Page 76 of Blood Vows

“Building a joint financial network,” Luca breathed.

“Crimson Holdings?” Dante asked.

“No,” Luca said. “There was something before it.”

Dante frowned. “What was it?”

“They called it the Crimson Accord.”

Elena went pale. “What was the purpose of the accord?”

“Shared money, shared territory, and shared protection,” Luca said.

“That doesn't sound unusual,” Dante said.

“It wasn't,” Luca said.

“Then what is unusual?”

Luca went quiet. “The collateral clause.”

Dante’s stomach dropped. “What collateral clause?” Elena whispered.

Luca exhaled. “If one family betrayed the agreement, the others could seize its assets.”

“It was about money?” Dante asked.

“Assets,” Luca said again.

“That’s not the same thing?” Elena asked.

“No,” Luca said, “it’s not the same thing.”

Elena’s voice shook. “What counted as an asset?” Dante already knew he wasn’t going to like the answer.

Luca finally sighed and said, “Blood heirs.”

Dante’s vision went red. “What the fuck?” Elena released his hand, and he looked at her. Her face had gone white.

“You want to explain that?” Dante demanded.

“The language is old-world. It looks symbolic,” Luca said.

“What do you mean by looks?” Elena asked.

“I’m reading it exactly as it was written,” Luca said.

“Then read it to us,” Dante said.

Luca did. “The first blood heir born after sealing shall stand as living bond between houses. So long as the bond survives, the accord survives.”

Dante stared at Elena, and she shook her head. “No.”

Luca continued. “There’s another line.”

“Just say it,” Dante growled.

“If blood betrays blood, the bond returns all holdings to the remaining houses.”