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While everyone was still scrambling, I knew I had to figure things out fast. “The wedding will have to wait until after Cash is gone.”
“No,” Emmanuel and Christian said at once, though I had a feeling it was for very different reasons.
“Yes. Consider it a show of good faith that you’ll actually be where I need you.”
Emmanuel’s shoulders tightened, but he didn’t disagree, which meant Christian wouldn’t either.
“It’ll take two days to get my men here.”
Which meant that was all the time I had to come up with a viable plan. “We’ll be ready,” I promised. Greyson was already on the phone, whispering to Victor. When he nodded my way, I knew we’d make it. It would be a tight timeline, but we’d pull it off.
For a chance to destroy Cash for all he’d done, I’d do just about anything.
With a clap on Christian’s shoulder and a few whispered words to a pissed-off Two-Bit, Emmanuel swept out of the room, taking his guards with him.
Like an unspoken decree, no one spoke until the cars left the drive, and even then, we waited for Nate and Adrien to scan for and remove the five listening devices they found in the room and adjoining hallways. By the time they got back, Two-Bit looked ready to disappear into the wall, and Christian was practically vibrating.
“We’re clear,” Adrien said, Nate nodding his agreement.
Christian stalked over to Shara until they were pressed together, framing her face with his hands. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
Even though the room was cleared, he barely spoke over a whisper.
She curled her hands around his wrists. “I already agreed.”
“You agreed to marry Adrien. This changes things.” He sent a dark look to Two-Bit, which he returned.
Shara huffed and pulled Christian’s focus back to her. “It changes nothing. If Mari trusts him, I trust him. Besides, you’re the one who changed things.”
“Don’t worry, amore. We’ll be talking about that later.” Adrien’s glower was impressive, but Christian didn’t seem to care. He pulled Shara in until he could press his lips to her forehead. “You’re too trusting, mi sol.”
Her cheeks flushed at the name, but he was already turning to his brother.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Two-Bit stared Christian down, and again, I could see the resemblance. Mostly in the eyes. They looked less like their father and more like each other. It was a little disturbing. “My presence was requested.”
I could see Christian tensing up for a showdown, and when Shara sent me a pleading look, I waded in. “Did you know what he was going to do?”
Christian shook his head, running a hand through his hair in agitation. “I knew he was going to remove Rafael, but the rest was a shock.”
“How’d you get him to work with us?” Grey asked Christian, coming back over now that his phone call was done.
“I reminded him that you may be Mario’s daughter, but plenty of people know you’re Bianca’s too. If we let you fall, it looks bad on us.”
“He helped because his reputation was on the line.” It should’ve annoyed me, but I’d made peace with Emmanuel. One day, he’d die and be out of my hands. Until then, I’d pretend he didn’t exist. “If you decide you want to speed up your transition to power when this is all over, let me know.”
Adrien laughed and Shara’s shoulders dropped, especially when he lifted an arm for her. She sped across the room and snuggled into his side as he kissed her temple. They were so wrapped in each other, whispering with their mouths almost pressed together, that they didn’t see the way Christian watched her like she was the most coveted thing in his life.
Or the way Two-Bit looked like he’d rather throw himself in front of a moving bus than take a single step closer to her.
I chose to believe it was because he didn’t like being commanded to marry and had nothing to do with Shara herself. If that wasn’t the case, we’d be having a very serious conversation soon.
Christian, however, decided the conversation was due now.
“I don’t care what the old man said. If you hurt her?—”
“I don’t even want her. I’m certainly not going to hurt her.”
They stared at each other like they were playing chicken until, finally, Christian scoffed, walking away with a look that promised death if he’d lied.
