I glanced at the clock on the mantel, but it was long-since stopped; it probably hadn’t been wound in months, making me wonder yet again if Vasile truly owned this property.
I knew this feeling all too well—of being left behind at home as the minutes ticked past. It had been just the same with my father; when he was with us, we were the center of his world. But once he was out on his own with a stack of chips in front of him, nothing else in the world mattered.
And that was not a life I could endure, no matter how I felt about Vasile.
My thoughts drifted to my father. My mother. Soon they would come to collect me and discover I was not at school.
I took a segment of orange and savored it on my tongue, as I watched the flames dance before me. I had to find a way to push my feelings aside. Somehow. Some way.
Chapter 15 Vasile
As I crossed the courtyard to my parents’ quarter of the estate, the curtains on one of the second-floor windows parted, and my mother’s nurse wheeled her to the glass.
Though it had been just a day since I had seen her last, it made my fucking heart sink to see her looking even weaker and frailer. And yet, her smile was just as beautiful as ever.
She waved to me, beaming. I gave her an exaggerated bow, smiling back up at her in return as another of her attendants pushed open the window.
“Come and see me.” Her voice was soft and I had to strain to hear.
“I have some business with father. I will try to come to you after. You are looking as ravishing as ever. Younger every day, mother.”
“You were always the best liar.” She fluttered her hand in a dismissive wave. “You men, always doing your business. Go on. He’s so proud of you. So pleased to have you back here with us. I pray every night you will stay.”
I smiled, “You never know, mother. But, it’s freezing, you should not be breathing this cold air.”
“What does it matter? Fresh air, cold or not, is better than being stuck inside for the rest of my days.”
“Take care of her.” I eyed her nurse, who nodded, leaning down to whisper in my mother’s ear.
She shook her head and frowned, but blew me a kiss and I returned it.
“I will see you soon, mother.”
And then her nurse wheeled her away, the attendant closing the window and letting the lace curtain fall back in place.
The stables had been built in one corner of the courtyard, as a defense against attackers in the days when the Greengallow family were as likely to be at literal war with their enemies as they were to beat them at cards or threaten their business for protection money.
The grooms knew me well enough not to stand on ceremony.
I was a lot of things, but a spoiled son of a bitch most definitely wasn’t one of them. As I usually did, I waved over the old stable-master and took a few moments to ask him how things were with his family. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to let them know that they weren’t forgotten, and in turn I knew that led to my own mare being treated with the kind of care and kindness I’d treat her with myself.
Once I’d checked on my Vela, I crossed past the old stone lions that my mother had bought when I was a barely ten years old. Snow covered, as usual, and with a chip in the ear of one from when Petre and I had been in one of our many rows and he’d thrown a rock. Missing me, but hitting the lion.
Being here always gave me the same mix of complicated fucking emotions. I’d grown to deeply dislike and disagree with our family business. But my childhood had been happy enough, I thought, until my mother got sick.
Once that happened, everything changed, including my brother. But the business had been lucrative enough to give my mother the best care, the best nursing, and the most comfortable life possible. Life in the Greengallow family was bittersweet, no matter how you cut it.
Walking into the main foyer, with its dark oak walls and rows of hunting trophies, I still felt like more of a visitor than someone who actually belonged. My brother had called me the prodigal son, and that was true enough.
A decade ago, my dad had given me the choice of joining him in business, or setting out on my own. I’d decided to do my own thing, and headed east to work with my mom’s brothers in importing gold and silver as well as running their own mines. It had been good, honest work and we raked in the money.
Now, though, I was back. I hadn’t known how long I planned to stay when I returned. My dad had been making noises about me joining the family business for a long time, but I’d always said no. I wanted to remain in our own country, but still had business interests back east.
But that was before I laid eyes on Valeria…and before my entire goddamned life changed, thanks to her.
Now that I had her, I wasn’t going to let her go. No matter what Petre said or did, she was mine. If that destroyed our family, if it made sworn enemies of my brother and I, then so fucking be it. Except, I knew it would also destroy my mother, and that was something I would try to avoid at all costs.
I knew one thing for certain, if I wanted to find any resolution that didn’t destroy our family, I’d be better off with my father on my side.
* * *
“Is that you, my boy?” my father called out, coming out from his office, looking hopeful, like a
