Knotted paths

d, wealth, and unwavering control. Inside its towering walls, Lorenzo DeLuca sat ac

body weak with age but his gaze as sharp as ever. Ev

, his voice low but firm. "And

the glass of whiskey in his hand. He had expected this c

zo said, his tone clipped, "I don't

an without loyalty. Your enemies already see you as a r

y in his glass. "I thought being hea

bore into him. "You need a wife, Lorenzo. A marriage will secure your position as my succ

ching the once-mighty

what?" he a

therwise, I'll pass this empire to someone else. Someone w

ing. There were other men in the family-cousins, distant relatives, all

y to some distant relative than to me?

eeds a queen. Without one, you are just a man

n't a man who gave in to emotions. He dealt in logic, power, and control

t," he fin

tisfied. "Good. Yo

it. "I won't waste time with courtship. This will be a

u think you can control everything, boy. Bu

e words as he walk

months to f

everything had a p