Submitting To The Devil - The Devil's Snare - Book 2

Chapter One

Author Note: The beginning of Submitting To The Devil prefaces the end of the previous book, His Pretty Little Liar. Niko and Bianca's story begins in Luca's office, where Dimitri reveals that the pair must marry. This means there will be a slight overlap in storylines at the beginning of the book.

Niko

The drive home has been somewhat quiet. We've just left Rossi's home, where Emma made her claim on her father's men. I wasn't too pleased to know she did that with the intent of leading, but even Luca knelt on bended knee to show his respect for her.

Luca's behaviour of late has been erratic. He's not the man I once thought he was, but then again, I see a new him paving his way outside of his mind, and I'm unsure whether to worship the changes he's making for my sister or hate him for being less of the person I learned to fight alongside.

Exiting the cars in silence, Emma climbs the steps towards the house. But Dimitri calls for her, demanding she take him to Luca's office.

"Emma, let's talk in Luca's office," his tone is ice-cold. I watch my sister falter, her body tensing with the obvious demand she doesn't want to follow, but she recovers quickly, nodding while telling Dimitri okay.

Luca remains quiet yet follows her immediately, and I, well, I follow because I can. Besides, what does Dimitri want with her?

I trail behind Dimitri and Bianca, watching her arse over his because I can. She's skinny and tall, but there is a giggle I appreciate. Any man would.

As I enter Luca's office behind them, I notice Luca sitting at his desk, with Emma standing just behind him. I'm not too fond of the differing vibes the pair of them give off. One minute, they have a terrible relationship, and the next, it seems Luca lays everything at her feet in private. I can't get a hold on them, and honestly, now that I know Emma's my sister, I know Luca isn't worthy of her.

Slumping down in the corner of the room, I lounge on the chair I often sit in. Emma looks to Bianca, and Bianca looks to Emma. Their anger is palpable.

Honestly, I wished Luca had chosen to kill her; at least then, Emma could start anew, yet now she has to live with Bianca being a thorn, even if at a distance.

"You must be wondering why I've called you all in here," Dimitri says with a dry tone, his gaze penetrating each of us as he looks clockwise around the room. Moving his hand before him, he smirks when his gaze lands lastly on me, yet I pretend I'm not taking any notice of him. You see, we don't particularly see eye to eye, but I know my place is below him; after all, I begged for my father's life, and since then, I've been working to earn that bargain off of my name. He hasn't let it go, though; I still owe him. "It seems I now have secrets that need to remain hidden, a promise that I have recently realised I have no intention of keeping. Emma," he directs to her in a powerful tone.

"Yes?" She asks shyly.

"You'll need to keep your men in line and ensure they keep the blood pact your father and I had a secret. It's imperative to your relationship that you do this."

"Blood pact? Okay—" she frowns. This piques my interest also. What pact did Dimitri have with Rossi?

"Bianca," he turns to her, ignoring Emma and calling her name with malice. "You, dear child, must also keep those secrets silent. You'll be answering to me from now on. So you see, I need to keep you in my organisation. I cannot trust you won't go against us; the incentive is there."

Ah, his words mirror those he spoke to me a few years ago. I, too, answer to him. Shaking my head, I reach inside my pocket to find a cigarette.

"I won't tell anyone the truth. Emma can have the men..." Bianca mutters slowly as if she knows she needs to beg for her life. I call it intuition; when in a man's presence, such as a Moretta, your life is always in danger, and your body knows it.