Page 10 of Betrayed in the Dark
Even from things I can no longer avoid.
Like my impending wedding.
I glance down at my watch. Twelve minutes.
This is ridiculous. I wait for no—
The click of the doorknob unlatching and steady footsteps approaching let me know he’s here without even having to turn around. But what has me pausing is the additional footsteps.
Shit. This isn’t good.
Staying strong, I keep my composure, turning as my four brothers all make their way before me, followed by… My throat goes dry as my eyes freeze on Eli.
The man I so badly wish I could hate.
Because then everything would be so much easier.
Not to mention, less painful.
“Madeleine,” Vincenzo, aka Vin, my oldest brother and the head of this family, greets me with a kiss on my cheek before making his way behind the mahogany desk. He took on this role over seven years ago after our father was murdered, and I hate to admit it, but he’s done a pretty damn good job over the years keeping our family safe, considering all the enemies who would love to stab a knife in our backs. With his dark black hair and bright blue eyes resembling mine, we look more like twins than siblings, even with a seven-year age gap. As he takes a seat, his eyes hold mine, a silent apology flashing over them.
Unease settles inside me.
“Take a seat,” he tells me.
“I’ll stand.” I defiantly cross my arms over my chest, jutting out my hip. It might be a man’s world, but I’ll be damned if I ever let one tell me what to do.
Even my own brother.
“Of course you will.” He tips his chin, knowing me better than anyone in this room—well, maybe not everyone—and he recognizes that this is not the battle he wants to fight me on.
Not when a bigger one is brewing.
The others take their places around the room, all eyes landing on me.
“Thank you for speaking with us,” Leo says too formally for my liking. He stands behind Vin with his tattooed-covered arms crossed over his chest, his dark brown eyes never wavering on me as he appears very much the part of the deadly predator that he is. He’s the one responsible for hunting down those in the streets of New York who are past due on payments to our businesses or dare to attempt harm to our family.
I’ll never understand why the bastards run. Not when he always finds them.
The others in the room remain silent. There’s a current of tension stifling the air between us.
What the hell is going on?
Clearing my throat, I stand a little straighter. My spine turns into a steel rod as I plaster on my famous Madeleine Alarie smile. The one I’ve perfected over the years. The one no one can see through.
“Brothers and…Eli.” I spare him a glance, unable to make eye contact with him. “What is so important that you had to step away from the celebration to speak with me so formally?” I question with my gaze directed at Leo. It is his big night, after all. “Is there a problem with the casino?”
Over the years, I’ve become the unofficial financier of my family. Always good with numbers, I welcomed the responsibility and took pride in my ability to keep the family’s investments…clean. Or as clean on the books as I allow anyone ever to see.
Not that our investments have ever been a problem, seeing that half the police force in this state is willingly on our payroll.
But the casino, referred to by guests as Luxe, is one of our family’s most profitable streams of revenue.
And most importantly, it’s mine.
“No problem with the casino,” Vin states. He steeples his fingers before him. “With everything that has occurred recently, we think it would be wise to take some extra precautions.”
“Of course,” I answer, my eyes bouncing to each brother. “But what does this have to do with me? Do you need access to funds for more improvements to the estate?”
