Debts to Dead Men

Chapter 28: Aelia Gloxinia

Dearest Andrew,

For years, you have overestimated my kindness even after your betrayal. I have been exceedingly lenient — when you chose to pursue the path of birthing a legitimate heir over our companionship, when you wed her, and again, when your daughter was born. And still, you dare to ask me to save your wife?

I am truly sorry for Aelia, and for your daughter. Neither asked to be dragged into a family during a generation when its most incompetent leader is at the helm. However, I am not sorry for what I am about to do. You've relied on my aid long enough, and so with this letter, my kindness ends. It was your duty to the Gloxinias that created this rift, and so it is my duty as the head of the Blaze family to ensure that rift stays, for the sake of us both.

The Blaze family and the Gloxinia family from this day forward will no longer be considered allies. This is the bed you've made — now lie in it.

G.B.

Lancet stared down at the open letter warily as if expecting it might spontaneously combust on his marble kitchen countertop. He was still... processing.

"And you're sure this is Gervassio's handwriting?" Rose asked, in as much denial as he was.

"That's not something I'd ever mistake."

Rose kept her head buried in her hands, and Lancet took it as his cue to re-fill their coffee mugs. He poured out the coffee that had grown cold, and fetched a liquor bottle from his bar. She didn't object to him spiking both of their fresh mugs.

The heiress looked just as dead on her feet as he felt. Even so, with her red rimmed eyes, natural tawny skin, and messy hair, Rose Gloxinia was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen.

"...To make sure I'm understanding this right, G.B. and your father were-"

"Lovers, yes. When they were younger." Rose reached into her purse and placed an old photograph next to the letter she'd been given. He noticed the blackened curled edge as if someone had meant to burn it, and changed their mind.

In it were Rose's father and Gervassio Blaze, years before Rose was born and before Lancet was out of Kayos. The two teens leaned against a dismantled armed vehicle, a vintage, up to their elbows in oil and grinning ear to ear.

"I found this in my attic. I couldn't quite put my finger on what I was sensing from it until I saw Cross and his company in the lobby. The way Gervassio is looking at my father — if that's not love, I don't know what is."

Lancet didn't say anything. Under normal circumstances, a photo wouldn't have been enough to convince him. In it were two friends having a good time. He wouldn't have questioned the way Gervassio had his arm draped around Andrew Gloxinia, the slight tilt of Gloxinia's head towards G.B's. It was the hospital bill, Isaac Corybn's confirmation, and the letter that sealed the deal.

While he was plenty aware of his predecessor's sexual preferences, Gloxinia's came as a surprise. Unlike his predecessor, Andrew wasn't known as a playboy who played both sides. As far as he knew, aside from Andrew's marriage to Rose's mother, Aelia, there was no one else. Of all the reasons he expected to be the cause of the beef between families, he had never seen this coming.

"Isaac had this. He'd taken it out of the trash when he was cleaning my father's office. When asked, my mother told him to keep it to himself. It was the letter in response to the one my father must've wrote to Gervassio. Did you ever find that?"

"I didn't. No."

"I see..."

They invited silence to creep in — allowed it to consume minutes while their minds worked. Rose was the first to speak.