I head up the stairs and go in through the front door, immediately going up the stairwell to Ion’s study where many of the Clan meetings have been held in the past. There’s a new table in the middle of the room, enough for us all to sit down, meaning none of us will have to stand. What a nice change.
While I take my seat I realize I must be the last they were waiting on. Mariana’s annoyed gaze seems to confirm it.
Bianca is sitting directly beside her father, across from her mother and I sit a few chairs to her right. Mircea is across from me, and we both stare at each other while we wait for Ion or Mariana to begin the meeting.
Mariana presses a couple of buttons on the laptop in front of them and within a moment we see the rest of the Clan members projected onto the wall at the empty end of the table. There is no greeting, going strictly into business.
“Kronid has been found in Los Angeles. We have a few people on the ground who were able to break into his apartment. They found some troubling material, which leads us to believe he’s on his way to New York.” Ion states.
Chatter amongst the Clan leaders rings out in the room, whether in person or here virtually.
“Marcellus, I need you to reach out to Salvatore and your contact at the Arcane. I don’t want this asinine fool to make it anywhere close to my family, so, he will be put down like the animal he is.” Ion tells him, anger laced through his tone. His nostrils flare while a vein pops on his forehead.
“Of course. Relay all the information to me and I’ll make calls right now. Is that alright?” Marcel asks Ion.
Ion nods, “Of course, do what you need. We’ll speak later.”
A beeping sound indicates Marcellus has dropped from the call, and on the wall his picture goes black.
“Now, while I wait for Marcellus to get back to me, lets discuss some other Clan business, such as the impending union between my daughter, Bianca, and Mircea Lazar.”
I swear, my fucking heart stops beating straight in my chest. I glare across the table to Mircea, wondering if this is all a ploy to fuck with us, to get his way with Bianca. Though, before I can speak, Bianca has stood from her seat.
“There will be no wedding between Mircea and I,” she states, firm in her decision. I know her attitude better than anyone else here.
Mariana furrows her brows together, “What? Why not? It’s our duty, Bianca. Hell, I was promised to your father.”
“And I’m betting you weren’t pregnant with another man’s child.” My eyes go wide at what she’s just said. Not because it’s in front of her parents, but all of these Clan leaders.
Mariana’s eyes go wide and she sits up a bit straighter in her chair. “You can’t be serious.”
Bianca grabs her purse from the back of her chair and fumbles through it, pulling out a photograph looking thing. Ah, it’s a sonogram. The one she showed me. I smile lightly, loving how my fearless woman isn’t afraid to let everyone know about the child we’ve created. She passes it across the table to her mother. “Tell me now how I’m not serious,”
Mariana looks to the sonogram, then to Ion, then back to the sonogram. “I . . . who is the father? Please tell me this isn’t a one-night stand, or something of that matter.” She pulls a hand up to her nose and pinches the bridge.
“Nope. The father is a man I’ve been seeing for quite some time, and a man who I’m very infatuated with.” Bianca says.
I turn to get a better look at her and see the smile that pulls at her lips.
“Well, who is it?” Ion questions.
Instead of answering, Bianca walks down to where I sit, and makes herself comfortable on my lap. Mariana bursts out into laughter, practically falling off her chair. “Okay, now I know this is a sick joke. How long have you two been in on this?”
“Does this look like one of my practical jokes, Mother?” Bianca questions her.
I wrap one hand around Bianca, while placing the other on her stomach where our child blissfully grows each day.
A crashing sound causes Bianca to jump and I peer past her to see the laptop is shattered against the wall, while Ion is hovering over the table in an angered state, his nostrils flaring from his fury.
“I’ll say this now before anyone gets any ideas. I’m in love with Stefan Dalca, and I will give birth to our child. Though, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this. I’m not just with Stefan. This incorrigible man over here has somehow weaseled his way into my heart as well.”
“So . . . what, you’re dating Mircea?” Mariana asks.
“Yes, I am.”
Mariana rubs her hands over her face in complete disbelief, “Jesus, Bianca. I knew you were eccentric, but never did I think you’d . . . be into this polygamous crap.”
“I’ve never been into polygamy, Mother. It just happened. None of us planned on this to happen.” Bianca tells her.
“I could fucking kill you and make this a lot easier, Dalca.” Ion seethes in my direction.
“You would never take the only parent Daniella has from her life. The girl has gone through enough, and Daddy, if you even try to hurt a hair on his head you know I will become your worst nightmare. I am your daughter after all. Relax, though. Stefan treats me like a princess.”
Ion manages to sit back in his chair, although the glares and angered looks don’t dissipate. I have a feeling it will take a while for her parents to accept our relationship, or the fact I’m the father of their first grandchild.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mircea
If you ask me, I feel like a real
