Chapter 23
(TYLER)
Sasha’s gaze shifts to studying his mother as he chews on a piece of bacon. “How is father this morning p>
“He had a bad night.” Lucia’s smile fades
“I assume he’s up in his office working.” A frown works up on Sasha’s face.
“Of course, is that a question?” Jericho mumbles.
“Yes, at least he has something to focus on.” Lucia picks up her cup from the table, and I notice her hands tremble. I don’t know about her relationship with her husband, but if I had to guess, her emotions seem to have taken a toll on her. I wonder if she married him for love. Are violent thugs like him even capable of love? Lucia however seems to love her sons, and they love her back.
As I take a bite of the crispy bacon, I have to admit there’s something odd about seeing Sasha around his family. Well, he is more reserved than Lucia and Jericho. He almost seems normal, which is far much different than the version of him that he showed me and I got to experience. All he has ever shown me are threats. Yet right now, he’s sitting across from me having a conversation with his family. Anyone who didn’t know could almost mistake him for a normal person.
Almost.
Sasha turns to look at me and when he catches me staring at him, my stomach does a weird somersault thing. I try to downplay the act, but I think it’s too late, he already noticed. “Father will want to see you.” He says in a cool voice. “I’ll take you to meet him I’m his study after breakfast. I’m sure he wants to meet you too p>
My pulse goes haywire when he mentions his father wanting to see me. I can imagine how weird it’s going to be when he notices my rounded belly. Does he know I’m pregnant? My appetite seems to disappear and I set my fork down. “Okay p>
“It’s alright, Tyler.” Lucia frowns, patting my shoulder lightly. “You don’t have to worry. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to meet you. The whole marriage idea was his p>
“Yeah.” I nod. I’m not sure I agree with whatever Lucia says, but then again, I have no choice. “Sure.” “It’s not every day that I get to meet the head of the Triple Triads p>
“You’ll be fine.” Jericho grins. He seems to notice too that I’m uncomfortable with this. “Was it father’s idea though?” “I doubt he’d even come up with such a thing. It must have had something with the men threatening to jump ship p>
He hesitates. “Sasha isn’t the type. He wouldn’t have been getting married at all p>
“It’s a necessary evil.” Sasha murmurs while pressing a napkin to his mouth. I certainly notice that he is avoiding my gaze. “The steam will blow off once the wedding is over. Everybody will be back to business as usual p>
“I thought loyalty was important in this line of work.” I clear my throat. I know it isn’t in my place to question their authority or even how things work around here, but I’m curious, and that curiosity overrides my warning bells. “Would the men really jump ship just because Sasha isn’t married p>
“Loyalty is earned,” Lucia says gruffly.
“Haven’t I done enough to earn their loyalty?” Sasha bites his jaw. “Personally, I think I’ve done more than enough, but if a marriage is what they want then so be it p>
Lucia looks defeated when she turns to me. “I get what Sasha is trying to say, but these men put their lives at stake daily to protect the interests of the Triple Triads. It’s only fair that they trust their leader to be stable and in control. It can’t be any other way. It would cost them their lives p>
“I don’t think that the marriage makes him any more trustworthy.” I scowl. “He either is or isn’t. He can either lead or he can’t. There is no in-between. By now they should already know what kind of man he is p>
“Yes!” Sasha jerks, nodding satisfactorily, almost glad that for once, I agreed with him. “I feel so too. I haven’t given them any reason to doubt me p>
“No, love.” Lucia sighs. “You haven’t. But it’s their lives they’re risking p>
“And mine.” Sasha growls.
“And ours too,” Lucia says quietly. “All of our lives p>
Frustration eats at Sasha. The responsibility of the Triple Triad Syndicate must be truly weighing in on him, and for the first time, I see how much he really resents this marriage. I know for sure that he’s only doing it to fulfil his duty by agreeing to it, but I can see that he is truly angry that the men don’t trust him yet.
“The men really value the marriage this much?” I ask, trying to neutralize the tension. “Are you sure it will calm them down p>
“None of this would’ve mattered if Sasha was much older,” Lucia says, studying him. “He wasn’t supposed to take over yet. The responsibility about to be thrust to him is too much at his age p>
“I sure wouldn’t want the position either.” Jericho shakes his head. “Not until I’m much older p>
“I don’t have much choices. But I’m not about to let Angelo step in and take my rightful place as the heir.” Sasha says, more determined than he sounded before. “I’ll die before I let it happen p>
It is then that I remember that he had mentioned Angelo earlier. He was clear enough when he told me that he was dangerous and that I needed to stay as far away from him as possible. What I don’t know is whether he said that just because Angelo had no Adonis’ blood flowing in his veins or there was more to the bias.
“My age doesn’t matter now. Young or not, I’m ready to step in if Father needs me to.” Sasha adds.
“Okay, I get that, but what if the marriage doesn’t stabilize the men?” I ask softly.
“That won’t be good,” Jericho says, gritting his teeth.
“That will be bad, very bad.” Lucia stiffens, shaking her head.
Sasha jerks up, and his silverware clutters against the plates. “I don’t think the men want to switch loyalty. I just need to reassure them. “
“I hope you do,” says Jericho.
“What if the wedding doesn’t reassure them? Will we be safe then?” I ask.
Lucia and Jericho exchange glances and when they don’t speak, I can tell that whatever they don’t want to say out loud could be dangerous. Even then, their shared look spoke volumes. They don’t have to tell me.
Great.