My father comes up beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Marius, so good to see you here. Thank you so much for coming today, though I must apologize. The morning has brought great tragedy.” Mariana states, extending a hand to my father. Meanwhile, Ion is still dealing with his daughter.
“Oh, it’s an honor. Mircea and I are humbled to be in your presence.” My father should be a professional ass kisser, that’s for damn sure.
“Mircea, you’ve grown so much since I last saw you.” Mariana smiles widely.
“As has Bianca I see, quite . . . the . . . look she has going on.” I mutter, taking in her vibrant hair and the tattoos I see peeking out from the v she has cut into her t-shirt dress . . . if that’s even a thing.
Mariana giggles lightly, “Yes, she’s the most eccentric of all my children. Though, I’m sure you remember that from when she was a child.”
“Her mother’s daughter it seems,” my father pokes fun at the queen of the Clans, yet I doubt she realizes he isn’t a fan of her. Ion and my father have known one another for years, and the only reason we’re even here is because Ion has publicly declared Bianca as his daughter, meaning if I were to marry her, I’d arguably be the most powerful man in the Clans.
That is why I’m here— for power.
Mariana laughs yet again, “Yes, well, I need to make a call and ensure one of the Clan leaders is alright. It was great to see you both, and thank you again for coming.”
“It’s our pleasure,” my father answers as Mariana walks away, then dips his mouth closer to my ear. He whispers, “We will break Bianca of those foul habits she inherited from her mother. What a disgrace for a woman of such nobility to act such as this. Despicable if you ask me.”
My father is an old-fashioned man, with old-fashioned views. However, I’d prefer to break through the mafia princess’ walls by wooing her with my charm. She is a strikingly beautiful woman, although we’ve had our differences from the point we were small children. Never did we get along, but I’ll do my best to change that.
“I’ll try your way first, and if it backfires, we’ll try mine.” I tell him lowly, sure that no one will hear us.
“Alright,” He mutters in response. “I need to run off to get some paperwork finalized with Ion. This wedding is happening whether Bianca wants it to or not. By the end of the day, you will be engaged to Bianca Petran.”
My father walks over to where Ion is, and I watch as he shakes Bianca’s hand, introducing himself. She appears to be shocked for a moment, before smiling and acting as any noble woman would. A few moments later Ion and my father walk past me, and head for the door.
Though, I keep my eyes on the prize.
On Bianca Petran, and man, the second her gaze meets mine I can’t help but smile like the cat who caught the canary.
The power my family has so desperately craved will be here soon enough, and not only that, but I will have Vasile blood tied to me until the day I die.
Chapter Four
Stefan
I’m unable to tear my eyes away from them, needing to know whatever the fuck they’re talking about. Marius Lazar shaking Bianca’s hand only causes worry to swarm over me. I heard what Bianca said, belting out at her father about how she could be dating someone.
When I heard it, fear and excitement soared in the pit of my stomach. Excitement because she might want to tell people about us, about what we’ve been doing, that she cares for me in the same way I do for her. Then the realistic bit, the fear. Fearful because her father could shoot me dead for even touching his precious baby girl. After how I acted with Mariana all those years ago, I wouldn’t blame him. I’m corrupt, mischievous, a total ass . . . and yet I fucking love Bianca Petran.
“Stefan?” Melody, Mikel’s chirpy wife, calls my name, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?” I question her, getting a cocked eyebrow from her husband.
“I was asking how Daniella is doing at her school here, if she’s liking that you moved to New York?”
We made the decision together about sixteen months ago to move here permanently. I go back to Argentina every few months, but for the most part I delegate my tasks to my trusted men. New York holds my heart and it’s because of the woman with pink hair. The one I can’t even think about leaving behind. Being without her for hours is insufferable. Imagine being apart for a week . . . it would be agonizingly difficult.
“She’s doing well, making lots of friends. Of course she gets the chatty side from her mother. Presley was a debutant when she was younger, so I’m not surprised Daniella is the head honcho over there.”
Melody giggles lightly with a nod. “Yeah, she’s always been such a beautiful girl. Personality and looks.”
“Thank god her mother passed those both down. I’m sure many of you question if she’s mine or not.” This time I laugh, but really, I’m so thankful Daniella is more like her mother than me. I’m not the best type of man, so . . . I want her to be light like her mother. Especially when the darkness embodies who I am.
I catch Mircea smirking at Bianca, and her reaction to this is . . . interesting. She doesn’t smile. She doesn’t appear shocked. Instead, it’s like a poker face, which mean she’s hiding something. She pulls off the same look in front of the Clans at meetings, plastering a poker face on to keep the peace and look serious. But why she isn’t losing her shit further and telling him not
