Page 131 of Betrayed in the Dark
“You want us to light things up as soon as they walk through the door?” Marcello asks with a mischievous grin.
“No,” Vin answers firmly.
Caine pouts. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Vin pinches the bridge of his nose. “The plan is—”
“They’re here,” Marco says smoothly, bringing a glass of amber liquid to his lips.
All at once, we turn to watch as the Vasilievs and the Manacordas enter the room: Adolfo, Alastor, Mila, Cressida, and Enzio, followed by Mikhail, Kazimir, Emil, Alik, and Luka.
Their arrival results in a sudden hushed silence among the crowd of guests.
My eyes rake over Alastor, and I start imagining all of the ways I’m going to kill him for what he’s put my princess through. My hands, at my sides, curl into fists unknowingly as the muscles in my body tighten. I rock my neck from side to side and exhale.
“God, they’re an ugly bunch,” Cassio remarks. “Especially that one in the middle with the slicked-back blond hair. Is that Alastor?”
“Yes,” Madeleine replies, swallowing hard as she wraps her arms around herself. “That’s him.”
“Don’t worry, cuz.” Caine winks. “We wouldn’t let you marry someone that ugly. It would ruin our family’s good genes.”
She smiles at his teasing.
“How would you like for this to be handled, Vincenzo?” Marco asks.
“Once Alex retrieves what we need, I’ll arrange a meeting with them after dinner to discuss the matter privately. But not until then. I want this matter to be handled as discreetly as possible,” he states, straightening his tie. His eyes darken as Alastor and his cousins turn in our direction. “Follow my lead.”
We wait as Alastor and the Vasilievs approach, stopping a few feet away. The rest of the Manacorda family moves to their seats at the other end of the room. Enzio glances at me and nods in greeting, which I return. As Cressida takes her seat, I notice that her eyes look darker than usual as she stares straight ahead…directly at Madeleine.
“Darling.” Alastor’s slimy smile widens, and it takes everything in me not to punch him in his smug face before choking all the life from his eyes. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
“I’m right here,” Madeleine responds. “I was just catching up with my family.”
Alastor’s eye twitches. “Yes, I see.” He looks to the Marchettis. “I wasn’t aware you would be joining us from Italy for this special occasion.”
“La famiglia è la nostra priorità,”Marco says, a sinister grin tugging at his lips. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mikhail?”
Mikhail’s cold expression remains stoic. “Of course. Family is all that matters.”
“Glad to see we agree,” Vin remarks, his eyes narrowing in on Alastor. Tensions brew amongst the group as each of us sizes up the other. “Maybe we should all take our seats so we can get this night started.”
“Agreed.” Alastor holds his hand out for Madeleine. She smiles and avoids his touch, walking around him to take a seat at the Alarie table. Alastor appears ready to combust from the insult. “Dear, we’re sitting with my parents and cousins.”
Madeleine looks up from her seat, unfolding her napkin. “I’ll join you shortly.”
A vein pulses in his neck. “Of course.” He looks at me with murder in his eyes.The feeling is mutual, mate.And then turns toward his cousins. “Let’s take our places.” The six of them walk away, heading to their seats.
“We’ll take our seats too,” Romeo says. “Just let us know when we’re needed.” The Marchetti men take their seats at the table closest to ours.
As the five of us sit, Mauro appears, taking the free seat beside Leo.
“Everything okay?” Alex asks.
He nods, tugging at his white collar. Madeleine shows him a sympathetic smile.
“Glad you could make it, cousin,” Caine offers as he clasps a hand on his shoulder. “Wouldn’t want you to miss out on all the fun we’re going to have.”
Mauro rolls his eyes, but the hint of a smile appears on his face.
