Page 32 of Pas de Trois
“Oh?”
“I’m proposing Anya be sent to live at the Vittori home. Renata, you will provide her with the medical care she requires until she delivers.”
Renata hisses, buzzing with fury. “You want me to take care of the woman who killed my brother?”
“Yes,” Murphy replies, unaffected. “It will keep your grieving mind occupied with a more important task. She may very well be carrying your niece or nephew…remember that.”
Anya struggles. I see the way her jaw ticks and her muscles flinch as she takes in the reality of that statement. The baby could be Vigo’s and that’s a hard fucking truth. But then, she adjusts her body and sits a little taller than before, her cold strength freezing her over again.
Renata turns her head slowly to look at Anya, scrutinizing her features with her narrowed eyes. Then, subtly, her face relaxes. Her eyes tell me that she’s making the connection of her potential relation to the baby growing in Anya’s belly.
I hang my head as the connection hits me all the same.
“I suppose that’s true,” Renata says. “But who will run the Mikhailov sector? Who will make decisions? Say the baby is a Mikhailov boy and can become Head of House when he comes of age, who will serve in his stead until that time comes?”
Murphy drums his fingers against the tabletop, considering a solution with squinted eyes. He jerks his head to look at Leo. “Any suggestions?”
“Kostya knows the sector well, doesn’t he?” Leo suggests.
“Kostya?” Anya whips her head around to look at them. “Is he alive?”
“Yes,” Murphy replies. “He’s being treated and held prisoner at the Vittoris while his wound is tended to. He was shot in his right shoulder…nothing life-threatening.” He sighs. “The problem with Kostya is that I don’t know whether he can be trusted. I’ve always known him to be a loyal guard to the Mikhailov family…It could serve to reason that he was blindly following Nikolai’s orders—like a good servant would—when he fired back during your escape. But, perhaps, he was more inclined to fire back because of his relationship with you and with Nikolai. How could I possibly know if he cares whether you live or die?”
“I can assure you,” Anya begins and I can sense the lie coming, “Kostya was only following orders. He is fiercely loyal to the Mikhailov name. He followed Nikolai’s orders blindly, even to his own detriment. You see where it got him…injured in gunfire.”
“See, that’s where I have a problem, lass. How am I to know if his loyalty now shifts to you? Perhaps he will blindly follow your orders now. I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you.”
“My only interest is in self-preservation,” Anya says.
Murphy jabs his finger in her direction. “Don’t test me, woman. I know better than that. You care about more than just self-preservation.” He points his finger in my direction next. “Him, for one.”
“So, what if I do?” she says, leaning forward on her elbows and folding her hands.
“It means we can leverage him against you when you start making stupid decisions. Notice my use of the word when, not if.” Murphy grins sarcastically. “So, here’s what’s going to happen. I have a Vittori and I have a Mikhailov.” He gestures to Renata and Anya, respectively. “I have two men aligned with each family, Lorenzo and Kostya, capable of making joint business decisions. If Leo agrees, let’s say we create a temporary joint family board for overseeing the Vittori and Mikhailov sectors. Renata, Anya, Lorenzo, and Kostya will be the members of this joint board, and we’ll require you to convene weekly to make any and all business decisions for either family sector. All decisions must be made with a three-fourths majority. Once we find out the gender and paternity of Anya’s child, we’ll re-evaluate how to proceed.”
Anya’s voice is quiet, but strong, “And what if the child is a girl?”
“We will re-evaluate your…value when the time comes.” Murphy’s tone is full of threats and warnings that make my stomach flip. He turns to Renata. “Until that time, Anya will be treated as a Mikhailov guest in your home. Do you understand?”
Begrudgingly, Renata replies, “Yes. I understand. But what is to become of the slave boy?” Her head nods toward me and I pull my shoulders back.
“He’s still the Mikhailov talent slave, but I suppose the decision rests with your joint family board. We can kill him and require Anya to find another.”
Shit.
“I don’t think that will be necessary. I have an interest in him,” Renata replies smoothly.
Murphy chuckles. “Of course, you do. But are you equipped to handle such an unruly slave in your home? One who pines for Anya? Can you manage him and your duty to provide care for her during her pregnancy?”
“Managing him will ensure I can provide for her care. You said it yourself, he’s leverage. I can slowly take the blood she owes to my family from his veins. Drop by drop. I can use him against her when she thinks of doing something foolish. She can use him as her talent, but I want unilateral authority over him while he’s in my home.”
My fingers twitch with my sight set on wrapping them around her throat.
“Well,” Murphy leans back, crossing his arms over his chest, “seems fair enough to me. Three-fourths of your family board is here now, so you can make that decision jointly. Kill him now and Anya finds new talent. Or let Renata take him on as her slave until his talent is needed. We know Renata’s vote. Lorenzo?”
Lorenzo’s eyes dart in my direction, then look to Anya. His expression twists as his eyes narrow in consideration. I watch as Anya lifts her chin and meets his gaze directly, waiting for his response. Her nostrils flare in fearful anticipation as she breathes deeply.
Lorenzo holds the power—right now in this moment—and his choice will determine whether I live or die. Obviously, Anya will vote for my life, even if it is to make me a slave to Renata Vittori. Lorenzo holds my fate in his hands.
