scorching hot.
“We’re going out,” I murmur.
“Figured. What are you going to tell them when they ask what this thing is for Solitaire?”
“Oh, I don’t think they’ll even remember,” I mutter, picking my bag up again and leading Isaac out of the room. Whatever is going on, shit just got real dark, and I’m not entirely sure I want to be a part of it. Not that I’m averse to a bit of darkness, I revel in it usually, not being afraid to enter and get my hands dirty, but this…if this has anything to do with the Don, I’m not on board with it. That guy is probably the only one who can instill a fear inside me that makes me quiver with uncertainty. He is a complete recluse, no one knows who he is apart from my parents, but he can destroy you from the inside out with a simple word if he takes umbrage to your face. Not that my parents are much different, butno oneis immune from him. Not them and certainly not me.
The only thing I can fathom that would have my mom running this scared for my safety is the unthinkable. The absolutely inconceivable idea that they’re planning to overthrow him.
If that’s the case, then we’d better run. Far, far away, because all hell is about to reign down on our asses, and I don’t particularly want to be caught in the crossfire of the war that will inevitably cause the destruction of either or possibly both parties involved.
Chapter25
Isaac
Following Rue out of the house into the warm sunny morning, she climbs into the backseat of the Range Rover. Something is off. Okay, it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out, but it’s deeper than just the toll the last week has taken on her. Something happened between last night and this morning to throw her off her game. I expected her to sit up front and try to engage me in conversation and do all the things she usually does to torment me. Refusing to think about last night, I scowl and climb into the driver’s seat. Pulling down the visor, the key slides out, and I shove it in the ignition with more force than I meant to. Before I can shift into gear, the passenger and back doors open, bringing Luca and Jez to the party.
“I drive,” Luca comments from next to me.
