All the bullshit she’d fielded from Papa’s Russian cousins came rushing back. They doubted her because of her gender, and she’d been so damn certain they were just archaic assholes. Now, she couldn’t be so sure.
Truly, Rose was shaping up to be the worst heir the Romanov family had ever seen. The fact she was also the first woman who intended to take over? Even if she survived this, even if her entire family survived this, the greater Romanov family tree would have something to say about it. They might very well try to come in and do a full sweep, marrying her and her sisters off to secure alliances and establishing a man of their choice as leader. That’s what they wanted in the first place, after all.
No. Rose took a slow breath and forced her racing thoughts to still. This wasn’t over. There was still time to salvage things before everyone tumbled past the point of no return. She wouldn’t allow a war. She’d find a way through. She just needed time. “Please, Lorelei.”
Her sister was quiet for so long, she had to press her lips together to prevent herself from begging. She was Rose Romanov, and she didn’t beg, not even her sisters. Besides, Lorelei didn’t like to be rushed. Letting her consider her options before making a decision was the easiest way to get what Rose wanted.
“I might have an idea,” she finally said. She hardly sounded like herself, her voice wavering a little. “The cost is going to be high, Rose. Really high.”
She didn’t hesitate. “I’ll pay it.”
“You might not be the one paying it.” Something rustled on her end. “I’ll do what it takes to prevent a war. I promise. You do what it takes to cut off that motherfucker’s head and bring it back with you. I think Romeo would accept it as an apology. Maybe.”
Despite it all, Rose smiled. Sometimes Lorelei was even more bloodthirsty than Anya. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“I mean it, Rose. Kill him. Anya’s about to start stabbing people, and Sasha hasn’t stopped crying since we realized you were missing. We need you back here.”
Sasha hadn’t stopped crying. Guilt swamped Rose. Her sister fainted at the sight of blood, hated guns, and wanted to be an artist for children’s picture books. If they were a family of black sheep, she was the pristine gray one that was better than the rest. Somewhere along the way, Rose, Anya, and Lorelei had decided to do whatever it took to preserve Sasha’s relative innocence. And now her little sister couldn’t stop crying because she was worried about Rose. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Good. I’ll handle things on this end.”
“Thank you.”
“Rose…” Lorelei hesitated. “Something I don’t get, though. Why hasn’t he killed you? If he wanted a war between the Romanovs and Capparellis, murdering you would accomplish a lot more than a simple kidnapping.”
She’d thought the same thing, but she couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her tone. “Thanks for that insight, Lorelei. That’s really comforting and not at all something I’m already worried about.”
“I don’t want you dead, you ass. I’m just saying if I were Dante and wanted to disrupt a Romanov-Capparelli alliance, I’d make an example of you and leave your body to be found.” She was silent for a beat. “Or maybe wait until after the wedding and kill you in your wedding bed. There’d be no coming back from that for Romeo.”
“Lorelei.” Rose glanced at the door again. Where was Dante? Even if he was listening in, it wasn’t like she’d said anything he could use. Still, better to get off the phone and start coming up with a plan. “Your attempts to be comforting are failing spectacularly.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Yes, well, you can take your just saying and fuck off. If he wanted me dead, he’d have done it already, so I have at least a little advantage here. In theory. I don’t know what he wants, but I mean to find out. Before I kill him, of course.”
“Of course.” Raised voices in the background. Lorelei sighed. “I have to go. I think Papa is about to punch Romeo in the face, and that will make this entire conversation pointless. Stay safe, Rose. Be sure to tell Verducci if he touches a hair on your head, Anya and I will grind his family to dust. Even the extended cousins who have gone straight.”
“Lorelei.”
“What? You’re my big sister, and I can’t guarantee I won’t lose my mind if something happens to you. If he’s not a total fool, that will at least give him pause.”
Rose shook her head. Sometimes Lorelei was even scarier than Anya. “I’ll be sure to pass on your message.”
“Do that. Stay safe and get back here as fast as possible.” She hung up.
Rose dropped the phone on the bed and exhaled slowly. Lorelei would handle things back home. If there was a way through this, her sister would find it. She might be the youngest, but she had the twistiest mind out of the four of them. Rose might not like the solution she came up with—it was all but guaranteed at this point—but it would be better than war.